The file tesDescriptor.xml implements a generic energy storage description.

Tags denoted by * in their header are inherited without change from the componentDescriptorInterface.xml or intermediate parents if applicable. Tags denoted with # in their header are inherited with modification from the parent interface. All other tags are additions specific to this implementation.

There are active tags that are implemented in the tool and inactive tags that are not yet implemented but allow for future increased functionality and features.

Active tags

Root tag - component*

The root tag has to be present in any component description.

Attributes:

name: the name under which the particular component is known.

childOf tag*

The childOf tag names the direct parent. For the tesDescriptor implementation this is loadDescriptor.

type tag #

thermal storage systems are 'sink'. They are can only absorb power.

Attributes:

value: this should be set to 'sink'.

setPointResponseRampRate

The setPointResponseRampRate tag is the response rate of the renewable energy setpoint for deviations in the power input into the TES from the setpoint power. Units are kW/(kW*s) and the default is 0.1.

Attributes:

value: Default is 0.1 kW/(kW*s).

unit: kW/kJ.

setPoint

The setPoint is the desired power input when there is adequate renewable energy online.

Attributes:

value: Default is 0.5 pu.

unit: Per unit of maximum TES power.

Inactive tags

thermalCapacity

Is the thermal capacity of the thermal storage.

Attributes:

value: Default is 0.

unit: J/K.

thermalConductanceInsulation

Describes the thermal conductance of the thermal storage insulation. Thermal convection and radiation will be assumed to be 10% of the calculated conductance loss and will be accounted for by adding 10% to the calculated thermal losses (http://www.process-heating.com/articles/87988-calculating-heat-loss).

Attributes:

value: Default is 0.

unit: W/K.

thermalConductanceExchanger

Describes is thermal conductance of the heat exchanger used to transfer heat from the heat transfer medium and the thermal storage medium. This is only used when the thermal storage is heated with heat recovered from another process. 'conversionEfficiency' is used when directly heated with electricity or an oil burner.

Attributes:

value: Default is 0.

unit: W/K.

conversionEfficiency

Describes the efficiency converting electrical to thermal energy. There are no units. It is expressed as a decimal between 0 and 1.

Attributes:

value: Default is 1, i.e. 100% efficient.

unit: NONE.

amdbientTemperature

Describes the ambient temperature around the thermal storage. If 'useAmbientTemperatureProfile' is a set to FALSE, then the temperature listed here will be used as the ambient temperature to calculate heat loss. If it is set to TRUE, this value is not used.

Attributes:

value: Default is 298.

unit: K.

useAmbientTemperatureProfile

The useAmbientTemperatureProfile tag is a bool value that indicates whether or not to use a temperature profile for ambient temperatures. If set to TRUE, a temperature profile saved at ..... will be used. Default is FALSE.

Attributes:

value: Default is FALSE.

unit: NONE.