Comprehensive Molten Salt Storage Shell and Supporting Structure Design and Analysis-Part I:A Conductive and Convective Theoretical Heat Transfer Analysis for Molten Salt Cylindrical Shells at 565℃ and 700℃

摘要

In this paper a full theoretical thermal analysis of a large molten salt container,80-foot in diameter and 46-foot high,including a four-foot elliptic shell roof,is presented for two temperatures,the standard 565℃ and a futuristic 700℃,which substantially improves the efficiency of the molten salt containers through the use of a highly stable chloride salt called SS700(SaltStream 700).The theoretical 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 theoretically using conductive heat transfer,however the area surrounding the soil surface around the bottom of the molten salt storage tank had convective heat transfer analysis included.The final designs presented in this paper seek 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℃,which determines the thicknesses of the fiberglass and firebrick insulation.