MODIFIED ALGORITHM OF SHADING AND BLOCKING EFFICIENCY FOR POLYGONAL HELIOSTAT OF SOLAR POWER TOWER

Lyu Xinqi; Zhou Hui; Hu Jinhua; Liu Shenghao; Yan Xingbo; Wang Xuanhua

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0414

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (7) : 537-543. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0414

MODIFIED ALGORITHM OF SHADING AND BLOCKING EFFICIENCY FOR POLYGONAL HELIOSTAT OF SOLAR POWER TOWER

Lyu Xinqi, Zhou Hui, Hu Jinhua, Liu Shenghao, Yan Xingbo, Wang Xuanhua

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Abstract

To address the calculation error caused by existing shading and blocking efficiency algorithms that typically assume the heliostat mirror as an ideal single reflective surface, without considering the composite structure of multiple sub-mirrors and the gaps between them, this paper proposes a novel computational approach based on traditional planar projection methods. Utilizing the characteristics of the scan-line algorithm, this method can flexibly calculate the shading and blocking efficiency for any polygonal heliostats, including those formed by combined polygons, thereby avoiding some shortcomings of conventional planar projection techniques. When applied to composite mirror surfaces, this method yields more precise results compared to treating the heliostat as a single, continuous reflective surface. Furthermore, the output from this computational model has been validated through field visits, where the measured shading and blocking efficiency of several actual heliostats was found to have a relative error of less than 1% when compared to the algorithm’s predictions.

Key words

solar thermal power generation / heliostats / efficiency / blocking and shading / heliostat surface shape / planar projection

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Lyu Xinqi, Zhou Hui, Hu Jinhua, Liu Shenghao, Yan Xingbo, Wang Xuanhua. MODIFIED ALGORITHM OF SHADING AND BLOCKING EFFICIENCY FOR POLYGONAL HELIOSTAT OF SOLAR POWER TOWER[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(7): 537-543 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0414

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