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| Every optimized heliostat array embodies a phase transition between a packed inner zone (solid phase) and a dispersed outer zone (gas phase.) |
When a heliostat array is optimized, heliostats arrange themselves into two phases. Close to the tower, heliostats are closely packed (the solid phase.) Far from the tower, heliostats are spaced apart (the gas phase.) The gas phase wastes land area; the solid phase wastes thermodynamic availability because these heliostats are too close to the target—from the receiver's point of view the sun's image fails to fill the mirror. Only at the boundary between these two phases (the condensation line) do heliostats work with maximal return on investment, wasting neither land nor thermodynamic availability.
That the heliostats at the boundary are working optimally is evidenced by the fact that, given the opportunity to spread out a little to improve performance, they choose not to spread out at all!
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