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Status
Electronic Resource
Call number
Publication
DOE NASA 0806 79 1; Report; February 1980.
Language
Library's review
ABSTRACT:
Experimental results of comparative screening studies of candidate molten carbonate salts as phase-change materials (PCM) for advanced solar-thermal energy storage applications at 540° to 870°C (1004° to 1600°F) and steam-Rankine electric generation at 400° to 540°C (752° to
Experimental results of comparative screening studies of candidate molten carbonate salts as phase-change materials (PCM) for advanced solar-thermal energy storage applications at 540° to 870°C (1004° to 1600°F) and steam-Rankine electric generation at 400° to 540°C (752° to
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1004°F) are presented. Alkali carbonates are attractive as latent-heat storage materials because of their relatively high storage capacity and thermal conductivity, low corrosivity, moderate cost, and safe and simple handling requirements. Salts were tested in 0.1 kWhr lab-scale modules and evaluated on the basis of discharge heat flux, solidification temperature range, thermal cycling stability, and compatibility with containment materials. The feasibility of using a distributed network of high-conductivity material to increase the heat flux through the layer of solidified salt was experimentally evaluated. The thermal performance of an 8 kWhr thermal energy storage (TES) module containing LiKC0 3 remained very stable throughout 5650 hours and 130 charge/discharge cycles at 480° to 535°C (896° to 995°F). A TES utilization concept of an electrical generation peaking subsystem composed of a multistage condensing steam turbine and a TES subsystem with a separate power conversion loop was defined. Conceptual designs for a 100 MWe TES peaking system providing steam at 316°, 427°, and 454°C (600°, 800°, and 850°F) at 3.79 X 10^6 Pa (550 psia) were developed and evaluated. Areas requiring further investigation have also been identified. Show Less