Corrosion of alloys in a chloride molten salt (NaCl-LiCl) for solar thermal technologies
Abstract
Next-generation solar power conversion systems in concentrating solar power (CSP) applications require high-temperature advanced fluids in the range of 600–800 °C. Current commercial CSP plants use molten nitrate salt mixtures as the heat transfer fluid and the thermal energy storage (TES) media while operating with multiple hours of energy capacity and at temperatures lower than 565 °C. At higher temperatures, the nitrates cannot be used because they decompose. Molten chloride salts are candidates for CSP applications because of their high decomposition temperatures and good thermal properties; but they can be corrosive to common alloys used in vessels, heat exchangers, and piping at these elevated temperatures. In this article, we present the results of the corrosion evaluations of several alloys in eutectic 34.42 wt% NaCl – 65.58 wt% LiCl at 650–700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Electrochemical evaluations were performed using open-circuit potential followed by a potentiodynamic polarization sweep. Corrosion rates were determined using Tafel slopes and Faraday's law. A temperature increase of as little as 50 °C more than doubled the corrosion rate of AISI stainless steel 310 and Incoloy 800H compared to the initial 650 °C test. These alloys exhibited localized corrosion. Inconel 625 was the most corrosion-resistant alloy withmore »
- Authors:
-
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1257551
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1325270
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5500-66629
Journal ID: ISSN 0927-0248
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 157; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0927-0248
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; concentrating solar power; heat transfer fluid; thermal energy storage; molten salts; corrosion; chlorides
Citation Formats
Gomez-Vidal, Judith C., and Tirawat, Robert. Corrosion of alloys in a chloride molten salt (NaCl-LiCl) for solar thermal technologies. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.052.
Gomez-Vidal, Judith C., & Tirawat, Robert. Corrosion of alloys in a chloride molten salt (NaCl-LiCl) for solar thermal technologies. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.052
Gomez-Vidal, Judith C., and Tirawat, Robert. Wed .
"Corrosion of alloys in a chloride molten salt (NaCl-LiCl) for solar thermal technologies". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.052. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1257551.
@article{osti_1257551,
title = {Corrosion of alloys in a chloride molten salt (NaCl-LiCl) for solar thermal technologies},
author = {Gomez-Vidal, Judith C. and Tirawat, Robert},
abstractNote = {Next-generation solar power conversion systems in concentrating solar power (CSP) applications require high-temperature advanced fluids in the range of 600–800 °C. Current commercial CSP plants use molten nitrate salt mixtures as the heat transfer fluid and the thermal energy storage (TES) media while operating with multiple hours of energy capacity and at temperatures lower than 565 °C. At higher temperatures, the nitrates cannot be used because they decompose. Molten chloride salts are candidates for CSP applications because of their high decomposition temperatures and good thermal properties; but they can be corrosive to common alloys used in vessels, heat exchangers, and piping at these elevated temperatures. In this article, we present the results of the corrosion evaluations of several alloys in eutectic 34.42 wt% NaCl – 65.58 wt% LiCl at 650–700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Electrochemical evaluations were performed using open-circuit potential followed by a potentiodynamic polarization sweep. Corrosion rates were determined using Tafel slopes and Faraday's law. A temperature increase of as little as 50 °C more than doubled the corrosion rate of AISI stainless steel 310 and Incoloy 800H compared to the initial 650 °C test. These alloys exhibited localized corrosion. Inconel 625 was the most corrosion-resistant alloy with a corrosion rate of 2.80±0.38 mm/year. For TES applications, corrosion rates with magnitudes of a few millimeters per year are not acceptable because of economic considerations. Additionally, localized corrosion (intergranular or pitting) can be catastrophic. Furthermore, corrosion-mitigation approaches are required for advanced CSP plants to be commercially viable.},
doi = {10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.052},
journal = {Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells},
number = C,
volume = 157,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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journal, December 2019
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journal, September 2018
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Enhancing Corrosion Resistance of Type 310S Stainless Steel in Carbonate Melt by Hot-Dip Aluminizing
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Characterization of corrosion resistance of C/C–SiC composite in molten chloride mixture MgCl2/NaCl/KCl at 700 °C
journal, December 2019
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Investigation on static and dynamic corrosion behaviors of thermal energy transfer and storage system materials by molten salts in concentrating solar power plants
journal, July 2018
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