Solar Tower System-Heliostat numbers

Hello,

I am trying to model a Solar Tower System using SAM for my curiosity and knowledge purpose.
I am stuck with the numbers of heliostat in the system, I input all the variables known and then click on the optimization wizard, but it does not give the number of heliostats as known beforehand by the project details.

I know the actual number of heliostats and the area occupied, but since SAM calculates on its own, I could not move ahead. Could somebody please guide me on the same at the earliest.

Thank you.

To model a power tower with a known number of heliostats, you can use the table at the bottom of the Heliostat Field page to specify the number and location of heliostats.

An alternative approach if you do not have information about the distribution of the heliostats in the field is to run the optimization with different parameters until the wizard calculates a number of heliostats close to the number you want to model. For example, you can adjust the maximum tower height to see how it affects the number of heliostats.

Best regards,
Paul.

I do not have the distribution because it is not published by the company, and I also know the tower height, so with all these parameters known, I cannot get the desired number of heliostats. I tried changing the parameters but then it reduces even more the number of heliostats.

Please suggest something as my probelm is stuck in the same place since last week.!! Many Thanks.!!

Can you describe what you are trying to do? It sound like you want to use SAM to model an existing system. What information do you have about the system? Are you trying to estimate how much electricity the system will generate?

Best regards,
Paul.

Hi,

Actually I want to apply it for a hypothetical 50 MW plant for MS Tower which a fellow student designed in his thesis and I am trying to make a sensitivity analysis in SAM with electricity generation and LEC and other details.

However I also tried verifying some results for an existing plant but as said I was stuck with the heliostat numbers and hence the total reflective area and the associated costs with it changed due to difference in numbers. So I did not go on with the analysis of existing plant.

However, yesterday while I was trying to solve the Optimisation Wizard generated a number and then I also edited the table below with some random numbers of helistats so that I can get the desired number.

I am not aware how this would affect ma analysis if I try to modify the number generated by the wizard.

The power tower model's field optimization wizard's purpose is to help you find the number and distribution of heliostats, tower height, receiver height, and receiver diameter that minimizes the system's levelized cost of energy given the other performance, cost, and financial parameters that you specify. It makes sense to review the wizards results and change them as necessary before running simulations.

If you do change a parameter like the number of heliostats after running the wizard, the system you simulate may not be the lowest cost system.

Best regards,
Paul.