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Analysis and test results for a molten salt thermal energy storage system

Conference · · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6927100

A system has been developed to provide low cost thermal energy storage using molten salt. It consists of a hot tank to store the 565/sup 0/C (1050/sup 0/F) salt and a cold tank to store the 289/sup 0/C (550/sup 0/F) salt. The hot tank uses internal insulation protected by a liner to enable the use of a carbon steel shell for structural support. Due to the lower salt temperature, the cold tank can be a carbon steel shell with external insulation. This paper describes an analytical method used to predict the thermal performance of such systems and presents experimental data from a Subsystem Research Experiment (SRE) conducted by Martin Marietta Aerospace, Solar Energy Systems under contract from Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA. The results from three of the SRE test cases are compared with the STS model results. These are 1) steady state operation, 2) concurrent charging and discharging, and 3) transient cooldown. The temperature difference between the analytical and experimental results were less than 10%. The internally insulated hot tank performed well.

Research Organization:
Martin Marietta, Denver, CO
OSTI ID:
6927100
Report Number(s):
CONF-820814-
Journal Information:
Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN PIECD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English