Design of new molten salt thermal energy storage material for solar thermal power plant

In order to obtain molten salt with lower melting point, higher thermal stability and reduced cost relative to previously available materials, a variety of molten salt mixtures of alkali nitrates are investigated by experimental methods. However, since measurements are generally expensive and time-consuming, it is of interest to be able to predict melting point and the component of multi-component systems by using the numerical methods. In this paper, eutectic point and component of a new kind of the quaternary reciprocal system (K, Na/NO2, Cl, NO3) are determined firstly by conformal ionic solution theory. Then thermal stability of the mixtures that show a lower melting point is measured by thermogravimetric analysis device. Experimental results show the agreement between measurements and calculations is found to be very good. This kind of molten salt has a lower melting point, 140 C. It is thermally stable at temperatures up to 500 C, and may be used up to 550 C for short periods. Besides, this molten salt has a reduced cost relative to previous low-melting nitrate mixtures due to the elimination of cesium nitrate and lithium nitrate. Crown Copyright 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.