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Title: Geometric Optimization of an Electrochemical Purification Cell to Prevent Corrosion in CSP Plants During Operation

Conference ·
OSTI ID:1835073

When exposed to moisture or oxygen, molten chloride salts produce corrosive impurities which degrade containment alloys. As a result, this can significantly decrease the lifetime and increase costs of molten-salt-based systems. To overcome this barrier, we designed and modeled an electrochemical purification cell to remove the corrosive impurity MgOH+. Various reactor architectures, including constant stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) and plug flow reactors (PFRs) were investigated. Steady-state thermoelectric properties were evaluated, allowing assessment of the effects of structure and design parameters such as flow rate, cell length, and cross-sectional area of molten salt. The results suggest that our design could most effectively increase reliability and decrease costs of molten-chloride-salt-based systems by protecting them during continuous operation using an annular plug flow reactor.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1835073
Report Number(s):
NREL/PR-5500-81438; MainId:82211; UUID:7fa295ad-be50-4249-b49c-d3d3d0eb8215; MainAdminID:63371
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at SolarPACES 2021, 27 September - 1 October 2021
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English