Cavity Field Detected.

[Ben Gardiner]

To whom it may concern

I want to investigate small-scale CSP plants using different heliostat field configurations, such as rectangular cornfield etc. I've decided to create a python script to investigate this easier; however, I am running into an issue. I am generating the heliostat field using the SolarPILOT API, passing the heliostat positions into PySAM, and then simulating the system with the given heliostat field. This works for large plants; however, I get the following error when the plant needs to generate less than ~20 MWe :

External receiver specified, but cavity field detected. Try one of the following options:
1) Run field layout macro on Heliostat Field page
2) Select option for simulation to layout field and tower/receiver design
3) Enter new heliostat positions

I would like to use an external receiver, with a user-specified acceptance angle for approximately 10 MWe CSP plants. Does anyone have a solution? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ben