Low-melting point heat transfer fluid
| DWPI Title: Heat transfer fluid, useful as thermal energy storage media in parabolic trough electrical power plant systems, comprises mixture of salts including lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite |
| Abstract: A low-melting point, heat transfer fluid made of a mixture of five inorganic salts including about 29.1-33.5 mol % LiNO3, 0-3.9 mol % NaNO3, 2.4-8.2 mol % KNO3, 18.6-19.9 mol % NaNO2, and 40-45.6 mol % KNO2. These compositions can have liquidus temperatures below 80° C. for some compositions. |
| Use: The heat transfer fluid is useful as thermal energy storage media in solar energy application including parabolic trough electrical power plant systems. |
| Advantage: The heat transfer fluid: has improved properties compared to the oil-based HTF currently used in solar power plants; is significantly economical; is relatively benign in terms of environmental impact, where as the conventional oil-based heat transfer fluids oil are toxic and carries cleanup and waste disposal penalties when leaks occur; has a higher density and heat capacity, requiring lower flows, much lower pressure drops in the system piping (thus reduces pumping costs) and enhanced heat transfer capability; allows a higher operating temperature differential in the solar field and greater temperature gradients in thermal storage systems, and thus greatly enhances efficiency and thermal storage utilization; can be operated at higher temperatures which leads to higher power cycle and power plant efficiencies; and is stable in contact with air and nonflammable. |
| Novelty: Heat transfer fluid having a liquidus temperature of ≥ 95° C, comprises a mixture of salts including lithium nitrate (17.2 wt.%), sodium nitrate (15.9 wt.%), potassium nitrate (18.9 wt.%), sodium nitrite (21.5 wt.%) and potassium nitrite (26.5 wt.%). |
| Filed: 12/17/2008 |
| Application Number: US2008336657A |
| Tech ID: SD 11066.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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