Molten salt power towers operating at 600-650 ℃: Salt selection and cost benefits

摘要

This analysis examines the potential benefit of adopting the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO(2) ) Brayton cycle at 600-650 degrees C compared to the current state-of-the-art power tower operating a steam-Rankine cycle with solar salt at approximately 574 degrees C. The analysis compares a molten-salt power tower configuration using direct storage of solar salt (60:40 wt% sodium nitrate: potassium nitrate) or single-component nitrate salts at 600 degrees C or alternative carbonate- or chloride-based salts at 650 degrees C.