Batch mode - Parametric studies

Principle

It is possible to run several simulations at a time with varying parameters, and gather the results on a spreadsheet for easy parametric studies.

Before the simulation, you have a dialog for:

- Choosing the parameters to be varied

- Choosing the variables to be output (in yearly values) on the spreadsheet file

This will create an CSV document that you should open in a spreadsheet like EXCEL.

In EXCEL - before the execution of the simulation:

- Open the predefined document, specify the parameters to be applied, define one line for each simulation run.

Run the simulation.

In EXCEL:

- Open the Results file: you have a table of the parameters and the requested yearly results for each run.

Detailed procedure

Just before the simulation, button "Batch simulations".

1 - Batch CSV files page:

- Input file: this indicates the CSV file to be defined for the parameters (fixed name, with BatchParams tag, always located in \UserBatch\ )

- Output file: this indicates the output CSV file ( (fixed name, with BatchResults tag).

2. - Parameters specifications page

You have to choose the parameters you want to modify during your multiple executions:

Meteo and Save Mode

- You may specify several meteo files. This can be used, for instance, to run all years from a time-serie. In this mode PVSyst first checks if the specified meteo files exist in the database and if they are valid. PVSyst will then consider the climatic distance between the geographical site and the meteo files, and, if above the limit *, the meteo site coordinates (lat, long, alt) will be transfered into the geographical site coordinates.

- You may specify several locations. This can be used, for instance, to challenge several geographical options for your project. In this mode PVSyst first checks if the specified sites exist in the database. If so, 2 possibilities :
- at least one meteo file (.MET) is available in the surroundings *. The nearest meteo file is then selected.

- no meteo file available in the defined area. PVSyst will generate a synthetically meteo file using the Meteonorm Dll.

- Choose if you want to start from VCi base files that differs from the current selection.
- Choose if you want to save the simulation version files (*.VCi).

- Consider the possibility to create hourly output files

(*) Default setting is 15km. This limit may be changed, see the Hidden parameter "project site - Meteo distance for auto synthetic proposal" - category Miscellaneaous : meteo, simulation,...)

Plane orientation

- Modify tilt, azimuth, or shed characteristics (pitch, electrical effect) if unlimited sheds defined.

3D shadings parameters

- Sheds: define pitch, collector width,

- Tracking: pitch between trackers or rows, backtracking, stroke angles, etc

System parameters

- PV module type, number in series and number of strings, module quality loss.

- Inverter type, number of devices.

If you think other parameters are worthwhile to be varied in this tool, don't hesitate to ask us.

3. - Results variables specifications page

You can choose here any simulation variable, to be mentioned in the results of the CSV file as yearly results.

Before the simulation :

When closing this dialog, you are invited to

- open the file MyProject_BatchParams_i.CSV in \UserData\ with EXCEL

- Define the table of parameters (one line per execution, fill the columns of parameters to be varied

- You are advised to carefully define comments as remainders of the varied parameters

- Be sure to close this file before performing the simulation.

After the simulation:

You will find the results in the file "MyProject_BatchResults_i.CSV", to be analyzed in EXCEL.

Advice: you can delete the files "MyProject_BatchParams_i.CSV" and "MyProject_BatchResults_i.CSV" after use and gathering them in your working EXCEL XLS documents.

A new file "Myproject_BatchParams_i.CSV" is created at each opening of the batch tool: you can never reuse a "MyProject_Params_i.CSV" file, except by copy/paste its parameters (but be careful with the matching of the columns with titles).