How does SAM model thermal energy storage?
SAM models thermal energy storage (TES) as a system that can store up to the Maximum Energy Storage shown on the Storage page with maximum charge and discharge rates shown as Maximum Power To Storage and Maximum Power From Storage on the Storage page. These rates are calculated using the Turbine TES Adj. – Efficiency and Turbine TES Adjustment – Gross Output, and Heat Exchanger Duty variables. To account for TES-related losses, SAM applies a “TES correction factor” to the total system output that is calculated using the Turbine TES Adj. – Efficiency variable and the hourly energy quantities delivered by the TES system and to the power block. For systems with TES, SAM also subtracts the Tank Heat Losses amount from the system output for every hour of the year.
