STRAL: Fast Ray Tracing Software With Tool Coupling Capabilities for High-Precision Simulations of Solar Thermal Power Plants

Abstract

Ray tracing is a common approach to calculate the flux density distribution on an evaluation plane, e.g. the receiver absorber surface, for solar thermal power plants. Several ray tracing tools have been developed for specific purposes and technologies in the field of solar thermal power plants [1-4]. In this context, the solar tower ray tracing laboratory (STRAL), a fast and precise ray tracing tool, which is equipped with powerful tool coupling capabilities, was developed in the recent past [5]. Tool coupling enables co-simulations between two or more simulation environments. The advantage is that models can be developed in the simulation environment that suits best to the problem and then used together in one co-simulation. In the context of solar thermal power plants, tool coupling of ray tracing tools with other simulation environments can be advantageous in lots of applications e.g. dynamic simulations of optical and thermal components, software or hardware in the loop tests, development of control algorithms et cetera. This paper presents the ray tracing software STRAL and its tool coupling capabilities. Examples are discussed to demonstrate the potential of co-simulation.