Power and Communication Distribution Topology for Heliostats

Abstract

A network topology for powering and communicating with groups of heliostats in a concentrated solar power plant. Heliostats are arranged in rows and wired together with inter-drive cables that distribute power and data from a field electrical system and plant network. Data is transmitted to and from heliostat drive control boards via network switches connected to intelligent power distribution units. Power is transmitted from battery banks to said intelligent power distribution units. Communication interface modules supply a connection between intelligent power distribution units and the heliostat control boards of non-adjacent heliostat rows to create communication and data loops having improved redundancy and robustness in the event of single point component failures.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for powering and controlling a heliostat field, comprising:
 a plant network;   a plurality of network switches connected to the plant network, wherein each network switch has a plurality of ports;   at least one intelligent power distribution unit comprising a plurality of intelligent power distribution cards, wherein each intelligent power distribution card is connected to at least one other intelligent power distribution card and is connected to a port on one of the plurality of network switches;   at least one communication interface module connected to at least one of the plurality of intelligent power distribution cards;   a plurality of heliostats connected to each other and arranged in rows, wherein the heliostats comprise reflectors and controllers; and   wherein at least one heliostat controller in each row is connected to a communication interface module.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent intelligent power distribution cards in an intelligent power distribution unit are connected to different network switches. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each communication interface module is connected to a heliostat controller of up to four heliostat rows. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each communication interface module is configured to supply power and data communication to each connected heliostat in a row. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein heliostats in pairs of adjacent rows connected to the same communication interface module are connected together in parallel to create power transmission loops that comprise the communication interface module and all heliostat controllers in said pairs of adjacent rows. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a power transmission loop provides an alternate power transmission pathway to all heliostats in said loop during a failure event. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein heliostats in pairs of adjacent rows connected to the same communication interface module are connected together in a daisy-chain to create communication transmission loops that comprise the communication interface module and all heliostat controllers connected to said communication interface module. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a communication transmission loop provides an alternate communication transmission pathway to all heliostats in said loop during a failure event. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the communication interface module further comprises a plurality of microcontrollers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the communication interface module microcontrollers that connect to adjacent heliostat rows are connected to different intelligent power distribution cards. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the intelligent power distribution cards are connected to different network switches. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heliostats are connected to each other via inter-drive cables that interface with the heliostat controllers. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the inter-drive cables comprise both power and data distribution wires. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the network switches are connected to each other in series using auxiliary data connectors. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary data connectors further comprise Ethernet cables.