Optimizing heliostat pylon design for solar energy in southern Algeria

The pylon is a fundamental component of a heliostat, as it supports both the reflective surface and withstands wind loads, making it essential for the heliostat's structural integrity. This study focuses on optimizing the pylon size for heliostats, considering wind load resistance and cost reduction. A heliostat with an initial reflective area of 1.44 m² and a 1-meter axis elevation was used in a mini solar power tower test facility at the Applied Research Unit for Renewable Energies (URAER) in Ghardaia, Algeria. The reflective area was expanded to 2.56 m², and wind loads were calculated using wind velocity measurements and established wind load coefficients from the literature. The optimization process aimed to reduce the pylon's weight and material usage while maintaining its stability under wind stress. The results showed that the optimized pylon design achieved a weight reduction of approximately 3.44 kg, with reduced dimensions (88.9 mm outer diameter and 2 mm thickness). The findings indicate that optimization of the pylon can lead to significant improvements in heliostat performance, contributing to the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar power tower systems in regions such as southern Algeria.