heliostat
noun
he·lio·stat
ˈhē-lē-ə-ˌstat 
: an instrument consisting of a mirror mounted on an axis moved by clockwork by which a sunbeam is steadily reflected in one direction
Examples of heliostat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the roof of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, this heliostat array focuses sunlight on a reactor that can turn carbon dioxide from the air into fuel.
—
Frank Swain, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2020
The furnace’s heliostat, a 40-foot-wide panel of 36 mirrors (not visible here), tracks the sun across the sky, reflecting light into the attenuator (1), a grate that can be opened or closed like a window blind.
—Danielle Egan, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2010
Placing three heliostats, spaced every 120 degrees along a crater rim would ensure steady illumination to the mine, and two more would beam light at the vapor capture tent and fuel processing plant, according to Sowers.
—Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020
But those peak around 1,000 degrees, because each heliostat has to be individually calibrated and can fall out of alignment over time.
—Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The researchers found that for a solar plant with a central tower, the efficiency of the heliostats closest to the tower was higher.
—Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019
The plant, operated by Torresol Energy, consists of 2,650 heliostats — mirrors that turn to track the motion of the sun, fanning out around, and reflecting sunlight toward, a 150-meter (490-foot)-high tower.
—Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019
Molten Salt Thermal Storage Molten salt can retain heat for a long time, so it's generally found in solar thermal plants, where dozens or hundreds of heliostats (large mirrors) use the heat from sunlight to create energy.
—Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 28 Oct. 2017
The facility consists of an array of heliostats—or panels that reflect sunlight onto a thermal tower—and a molten salt tank.
—Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2017
Frank Swain, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2020
The furnace’s heliostat, a 40-foot-wide panel of 36 mirrors (not visible here), tracks the sun across the sky, reflecting light into the attenuator (1), a grate that can be opened or closed like a window blind.
—Danielle Egan, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2010
Placing three heliostats, spaced every 120 degrees along a crater rim would ensure steady illumination to the mine, and two more would beam light at the vapor capture tent and fuel processing plant, according to Sowers.
—Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020
But those peak around 1,000 degrees, because each heliostat has to be individually calibrated and can fall out of alignment over time.
—Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The researchers found that for a solar plant with a central tower, the efficiency of the heliostats closest to the tower was higher.
—Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019
The plant, operated by Torresol Energy, consists of 2,650 heliostats — mirrors that turn to track the motion of the sun, fanning out around, and reflecting sunlight toward, a 150-meter (490-foot)-high tower.
—Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019
Molten Salt Thermal Storage Molten salt can retain heat for a long time, so it's generally found in solar thermal plants, where dozens or hundreds of heliostats (large mirrors) use the heat from sunlight to create energy.
—Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 28 Oct. 2017
The facility consists of an array of heliostats—or panels that reflect sunlight onto a thermal tower—and a molten salt tank.
—Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heliostat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin heliostata, from heli- entry 1 + Greek -statēs -stat
First Known Use
1747, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near heliostat
Cite this Entry
“Heliostat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heliostat. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on heliostat
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heliostat
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share