A oral presentation given at the ISES SWC 2013 conference in Cancun Mexico, about our open-source heliostat array, designed and built at CICESE.

1. A novel open-source master-slave
heliostat array for use as an
experimental platform and solar
power applications
R. Evans, A. Sanchez Garcia
LEARS, CICESE
TUESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2013
ISES SWC Cancun Mexico
DR. R. EVANS 2013

2. the solar challenge
•
maximize aperture to sun
•
minimize radiation loss to environment
•
the sun moves
DR. R. EVANS 2013

3. •
30% increase with sun tracking
•
•
more in the summer
trackers cost more then 30% of a panel
DR. R. EVANS 2013

4. Mexico specific challenge
•
No local market –starting from nothing
•
DIY, no loan economy
•
Low adoption of foreign technologies
•
parts and price
•
Mini- µ-business economy: 10-200 kW
•
Low formal education of end users
DR. R. EVANS 2013

5. Open design
Open energy
Open energy
•
Use open design
•
Creative commons
•
Master-slave design
•
Built from locally accesible components
•
Hybrid tracking system (active-absolute)
DR. R. EVANS 2013

6. Master slave heliostat array
One heliostat to control them all…
DR. R. EVANS 2013

7. DR. R. EVANS 2013

8. DR. R. EVANS 2013

9. Bowden
Tubes
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10. Heliostat system, Amo with cross-hair, optical sensor and
photovoltaic cells, Slave with giant fresnel lens
DR. R. EVANS 2013

11. DR. R. EVANS 2013

12. target
Sun
mirror?
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13. DR. R. EVANS 2013

14. DR. R. EVANS 2013

15. target mirror?
Sun
DR. R. EVANS 2013

16. target mirror
Sun
DR. R. EVANS 2013

17. target
mirror?
Sun

19. encoder 1
encoder 2
Control system
Optical sensor, solid-state relay, change system, micro
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controller

20. Optical sensor
Voltage divider with photo-resistors
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21. Solid state relay
low power consumption
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22. Sensor response
orthononality
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23. Nonlinearity fixed
unbalanced resistance: adding variable resistor may fix
problem.
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24. DR. R. EVANS 2013

25. References
[1] S.A.Kalogirou, Solar Energy Engineering, processes and
systems, 1st Edition, Elsevier Inc.,San Diego, USA, 2009.
[2] G. M. noz Melé ndez, E. Díaz-Gonza`lez, H. E. CambellRamírez, M. Q.-N. nez, Baja california: Perfil energé tico
2010-2020, Tech. rep., Comision Estatal de energ`ıa de Baja
California, Avenida Pioneros 1060 Col. Centro Civico C.P.
21000, Mexicali, Baja California (2012).
[3] C.Commons.Atribució n-licenciamiento recíproco 2.5
(mé xico)[online](072013)[cited30-06-2013].
[4] C.Commons.Attribution-sharealike3.0unitedstates[online]
(072013)[cited30-06-2013].
[5] Arduino homepage [online] (072013) [cited30-06-2013].
[6] R.Evans. Github share of heli-stato-amo-esclavo [online]
(062013) [cited30-06-2013].

26. Thank you
Gracias
Merci
–Rodger Evans
revans@cicese.mx
DR. R. EVANS 2013