BCS Data: Beam Pointing Error Variation Across Time

The Equinox data set contains Beam Characterization System (BCS) images that capture the difference between the desired location of a heliostat spot and the actual position. These were captured at many times throughout a day for several days in the solar year. The resulting data plots indicate that pointing corrections are not constant, but vary over time.

The Equinox data set contains Beam Characterization System (BCS) images that capture the difference between the desired location of a heliostat spot and the actual position.

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Location

OpenCSP_Box:  OpenCSP_Data/Sandia_BCS_Survey_1

Status

Posted and documented

Documentation

  • R. C. Brost, A. Evans, Kevin Good, Luis Garcia Maldonado. Equinox Data Set Analysis. Sandia National Laboratories presentation SAND2023-09606PE, September 18, 2023.
  • R. C. Brost, A. Evans, and T. Larkin. Variation in Reflected Beam Shape and Pointing Accuracy Over Time and Heliostat Field Position. SolarPACES 2023, Sydney, Australia, October 2023.
  • J. W. Strachan. Revisiting the BCS, a Measurement System for Characterizing the Optics of Solar Collectors. Sandia Technical Report SAND92-2789C, 1992.