Concentrated solar power components toolbox in an object oriented environment

A toolbox for modeling solar components for gas and steam turbine Solar Thermal Power Plants (STPPs) is presented. It has been created in order to supplement the PROOSIS modeling environment that covers the power production parts. Solar and power production parts are both represented at a similar level of fidelity. The toolbox contains components for simulating all the individual solar elements used in STPPs in order to materialize Brayton, Rankine and Combined Cycles. Functionalities for computing solar irradiation properties as well as working fluid thermodynamic properties are included. The use of the toolbox is demonstrated through simulation cases at component and plant level, while its features, capabilities and merits are discussed. The developed capabilities offer the possibility to perform plant design optimization, operational support through performance prediction at various operating modes as well as assessment of the effect of components malfunctions.