Hourly control- Fossil backup

Hello,

I am simulating the CSP plant performance using the empirical model of SAM ( latest version). I would like to modelize the plant using fossil backup with defined power in each hour (8760 input data ) . is that possible?
Also, I would like to know how can I define the thermal storage control to prioritize the fossil backup , with and without sun, and with and without TES?

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

It is not possible to simulate a parabolic trough system using fossil backup power as an input. SAM uses the inputs you provide under Thermal Storage Dispatch Control on the Thermal Storage page to determine when the system requires energy from fossil backup to supply supplementary heat to the field HTF.

SAM uses energy from the fossil backup system when there is insufficient energy from the solar field or TES to maintain the field design temperature. I don't think there is a way to trick the model into prioritizing fossil backup.

What application are you trying to model using this approach?

Best regards,
Paul.

Thanks Paul for your quick response.
I would like to model a hybrid plant. A biomass plant that generates as a given profile (8760 data). CSP should complement to the maximum load. If the biomass plant produces the maximum CSP should store energy in TES.

SAM does not model hybrid power systems. You can model a biomass power plant or a CSP power plant, but not a combination of the two.

Best regards,
Paul.