Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) generate electric power by using mirrors (heliostat) to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a receiver and make it possible to achieve heat higher enough to turn water into steam. The pressure from water vapour drives a turbine connected to a generator producing electricity.
The solar thermal farm is usually large scale and in a remote area. It’s not easy in terms of maintenance and management. Fortunately, Hightopo lightweight web visualization solution — HT for Web can help. Get real-time monitoring operation status of each heliostat, sync data such as electric load conditions, equipment status and control, weather simulation, to reduce the operation cost and hazards of the outdoor operation, maintenance, management and control.
Lightweight Modelling
On-site photos, satellite images, bim files, designers will utilize them as reference and model each equipment lightweight, then import to 3d scene. HT powerful 3d rendering engine makes sure the massive models will still render faster and smooth on the web.
Weather Simulation
Sunlight is an indispensable fact of CSP management. HT visualization solution allows sync data from weather system, to simulate the sunlight in 3d scene and view the dynamic change of the sunlight in real-time or historical time periods. Data will trigger the corresponding weather animation, for immersive and vivid visualization.
Equipment Monitory and Management
HT for Web offers various kinds of interactive methods. The most fabulous part is HT for Web cross-platform capability, which means the mouse click, mobile touch, VR hit will all handle by one code function.
Integrated with heliostat, power tower and other equipment systems, data will be sync with 3d models and therefore trigger animation or data panels. For example, click the power tower on 3d scene to trigger the data panel which display the real-time data source from sensors from the power tower such as temperature, pressure, etc; When data exceed the threshold, the device will have an alarm animation such as dying in red and blink. This will greatly help operators to locate the issued equipment and act fast to avoid unnecessary downtime.
CSP v.s. PV — Integration for increasing Solar Power Penetration
Concentrated Solar Thermal systems (CSP), are not the same as Photovoltaic panels; CSP systems concentrate radiation of the sun to heat a liquid substance which is then used to drive a heat engine and drive an electric generator. This indirect method generates alternating current (AC) which can be easily distributed on the power network.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels differ from solar thermal systems in that they do not use the sun’s heat to generate power. Instead, they use sunlight through the ‘photovoltaic effect’ to generate direct electric current (DC) in a direct electricity production process. The DC is then converted to AC, usually with the use of inverters, in order to be distributed on the power network.
We also have an article which more in deep introduces PV farm visualization, please check: https://hightopo.medium.com/3d-visualization-building-integrated-photovoltaics-bipv-4e492b4ebd94
Conclusion
Hightopo offers the cutting-edge DigitalTwin visualization solution — HT for Web, empowers concentrated solar power plant and photovoltaics plant for better management. Helping deliver millions in efficiency savings and a massive reduction of carbon dioxide.
HT for Web brings great value enhancement to the power, energy and other industries. The lightweight, cross-platform, responsive, fully interactive feature help clients enter the path of the energy revolution and digital transformation.
Based on years of project experience and solid visual tech, we have cooperated with many well-known industries. Contact us to explore more possibilities! https://www.hightopo.com/en-request.html
