Heat Transfer and Latent Heat Storage in Inorganic Molten Salts for Concentrating Solar Power Plants

A scheme to streamline the electric power generation profile of concentrating solar power plants of the parabolic trough collector type is suggested. The scheme seeks to even out heat transfer rates from the solar field to the power block by splitting the typical heat transfer fluid loop into two loops using an extra vessel and an extra pump. In the first loop, cold heat transfer fluid is pumped by the cold pump from the cold vessel to the solar field to collect heat before accumulating in the newly introduced hot vessel. In the second loop, hot heat transfer fluid is pumped by the hot pump from the hot vessel to a heat exchanger train to supply the power block with its heat load before accumulating in the cold vessel. The new scheme moderately decouples heat supply from heat sink allowing for more control of heat delivery rates thereby evening out power generation.

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The Role of the Interactions at the Tungsten Disulphide Surface in the Stability and Enhanced Thermal Properties of Nanofluids with Application in Solar Thermal Energy

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10050970 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 970 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paloma Martínez-Merino ◽

Antonio Sánchez-Coronilla ◽

Rodrigo Alcántara ◽

Elisa I. Martín ◽

Iván Carrillo-Berdugo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Thermal Properties ◽

Density Functional ◽

Power Plants ◽

Solar Power ◽

Intermolecular Forces ◽

Hydroxyl Group ◽

Concentrating Solar Power ◽

Solar Power Plants ◽

The Stability

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMCs) exhibit unique properties that make them of interest for catalysis, sensing or energy storage applications. However, few studies have been performed into nanofluids based on TMCs for heat transfer applications. In this study, nanofluids based on 2D-WS2 are prepared by liquid phase exfoliation to analyze their potential usage in concentrating solar power plants. Periodic-Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to rationalize the success of the exfoliation process. The hydrogen bond interaction between the hydroxyl group from PEG, which acts as a surfactant, and the S atoms of the WS2 surface stabilizes the nanosheets in the fluid. Electron localization function (ELF) analysis is indicative of the stability of the S–H interaction from WS2 with the molecules of surfactant due to the tendency to interact through weak intermolecular forces of van der Waals solids. Moreover, improvements in thermal properties were also found. Isobaric specific heat increased by up to 10% and thermal conductivity improved by up to 37.3%. The high stability of the nanofluids and the thermal improvements were associated with the high surface area of WS2 nanosheets. These results suggest that these nanofluids could be a promising heat transfer fluid in concentrating solar power plants.

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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

Materials and Corrosion ◽

10.1002/maco.201810362 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 102-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jiaming Wang ◽

Yiming Jiang ◽

Yifan Ni ◽

Angjian Wu ◽

Jin Li

Keyword(s):

Energy Transfer ◽

Thermal Energy ◽

Molten Salts ◽

Power Plants ◽

Solar Power ◽

Storage System ◽

Concentrating Solar Power ◽

Corrosion Behaviors ◽

Solar Power Plants ◽

And Storage

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