A New Approach to Low-Cost, Solar Salt-Resistant Structural Materials for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES)

“Concentrated solar power” (CSP) and thermal energy storage (TES) are promising renewable technologies, which have gained increasing interest practical application in recent years. CSP TES systems typically utilize molten salts such as the so-called “solar salt”, a mixture of 60 wt.% NaNO3 40 KNO3, for heat transfer storage. The overall efficiency commercially operating is currently limited, because salt stability, prevents process temperatures higher than 600 °C. Even at these temperatures, corrosion structural materials applied guiding pipework, tubes containers matter concern long-term operation, necessitates careful material selection. This paper outlines superior behavior novel low-cost, Al2O3-forming, ferritic, Laves phase-strengthened (i.e., structural) steel NaNO3/KNO3 Directions further development LB2230 trial towards improved properties derived comparison to its predecessor Crofer®22 H.