Rapid Test Bed Concentrator (TBC) Alignment Techniques

A new, labor and cost saving method was developed to eliminate the procedure of covering all (220) mirrors and uncovering then one-by-one in sequence to adjust each to the focal plane. This latest method being used to align mirrors of a parabolic solar concentrator utilizes a computer-derived target of discreet images made up of individual mirror reflections on a plane in front of the intended, nominal, focal point. Incorporating this computer technique increases accuracy and gives potential to develop flux distributions required by different receiver designs.