Design and Assessment of a Linear Drive-Controlled Tilt-Roll Heliostat with Sun Tracking Algorithm for Small-Scale Solar Installation

Heliostats are devices used for solar concentration that use mirrors oriented according to the position of the sun. A heliostat's main function is to redirect sunlight for use in a variety of applications, including heating, lighting, scientific research, and solar power generation. The two-axis tracking employed in the device ensures that the reflected irradiance is aimed at a predetermined target. The design and evaluation of a tilt-roll two-axis tracking heliostat are presented in this article. The model consists of a mirror 0.45 m in width and 0.45 m in length installed on a pedestal of height 0.75 m. The motion of the heliostat is controlled using two separate linear drives via a sun-tracking algorithm implemented in a microcontroller. A small-scale tilt-roll design with a reflective area (mirror) of 0.2025 m² is established. This novel design eliminates the need for commercially available solar tracking systems and can be deployed in areas of limited installation space. Dual-axis heliostat design used here provides an effective way to track the sun's movement for maximum solar energy capture by combining tilt and roll mechanisms. This design ensures tracking precision for optimal solar energy concentration making it well-suited for experimental and smaller-scale deployments.