Molten Salt Heat Transfer Fluid

Sandia has developed a heat transfer fluid (HTF) for use at elevated temperatures that has a lower freezing point than any molten salt mixture available commercially. This allows the HTF to be used in applications in which the expensive parasitic energy costs necessary for freeze protection can be significantly reduced. The higher operating temperature limit significantly increases power cycle efficiency and overall power plan sun-to-net electric efficiency.

One of the primary applications is dual use of this HTF both in parabolic trough solar fields as well as the thermal storage media in the integral thermal energy storage systems. There are many other industries that might also benefit from the development of this molten salt mixture, including those whose processes involve heat treating of metals.