Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) technology for characterizing commercial heliostat optical errors

Tucker Farrell

doi:10.1117/12.2677696

5 October 2023 Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) technology for characterizing commercial heliostat optical errors

Tucker Farrell

Proceedings Volume PC12671, Advances in Solar Energy: Heliostat Systems Design, Implementation, and Operation; PC1267105 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677696
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

This presentation outlines the Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) technology for optical measurement of in-situ, operational heliostat mirrors in concentrating solar power tower plants. NIO is a photogrammetric process that uses a camera mounted to an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). We first capture the edge of the central tower reflected in the heliostat. By extracting heliostat features using deep learning object detection and computer-vision techniques, we can precisely determine camera positions, detect the reference in the image, and use this data to describe errors in the mirror. NIO is rapid, inexpensive, and does not interfere with plant operations. It requires only an off-the-shelf UAS with an appropriate camera to use.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Tucker Farrell "Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) technology for characterizing commercial heliostat optical errors", Proc. SPIE PC12671, Advances in Solar Energy: Heliostat Systems Design, Implementation, and Operation, PC1267105 (5 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677696

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available