Abstract
Molten salt has been widely studied as a heat storage material, but some properties of molten salt reported in different literature studies are not completely consistent. In order to make data comparison more convenient and improve the effectiveness of scientific research communication, reasons for the data discrepancy were studied. In this work, the relationship between the preparation of NaNO3–KNO3 binary molten salt and thermophysical properties was studied. Six preparation methods including static melting method, dissolution method, stirring evaporation method, boiling evaporation method, tap water dissolution method, and grinding method were adopted. The thermophysical properties studied include melting range, latent heat, and decomposition temperature. The experimental results show that all the above methods can be used to prepare NaNO3–KNO3 molten salt with good thermophysical properties except for the dissolution method, which would lead to uneven distribution of compositions. For the grinding method, it is found that the properties of molten salt are stable when the particle size is less than 96 µm. Samples prepared by these feasible methods have a melting point range of 220–240 °C. Their latent heat is more than 100 J/g and the decomposition temperature up to ∼580 °C. Thermal properties are affected to some extent by the preparing process, such as impurities in the solvent or the drying process.
Highlights
Molten salt is used as a heat storage material for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in many countries,1 including the United States, Spain, Canada, and Saudi Arabia
This research group evaluated the thermal performance of a phase change material (PCM) in the latent heat storage system, which supplied significant information to design a prototype of a solar stove provided with a good thermal performance material utilized for storing thermal energy
Hu et al.5 investigated the effect of doping an eutectic binary salt solvent with Al2O3 nanoparticles on its specific heat capacity (Cp), and the results showed that the maximum enhancement of Cp was 8.3%
Summary
Molten salt is used as a heat storage material for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in many countries, including the United States, Spain, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. Hu et al. investigated the effect of doping an eutectic binary salt solvent with Al2O3 nanoparticles on its specific heat capacity (Cp), and the results showed that the maximum enhancement of Cp was 8.3%. Zhang et al. added LiF into K2CO3–Li2CO3–Na2CO3 by a static melting method and improved the operating temperature range, specific heat, and thermal conductivity. Seo and Shin studied the effects of different sizes of nano-SiO2 on the specific heat of a ternary nitrate salt (LiNO3– NaNO3–KNO3). Riazi et al. enhanced the specific heat capacity of solar salt through nanoparticle dispersion and compared several synthesis and preparation methods. Abu-Hamdeh and Almitani constructed a solar regeneration desiccant evaporative cooling system They found that the Al2O3–W nanofluid produced the maximum range of heat transfer coefficient enhancement. Some researchers have studied another direct method: preparing molten salt by just mixing ingredients together and grinding them evenly. Six different preparation methods were used to prepare solar salt in this research, and effects of different preparation methods on the properties of salt were studied, providing reference for future research
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