Dynamic corrosion testing of metals in solar salt for concentrated solar power

Potassium nitrate and sodium in mixing proportion of KNO3–NaNO3 40-60 wt% (also called solar salt) has been successfully used for over a decade as heat storage medium concentrated power parabolic-trough collector plants at temperatures up to 400 °C. At 560 °C, reached state-of-the-art tower systems, corrosion metallic components contact with salt can become an issue caused leaks plant shut-downs recently built projects. While the rates several materials have determined different static molten immersion experiments, there is lack data dynamic in-service conditions. In this work, test conducted on 19 material types including protective coatings, mimicking flow-rate, temperature gradient draining operation receiver tower. The measured are presented compared tests reported literature.