Large-Scale Production of Heliostats

Determination and Reduction of Fabrication Cost

Abstract

Heliostats are the main cost factor of solar tower plants. To optimize them in terms of cost, it is mandatory to estimate the fabrication cost. A method to do so is presented and applied to a sample heliostat. The sample heliostat that is optimized for low production cost is of 2 m² size. The design already provides a low part-count, an efficient material usage and low-cost purchased parts but is also of high accuracy. A part list of the heliostat is created and every part is analyzed. For production cost optimization, the optimal manufacturing process both from a technical and an economical view has to be determined. Furthermore, the material cost has to be estimated based on the weight and material of the heliostat components. Also cost for control and energy supply has to be considered. Optimizing their cost depends significantly on unit quantities. Higher volumes generally translate to lower development costs, yet component and manufacturing expenses become predominant. The circuit board design proves to be a central point here. Selecting easily accessible, interchangeable components suited for function and longevity, optimizes component and manufacturing costs.