Structural Design and Analysis of Hyperboloid with Tower Assembly of Solar-Thermal Plant

A 2MWe solar plant is proposed to be set-up. A 40.8 m diameter hyperboloid supported on three towers (60 m height), 118 heliostats of dimension 10 m × 10 m, 228 heliostats of dimension 5 m × 5 m and an 8 m diameter receiver are the major components of the proposed plant. Hyperboloid with tower assembly is one of the key components of the concentrated solar power plants based on central receiver concept. Hyperboloid reflects the reflected rays from the field heliostats to the receiver mounted at the ground. It consists of hyperboloid frame on to which aluminium-based reflector is fixed. Hyperboloid frame is made of carbon steel and aluminium tubes. Aluminium reflector (mirror) is made of 0.8 mm aluminium sheet. Hyperboloid structure along with reflectors is supported by tower structures. Towers are made of carbon steel tubes. Hyperboloid is fixed with three towers by bolting arrangement. Hyperboloid with tower assembly is designed against wind load of 39 m/s basic wind speed. Finite element analyses have been performed to optimize the design and estimate the deflections and stresses due to dead weight, imposed loads, earthquake loads and wind loads. Stresses due to various loads and their combinations have been checked against the allowable stresses as per IS 800. Buckling checks have been performed as per IS 800.