Heliostat Model Validation

Hey!

Im using the same data to build a heliostat field on both SolarPILOT and SAM. Therefore in SOLAR Pilot Im having around 100 additional heliostats in comparison with my heliostat field in SAM

Can I expect a difference like this when comparing both softwares?

Also, when validating the heliostat performance in SAM, can I consider "Receiver thermal power to HTF less piping loss"as an equivalent result for the "power absorbed by HTF" in SolarPILOT ?

Thanks!

Hi Lucas,

SAM does not provide access to all of the SolarPILOT inputs, so I would expect some differences in results between SAM and SolarPILOT because of differences in the inputs.

SolarPILOT does not have a piping model, so I would not expect the SolarPILOT "Power absorbed by HTF" to be equivalent to SAM's "Receiver thermal power to HTF less piping loss."

Best regards,
Paul.
 

Hey Paul! thanks for your quick reply..

but still, by only validating SAM and forgetting about the differences, can I consider "Receiver thermal power to HTF less piping loss.""as the power absorbed by the HTF?

Thanks

Hi Lucas,

Yes, SAM's "Thermal power to HTF less piping loss" is the heat absorbed by the HTF in the receiver.

Best regards,
Paul.

Thanks once again Paul!

Hi Lucas,

One more note is that you can export the heliostat field layout from either SAM or SolarPILOT to and import it to the other to help make the inputs as consistent as possible.

Best regards,
Paul.