Thermal energy storage heat exchanger: molten salt heat exchanger design for utility power plants. Final report, July 1976--July 1977
The use of thermal energy storage (TES) in the latent heat of molten salts as a means of conserving fossil fuels and lowering the cost of electric power was evaluated. Public utility systems provided electric power on demand. This demand is generally maximum during late weekday afternoons, with considerably lower overnight and weekend loads. Typically, the average demand is only 60% to 80% of peak load. As peak load increases, the present practice is to purchase power from other grid facilities or to bring older less efficient fossil-fuel plants on line which increase the cost of electric power. The widespread use of oil-fired boilers, gas turbine and diesel equipment to meet peaking loads depletes our oil-based energy resources. Heat exchangers utilizing molten salts can be used to level the energy consumption curve. The study begins with a demand analysis and the consideration of several existing modern fossil-fuel and nuclear power plants for use as models. Salts are evaluated for thermodynamic, economic, corrosive, and safety characteristics. Heat exchanger concepts are explored and heat exchanger designs are conceived. Finally, the economics of TES conversions in existing plants and new construction is analyzed. The study concluded that TES is feasible in electric power generation. Substantial data are presented for TES design, and reference material for further investigation of techniques is included.
- Research Organization:
- Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NAS3-20117
- OSTI ID:
- 6593296
- Report Number(s):
- N-78-14632; NASA-CR-135244
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Thermal energy storage for power plant applications
Heat Exchangers for the Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors
Related Subjects
25 ENERGY STORAGE
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
HEAT EXCHANGERS
DESIGN
LATENT HEAT STORAGE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
MOLTEN SALTS
EVALUATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ENERGY STORAGE
HEAT STORAGE
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
SALTS
STORAGE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
200107* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Off-Peak Energy Storage- (1980-)
250600 - Energy Storage- Thermal