Abstract
Molten salt tanks are used to store and release thermal energy. Large heat leakage through the molten salt tank foundation to the ground and high temperature of the foundation are detrimental to long-term operation safety. Here we evaluate the heat transfer and entropy generation characteristics of molten salt tank foundations with internal water cooling. Both laminar and turbulent flows reduce the heat leakage efficiently, while the power consumption for the laminar flow is negligible. The effects of the geometrical parameters are presented. Internal fins in the cooling channels decrease the heat leakage significantly. The total entropy generation rate with foundation cooling is higher than that without foundation cooling. The entropy generation rate in the solid domain is much larger than that in the fluid domain and the flow friction irreversibility is tiny. Larger insulation layer thickness decreases the heat leakage and the total entropy generation rate simultaneously. The local entropy generation rate map helps us identify where the most irreversibility is produced. The largest local entropy generation rate for the design with foundation cooling occurs near the solid-fluid interfaces and is much higher than that without foundation cooling.
Highlights
Energy storage is essential whenever there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of energy
In high temperature materials processing industries and solar thermal power plants, molten salts are commonly used as working fluids for heat storage and heat transfer[4, 5]
The present paper focuses on the heat loss aspect of molten salt tanks, the thermal-related mechanical performance of the foundation is critical
Summary
Energy storage is essential whenever there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of energy. In high temperature materials processing industries and solar thermal power plants (i.e., concentrated solar power), molten salts are commonly used as working fluids for heat storage and heat transfer[4, 5]. Hitec salt is commercially utilized due to its low cost, high heat transfer coefficient, thermal stability and low melting point (142°C)[6]. Molten salt tank, which stores thermal energy, is a critical component in TES systems, either one-tank or two-tank systems. Heat loss of molten salt tank will drop the efficiency of the applications. Molten salt tank foundation, which bears the weight of the tank, is crucial to the operation safety of the tank. For long-term operation, the heat loss through the foundation (even small amount) may be accumulated in the ground and threaten the stability of the foundation. Properly designed thermal control of the foundation (e.g., insulation, cooling) is necessary
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