Estimating the cost of high temperature liquid metal based concentrated solar power

Wilk, Gregory; DeAngelis, Alfred; Henry, Asegun

doi:10.1063/1.5014054

Estimating the cost of high temperature liquid metal based concentrated solar power

Journal Article · Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5014054· OSTI ID:1540148

Wilk, Gregory ^[1]; DeAngelis, Alfred ^[2]; Henry, Asegun ^[3]

Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering; DOE/OSTI
Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Heat Lab.

The present levelized cost of electricity from concentrated solar power is too high to directly compete with natural gas under current carbon emissions policies. An approximate 50% cost reduction is needed relative to current power tower technology based on molten nitrate salts, and one pathway to a major cost reduction is to operate the system at higher temperatures, enabling a more efficient heat engine. Here, we consider a future system that can operate at gas turbine inlet temperatures of ~1300–1500 °C by using liquid metals as heat transfer and storage fluids with a ceramic based piping infrastructure. In general, ceramics are more expensive than the current stainless steels, but they are less expensive than the nickel alloys that are proposed to be used in higher temperature chloride molten salt plants. Considering various tradeoffs, it was not clear a priori whether or not the potential gains in heat engine efficiency would be negated by increased material costs or how much net reduction in levelized cost might be possible. This study answers this question by first detailing a base case molten nitrate salt power tower plant with published cost data. Then, a future liquid metal version of a power tower is modeled using similar specifications as the liquid salt plant to determine if there are any obvious costs that might negate the efficiency gains associated with operating well above 1000 °C. The results of the analysis showed that although the receiver and several other sub-systems become more expensive, there is a net cost reduction in the range of 20%–30%, depending upon the heat engine efficiency.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0000339

OSTI ID:: 1540148

Journal Information:: Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Journal Name: Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 10; ISSN 1941-7012

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (59)

High-Temperature Solids-Gas Interactions Brewster, M. Q. Direct-Contact Heat Transfer https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-30182-1_9	book	January 1988
The Al-Si (Aluminum-Silicon) system Murray, J. L.; McAlister, A. J. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02868729	journal	February 1984
Molten Salt Corrosion of Stainless Steels and Low-Cr Steel in CSP Plants Fernández, A. G.; Lasanta, M. I.; Pérez, F. J. Oxidation of Metals, Vol. 78, Issue 5-6 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11085-012-9310-x	journal	August 2012
Thermal properties of graphite, molybdenum and tantalum to their destruction temperatures Rasor, N. S.; McClelland, J. D. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, Vol. 15, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3697(60)90095-0	journal	August 1960
GTHTR300 design and development Yan, X.; Kunitomi, K.; Nakata, T. Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 222, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-5493(03)00030-X	journal	June 2003
A solar-driven combined cycle power plant Kribus, A.; Zaibel, R.; Carey, D. Solar Energy, Vol. 62, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(97)00107-2	journal	February 1998
The surface energy of metals Vitos, L.; Ruban, A. V.; Skriver, H. L. Surface Science, Vol. 411, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-6028(98)00363-X	journal	August 1998
Power, power density and efficiency optimization for a closed cycle helium turbine nuclear power plant Chen, Lin-Gen; Zheng, Jun-Lin; Sun, Feng-Rui Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 44, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(03)00008-6	journal	September 2003
Engineering aspects of a molten salt heat transfer fluid in a trough solar field Kearney, D.; Kelly, B.; Herrmann, U. Energy, Vol. 29, Issue 5-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(03)00191-9	journal	April 2004
Survey on wetting of SiC by molten metals Liu, G. W.; Muolo, M. L.; Valenza, F. Ceramics International, Vol. 36, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2010.01.001	journal	May 2010
Technology Advancements for Next Generation Falling Particle Receivers Ho, C.; Christian, J.; Gill, D. Energy Procedia, Vol. 49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.043	journal	January 2014
Liquid Metals as Efficient Coolants for High-intensity Point-focus Receivers: Implications to the Design and Performance of Next-generation CSP Systems Pacio, J.; Fritsch, A.; Singer, C. Energy Procedia, Vol. 49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.070	journal	January 2014
Molten Oxide Glass Materials for Thermal Energy Storage Elkin, B.; Finkelstein, L.; Dyer, T. Energy Procedia, Vol. 49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.083	journal	January 2014
Corrosion of Iron Stainless Steels in Molten Nitrate Salt Kruizenga, Alan; Gill, David Energy Procedia, Vol. 49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.095	journal	January 2014
Development of a Concentrating Solar Power System Using Fluidized-bed Technology for Thermal Energy Conversion and Solid Particles for Thermal Energy Storage Ma, Z.; Mehos, M.; Glatzmaier, G. Energy Procedia, Vol. 69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2015.03.136	journal	May 2015
Properties of noble gases and binary mixtures for closed Brayton Cycle applications Tournier, Jean-Michel P.; El-Genk, Mohamed S. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 49, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2007.06.050	journal	March 2008
Solar-thermal dissociation of methane in a fluid-wall aerosol flow reactor Dahl, J. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 29, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2003.08.009	journal	July 2004
A review on the application of liquid metals as heat transfer fluid in Concentrated Solar Power technologies Lorenzin, Nikola; Abánades, Alberto International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 41, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.01.030	journal	May 2016
Materials corrosion in molten LiF–NaF–KF salt Olson, Luke C.; Ambrosek, James W.; Sridharan, Kumar Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, Vol. 130, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluchem.2008.05.008	journal	January 2009
Interaction of liquid tin and zinc with AISI 304 stainless steel after passivation in air and nitric acid Zhao, Yan; Cheng, Cong Qian; Cao, Zhi Yuan Materials Characterization, Vol. 77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2012.12.011	journal	March 2013
Multiple reheat helium Brayton cycles for sodium cooled fast reactors Zhao, Haihua; Peterson, Per F. Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 238, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2007.12.002	journal	July 2008
Progress in electrical energy storage system: A critical review Chen, Haisheng; Cong, Thang Ngoc; Yang, Wei Progress in Natural Science, Vol. 19, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2008.07.014	journal	March 2009
Review of study on solid particle solar receivers Tan, Taide; Chen, Yitung Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 14, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.05.012	journal	January 2010
State of the art on high-temperature thermal energy storage for power generation. Part 2—Case studies Medrano, Marc; Gil, Antoni; Martorell, Ingrid Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 14, Issue 1, p. 56-72 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.036	journal	January 2010
Review of high-temperature central receiver designs for concentrating solar power Ho, Clifford K.; Iverson, Brian D. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 29 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.099	journal	January 2014
High-efficiency thermodynamic power cycles for concentrated solar power systems Dunham, Marc T.; Iverson, Brian D. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 30 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.010	journal	February 2014
Historical development of concentrating solar power technologies to generate clean electricity efficiently – A review Baharoon, Dhyia Aidroos; Rahman, Hasimah Abdul; Omar, Wan Zaidi Wan Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 41 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.09.008	journal	January 2015
Heliostat field layout optimization for high-temperature solar thermochemical processing Pitz-Paal, Robert; Botero, Nicolas Bayer; Steinfeld, Aldo Solar Energy, Vol. 85, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.11.018	journal	February 2011
Assessment of liquid metal technology status and research paths for their use as efficient heat transfer fluids in solar central receiver systems Pacio, J.; Wetzel, Th. Solar Energy, Vol. 93 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2013.03.025	journal	July 2013
Transmission performances of solar windows exposed to concentrated sunlight Dai, Gui-Long; Xia, Xin-Lin; Hou, Gen-Fu Solar Energy, Vol. 103 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.01.036	journal	May 2014
Benchmarking supercritical carbon dioxide cycles against steam Rankine cycles for Concentrated Solar Power Cheang, V. T.; Hedderwick, R. A.; McGregor, C. Solar Energy, Vol. 113 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.12.016	journal	March 2015
Advanced power cycles for concentrated solar power Stein, W. H.; Buck, R. Solar Energy, Vol. 152 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.04.054	journal	August 2017
Containment materials for liquid tin at 1350 °C as a heat transfer fluid for high temperature concentrated solar power Zhang, Yunshu; Cai, Ye; Hwang, SungHwan Solar Energy, Vol. 164 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.01.085	journal	April 2018
Design of a high temperature (1350 °C) solar receiver based on a liquid metal heat transfer fluid: Sensitivity analysis DeAngelis, Freddy; Seyf, Hamid Reza; Berman, Rebecca Solar Energy, Vol. 164 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.02.040	journal	April 2018
Durability of solar reflector materials for secondary concentrators used in CSP systems Fernández-García, Aránzazu; Cantos-Soto, M. Elena; Röger, Marc Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 130 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2014.06.043	journal	November 2014
Pumping liquid metal at high temperatures up to 1,673 kelvin Amy, C.; Budenstein, D.; Bagepalli, M. Nature, Vol. 550, Issue 7675 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24054	journal	October 2017
Liquid-liquid phase separation of freely falling undercooled ternary Fe-Cu-Sn alloy Wang, W. . L.; Wu, Y. H.; Li, L. H. Scientific Reports, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16335	journal	November 2015
The prospect of high temperature solid state energy conversion to reduce the cost of concentrated solar power Henry, Asegun; Prasher, Ravi Energy Environ. Sci., Vol. 7, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1039/C4EE00288A	journal	January 2014
Hybrid solar converters for maximum exergy and inexpensive dispatchable electricity Branz, Howard M.; Regan, William; Gerst, Kacy J. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 8, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5EE01998B	journal	January 2015
A General Review of Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines Using Fossil, Nuclear and Solar Energy Burge, E. J. Physics Bulletin, Vol. 27, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9112/27/8/038	journal	August 1976
Stability of Refractories in Liquid Metals Reed, E. L. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 37, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1954.tb14013.x	journal	March 1954
Thermal Conductivity: XII, Temperature Dependence of Conductivity for Single-Phase Ceramics Kingery, W. D. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 38, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1955.tb14940.x	journal	July 1955
Microstructure, Microchemistry, and Flexural Strength of Mullite Ceramics Mizuno, Mineo Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 74, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb04295.x	journal	December 1991
An Update on Solar Central Receiver Systems, Projects, and Technologies Romero, Manuel; Buck, Reiner; Pacheco, James E. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 124, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1467921	journal	April 2002
The Effect of Turbine Blade Cooling on the Cycle Efficiency of Gas Turbine Power Cycles Wilcock, R. C.; Young, J. B.; Horlock, J. H. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 127, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1805549	journal	January 2005
High-Temperature Liquid-Fluoride-Salt Closed-Brayton-Cycle Solar Power Towers Forsberg, Charles W.; Peterson, Per F.; Zhao, Haihua Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 129, Issue 2, p. 141-146 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2710245	journal	January 2007
High Flux Central Receivers of Molten Salts for the New Generation of Commercial Stand-Alone Solar Power Plants Lata, Jesús M.; Rodríguez, Manuel; de Lara, Mónica Álvarez Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 130, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2884576	journal	February 2008
The Particle-Source-In Cell (PSI-CELL) Model for Gas-Droplet Flows Crowe, C. T.; Sharma, M. P.; Stock, D. E. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 99, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3448756	journal	June 1977
Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Solid Particle Receiver: On-Sun Testing and Model Validation Siegel, Nathan P.; Ho, Clifford K.; Khalsa, Siri S. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 132, Issue 2, Article No. 021008 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001146	journal	January 2010
Technical Challenges and Opportunities for Concentrating Solar Power With Thermal Energy Storage Stekli, Joseph; Irwin, Levi; Pitchumani, Ranga Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications, Vol. 5, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024143	journal	May 2013
Electrical Energy Storage for the Grid: A Battery of Choices Dunn, B.; Kamath, H.; Tarascon, J. -M. Science, Vol. 334, Issue 6058 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1212741	journal	November 2011
Corrosion of Stainless Steels and Carbon Steel by Molten Mixtures of Commercial Nitrate Salts Goods, S. H.; Bradshaw, R. W. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 13, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1361/10599490417542	journal	February 2004
Energy-efficient gas-turbine blade-material technology – a review [Tehnologija materialov lopatic energetsko učinkovitih plinskih turbin – pregled] Huda, Z. Materiali in tehnologije, Vol. 51, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.17222/mit.2015.196	journal	June 2017
Molten Salt Power Tower Cost Model for the System Advisor Model (SAM) Turchi, C. S.; Heath, G. A. https://doi.org/10.2172/1067902	report	February 2013
Advanced Thermal Storage for Central Receivers with Supercritical Coolants Kelly, Bruce D. https://doi.org/10.2172/981926	report	June 2010
Corrosion of CrN-Coated Steels in Liquid Pb-Bi Kurata, Yuji; Futakawa, Masatoshi MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 48, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.48.519	journal	January 2007
Noble-Gas Binary Mixtures for Closed-Brayton-Cycle Space Reactor Power Systems El-Genk, Mohamed S.; Tournier, Jean-Michel Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.2514/1.27664	journal	July 2007
Dimensionless Analysis for Predicting Fe-Ni-Cr Alloy Corrosion in Molten Salt Systems for Concentrated Solar Power Systems Cho, Hyun-Seok; Van Zee, J. W.; Shimpalee, Sirivatch Corrosion, Vol. 72, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.5006/1865	journal	June 2016
A Review of Helium gas Turbine Technology for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors No, Hee-Cheon; Kim, Ji-Hwan; Kim, Hyeun-Min Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Vol. 39, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.5516/NET.2007.39.1.021	journal	February 2007

Cited By (1)

Thermal energy grid storage using multi-junction photovoltaics Amy, Caleb; Seyf, Hamid Reza; Steiner, Myles A. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ee02341g	journal	January 2019

Similar Records

Re-Designing the CSP Thermal Energy Storage System to Enable Higher-Temperature Performance at Reduced Cost (Final Technical Report)

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · OSTI ID:1969256

Fluidized-bed technology enabling the integration of high temperature solar receiver CSP systems with steam and advanced power cycles

Journal Article · Thu Jun 04 20:00:00 EDT 2015 · Energy Procedia (Online) · OSTI ID:1215203

CSP Gen3: Liquid-Phase Pathway to SunShot

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · OSTI ID:1807668

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
Energy & Fuels
Science & Technology - Other Topics

Estimating the cost of high temperature liquid metal based concentrated solar power

Citation Formats

References (59)

Cited By (1)

Similar Records

Related Subjects