Parasitic Differenses

Hello Paul, I am comparing two different models (CSP Linear Fresnel Steam and CSP Linear Fresnel (Molten)). The model using molten salts as HTF calculates the amount of electrical power consumed by a single collector tracking mechanism. Why the steam model does not calculate that?

Dear Laura,

Both the molten salt linear Fresnel and direct steam linear Fresnel models calculate parasitic power for collector tracking. However, they use different input units to represent those parasitic loads: For the molten salt model the units are Watts per collector module, and for the direct steam they are Watts per square meter of aperture area. The more general W/m2 units for the direct steam model are appropriate for boiler and superheater sections when they employ different types of collectors.

Best regards,
Paul.