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Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614136369676288 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond |
| author2 | McGregor, Craig |
| author_browse | Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond McGregor, Craig |
| author_facet | McGregor, Craig Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond |
| author_sort | Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134674 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:47:14.760Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134674 Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond McGregor, Craig Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Solar tower plants Heliostats -- Testing Tracking (Engineering) Solar collectors -- Design and construction Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Lekholoane, R. R. 2025. Design, Development, and Testing of a Cable-Actuated Heliostat. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/fa9bf932-99b0-4f07-bd40-7720da156807 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Solar tower plants require cost reduction in the solar field, which represents 30-50% of plant capital costs (Kurup, Akar, Glynn, et al., 2022). This thesis investigates cable-driven heliostats as a lower-cost alternative to conventional gear-driven systems. A 1 m² prototype using cables, stepper motors, and worm gearboxes was built and tested. Outdoor tracking tests measured mean errors of 15-16 milliradians, exceeding the one milliradian target required for CSP applications. The main problem occurred at pitch angles above 70 degrees, where unequal cable tensions caused loss of control. When operated manually without the control system, pointing accuracy improved to 1.6-4.7 milliradians, showing the control algorithm was the limiting factor, not the mechanical design. The prototype drive mechanism cost $431/m², representing 70% of the total system cost. Cost projections for a 48.5 m² heliostat estimated that the drive cost could be reduced to $7.32/m², compared to $16.08/m² for the commercial Stellio heliostat. However, these estimates assume the technical problems can be solved. Testing identified two main problems: asymmetric cable tensioning that fails at high pitch angles, and inadequate control system performance. The threshold-based control created steady-state errors that accumulated over time. Manual control demonstrated that better performance is possible with improved control algorithms. The results show cable-driven heliostats can reduce costs but cannot yet meet accuracy requirements. The tension management problem needs redesign, and the control system needs upgrading to achieve milliradian-level tracking. This work provides performance data and failure analysis for future cable-driven heliostat development. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-12-23T07:04:14Z 2025-12-23T07:04:14Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134674 en Stellenbosch University xv, 121 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Solar tower plants Heliostats -- Testing Tracking (Engineering) Solar collectors -- Design and construction Lekholoane, Rorisang Raymond Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title | Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title_full | Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title_fullStr | Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title_short | Design, development, and testing of a cable-actuated heliostat |
| title_sort | design development and testing of a cable actuated heliostat |
| topic | Solar tower plants Heliostats -- Testing Tracking (Engineering) Solar collectors -- Design and construction |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134674 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lekholoanerorisangraymond designdevelopmentandtestingofacableactuatedheliostat |