Volumetric Determination of Densities of Molten Salts for CSP Applications

Abstract

The densities of molten salt mixtures are determined by direct volumetric measurements providing uniform thermal conditions, defined gas atmosphere above the sample and direct observation of the sample during the measurement. Three nitrate/nitrite salt systems are examined: NaNO3-KNO3 (40:60 by mass, solar salt), KNO3-NaNO3-NaNO2 (53:7:40 by mass, Hitec) and two alternative compositions of KNO3-NaNO3-Ca(NO3)2 (45:7:48 and 43:15:42 by mass, Hitec XL) are examined. Linear fits of the density are presented derived from the experimental data