MODULAR MOLTEN SALT SOLAR TOWERS WITH THERMAL STORAGE FOR PROCESS OR POWER GENERATION OR COGENERATION

摘要

Methods of arranging and operating a molten salt solar thermal energy system are disclosed. Molten salt flows from a set of cold storage tanks to solar receivers which heat the molten salt to a maximum temperature of about 850° F. The heated molten salt is sent to a set of hot storage tanks. The heated molten salt is then pumped to a steam generation system to produce steam for process and/or power generation. Lower salt temperatures are useful in processes that use lower steam temperatures, such as thermal desalination. Lower salt temperatures and low chloride molten salt reduce the corrosion potential, permitting the use of lower cost alloys for the solar receivers, hot storage tanks, salt pumps, piping and instrumentation and steam generation system. Multiple sets of modular, shop assembled storage tanks are also used to reduce the amount of salt piping, simplify draining, and reduce field assembly and plant cost.

主权项

1. A method of operating a solar thermal energy generation and storage system, the method comprising:
pumping heat transfer fluid from a set of cold storage tanks to a solar receiver; heating the heat transfer fluid to a heated temperature of about 850° F. or less; sending the heated heat transfer fluid to a set of hot storage tanks; and pumping the heated heat transfer fluid to a steam generation system and back to the set of cold storage tanks.