As we need adapted software to calculate the solar flux concentration through a tower-heliostat field system, an overview of computer codes was performed, detailing their features, strengths and weaknesses. For this a questionnaire was sent to developers or heavy users of codes that are currently used in the concentrated solar power (CSP) community. Answers to this questionnaire make it possible to determine which tool is relevant depending on the objectives of the simulation. Modeling tools for central receiver systems (CRS) can be divided into two main categories, corresponding to two kinds of problems: on one hand those dedicated to system optimization and on the other hand those designed to detailed analysis of the optical performances. A bibliographic study on first generation and developing codes complements this overview of tools that may be interesting for CSP research or industry.

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A Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal energy storage module has been built and tested successfully at CEA on the LHASSA experimental facility. The test campaign aimed at validating the thermo-hydraulic behavior of the storage module under operating conditions similar to those of commercial Direct Steam Generation CSP plants. The measured performances have been compared to the simulation results given by a dynamic model developed at CEA. Tests gave very satisfactory results, with a measured storage capacity meeting the specifications and a very small degradation of temperature and pressure levels in discharge mode. The storage module tests allowed to validate the modeling approach chosen to assess system performances and dynamics. The simulation model developed within the Dymola platform was proven to accurately reproduce the tests results and therefore can be effectively used for performance predictions and for the definition of operating strategies of commercial CSP plants.