State-of-the-art of heliostat field layout algorithms and their comparison

In this paper a complete review of the most relevant algorithms for the generation of heliostat field layouts is presented. For each of the reviewed algorithms, a description of the layout generation approach, all the input parameters required and the main formulation is provided. The algorithms have been compared for different scenarios covering a range of tower heights, heliostat sizes and acceptance angles (defining to what extent the resulting field is North configuration or surrounding). A robust methodology has been developed, which ensures a fair comparison of the algorithms by analysing the performance of optimized solar fields according to each layout generation method. For this, all the input parameters of each layout generation algorithm are optimized for each scenario prior to comparing the solar field performances. The main conclusion of the present study is that all the analysed layout generation algorithms lead to similar solar field efficiencies when compared for the considered scenarios once they are optimized. Further work is required to check if the algorithms also show similar efficiencies, or to what extent they are similar, when wider scenarios are considered (larger solar field powers, locations, etc.). (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.