Photogrammetric Monitoring of the Construction of a Solar Energy Dish Concentrator

• Published in: Photogrammetric engineering and remote sensing 2012-05, Vol.78 (5), p.519-527
• Main Authors: Shortis, M. R., Burgess, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied geophysics; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Internal geophysics; Teledetection and vegetation maps
• ISSN: 0099-1112; 2374-8079
• DOI: 10.14358/PERS.78.5.519

Close-range photogrammetry has been used to control the construction of a jig used in the assembly of a new generation solar concentrator and the validation of the final, mirrored surface. The concentrator is a concave paraboloid dish with an area of a 489 m2. The typical photogrammetric relative precision realized was 1:175,000, corresponding to an accuracy of better than 1 mm at the jig reference points. The validation of the mirrored surface achieved a relative precision of 1:300,000. Photogrammetry was also used to characterize the dish mirror panels. The rear surface of the panels was mapped, as it made possible a denser target array and quicker image capture than if the reflective surface was used. The targets were produced with a digital projector, and the typical measurement precision attained was 1:150,000. This paper describes the equipment and techniques required to provide the required accuracy and precision for the jig and panel surfaces.