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Review of solid particle materials for heat transfer fluid and thermal energy storage in solar thermal power plants
Author(s) -
Calderón Alejandro,
Barreneche Camila,
Palacios Anabel,
Segarra Mercè,
Prieto Cristina,
RodriguezSanchez Alfonso,
Fernández Ana Inés
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
energy storage
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2578-4862
DOI - 10.1002/est2.63
Subject(s) - thermal energy storage , heat exchanger , concentrated solar power , heat transfer , heat transfer fluid , work (physics) , materials science , durability , nuclear engineering , process engineering , thermal , particle (ecology) , solar energy , characterization (materials science) , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , composite material , nanotechnology , engineering , physics , electrical engineering , oceanography , geology
Current concentrated solar power (CSP) plants that operate at the highest temperature use molten salts as both heat transfer fluid (HTF) and thermal energy storage (TES) medium. Molten salts can reach up to 565°C before becoming chemically unstable and highly corrosive. This is one of the higher weaknesses of the technology. Solid particles have been proposed to overcome current working temperature limits, since the particle media can be stable for temperatures close to 1000°C. This work presents a review of solid particles candidates to be used as HTF and TES in CSP plants in open receivers. In addition, the interactions between solid particles with major system components are described in this review, for example, with TES system or heat exchanger. The parameters and properties of solid particles are identified from the material science point of view explaining their nature and the relation to the power plant efficiency and lifetime durability. Finally, future development is proposed; such as material selection according to each specific design, materials characterization, or durability test.