A set of parabolic mirrors can be used to concentrate the sun’s rays to heat a fluid flowing in a pipe positioned at the mirrors’ focal points (Camacho, 2012). The heated fluid, such as oil, for example, is transported to a pressurized tank to be used to create steam to generate electricity or power an industrial process. Since the solar energy varies with time of day, time of year, cloudiness, humidity, etc., a control system has to be developed in order to maintain the fluid temperature constant. The temperature is mainly controlled by varying the amount of fluid flow through the pipes, but possibly also with a solar tracking mechanism that tilts the mirrors at appropriate angles.
Assuming fixed mirror angles, draw the functional block diagram of a system to maintain the fluid temperature a constant. The desired and actual fluid temperature difference is fed to a controller followed by an amplifier and signal conditioning circuit that varies the speed of a fluid circulating pump. Label the blocks and links of your diagram, indicating all the inputs to the system, including external disturbances such as solar variations, cloudiness, humidity, etc.
