Solar Plant Optimization Algorithms

One important aspect of solar farm optimization is the tracking of the sun s trajectory while concentrating the sunlight, so that the mirror reflectors or troughs will be correctly rotated around both axes while concentrating the solar radiation. In order to maximize the collector efficiency, solar and position detectors (Sections 3.15 and 3.17 [Chapter 3]) are used. Some of the tools of positioning include the use of machine vision (Section 3.12) and a variety of positioning devices (Section 3.15). 

In addition to the sensors and final control elements, these optimizers are provided with software algorithms to interpret the measurements and to arrive at the optimum responses to them. The traditional algorithms used solar detectors for establishing the angles and direction of the solar radiation and for arriving at the optimum mirror positions for the most efficient focusing and concentration. I have also developed more advanced (shadow-based algorithm) techniques, the details of which are beyond the scope of this book. 

Once the desired optimum position is determined for each collector component (mirror or reflector element), the next task is to herd all the many thousands of these elements to their different optimum positions. The old algorithms operated by sequentially evaluating and correcting the position of each element. My algorithm follows the strategy of the herding dog (hence 

Post- Oil Energy Technology After the Age of Fossil Fuels 

---