Sulaliuosjärjestelminä

Sulaliuosjärjestelminä refers to systems that utilize molten salts as a working fluid. These systems are primarily employed in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants for thermal energy storage and heat transfer. Molten salts, typically a mixture of nitrates, offer excellent thermal stability and a high heat capacity, allowing them to absorb and store large amounts of solar energy collected by mirrors.

The principle of operation involves circulating a heat transfer fluid, often the molten salt itself, through a solar receiver where it is heated by concentrated sunlight. This heated molten salt is then stored in insulated tanks. When electricity generation is required, the hot molten salt is pumped from the storage tank through a heat exchanger to produce steam. This steam then drives a conventional turbine to generate electricity.

The use of molten salts in CSP plants offers several advantages, including the ability to store energy for use when the sun is not shining, thus improving the reliability and dispatchability of solar power. They can operate at high temperatures, which leads to greater thermodynamic efficiency. However, challenges exist, such as the corrosive nature of molten salts at high temperatures and the need for specialized materials and operational procedures. Research continues to optimize molten salt compositions and system designs for enhanced performance and cost-effectiveness.