SolTrace 1.0

SolTrace by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a powerful software tool for modeling and analyzing concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, particularly parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel collectors. Its user-friendly interface allows users to define various system configurations, including mirrors, absorbers, and receivers. SolTrace can also simulate the effects of shading and misalignment on the system's performance.

One of the key features of SolTrace is its ray-tracing capability, which can determine how solar radiation will behave when it interacts with a given system. It can also provide detailed information on the concentration distribution and heat flux at the receiver surface. SolTrace can also generate comprehensive optical performance metrics and analyze the impact of design choices on system efficiency and costs.

With SolTrace, users can simulate thermal losses, radiation from the sky and ground, wind behavior, mirror reflectivity, and much more. It also has a built-in optics database with a vast array of materials for absorbers, glass covers, and reflectors. The results can be used to improve performance optimizations in new or existing projects.

SolTrace is widely recognized as an essential CSP analysis tool and is free to download through NREL's official website. It is used by researchers, engineers, and solar power professionals around the world.