Solar receiver

Abstract

A system and method for maintenance of a reflector with. The system may be incorporated to be an integral part of the dish assembly and may be operated autonomously or remotely. The system may include a controller programmed to activate the system according to set schedule or according to reflectivity drop of the light from the dish. The system includes a foldable arm that is folded when not in use so as not to interfere with the operation of the dish. When in use, the arm unfolds and includes injectors to inject fluids, such as air and/or liquids to clean the surface of the dish. The arm may include water injectors followed by drying air injectors, such as air knife. The system may include waste liquid collection system, such as a gutter and reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning a reflector dish, the reflector dish having a base support, the system comprising:
 an assembly coupled to the base support;   at least one foldable arm configured to assume a folded position when not in use and an unfolded position for cleaning;   a fluid conduit coupled to the foldable arm and delivering fluids to be injected by the arm onto the reflector dish when the arm assumes its unfolded position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is rotatably coupled to the base support. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a motor positioned to rotate the assembly about the base. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the motor is energized by fluid flow. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable arms comprise a flexible house and a spring. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the hose is configured to assume a flat shape when no fluid flows through the hose. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the spring comprises a flat spring inserted inside the hose. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the spring is configured to have a spring constant to impart sufficient curling force to fold the hose when no fluid pressure is in the hose, but to yield to fluid pressure to unfold the hose. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gutter configured for collecting fluids sprayed on the reflector dish. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of reservoirs and a manifold coupled to the gutter, the manifold having a plurality of outputs, each configured for delivering fluids from the gutter to one of the plurality of reservoirs. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising air pressure system configured for delivering air pressure into the foldable arm. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is freely-rotatable coupled to the base support and wherein the arm comprises fluid injectors positioned so as to impart rotational motion to the assembly when injecting fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises air injectors configured to generate air knife to dry the reflector dish. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is rotatably coupled to the assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises liquid injectors at a leading edge thereof and air injectors at the trailing edge thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a liquid reservoir, a pressure conduit coupled to deliver liquid from the liquid reservoir to the art, and a pressure pump configured to pump liquid from the reservoir into the pressure conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of injectors provided on the arm and configured such that collective injection front of the plurality of injectors follows curvature of the dish surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality injectors provided on the arm and configured such that separation distance between surface of the dish to outlet of each injector is the same for all of the plurality of injectors.