Design and testing of a low-tech pedestal heliostat with its closed-loop tracking sensor for a micro concentrating solar power plant pilot in the Sahel: Case of CSP4Africa
- Post by: SOAPHYS-KZ
- 23 septembre 2025
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http://dx.doi.org/10.46411/jpsoaphys.2025.C25.03
Section de la parution: Informations de publication
J. P. Soaphys, Vol 5, N°1 (2025) C25A03
Pages : C23A03-1 à C25A03-12
Informations sur les auteurs. et affiliations
Mahamadou MAIGA1, Dimeba Osnoun Mubarak OUEDRAOGO1, Aboubakar GOMNA1, Kokouvi Edem N’TSOUKPOE1*, Kokou Florent YIBOKOU1, Hervé N. KENHAGHO2
1 Laboratoire Énergies Renouvelables et Efficacité Énergétique (LabEREE), Département Génie Électrique, Énergétique et Industriel, Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), 01 BP 594 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso
2 Biomedical Laser and Optics Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Gewerbestrasse 14, Allschwil, 4123, Switzerland
Corresponding author e-mail :* edem.ntsoukpoe@2ie-edu.org
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the design, construction, and test of a low-tech pedestal heliostat with its closed-loop tracking sensor for a micro CSP plant pilot. The design has involved the sizing of the 4 main components of the pedestal heliostat namely the support structure of the mirrors, the pedestal itself, the drive unit and the control unit. The 4 main components were then assembled to construct the heliostat pedestal that meets the aspirations of the CSP4Africa project. After the implementation of the heliostat, daily tests were carried out over several days to assess the ability of the device with its closed-loop tracking sensor to keep the focal spot on the target during the operating period of the CSP4Africa plant, which is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Satisfactory results were met with a solar tracking error lower than 1° for a focal length of 5 m.
Keywords : Central receiver systems; Power tower plants; Pedestal heliostat; Closed-loop tracking; Four-quadrant LDR; CSP4Africa
RESUME
Cette étude se concentre sur la conception, la construction et le test d’un héliostat piédestal de faible technicité pour un pilote de micro-centrale CSP. La conception a impliqué le dimensionnement des 4 composants principaux de l’héliostat piédestal, à savoir la structure de support des miroirs, le piédestal lui-même, l’organe d’entraînement et l’organe de commande. Les quatre composants principaux ont ensuite été assemblés pour construire l’héliostat piédestal qui répond aux aspirations du projet CSP4Africa. Après l’implémentation de l’héliostat, des tests de suivi solaire ont été réalisés pendant plusieurs jours pour évaluer la capacité de l’appareil avec son capteur de boucle fermée à garder la tâche focale à l’intérieur du cercle cible pendant la période de fonctionnement de la microcentrale CSP4Africa, qui va de 9h00 à 15h00. Des résultats satisfaisants ont été obtenus avec une erreur de suivi solaire inférieure à 1° pour une distance focale de 5 m.
Mots-Clés : Centrales solaires à tour ; Héliostat piédestal ; Suivi solaire en boucle fermée ; capteur LDR à quatre quadrants ; CSP4Africa
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