Gholamreza Shahriari - Department of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology
Hamidreza Aminianfard Moghaddam - Department of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology
Sayed Mohammad Hossein Mortazavi - Department of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology

There are numerous factors that can influence the overall efficiency of a solar power plant. Direct Normal Insolation (DNI), minimum condenser pressure and ambient temperature are among the factors that can affect main characteristics of a power plant. These important characteristics are capacity factor, annual energy and Gross-to-net power conversion coefficient. This investigation was performed by Solar Advisor Model (SAM). The results taken from this software can assist us to have a better comprehension over the effects of these factors on the overall performance of the power plant. In this study, Solar Electric Generating Station VI (SEGS VI), a parabolic trough solar power plant located in California, USA, is taken as a case study because of existing valid experimental data. The effects of these factors are then investigated on this power plant.

parabolic trough power plant; Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant; effects of dirtiness and direct normal insolation on solar power plant; SEGS VI; capacity factor; annual energy; gross-to-net power conversion coefficient