CSP. Molten salts- Simulation with imported heliostat field

Hello,
 
I’m trying to run a simulation of a heliostat field importing coordinates from an external file using a fixed solar tower. Once uploaded the heliostats field file, when simulating the performance, I keep both options: ‘Generation heliostat layout using tower dimensions’ and ‘Optimize heliostat layout and tower dimensions’ non activated. Number of heliostats and tower data remains the same before and after simulation.
 
The issue is the following: depending on what the solar multiple value is defined in System Design screen, simulation reaches different values and annual production decreases/increases. As the solar filed is already fixed, which is the reason of getting different values? 

Thanks!

Hi Tania,

When you import heliostat coordinates, you should make sure that other parameters are appropriate for the layout. Changing the solar multiple changes the receiver thermal power at design, so you should use a solar multiple value that is appropriate for the heliostat coordinates you imported. If you change the solar multiple without changing the field layout, the system may not be optimally designed to achieve the receiver thermal power at design.

The purpose of the solar multiple input is to make it possible to use a single input to adjust the solar field layout when you use the Optimize Heliostat Layout and Tower Dimensions option on the Heliostat Field page.

Best regards,
Paul.