Heliostat

A Heliostat is a device that tracks the movement of the sun. It is typically used to orient a mirror, throughout the day, to reflect sunlight in a consistent direction. When coupled together in sufficient quantities, the reflected sunlight from the heliostats can generate an enormous amount of heat if all are oriented towards the same target. It was originally developed as an instrument for use in surveying, allowing the accurate observation of a known point from a distance.

Related Topics:
Sun - Mirror - Surveying

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Heliostats have been used for sunlight-powered interior lighting, solar observatories, and solar power generation. Mirrors and reflective surfaces used in solar power that do not track the sun are not heliostats.

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The simplest heliostat devices use a clockwork mechanism to turn the mirror in synchronisation with the rotation of the Earth. More complex devices need to compensate for the changing elevation of the Sun throughout a Solar year. Even more advanced heliostats track the sun directly by sensing its position throughout the day.

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