Experimental investigation of the migration and solidification characteristics of Solar Salt in hot sand layer of tank foundation

Abstract

In this study, a thermal tank foundation experimental system was built and the migration and solidification characteristics of Solar Salt in the hot sand layer of tank foundation were investigated. The results indicate that after the molten salt leakage, the temperature in the area where molten salt flows first increases rapidly, then decreases rapidly, and finally remains stable. The temperature in the area where molten salt does not flow slowly increases to a stable value. The parameter changes have significant effects on the migration characteristics. As the operating temperature increases or the leakage aperture decreases, the maximum migration depth and width increase and decrease, respectively. As the leakage mass or the filler porosity increases, the maximum migration depth and width both increase. The migration range under the rectangular leakage hole is larger than that under the circular leakage hole. The solidification agglomeration in the sand tank foundation presents the shape of thin at both ends and thick in the middle, and it presents the shape of thin at the upper part and thick at the lower part in the light expanded clay aggregate (LECA) tank foundation. In the sand + LECA tank foundation, when the sand layer is thick enough, the agglomeration shape is approximately the combination of the agglomeration shape in the sand tank foundation and the lower part of the agglomeration shape in the LECA tank foundation. The conclusion of this study provides a useful reference for understanding, preventing and dealing with molten salt tank leakage accidents.