Renewable Components

Overview on the Solar Library EbsSolar

The components 113 to 118 of the solar library allow to model solar thermal power plants based on parabolic trough or linear Fresnel collectors.

Depending on the actual task of the user two principle options are available:

• Detailed modeling of the solar field mainly intended for design purposes with the components
  • 113: line focusing solar collector to model one or more representative collector loops
  • 114: distributing header to model the distribution of heat transfer fluid on the collector loops
  • 115: collecting header to model the collection of the heat transfer fluid from the collector loops
  • 118: Direct storage system to model a heat storage system

• Simplified performance modeling mainly intended for annual yield calculations or feasibility studies

The main differences between the two modeling approaches are listed below.

• The collector heat balances is in both cases based on the same performance equations. By using individual collectors the representation will get more accurate since
  • more nodes for heat loss calculation along the collector loop are used
  • optical end losses and end gains can be specified individually for each collector (small effect)
  • collectors are allowed to have different slopes or orientations
  • collectors in the row can be given different performance characteristics (e.g. better heat losses for high temperature sections)

 

• Pressure loss in the collectors and headers can be calculated based on empirical models when using the detailed modeling approach. This allows a more exact determination of the systems overall pressure loss. In the solar field component 116 a nominal pressure loss has to be prescribed. Part-load pressures are calculated load dependent.

 

• The heat losses in the distributing and collecting header can be modelled in more detail when using components 114 and 115. In the solar field model the header heat losses are described by a simple temperature dependence or by an user defined adaptation function.

 

• The solar field component is based on a heat balance around the whole field. Especially for modeling direct steam generation plants with individual boiler and super heater sections this makes the model less complex but still accurate enough for studies where a detailed field layout is not subject of the work.

 

• The solar field model offers enough flexibility to tune the model with results from a more detailed field model based on components 113, 114 and 115.

 

The components 120 to 121 of the solar library allow to model a solar power plant with heliostat field and solar tower.

•  Modeling of a solar field with components        

 

Component 137 allows to model an array of photovoltaic modules with different types of PV cells.

As a general model the sun component 117 is used to define ambient and irradiation conditions. The components 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121 and 137 can obtain ambient parameters from this component.

 

The following are available as solar heat components:

Line focusing solar collector (Component 113)

Distributing header (Component 114)

Collecting header (Component 115)

Solar field (Component 116)

The sun (Component 117)

Direct storage (Component 118)

Indirect storage (Component 119)

Solar tower receiver (Component 120)

Heliostat field (Component 121)

Component 137: PV System (Component 137)

 

The following are available as wind components:

Wind Data (Component 142)

Wind Turbine (Component 143)

 

Other components:

Fuel Cell (Component 163)

Electrolysis Cell (Component 167)

Biomass Gasifier (Component 169)

 

Time series calculation        The time series calculation allows the calculation of a specified time range.

EbsSolar Dataset Data sets (sets of parameters) for components.