Molten salt vs. liquid sodium receiver selection using the analytic hierarchy process

An international team led by NREL analyzed the favorability of two alternative liquid receiver designs for a 700+ °C under Gen3 CSP Liquid Pathway project. The competing heat transfer fluids were ternary chloride salt and liquid-metal sodium. applied facilitated analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to arrive at recommended set path forward AHP criteria formulated, weighted, scored project leadership technical advisory committee consisting energy industry experts. six- month culminated with two-day workshop where sodium was deemed have both significantly higher benefit (19.3%) lower LCOE (11.4%), only slightly risk (∼3%) than alternative. Consequently, sodium-receiver design selected project, it will be used charge two- tank thermal storage system.