Best practice when using external data with SAM

Hi

My question is regarding the best practice when using a externally generated data with SAM.
I have annual data file with the thermal output form a thermal energy storage system that I designed for parabolic trough sysytem.
The data is 8760 resolution in KWht on excel (attached) and I would like to obtain the different LCOE's when calculated by SAM. which of the options will be possible using SAM:

1) using the SAMUL in order to write this data to the TES hourly output array (if possible) and then letting SAM incorporate the energy in its run according to the case parameters.

2) Using SAM to model the same parabolic trough as I used to generate my TES data and get the overall thermal energy supplied to the power block and then add when possible avialable energy from the TES extenal file and calculate by myself the overall energy output (assuming turbine partial loads, temperature efficiency losses etc.) and running this in the generic plant option.

If article 1 is possible or even both are possible can a code example of changing the output using SAMUL be presented? Where can one find the different data types of the parameters when using SAMUL (so as to know how to use them)?

Thank you in advance

best regards

Uri

There is not a straightforward way to replace the data from one component (SAM's TES model) with data from an external source (your 8,760 data in kWht). If you use TRNSYS, you could use the simulator options.

You could try to set up a system in SAM with TES that results in TES output similar to your data.

If you have 8,760 or higher resolution electric output data, you can use the generic model, which allows you to use that data as input to one of SAM's financial models. That's described in the following video on the SAM YouTube channel: youtu.be/OeqFJtV3pr0 .

SamUL allows you to change the value of SAM inputs (the same ones you see on the input pages), control simulations, and to write output data to text files. It does not provide access to the internal components of the model. The scripting language is described in SAM's help system under Batch Processing and in youtu.be/alox00yuEf0 .

We are working on an application programming interface (API) for SAM that allows you to control SAM from a program you write in C. You can get a sense of what that looks like with the code generation feature. That's also described in Help under Batch Processing, and briefly introduced in youtu.be/ew_qqAg_9EM . We're working to improve and document the API, but that work will not be finished until the end of this year.

Best regards,
Paul.