01 / ENGINEERING IN MOTION

Chasing
the sun.

SOLAR TOWER + THERMAL STORAGE

MODEL STUDY / MOJAVE DESERTNOT TO SCALE AS A WHOLE PLANT

3D / HIGH FIDELITY SOLAR COLLECTION ACTIVE

INSPECTED ELEMENT

Central receiver assembly

Select a component to inspect its purpose.

CAMERA

DRAG TO ORBIT · SCROLL TO ZOOM · RIGHT DRAG TO PAN

VIEWING PROTOCOL05 MODES

EXPLODE AMOUNT0%

INSTALLEDDISASSEMBLED

GUIDED ASSEMBLY READY

10 dependency-ordered subsystems

USA / 027 ENERGY SYSTEMS

Solar power
tower.

One field of mirrors. One receiver. A remarkable thermal journey.

RENEWABLE HEAT3D EXHIBITINTERACTIVE

THE SYSTEM / 01

Sunlight is redirected by a field of two-axis heliostats to a high receiver. Heated salt can then be stored or routed to the steam plant.

01COLLECT550 heliostat mirrors track the sun

02CONCENTRATEReceiver tubes absorb radiant energy

03STORETwo insulated molten-salt reservoirs

04GENERATEHeat exchanger → turbine → alternator

WHERE & WHEN

American Southwest

Illustrative Mojave Desert setting; inspired by solar tower demonstrations from approximately the 1980s onward and later commercial developments.

WHY IT MATTERED

Concentrated solar thermal power showed how mirrors can provide high-temperature heat, with certain designs adding storage for generation beyond direct sunshine.

LIVE MODEL / 02

Move the controls to recompute the energy balance. Values are illustrative, not a site performance forecast.

INCIDENT SUNLIGHT—MW solar

RECEIVER HEAT—MW thermal

ELECTRIC OUTPUT—MW electric

STORED HEAT—MWh thermal

EST. DISPATCH—hours at modelled input

RECEIVER FLUX—kW / m²

DIRECT NORMAL IRRADIANCE OPTICAL FIELD EFFICIENCY RECEIVER EFFICIENCY POWER CYCLE EFFICIENCY HOT SALT MASS THERMAL TEMPERATURE LIFT

INDEPENDENT CROSS-CHECK

SEQUENTIAL ENGINE —

DIRECT PRODUCT —

ENGINEERING NOTES / 03

The exhibit uses a steady-state energy balance and a simplified sensible-heat storage calculation.

Equations used

P_sun = DNI × N × A
P_receiver = P_sun × η_opt × η_rec
P_electric = P_receiver × η_cycle
E_store = m × c_p × ΔT
t = E_store ÷ P_receiver

What is simplified?

Fixed optical and receiver efficiencies; no time-resolved solar position, cloud shading, parasitic pump losses, pipeline heat loss, thermal stratification, dispatch strategy, weather or grid demand. Receiver flux is an area average.

What is reconstructed?

The model combines generic structural elements of a solar tower and molten-salt system. The plant layout, mirror count, dimensions, machinery, colouring and movements are illustrative rather than a depiction of one actual facility.

How to inspect the hierarchy

Choose Isolate, then click any visible part. Choose Cutaway for internal tubes, shafts and equipment. Explode separates dependency groups. Guided assembly highlights each structural layer in order.

Illustrative reconstruction, not an official model and not affiliated with any institution, company or manufacturer.

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE / 04

Three questions, no account and no internet required.

BEYOND THE MODEL — AN ENGINEERING STORY

From desert light
to useful power.

Concentrating solar-thermal technology is a study in careful coordination. A heliostat field follows the sun, optical paths meet at a receiver, pumps move hot fluid, and a power cycle converts stored thermal energy into electricity.

This interactive exhibit is an original educational interpretation, designed to make each step inspectable rather than simulate a particular site. Explore the detailed article accompanying this installation for further historical and engineering context.

Chasingthe sun.

From desert lightto useful power.

Chasing
the sun.

From desert light
to useful power.