New SAM 2017.1.17 Release: Bug CSP parametrics

Hello,

The parametrics module for molten salt tower doesn't work since the new release.
Could you look at it?

Regards,

Charles

Dear Charles,

Parametric simulations appear to be working for me. Because of the large number of calculations involved in a single simulation, if you set up a parametric simulation with several variables and values, it may take a very long time to finish running.

Can you provide more detail about what you are trying to do? What input and output variables are you trying to use for your parametric simulations?

Best regards,

Dear Charles,

There is a bug in SAM 2017.1.17 that prevents simulations from running when you use the optimization check boxes on the Heliostat Field page. It works fine when you click the "generate heliostat layout" and "optimize solar field geometry" buttons, but not the check boxes.

We will fix that in the next update. In the meantime, you can fix the problem as follows:

UPDATE 3/1/2017: THIS WORKAROUND SOLUTION DOES NOT WORK. WE WILL RELEASE A SOFTWARE UPDATE SOON.

1. Download the Tower Solar Field.ui file from here (UI 360 KB).
   
2. If SAM is running, close it.
   
3. In the c:/SAM/2017.1.17/runtime/ui folder (see here to find the file in OS X), find the Tower Solar Field.ui file, and rename it to Tower Solar Field OLD.ui.
   
4. Save the Tower Solar Field.ui file you downloaded in Step 1 to the c:/SAM/2017.1.17/runtime/ui folder.
   
5. Start SAM and test your parametric runs.

Please let me know if that seems to solve the problem.

Best regards,
Paul.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your reply.
You are right, the problem is more with the check box than the parametric simulation.

With your ui file heliostats positions do not display anymore in the "Heliostat fiels" tab.
For the parametrics simulation, it is still not working with the "Always layout automatically" button checked.
The message is the same:
"ssc variable does not exist: 'check_max_flux'
Simulation tcsmolten_salt failed.
SSC requires input 'gen', but was not found in the SAM UI or from previous simulations
Simulation singleowner failed."
It is also not working for a single simulation with "Always layout automatically" button checked.

If you have another possible fix, I will be interessted to try.

Regards,
Charles

Dear Charles,

Sorry about that. It turns out the bug cannot be solved without recompiling the source code. We will release an update soon.

Best regards,
Paul.