As deployment of parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) systems ramps up, the need for reliable and robust performance acceptance test guidelines for the solar field is also amplified. Project owners and/or EPC contractors often require extensive solar field performance testing as part of the plant commissioning process in order to ensure that actual solar field performance satisfies both technical specifications and performance guaranties between the involved parties. Performance test code work is currently underway at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in collaboration with the SolarPACES Task-I activity, and within the ASME PTC-52 committee. One important aspect of acceptance testing is the selection of a robust technology performance model. NREL1 has developed a detailed parabolic trough performance model [1] within the SAM software tool [2]. This model is capable of predicting solar field, sub-system, and component performance. It has further been modified for this work to support calculation at sub-hourly time steps. This paper presents the methodology and results of a case study comparing actual performance data for a parabolic trough solar field to the predicted results using the modified SAM trough model. Due to data limitations, the methodology is applied to a single collector loop, though it applies to larger subfields and entire solar fields. Special consideration is provided for the model formulation, improvements to the model formulation based on comparison with the collected data, and uncertainty associated with the measured data. Additionally, this paper identifies modeling considerations that are of particular importance in the solar field acceptance testing process and uses the model to provide preliminary recommendations regarding acceptable steady-state testing conditions at the single-loop level.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
August 7–10, 2011
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5468-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Modeling of a Parabolic Trough Solar Field for Acceptance Testing: A Case Study Available to Purchase
Michael J. Wagner,
Michael J. Wagner
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Mark S. Mehos,
Mark S. Mehos
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
David W. Kearney,
David W. Kearney
Kearney & Associates, Vashon, WA
Search for other works by this author on:
Andrew C. McMahan
Andrew C. McMahan
SkyFuel, Inc., Arvada, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael J. Wagner
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Mark S. Mehos
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
David W. Kearney
Kearney & Associates, Vashon, WA
Andrew C. McMahan
SkyFuel, Inc., Arvada, CO
Paper No:
ES2011-54245, pp. 595-603; 9 pages
Published Online:
March 13, 2012
Citation
Wagner, MJ, Mehos, MS, Kearney, DW, & McMahan, AC. "Modeling of a Parabolic Trough Solar Field for Acceptance Testing: A Case Study." Proceedings of the ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Parts A, B, and C. Washington, DC, USA. August 7–10, 2011. pp. 595-603. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2011-54245
Download citation file:
12
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
A Message From the Guest Editors
J. Sol. Energy Eng (February,2008)
Demonstrating solarpilot’s Python Application Programmable Interface Through Heliostat Optimal Aimpoint Strategy Use Case
J. Sol. Energy Eng (June,2022)
Streamlining the Power Generation Profile of Concentrating Solar Power Plants
J. Sol. Energy Eng (April,2019)
Related Chapters
Web Performance Testing System Research and Implementation
International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (ICACTE 2009)
Hydro Tasmania — King Island Case Study
Hydro, Wave and Tidal Energy Applications
The Design and Implementation of an Collaboration-Oriented Distributed Software Automatic Testing System
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)