SALTSTART

SALTSTART is an open-source software framework designed to simulate, analyze, and optimize startup sequences and dynamic operation of salt-based energy systems. It is used to model processes such as salinity gradient power, saltwater battery behavior, and the integration of storage with desalination or grid operations. The framework emphasizes reproducibility, modularity, and extensible physics models.

Development and history: SALTSTART began as a collaborative initiative among universities, national labs, and industry partners in the early 2020s. Its initial release established a multi-physics core and a plugin interface, with continued growth through community contributions and formal release cycles.

Architecture and features: The core engine provides time-dependent solvers for coupled transport, electrochemical, and thermodynamic processes. A modular plugin system supports models for electrochemistry, fluid flow, material properties, and corrosion. Data exchange follows standard formats, such as JSON and NetCDF, with language bindings for Python and C++. The project includes visualization tools and validation benchmarks.

Applications: Researchers use SALTSTART to study salt gradient energy harvesting, saltwater battery development, and the coupling of storage with desalination plants or renewable energy sources. It also serves as an educational platform for teaching multi-physics modeling and startup sequence analysis.

Governance and licensing: SALTSTART is distributed under an open-source license and maintained by a community-driven governance model. Contributions are coordinated through a public repository, with documentation, tutorials, and issue trackers to support users and developers.