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High‐Temperature Phase Change Material (PCM) Selection for Concentrating Solar Power Tower Applications
Author(s) -
Ong TengCheong,
Graham Elizabeth,
Will Geoffrey,
Steinberg Theodore A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced sustainable systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.499
H-Index - 24
ISSN - 2366-7486
DOI - 10.1002/adsu.201800131
Subject(s) - thermal energy storage , process engineering , fossil fuel , phase change material , material selection , differential scanning calorimetry , environmental science , solar power , materials science , electricity generation , solar energy , range (aeronautics) , nuclear engineering , waste management , power (physics) , engineering , phase change , engineering physics , thermodynamics , composite material , electrical engineering , physics
With current concerns about the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels has become an ever‐growing necessity. A thermal energy storage system that utilizes phase change materials (PCMs) in the form of molten salts, coupled with a concentrating solar power tower plant, is proposed as an effective means of achieving highly efficient and cost competitive power generation on par with traditional fossil fuel–based power. In this study, a set of five selection criteria are applied to a wide range of salt mixtures to determine the best candidates for use as PCMs. The selection criteria include the salt mixture's melting temperature, latent heat, thermal conductivity, material safety, and cost. A shortlist of 20 salt candidates is made, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments are performed on them to verify the thermal properties of these candidates. A final list of eight salts is then selected as the best PCMs for use in a working temperature range between 500 and 800 °C.