High temperature molten salt receiver
View Patent ↗A high temperature solar power tower system includes a molten salt heat transfer medium, a high temperature solar receiver, and an energy conversion system. The molten salt heat transfer medium is capable of being heated to a temperature of at least approximately 1200 degrees Fahrenheit by the high temperature solar receiver. The energy conversion system uses the heated molten salt to generate power.
1. A high temperature solar power tower system comprising:
a molten fluoride salt heat transfer medium selected from the group consisting of: FLiNaK, FLiBe, FLiNaBe, FLiKBe, and combinations thereof capable of being heated to a temperature of at least about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit;
a high temperature solar receiver for heating the molten salt formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: an iron based alloy, a nickel based alloy, and a cobalt based alloy; and
a Brayton cycle energy conversion system for generating power with the heated molten salt.
2. A solar power tower system capable of converting solar power to useful energy, the system comprising:
a molten fluoride salt heat transfer medium selected from the group consisting of: FLiNaK, FLiBe, FLiNaBe, FLiKBe, and combinations thereof for powering a Brayton cycle energy conversion system; and
a high temperature solar receiver for heating the molten salt formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: an iron based alloy, a nickel based alloy, and a cobalt based alloy to a temperature of at least about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. A method of using high temperature molten fluoride salt in a solar power tower system, the method comprising:
storing the molten fluoride salt selected from the group consisting of: FLiNaK, FLiBe, FLiNaBe, FLiKBe, and combinations thereof in a cold storage tank;
pumping the molten fluoride salt to a high temperature solar receiver for heating the molten salt formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: an iron based alloy, a nickel based alloy, and a cobalt based alloy;
heating the molten fluoride salt to a temperature of at least 1800° F.;
storing the heated molten salt in a hot storage tank;
pumping the heated molten salt to a Brayton cycle energy conversion system to generate power; and
returning the molten salt to the cold storage tank.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the power generated by the energy conversion system is used for at least one of hydrogen production, desalination of water, powering a heat/thermo-chemical plant, and producing electrical power.