Numerical analysis on temperature distribution and heat loss in the large-scale molten salt storage tank of CSP plant

Jiwei Jia, Yancheng Ma, Yuanwei Lu, Shengnan Lv, Yujian Li and Yuting Wu

Energy, 2025, vol. 335, issue C

Abstract: The heat storage tank is a key equipment in thermal energy storage technology with molten salt as the heat transfer and heat storage medium. Analyzing the temperature distribution and heat loss of storage tanks is crucial to improving the heat storage efficiency of molten salt. A thermal analysis model of the large-scale molten salt storage tank was established, and the influence of liquid level and heat storage temperature on its temperature distribution and heat loss was explored. The results show that the average temperature of the tank top inside surface is only lower by 1.27 K than that of the molten salt inside the tank due to radiation heat transfer between the molten salt liquid surface and the inside surface of the tank. A significant temperature difference and gradient are produced at the annular bottom plate near the tank bottom because the annular plate increases the local heat dissipation area. The heat loss of the tank bottom and tank top is almost not influenced by the liquid level change, with the heat loss transmitted by the tank top accounting for about 40 % of the total heat loss due to the thickness of the insulation layer on the tank top being thinner. The total heat loss is significantly influenced by the heat storage temperature, and the two are approximately linearly positively correlated. Radiation heat transfer has a significant influence on temperature distribution in the tank and heat loss. This study has a certain guiding significance for the optimization design and safety control of the large-scale molten salt storage tanks.

Keywords: CSP; Molten salt storage tank; Temperature distribution; Heat loss; FEM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:335:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225035157

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137873

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