Power Tower Field Optimization

SAM's power tower field optimization is an implementation of the DELSOL3 model, which his described in Kistler, B. (1986). "A User's Manual for DELSOL3: A Computer Code for Calculating the Optical Performance and Optimal System Design for Solar Thermal Central Receiver Plants." Sandia Report No. SAND86-8018. ( PDF 10 MB )

To briefly describe the process: DELSOL3 uses 5 different days of the year with ideal insolation conditions to approximate annual energy output, then from this calculation it determines the LCOE for the system and selects a tower height, receiver area, and field layout that minimizes LCOE. Because of the way DELSOL3 optimizes, it is not possible (within SAM) to have it design a field for a particular hour/day of the year.

hello,

I'm trying to simulate a small tower (15 MWe) with 3 hours of storage. But I have an issue with the solar field optimization wizard : "PTGEN failed".

What input should I change (receiver diameter, tower height, heliostats width and height, distance from tower?) in order to run the wizard correctly?

Thank you for your answer,

Matthieu

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Power Tower Circular Field Optimization Wizard Crashes Units Error

Best regards,
Paul.