Corrosion Mechanisms in Chloride and Carbonate Salts

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1051732· OSTI ID:1051732

Kruizenga, Alan Michael ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

State of the art thermal solar power uses nitrate salts as the heat transfer fluid. In order to increase operating efficiencies high turbine inlet temperatures must be achieved. Different heat transfer fluids must be considered for this purpose. Corrosion mechanisms in chloride and carbonate based salts were reviewed to better understand the practical implications for using either salt in a solar system. Chloride salts are susceptible to high corrosion rates in the presence of moisture and oxygen. Purification techniques are extremely important to ensure good materials performance, as formation of protective layers does not readily occur. Carbonate salts form protective oxide layers, which inhibit corrosion from the base alloy. Large amounts of work have been done for molten carbonate fuel cells, but different atmospheric conditions and temperature (>650°C) will merit investigation for solar applications.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1051732
• Report Number(s): SAND--2012-7594
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English