LATEST WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENTS IN MOLTEN SALT TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Loyd ◽  
Samaan G. Ladkany
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Technological Developments

Molten salt (MS) storage systems in the 565°C range can store green solar energy from thermal solar power station, such as the Crescent Dunes solar plant in Nevada. Large containers can be used to store energy and generate electricity for eight hours or more to be used at night or during peak demand hours, depending on the container size. Energy storage can reduce the fluctuation due to weather conditions experienced at thermal solar power stations because stable diurnal energy supply is made available by MS energy storage. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the research presented discusses the recent technological developments associated with the use of molten salts for energy storage. In addition to their use for storing excess solar energy, molten salts are starting to be used in nuclear or hybrid power production. One particular aspect of interest is the focus using higher temperature salts to provide even more energy storage than conventional molten salts. One such salt, SaltStream700, allows for the use of molten salts at temperatures of 700°C. A summary of worldwide examples of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants is presented. Commercial solar power stations have been constructed in the United States and overseas, particularly in Spain, with molten salt being considered for use in these facilities.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MOLTEN SALTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN SOLAR POWER STATIONS

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samaan G. Ladkany ◽  
William G. Culbreth ◽  
Nathan Loyd
Keyword(s):  
Molten Salt ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Thermal Capacity ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Office Of Naval Research ◽  
The Us ◽  
Efficient Type

Molten salts (MS) in the 580°C range could be used to store excess energy from solar power stations and possibly from nuclear or coal. The energy can be stored up to a week in large containers at elevated temperature to generate eight hours of electricity to be used at night or during peak demand hours. This helps to reduce the fluctuation experienced at thermal solar power stations due to weather conditions. Our research supported by Office of Naval Research (ONR), presents a survey of salts to be used in molten salt technology. The physical characteristics of these salts such as density, melting temperature, viscosity, electric conductivity, surface tension, thermal capacity and cost are discussed. Cost is extremely important given the large volumes of salt required for energy storage at a commercial power station. Formulas are presented showing the amount of salt needed per required megawatts of stored energy depending on the type of salt. The estimated cost and the size of tanks required and the operating temperatures are presented. Recommendations are made regarding the most efficient type of molten salt to use. Commercial thermal solar power stations have been constructed in the US and overseas mainly in Spain for which molten salt is being considered. A field of flat mirrors together with collection towers are used in some designs and parabolic troughs used in others.

scholarly journals ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS OF MOLTEN SALT STORAGE SHELLS FOR USE IN SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Loyd ◽  
Samaan Ladkany
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Cylindrical Tank ◽  
Office Of Naval Research ◽  
Tank Design

Molten salt (MS) storage systems in the 565°C range can store green solar energy from thermal solar power station, such as the Crescent Dunes solar plant in Nevada. Large containers can be used to store energy and generate electricity for eight hours or more to be used at night or during peak demand hours, depending on the container size. Energy storage can reduce the fluctuation due to weather conditions experienced at thermal solar power stations because stable diurnal energy supply is made available by MS energy storage. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the research presented discusses the considerations for designing molten salt storage tanks. An alternate molten salt storage cylindrical tank design layout is presented, including an improved roof design concept. A preliminary heat transfer analysis is presented and discussed for the alternate cylindrical tank design. This preliminary analysis was used to determine the thickness of insulating material in and around the cylindrical tank to reduce heat flux. These insulating materials include the use of firebrick and ceramic insulation to complement the structural carbon steel and the stainless steel that is used for corrosion resistance. This paper also introduces the alternate designs of a semi-buried spherical tank and drop shell tank that can be used storing molten salts.

DESIGN OF MOLTEN SALT SHELLS FOR USE IN ENERGY STORAGE AT SOLAR POWER PLANTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samaan G. Ladkany ◽  
William G. Culbreth ◽  
Nathan Loyd
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Steel Columns ◽  
Solar Power Plants

Design of a steel tank for the storage of excess energy from thermal solar power plants using molten salts (MS) at 580°C is presented. Energy can be stored up to a week in large containers to generate eight hours of electricity for use at night or to reduce weather related fluctuation at solar thermal energy plants. Our research supported by Office of Naval Research (ONR) presents a detailed design of a cylindrical shell for the storage of high temperature molten salts. The storage shell consists of an inner stainless steel layer designed to resist corrosion and an external steel structural layer to contain the large pressures resulting from the molten salt. The cylindrical tank is 54 feet (16.459 meters) high and has an 80 feet (48.768 meters) diameter, with the salt level at a height of 42 feet (12.802 meters). Given the heat of the molten salt and the size of the tank, the design includes a flat shell cover supported on stainless steel columns and a semispherical utility access dome at the center. Considerations are made for the reduction of strength of steel at elevated temperatures. Layers of external insulation materials are used to reduce heat loss in the storage shell. The design presents a posttensioned concrete foundation analysis for the storage tank, which sits on a layer of sand to allow for thermal expansion.

Enhanced Heat Capacity of Molten Salt Nano-Materials for Concentrated Solar Power Application

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramaprasath Devaradjane ◽  
Donghyun Shin
Keyword(s):  
Heat Capacity ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Nano Materials ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power

Storage of thermal energy using molten salt materials has been widely explored for concentrating solar power. Since these power plants use thermodynamic cycle, the overall system cycle efficiency significantly relies on the thermal energy storage temperature. Therefore, increasing the thermal energy storage temperature and decreasing the amount of material needed can result in reducing the cost of solar energy. Molten salts are stable up to 700°C, relatively cheap, and safe to the environment. However, the heat capacity of the molten salts is typically low (∼1.5 J/gK) compared to other thermal storage materials. The low heat capacity of molten salts can be improved by dispersing nanoparticles. In this study, we synthesized molten salt nanomaterial by dispersing oxide nanoparticles into selected molten salts. Heat capacity measurements were performed using a modulated differential scanning calorimeter. Materials characterization studies were performed using a scanning electron microscopy. Hence, we evaluated the use of the molten salt nanomaterials as thermal energy storage media in concentrated solar power applications. Increase in the specific heat capacity of the molten salt is also demonstrated on addition with Nano materials of specific size and quantity.

scholarly journals Validation of SAM Modeling of Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti ◽  
Jamal Nayfeh ◽  
Wael Al-Kouz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough

The paper proposes the validation of the latest System Advisor Model (SAM) vs. the experimental data for concentrated solar power energy facilities. Both parabolic trough, and solar tower, are considered, with and without thermal energy storage. The 250 MW parabolic trough facilities of Genesis, Mojave, and Solana, and the 110 MW solar tower facility of Crescent Dunes, all in the United States South-West, are modeled. The computed monthly average capacity factors for the average weather year are compared with the experimental data measured since the start of the operation of the facilities. While much higher sampling frequencies are needed for proper validation, as monthly averaging dramatically filters out differences between experiments and simulations, computational results are relatively close to measured values for the parabolic trough, and very far from for solar tower systems. The thermal energy storage is also introducing additional inaccuracies. It is concluded that the code needs further development, especially for the solar field and receiver of the solar tower modules, and the thermal energy storage. Validation of models and sub-models vs. high-frequency data collected on existing facilities, for both energy production, power plant parameters, and weather conditions, is a necessary step before using the code for designing novel facilities.

scholarly journals Bifunctional biomorphic SiC ceramics embedded molten salts for ultrafast thermal and solar energy storage

2021 ◽  
pp. 100764
Author(s):  
Qiao Xu ◽  
Xianglei Liu ◽  
Qingyang Luo ◽  
Yanan Song ◽  
Haolei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Solar Energy Storage ◽  
Sic Ceramics

scholarly journals Concentrated Solar Power Plants with Molten Salt Storage: Economic Aspects and Perspectives in the European Union

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Bielecki ◽  
Sebastian Ernst ◽  
Wioletta Skrodzka ◽  
Igor Wojnicki
Keyword(s):  
Molten Salt ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Economic Aspects ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Eu Legislation ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Concentrated solar power plants belong to the category of clean sources of renewable energy. The paper discusses the possibilities for the use of molten salts as storage in modern CSP plants. Besides increasing efficiency, it may also shift their area of application: thanks to increased controllability, they may now be used not only to cover baseload but also as more agile, dispatchable generators. Both technological and economic aspects are presented, with focus on the European energy sector and EU legislation. General characteristics for CSP plants, especially with molten salt storage, are discussed. Perspectives for their development, first of all in economic aspects, are considered.

scholarly journals Photovoltaics: solar energy resources and the possibility of their use

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-32
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Rodziewicz ◽  
Aleksander Zaremba ◽  
Maria Wacławek
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Photovoltaic Power ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
World Records

Abstract In this paper possibilities and limits of use of solar energy (like the best efficiencies of PV cells, world records and ‘notable exceptions’) were shown. Also some new ideas and concepts in photovoltaics (like new photovoltaic power plants or energy storage) were presented. Additionally authors try to predict development of solar power industry.

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