Feasibility Study of Freeze Recovery Options in Parabolic Trough Collector Plants Working with Molten Salt as Heat Transfer Fluid

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2019
Author
Prieto, Cristina
Rodríguez-Sánchez, Alfonso
Ruiz-Cabañas, F. Javier
Cabeza, Luisa F.
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Prieto, Cristina; Rodríguez-Sánchez, Alfonso; Ruiz-Cabañas, F. Javier; Cabeza, Luisa F.; . (2019) . Feasibility Study of Freeze Recovery Options in Parabolic Trough Collector Plants Working with Molten Salt as Heat Transfer Fluid. Energies, 2019, vol. 12, p. 2340 (20 pp). https://doi.org/10.3390/en12122340.
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Abstract
Parabolic trough collector (PTC) technology is currently the most mature solar technology, which has led to the accumulation of relevant operational experience. The overall performance and efficiency of these plants depends on several components, and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) is one of the most important ones. Using molten salts as HTFs has the advantage of being able to work at higher temperatures, but it also has the disadvantage of the potential freezing of the HTF in pipes and components. This paper models and evaluates two methods of freeze recovery, which is needed for this HTF system design: Heat tracing in pipes and components, and impedance melting in the solar field. The model is used to compare the parasitic consumption in three molten salts mixtures, namely Solar Salt, HiTec, and HiTec XL, and the feasibility of this system in a freezing event. After the investigation of each of these subsystems, it was concluded that freeze recovery for a molten salt plant is possible.
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http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/66509
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en12122340
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Energies, 2019, vol. 12, p. 2340 (20 pp)
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cc-by (c) Prieto, Cristina et al., 2019
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as cc-by (c) Prieto, Cristina et al., 2019