A user's manual for DELSOL3: A computer code for calculating the optical performance and optimal system design for solar thermal central receiver plants
DELSOL3 is a revised and updated version of the DELSOL2 computer program (SAND81-8237) for calculating collector field performance and layout and optimal system design for solar thermal central receiver plants. The code consists of a detailed model of the optical performance, a simpler model of the non-optical performance, an algorithm for field layout, and a searching algorithm to find the best system design based on energy cost. The latter two features are coupled to a cost model of central receiver components and an economic model for calculating energy costs. The code can handle flat, focused and/or canted heliostats, and external cylindrical, multi-aperture cavity, and flat plate receivers. The program optimizes the tower height, receiver size, field layout, heliostat spacings, and tower position at user specified power levels subject to flux limits on the receiver and land constraints for field layout. DELSOL3 maintains the advantages of speed and accuracy which are characteristics of DELSOL2.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DR00789
- OSTI ID:
- 7228886
- Report Number(s):
- SAND86-8018; ON: DE87003598
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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