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Title: Thermo-economic analysis of high-temperature sensible thermal storage with different ternary eutectic alkali and alkaline earth metal chlorides

Journal Article · · Solar Energy
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Australian National Univ., Canberra, ACT (Australia)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
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Molten salt mixtures with alkali and alkaline earth metal chlorides were developed for high-temperature sensible thermal energy storage in support of concurrent efforts to develop high-temperature advanced power cycles for concentrating solar power applications. Four ternary chloride mixtures with different cation combinations (Na, K, Li, Mg) were designed using the FactSage® software, and for three of these, the eutectic point was experimentally validated by differential scanning calorimetry. Specific heat capacity measurements were conducted following the ASTM E1269 standard, and were measured between 1.18 J/g/K and 1.31 J/g/K. The mass loss of the molten chloride salts was studied under three different gas blankets of nitrogen, argon and air by thermogravimetric analysis. All the selected salt mixtures were stable up to 700 degrees C, although weight loss due to vaporisation becomes significant around this temperature due to the high vapour pressure of the chloride salt mixtures. However, it is expected that operation at a temperature up to around 750 degrees C will be feasible in a closed system with an inert environment. Additionally, removal of chemically-bonded water and salt purification may need to be considered for extending the operating temperature. In terms of economic performance, although the inclusion of LiCl in the ternary eutectic mixtures is advantageous for reducing melting point and increasing specific heat capacity, at current costs, these benefits are unlikely to be justified unless LiCl cost reduces by a factor of three. As a result, the NaCl-KCl-MgCl2 mixture has the lowest cost per unit energy stored, at 4.5 USD/kWh.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; AC36-08-GO28308
OSTI ID:
1482893
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1636120
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5500-72827
Journal Information:
Solar Energy, Vol. 176, Issue C; ISSN 0038-092X
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 30 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables (17)

Table 1(p. 4)table Table 1
Figure 1(p. 6)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 6)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 7)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 7)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 8)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 9)figure Figure 6
Table 2.(p. 10)table Table 2.
Figure 7(p. 11)figure Figure 7
Table 3(p. 11)table Table 3
Table 4(p. 12)table Table 4
Figure 8(p. 14)figure Figure 8
Figure 10(p. 15)figure Figure 10
Figure 9(p. 15)figure Figure 9
Table 5(p. 15)table Table 5
Figure 11(p. 16)figure Figure 11
Figure 12(p. 16)figure Figure 12

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Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
high-temperature
molten salt
sensible heat storage
melting point
heat capacity
mass loss