A User's Manual for DELSOL3 - prod.sandia.gov - Sandia National ...

Table VI-1
Steps in Designing a System
1. Define System
- Heliostat type; receiver type; flux limits; field boundaries
- Non-optical performance parameters: receiver losses; EPGS
- Costs appropriate to technology and application
11. Initial performance calculation
- Use a guess for optimum tower height
- Save results for other optimizations using this heliostat, site, tower
height
111. Coarse oDtimization (can be done at same time as 11)
- Limited number of widely spaced optimization variables
- If optimum value(s) of a design variable(s) is at the minimum or maximum
value allowed in search for optimum, increase the range of values
searched and do another coarse optimization
IV. Fine optimization
- Use a finer grid of optimization variables centered on results of 111
- Reuse initial performance results from I1 unless tower height is very
different
V. Heliostat density optimization
A. New initial performance calculation
- Use optimum tower height from IV
- Use default densities or optimized densities from similar system
optimization
B. Optimization (can be done at same time as VA)
- Do not vary tower height
- Choose a fine grid of receiver sizes
C. Converge density optimization
- If optimum heliostat layout is very different from initial layout
used in VA, repeat VA and VB using the optimum densities from
VB as the input densities for VA
VI. Detailed performance calculation of optimum system
- Do a user defined field performance calculation of optimum system
- Optimize storage capacity if desired
VII. Investigate other design concepts (optional)
- Repeat I-VI with different heliostat or receiver type, different working
fluid
VIII. Non-energv cost design considerations
- Energy cost is generally insensitive to small perturbations from optimal
system
- If other considerations suggest deviating from DELSOL optimal design,
run DELSOL to calculate energy cost of modified system
140