CombiCSP is an open source software for dynamic modelling of concentrating solar energy power plants. CombiCSP utilizes solar resource, system engineering inputs as well as financial tools to provide dynamic simulations and annual yields of concentrating solar power plants. It readily provides modelling of plants based on solar power tower and parabolic trough collectors and it can be extended to novel solar energy modeling approaches and analyses as needed.

The relevant work pertaining to this software is : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119450

clone the repository from the CombiCSP.

then move to the root of the repository and perform (this requires python setuptools )

python setup.py install

The setup should take care of all problems.

The Combi_CSP_oop.ipynb describes a typical use scenario.

Additionally, example cases are scripted in the following files:

• CSPCret.py: heliostat and CSP power and energy outputs in a location in Crete, Greece
• CSP50Compare.py: Combined heliostat and CSP power and energy outputs in a location in Crete, Greece

The following mainstream packages are required for this library (most of them are already installed in a typical installation).

• matplotlib
• scipy
• pandas
• ipykernel

Additional libraries are:

• pvlib_python
• iapws (The InternationalAssociation for the Properties of Water and Steam)
• numpy-financial

The following describes a minimum environment using conda.

(Optional) Preferably create a new environment for the packages

conda create -n combicsp python=3

installation requires:

• matplotlib
• scipy
• pandas
• ipykernel

conda install matplotlib scipy pandas ipykernel

• pvlib_python:

conda install -c conda-forge pvlib-python

• iapws: The InternationalAssociation for the Properties of Water and Steam

conda install -c conda-forge iapws

• numpy-financial

conda install -c conda-forge numpy-financial

• G. E. Arnaoutakis: Technical direction, and original calculation functions
• N. Papadakis: Software Design, Package Maintenance.

• remove old procedural function of solar geometry
• remove old procedural functions that are now part of SolarTowerCalcs and SolarTroughCalcs
• remove original versions of:
  • CSPCret.py and comparison file
  • CSP50Compare.py and comparison file
  • CombiCSP.ipynb
• Write an equivalent version of CSP50Compare.py using the new class system
• HOYS_DEFAULT should be removed. The Ib data has a time series and that should be used instead of HOYS.
• Remove/rewrite the following files:
  • SolarGeometry.py
  • CSP.py
  • storage.py
  • Transmittance.py
• (low priority) Documentation
• (low priority) submit to pypi