Scientists help make deserts into solar-energy hubs

[Wild Cobra]

Molten salt storage

A variety of fluids have been tested to transport the sun's heat, including water, air, oil, and sodium, but molten salt was selected[who?] as best.[citation needed] Molten salt is used in solar power tower systems because it is liquid at atmosphere pressure, it provides an efficient, low-cost medium in which to store thermal energy, its operating temperatures are compatible with today's high-pressure and high-temperature steam turbines, and it is non-flammable and nontoxic. In addition, molten salt is used in the chemical and metals industries as a heat-transport fluid, so experience with molten-salt systems exists in non-solar settings.
The molten salt is a mixture of 60 percent sodium nitrate and 40 percent potassium nitrate, commonly called saltpeter. New studies show that calcium nitrate could be included in the salts mixture to reduce costs and with technical benefits. The salt melts at 220 °C (430 °F) and is kept liquid at 290 °C (550 °F) in an insulated storage tank. The uniqueness of this solar system is in de-coupling the collection of solar energy from producing power, electricity can be generated in periods of inclement weather or even at night using the stored thermal energy in the hot salt tank. Normally tanks are well insulated and can store thermal energy for up to a week. As an example of their size, tanks that provide enough thermal storage to power a 100-megawatt turbine for four hours would be about 9 m (30 ft) tall and 24 m (80 ft) in diameter.
The Andasol power plant in Spain is the first commercial solar thermal power plant to utilize molten salt for heat storage and nighttime generation. It came online March 2009.[64] On July 4, 2011, a company in Spain celebrated an historic moment for the solar industry: Torresol’s 19.9 MW concentrating solar power plant became the first ever to generate uninterrupted electricity for 24 hours straight. It acheived this using a molten salt heat storage design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_t...n_salt_storage

Yes, I am aware of these facts. It is other experts in the field who fear the solidification of the salts. Not just me.

Look, I would be glad to find cause to say "I'm wrong." I just still think it's a valid concern.

[boutons_deux]

links that say pipes carrying a liquid at 550F can't be reliably insulated?

[Wild Cobra]

links that say pipes carrying a liquid at 550F can't reliably insulated?

Sorry, I don't have a photographic memory.

Do you?

[boutons_deux]

"do your own research"

[Wild Cobra]

"do your own research"

You expect me to research what I have already been exposed to, just so I can give you a link?

Do your own research![/QUOTE]

[Agloco]

How inefficient would it be to pipe molten salt hundreds of miles......across a body of water no less.

[Wild Cobra]

How inefficient would it be to pipe molten salt hundreds of miles......across a body of water no less.

Now that I think would be a financial nightmare. However, I haven't attempted to do the math. Just a gut feeling.

[Agloco]

Now that I think would be a financial nightmare. However, I haven't attempted to do the math. Just a gut feeling.

Well I think any design would necessarily put steam turbines near the molten salt reservoirs. They represent the most inefficient link in the chain, besides collection of course.

I'm just wondering why you and Boutons are going round and round about piping.

[Wild Cobra]

Well I think any design would necessarily put steam turbines near the molten salt reservoirs. They represent the most inefficient link in the chain, besides collection of course.

I'm just wondering why you and Boutons are going round and round about piping.

Yes, the two would need to be as close as practical. As for Boutons and myself... I will admit to some bias against him. I'm sure he is biased against me too.