Thermoeconomic analysis on a molten salt parabolic trough‐based concentrated solar organic Rankine cycle system

Abstract

Summary Solar thermal electricity generating technology is an alternative solution to energy crises and environmental problems, which has caused wide concern in recent decades. In this paper, a molten salt parabolic trough‐based concentrated organic Rankine cycle system is proposed and investigated. A quadribasic nitrate salt with low melting temperature is employed as a heat transfer and storage medium. A stable heat transfer and economic model is established with Matlab. The radial and axial temperature distributions in the collector tube are obtained, and the impact of condensation and evaporation temperatures on the heat transfer area is analyzed. Results show that the temperature along the axial direction linearly increases, and the temperature at the collector tube exit decreases with the increase of molten salt mass flow rate. The maximum temperature difference along the radial direction of the collector tube happens in the annular gap. Heat transfer and thermodymanic analysis indicates that condensation temperature has a more evident effect on heat transfer area than that of evaporation temperature. An increase in condensation temperature leads to a decrease in the evaporator area, the condenser area increases, and the total area decreases. Economic analysis indicates the collector cost plays a predominant role in total capital costs, and decreasing molten salt mass flow rate can considerably reduce collector cost. Levelized energy cost sensitivity analysis indicated that operation time per year has a more evident effect than that of the four factors. Heat transfer and economic analysis on the system helps in the selection of operation parameters.

Electrochemical Splitting of Methane in Molten Salts To Produce Hydrogen

“…The ESM has significant advantages in reducing CO 2 emissions and energy consumption. Solar thermal‐energy storage technique is mature in sustaining a 500 °C molten salt system for heat exchange, [20] which can conveniently be integrated into the molten salt electrolysis process.…”

Thermodynamic Analysis and Comparison of Two Small-Scale Solar Electrical Power Generation Systems

“…The model validation of STORC-MSHS system has been carried on in our previous paper [21]. Each component of the SPV-PEMWE system was validated, respectively.…”

“…As far as the available literature is concerned, a low-and medium-temperature solar thermal power generation system and solar PV power generation system that are integrated with hydrogen energy storage are seldom compared. In this research, the solar thermal power generation system comprises a parabolic trough concentrator, molten salt heat storage, and ORC system [21]. The solar PV power generation system consists of a PV cell stack, a photon exchange membrane electrolyzer, a hydrogen storage tank, and a photon exchange membrane fuel cell.…”

Experimental and numerical study on induction heating performance of quaternary nitrate‐nitrite molten salt

“…However, at the present stage, the electrical heating method of molten salt is mainly electric resistance heating, which is very difficult to realize 10 kV high voltage electrical heating. So developing a novel electrical heating technology with high power becomes a core and bottlenecks technology of electrical heating system with molten salt thermal storage 1‐4 …”

“…So developing a novel electrical heating technology with high power becomes a core and bottlenecks technology of electrical heating system with molten salt thermal storage. [1][2][3][4] Electromagnetic induction heating technology has been applied in food processing, cooking, plastics processing heating, and medical heating. [5][6][7] Compared with the flame heating and resistance heating, electromagnetic induction heating has the advantage of cleanness, safety, contactless, fast heating, and high efficiency.…”