Mechatronic Design of the Sun Tracking System of a Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar Plant

The mechatronic design of the sun tracking system of a linear Fresnel reflector solar plant is described in this paper. Quite peculiar motion requirements had to be considered, related to the very low rotation velocity of reflectors on one hand, and to the high torque requirements needed to drive a large reflector field (160 mirrors) with just one actuator on the other hand. The whole tracking system, from the electrical dynamics of the motor driver to the torsional compliance of reflectors, has been modeled and simulated in the object-oriented Modelica/Dymola environment, for a first assessment of the design. Simulation results are presented and discussed in this paper.