Comprehensive Molten Salt Storage Shell and Supporting Structure Design and Analysis-Part II:A Conductive and Convective Numerical Finite Element Heat Transfer Analysis for Molten Salt Cylindrical Shells at 700℃,and Comparison with Theoretical Analysis

摘要

In this paper a finite element thermal analysis model-using COMSOL-of a large molten salt container,80-foot in diameter and 46-foot high that includes a four-foot elliptic shell roof,is presented for a futuristic 700℃ design,which uses a highly stable chloride salt called SS700(SaltStream 700)that improves the efficiency of the tank when compared to the traditional 565℃.The FEA(finite element analysis)includes conductive and convective heat transfer analysis in the steel container,elliptic roof shell,the fiberglass insulation,and firebrick insulation,and includes thermal insulation designs to safeguard against energy losses at high temperatures.The underlying soil and the high temperature concrete foundation were analyzed by finite element using conductive heat transfer,however the area surrounding the soil surface around the bottom of the MS storage tank had convective heat transfer analysis included.The finite elements analyses presented are to verify the final fiberglass and firebrick insulation designs,which seeks to limit heat losses to a maximum of 250 W/m^(2) while being able to operate at a minimum external ambient temperature of-10℃.These results are also compared to previously calculated theoretical results.