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

Cristina Prieto, Alfonso Rodríguez-Sánchez, F. Javier Ruiz-Cabañas and Luisa F. Cabeza
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Cristina Prieto: C/Energía Solar n° 1, Abengoa Energia, 41014 Sevilla, Spain
Alfonso Rodríguez-Sánchez: C/Energía Solar n° 1, Abengoa Energia, 41014 Sevilla, Spain
F. Javier Ruiz-Cabañas: C/Energía Solar n° 1, Abengoa Energia, 41014 Sevilla, Spain
Luisa F. Cabeza: GREiA Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-20

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.

Keywords: parabolic trough collector; molten salt; freeze recovery; heat tracing; impedance melting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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