The central tower solar thermal system has a field of sun-tracking heliostats that can reflect sunlight to the thermal receiver on the top of the central tower. Then the fluid working medium like water, molten salt, air inside the thermal receiver is heated by the focused sunlight and converted into steam to drive the turbine so as to generate electricity finally. Five systems are included in the tower CSP plant. They are the solar concentrating system, the heat absorbing system, the heat storage system, the power generation system and the power plant control system.
Our company has been researching and developing tower-type heliostats for the central tower solar thermal system since 2004. During the process, we have overcome various technical difficulties regarding reflective mirrors, transmissions and tracking. With the ability to mass produce heliostats, we have taken an active part in the National 863 Project. Undertaking "the research of high-precise sunlight positioning methods and development of the whole set of equipment", we mainly focus on the research and development of heliostats that are applicable to large-scale solar power plants in the desert environment. In 2010, we completed the production and construction of a heliostat solar field of 10,000 square meters for Asia's first MW-level tower solar thermal power station in Yanqing, Beijing.