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Title: Analysis of the Impurity MgOHCl in Molten Chloride Salts Toward its Electrochemical Removal from CSP Plants During Operation

Conference ·
OSTI ID:1677425

The work presented here is a study of the impurity MgOHCl in molten chloride salts, toward the eventual goal of electrochemically removing it from operational molten-chloride-based concentrating solar power (CSP) plants.1,2 Implementation of molten chloride salts as a heat transfer fluid is among the most promising pathways for decreasing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of CSP systems because its high thermal stability allows higher operating temperatures, and thus, greater efficiency. However, this impurity - formed when MgCl2 salts are exposed to air and moisture - cause significant corrosion of containment alloys.1 Therefore, we have developed and validated in a laboratory setting: 1) a method for the formation of MgOHCl for controlled impurity spike in molten salt for its further sensing, evaluation, and reduction; 2) evaluated its diffusion in the molten salt, and 3) began assessing its electrochemical properties. Our findings allow us to propose solutions for efficiently and instantly removing MgOHCl from an operational CSP plant.

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:
1677425
Report Number(s):
NREL/PO-5500-77875; MainId:31784; UUID:85de9453-b7ba-4ef7-a092-de8fabdd9281; MainAdminID:18533
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at SolarPACES 2020, 28 September - 2 October 2020
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English