A final report on the phase I testing of a molten-salt cavity receiver

ABSTRACT
This report describes the design, construction, and testing of a solar receiver using molten nitrate salt as a heat exchange fluid. Design studies for large commercial plants (30-100 MWe) have shown molten salt to be an excellent fluid for solar thermal plants as it allr.ws for efficient

Show More

thermal storage. Plant design studies concluded that an advanced receiver test was r3quired to address uncertainties not covered in prior receiver tests. This recommendation led to the current test: program managed by Sandia National Laboratories for the U.S. Department Energy. The lL 5 MWt receiver is installed at Sandia National Laboratories' Central Receiver Test Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, The receiver incorporates features of large commercial receiver designs. This report describes the receiver's configuration, heat absorption surface (design and sizing), the structure and supporting systems, and the methods for control. The receiver was solar tested during a six-month period at the Central Receiver Test Facility in Albuquerque, NM. The purpose of the testing was to characterize the operational capabilities of the receiver under a number of solar operating and stand-by conditions. This testing consisted of initial check-out of the systems, followed by steady-state performance, transient receiver operation, receiver operation in clouds, receiver thermal loss testing, receiver start-up operation, and overnight thermal conditioning tests. This report describes the design, fabrication, and results of testing of the receiver.

Show Less