A MULTIBAR RIM DRIVE FOR HELIOSTAT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS

STRETCHED MEMBRANE MIRROR STRUCTURES ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT AS A POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FOR SOLAR CONCENTRATOR MIRRORS FOR HELIOSTATS AND DISHES. THE PROPOSED MULTIBAR RIM DRIVE CONCEPT IS A SIMILAR POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT FOR SUPPORTING AND STEERING THESE MIRROR STRUCTURES. THE DRIVE CONCEPT COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PRESENT GENERATION OF HELIOSTAT DESIGNS; HOWEVER, IT IS EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL WHEN USED WITH THESTRETCHED MEMBRANE STRUCTURAL CONCEPT. THE PRIMARY IMPROVEMENT IS THAT IT CARRIES THE LOADS DIRECTLY FROM THE RIM TO MULTIPLE POINTS ON THE GROUND, THUS ELIMINATING THE NEED TO CARRY THE LOADS BACK TO A CENTER POST. IN ADDITION THE MULTIBAR CONCEPT ALLOWS THE MIRROR TO BE STOWED IN A FACE-DOWN POSITION, WHICH MAY PROVE MANDATORY TO PROTECT THETHIN MEMBRANE REFLECTIVE SURFACE FROM HAIL.