Trying to perform a particular simulation using SAM

Hello Paul !

I am trying to use SAM in a way, where it is not exactly meant for (I am aware that the results are to be considered with caution then..)
I intend to simulate a simple parabolic trough field with 3 loops only (I have created .samlib files with my collector geometry) and what I want to know is the plain thermal output of the solar field of it at given weather data(I purchased them as .tm3 files). There is no thermal to electric energy conversion system (e.g. steam turbine) nor a TES in this constellation.
Is it possible to perform such a simulation using SAM ? How could I simulate that SAM does not consider the shut downs, due to low energy input to the steam cycle ? Costs of the system ect. are not relevant at this time..

Thank you for your kind help !

Marc

One approach might be to ignore the electric output of the system. You could look only at the thermal output of the solar field that is reported in the hourly results. You can see the hourly results after running simulations by clicking Data Tables or Base Case Time Series on the Results page.

Note that SAM will adjust the solar field's output so that it does not exceed the maximum thermal load of the power cycle, so you may want to use a large power cycle to avoid defocusing collectors in the field during periods of high solar irradiance.

To model a system with no storage, be sure to change the "Full Load Hours of TES" value on the Thermal Storage page to zero.

Best regards,
Paul.

Hello Paul !

wish you nice easter holidays !

Thanks for your advice, it was in fact the way I tried to get results, but what I did wrong was that I have chosen a too small power cycle, apparently causing the collectors to defocus. I found in the hourly results several important field output drops, which is clear by now.
I will try to simulate with a much larger power cycle.

If I consider monthly data in the Data Tables, the value Q Field Output [monthly] could you remind me its unit, please ? Is it MMBTU, kWh ??

Best Regards,

Marc

The units for Q_field_output are thermal megawatt-hours (MWht).

I'm working with the developers to try to better label the variables in the data tables.

Best regards,
Paul.