Liquid metal technology for concentrated solar power systems: Contributions by the German research program

Thomas Wetzel; Julio Pacio; Luca Marocco; Alfons Weisenburger; Annette Heinzel; Wolfgang Hering; Carsten Schroer; Georg Muller; Jurgen Konys; Robert Stieglitz; Joachim Fuchs; Joachim Knebel; Concetta Fazio; Markus Daubner; Frank Fellmoser; Thomas Wetzel; Julio Pacio; Luca Marocco; Alfons Weisenburger; Annette Heinzel; Wolfgang Hering; Carsten Schroer; Georg Muller; Jurgen Konys; Robert Stieglitz; Joachim Fuchs; Joachim Knebel; Concetta Fazio; Markus Daubner; Frank Fellmoser

doi:10.3934/energy.2014.1.89

AIMS Energy

2014, Volume 2, Issue 1: 89-98. doi: 10.3934/energy.2014.1.89

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Liquid metal technology for concentrated solar power systems: Contributions by the German research program

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

Received: 18 December 2013 Accepted: 10 March 2014 Published: 19 March 2014

Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems can play a major role as a renewable energy source with the inherent possibility of including a thermal energy storage subsystem for improving the plant dispatchability. Next-generation CSP systems have to provide an increased overall efficiency at reduced specific costs and they will require higher operating temperatures and larger heat flux densities. In that context, liquid metals are proposed as advanced high temperature heat transfer fluids, particularly for central receiver systems. Their main advantages are chemical stability at temperatures up to 900 ℃ and even beyond, as well as largely improved heat transfer when compared to conventional fluids like oil or salt mixtures, primarily due to their superior thermal conductivity. However, major issues here are the corrosion protection of structural materials and the development of technology components and control systems, as well as the development of indirect storage solutions, to circumvent the relatively small heat capacity of liquid metals. On the other hand, using liquid metals might enable alternative technologies like direct thermal-electric conversion or use of solar high-temperature heat in chemical processes. This article aims at describing research areas and research needs to be addressed for fully evaluating and subsequently utilizing the potential of liquid metals in CSP systems. A second aim of the article is a brief overview of the liquid metal research capabilities of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), their background and their relation to CSP and the aforementioned research pathways.
- concentrating solar power, high temperature heat transfer fluid, liquid metal, central receiver systems, liquid metal corrosion, liquid metal technology
Citation: Thomas Wetzel, Julio Pacio, Luca Marocco, Alfons Weisenburger, Annette Heinzel, Wolfgang Hering, Carsten Schroer, Georg Muller, Jurgen Konys, Robert Stieglitz, Joachim Fuchs, Joachim Knebel, Concetta Fazio, Markus Daubner, Frank Fellmoser. Liquid metal technology for concentrated solar power systems: Contributions by the German research program[J]. AIMS Energy, 2014, 2(1): 89-98. doi: 10.3934/energy.2014.1.89

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Abstract

Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems can play a major role as a renewable energy source with the inherent possibility of including a thermal energy storage subsystem for improving the plant dispatchability. Next-generation CSP systems have to provide an increased overall efficiency at reduced specific costs and they will require higher operating temperatures and larger heat flux densities. In that context, liquid metals are proposed as advanced high temperature heat transfer fluids, particularly for central receiver systems. Their main advantages are chemical stability at temperatures up to 900 ℃ and even beyond, as well as largely improved heat transfer when compared to conventional fluids like oil or salt mixtures, primarily due to their superior thermal conductivity. However, major issues here are the corrosion protection of structural materials and the development of technology components and control systems, as well as the development of indirect storage solutions, to circumvent the relatively small heat capacity of liquid metals. On the other hand, using liquid metals might enable alternative technologies like direct thermal-electric conversion or use of solar high-temperature heat in chemical processes. This article aims at describing research areas and research needs to be addressed for fully evaluating and subsequently utilizing the potential of liquid metals in CSP systems. A second aim of the article is a brief overview of the liquid metal research capabilities of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), their background and their relation to CSP and the aforementioned research pathways.

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