Abstract
In solar thermal plants, the use of molten salt as a heat transfer fluid is an advantageous alternative, although it has some disadvantages such as the formation of salt plugs in the pipes due to possible stratification of the salt or its solidification. The aim of this study was to implement an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) not only capable of identifying the position of the plug, but also of determining whether the plug blocks the entire conductive surface or, on the contrary, is partial, allowing the fluid to pass through a smaller section. The proposed transducer is intended to be minimally invasive, allowing it to be used in the same way as a temperature probe. To do so, it creates torsional waves in the pipe, which are then used for a combination of measurements: pulse-echo and attenuation of the acoustic waves. Two materials with different densities (silicone and cement) were used in the tests carried out, which made it possible to check that for a given size of blockage, it is possible to identify the type of material from which it is formed.
Highlights
The European Union (E.U.) is committed to fighting against anthropogenic climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40%, when compared to the 1990 levels, by 2030
In the case of a partial silicone plug, due to its low density (1.2 g/cm3 ), the amplitude obtained in position A, the point where the plug begins, makes it difficult to identify the area of the pipe in which it is located
Solar thermal power plants, where molten salts are used as the heat transfer fluid, the presence of
Summary
The European Union (E.U.) is committed to fighting against anthropogenic climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40%, when compared to the 1990 levels, by 2030. One of the essential instruments to meet this demanding objective is the use of renewable energy. The sun is a virtually endless source of energy and solar thermal power plants [1,2] have remarkable potential in the production and storage of renewable energy [3,4,5]. A remarkable feature of these plants is the ability to store energy thanks to the presence of storage tanks of high temperature fluids. In this way, even in the absence of solar radiation, it is possible to continue with energy production
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