Abstract :
The concatenated micro-tower (CMT) is a new configuration for concentrated solar power plants that consists of multiple mini-fields
of heliostats. In each mini-field, the heliostats direct and focus sunlight onto designated points along an insulated tube, where thermal
receivers are located. The heat transfer fluid, flowing through a multitude of discrete receivers, is combined and directed towards a single
power block. The key advantages of CMT are its dual-axis tracking system and dynamic receiver allocation, i.e., the ability of each
heliostat to direct sunrays towards receivers from adjacent mini-fields throughout the day according to their optical efficiency. Here
we compare between the annual optical efficiencies of a conventional trough, large tower, and CMT configuration, all located at latitude
36 N. For each configuration, we calculated the annual optical efficiency based on the cosine factor and atmospheric transmittance.
CMT’s dynamic receiver allocation provides more uniform electricity production during the day and throughout the year and improves
the annual optical efficiency by 12–19% compared to conventional trough and large tower configurations.
2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
