ETRANS: an energy transport system optimization code for distributed networks of solar collectors
Abstract
The optimization code ETRANS was developed at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to design and estimate the costs associated with energy transport systems for distributed fields of solar collectors. The code uses frequently cited layouts for dish and trough collectors and optimizes them on a section-by-section basis. The optimal section design is that combination of pipe diameter and insulation thickness that yields the minimum annualized system-resultant cost. Among the quantities included in the costing algorithm are (1) labor and materials costs associated with initial plant construction, (2) operating expenses due to daytime and nighttime heat losses, and (3) operating expenses due to pumping power requirements. Two preliminary series of simulations were conducted to exercise the code. The results indicate that transport system costs for both dish and trough collector fields increase with field size and receiver exit temperature. Furthermore, dish collector transport systems were found to be much more expensive to build and operate than trough transport systems. ETRANS itself is stable and fast-running and shows promise of being a highly effective tool for the analysis of distributed solar thermal systems.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5139946
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3327
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; COMPUTER CODES; E CODES; DISTRIBUTED COLLECTOR POWER PLANTS; CIRCULATING SYSTEMS; PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS; PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; COOLANT LOOPS; COST; DESIGN; HEAT LOSSES; LABOR; OPTIMIZATION; PERFORMANCE; PIPES; SIZE; CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS; COOLING SYSTEMS; ENERGY LOSSES; EQUIPMENT; LOSSES; PARABOLIC COLLECTORS; POWER PLANTS; SOLAR COLLECTORS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SOLAR POWER PLANTS; SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS; THERMAL POWER PLANTS; 141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators; 140703 - Solar Thermal Power Systems- Distributed Collector
Citation Formats
Barnhart, J.S.. ETRANS: an energy transport system optimization code for distributed networks of solar collectors. United States: N. p., 1980.
Web. doi:10.2172/5139946.
Barnhart, J.S.. ETRANS: an energy transport system optimization code for distributed networks of solar collectors. United States. doi:10.2172/5139946.
Barnhart, J.S.. Mon .
"ETRANS: an energy transport system optimization code for distributed networks of solar collectors". United States.
doi:10.2172/5139946. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5139946.
@article{osti_5139946,
title = {ETRANS: an energy transport system optimization code for distributed networks of solar collectors},
author = {Barnhart, J.S.},
abstractNote = {The optimization code ETRANS was developed at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to design and estimate the costs associated with energy transport systems for distributed fields of solar collectors. The code uses frequently cited layouts for dish and trough collectors and optimizes them on a section-by-section basis. The optimal section design is that combination of pipe diameter and insulation thickness that yields the minimum annualized system-resultant cost. Among the quantities included in the costing algorithm are (1) labor and materials costs associated with initial plant construction, (2) operating expenses due to daytime and nighttime heat losses, and (3) operating expenses due to pumping power requirements. Two preliminary series of simulations were conducted to exercise the code. The results indicate that transport system costs for both dish and trough collector fields increase with field size and receiver exit temperature. Furthermore, dish collector transport systems were found to be much more expensive to build and operate than trough transport systems. ETRANS itself is stable and fast-running and shows promise of being a highly effective tool for the analysis of distributed solar thermal systems.},
doi = {10.2172/5139946},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}