The cloud forecasting system, which is developed independently by COSIN SOLAR, is able to make precise prediction of the cloud movement and its influence on the plant based on traced record, and prepare corresponding operation strategy to ensure plant safety and efficient utilization of solar energy.

The software is intended to simulate construction, operation, maintenance of the molten salt tower CSP plant to realize functions as follows:

Operation Simulation: Plant operation and on-off simulation, operation data output, simulation platform acceleration & suspension.

Failure Simulation: Equipment status in the case of failure, operation simulation and interlock protection when failure occurs.

Design Optimization: Verification and optimization of process flow and equipment selection, and control strategy.

Training Demo: Plant process flow, operating personnel training.

Based on necessary construction condition data, the software is able to generate detailed design document in word format, which includes solar energy resource analysis, detailed system design (heliostat field, thermal receiving, thermal storage & exchange, steam turbine, etc), power generation and auxiliary power calculation and plant economical analysis. Such documents can be used for the preparation of feasibility study, investment decision-making and preliminary project design, etc.

The plant performance assessment software is intended for power generation calculation at design phase and normal operation of the plant. The software can calculate power production based on user’s data (designed parameters, meteorological data, power generation mode), and demonstrate the result in diagrams.

The software supports optimizing control algorithms based on big data analysis and machine learning with respect to different tower CSP projects, and is able to improve plant performance through standardized, automated, intelligentized operation strategy.

The software supports heliostat commissioning, maintaining and failure solving on android-powered cellphones and tablets, and it also provides access to historical data. During the construction and operation of the heliostat field, the software can be used to improve commissioning and maintaining efficiency.