Characterization and testing of solid particles to be used in CSP plants: Aging and fluidization tests

The main limitation of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is its maximum operating temperature, since the fluid used as heat transfer (HTF) and thermal storage media (TES) molten salts, which degrade around 565 °C. Therefore, there great interest in developing HTFs that allow working temperature to be increased more than This increase will, turn, CSP plant efficiency enhanced. Different studies have proposed using particles a medium capture store solar energy, but very little known about effect on after resisting several cycles cooling heating what happens particles’ physical properties when they are fluidized. It true variety solid permit high performance achieved at temperatures with low material costs, not all valid for this purpose. work focuses different materials considered promising candidates use alternative HTF plants, were characterized tested: sand, carbo Accucast ID50 silicon carbide. before being fluidized (assessing their resistance abrasion) (900 °C) treatments (aging treatment) finding paper. highlights considerable advantages SiC over sand. study also determines combination hours fluidization does affect diameter particles: However, samples vary considerably diameter. In way, SEM DSC techniques highlight problem fine appearance associated sand during fluidization. • Sand, Carbo study. Materials under aged both tests. Thermal, mechanical, physical, chemical analysed. most analysed SiC.