Simulation of TCP-100 Facility System Level Model for Operation Training Purposes
Luis J. Yebra, Francisco M. Márquez, Pedro J. Zufiria · 2020
The TCP-100 parabolic trough collectors research facility at Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT) has replaced the 32 years old ACUREX research plant, widely used in Automatic Control research. The new TCP-100 structure poses new challenges in the design of more sophisticated operation modes. This paper presents a hybrid first principles system level model of the TCP-100 facility, which is based on two connected parts: a previously published non-linear continuous dynamic model, and a discrete part modelling the behaviour of an operator. This model is able to cover the different operation modes of the plant and proves its applicability for operation training activities. The discrete part of the model characterizes the operation procedure using both the StateGraph formalism in the Modelica object oriented modelling language, and the Dymola tool. We illustrate the validity of our hybrid model by simulating two different operation procedures applied to the TCP-100 plant model in a typical operation day in which the system passes through several operating modes.