Molten Salt vs. Liquid Sodium Receiver Selection Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
An international team led by NREL analyzed the favorability of two alternative liquid receiver designs for a 700+ degrees C receiver under the Gen3 CSP Liquid Pathway project. The competing liquid heat transfer fluids were a ternary chloride salt and liquid-metal sodium. The team applied a facilitated analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to arrive at a recommended alternative and set a path forward for the project. The AHP criteria were formulated, weighted, and scored by the project leadership team and technical advisory committee consisting of energy industry and CSP experts. The six- month process culminated with a two-day workshop where the sodium alternative was deemed to have both a significantly higher benefit (19.3%) and a lower LCOE (11.4%), with only a slightly higher risk (~3%) than the salt alternative. Consequently, a sodium-receiver design was selected for the Liquid Pathway project, where it will be used to charge a two- tank chloride salt thermal energy storage system.
- 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:
- 1874014
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5700-83286; MainId:84059; UUID:81cf7a00-06e1-4db6-be6c-d7aadbc98fb0; MainAdminID:64757
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at SOLARPACES 2020: 26th International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, 28 September - 2 October 2020, Freiburg, Germany; Related Information: 77913
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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