Design Basis Document / Owner’s Technical Specification for Nitrate Salt Systems in CSP Projects

Hypothesis of Hot Tank Failure

Abstract

Work has begun on a Design Basis Document / Owner’s Technical Specification for parabolic trough and central receiver power plants using nitrate salt as the heat transport fluid and the thermal storage medium.  A principal topic of recent interest is the failures of the hot salt tanks in central receiver projects.  The paper outlines a hypothesis for the source of the failures, and discusses a range of possible solutions.