IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v288y2024ics0360544223031791.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of Al2O3 nanoparticle dispersion on the thermal properties of a eutectic salt for solar power applications: Experimental and molecular simulation studies

Author

Listed:
  • Wu, Chunlei
  • Wang, Qing
  • Wang, Xinmin
  • Sun, Shipeng
  • Bai, Jingru
  • Cui, Da
  • Pan, Shuo
  • Sheng, Hongyu

Abstract

Thermophysical properties of molten salts aid in determining the storage efficiency of thermal energy storage (TES) systems in concentrating solar power plants. In this research, a novel ternary molten salt (4NaCl–37KCl–59LiNO3, mol%) was utilized as the phase change material (PCM), while Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) were employed as a thermal conductivity enhancer. Experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to confirm that the introduction of Al2O3 NPs as dopants enhanced the specific heat, thermal conductivity, and energy storage density of the eutectic salt. Specifically, at an Al2O3 NP content of 0.5 wt%, the composite PCM exhibited a 44.23 % increase in liquid-state specific heat and a 40.82 % increase in liquid-state thermal conductivity, along with a 15.73 % increase in storage density. This study demonstrates that the enhanced thermal properties of eutectic salts by adding Al2O3 NPs are primarily attributed to the emergence of nanostructures and alterations in atomic potential energy, as evidenced by both experimental and simulated microstructural analyses. These findings offer valuable insight into the selection of thermal storage materials and additives, as well as their implementation in medium-temperature TES systems, with the objective of optimizing the efficient utilization of solar energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Chunlei & Wang, Qing & Wang, Xinmin & Sun, Shipeng & Bai, Jingru & Cui, Da & Pan, Shuo & Sheng, Hongyu, 2024. "Effect of Al2O3 nanoparticle dispersion on the thermal properties of a eutectic salt for solar power applications: Experimental and molecular simulation studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:288:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223031791
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129785
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223031791
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129785?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lin, Yaxue & Alva, Guruprasad & Fang, Guiyin, 2018. "Review on thermal performances and applications of thermal energy storage systems with inorganic phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PA), pages 685-708.
    2. Li, Xiang & Wu, Shuang & Wang, Yang & Xie, Leidong, 2018. "Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modeling of an innovative molten salt for thermal energy storage (TES)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 516-526.
    3. Prieto, Cristina & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2019. "Thermal energy storage (TES) with phase change materials (PCM) in solar power plants (CSP). Concept and plant performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    4. Luo, Qingyang & Liu, Xianglei & Xu, Qiao & Tian, Yang & Yao, Haichen & Wang, Jianguo & Lv, Shushan & Dang, Chunzhuo & Xuan, Yimin, 2023. "Ceramic nanoparticles enhancement of latent heat thermal energy storage properties for LiNO3/NaCl: Evaluation from material to system level," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    5. Ni, Haiou & Wu, Jie & Sun, Ze & Lu, Guimin & Yu, Jianguo, 2019. "Molecular simulation of the structure and physical properties of alkali nitrate salts for thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 955-967.
    6. Awad, Afrah & Navarro, Helena & Ding, Yulong & Wen, Dongsheng, 2018. "Thermal-physical properties of nanoparticle-seeded nitrate molten salts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 275-288.
    7. Ding, Jing & Pan, Gechuanqi & Du, Lichan & Lu, Jianfeng & Wang, Weilong & Wei, Xiaolan & Li, Jiang, 2018. "Molecular dynamics simulations of the local structures and transport properties of Na2CO3 and K2CO3," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 555-563.
    8. Merchán, R.P. & Santos, M.J. & Medina, A. & Calvo Hernández, A., 2022. "High temperature central tower plants for concentrated solar power: 2021 overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    9. Xian, Lei & Chen, Lei & Tian, Heqing & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Enhanced thermal energy storage performance of molten salt for the next generation concentrated solar power plants by SiO2 nanoparticles: A molecular dynamics study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    10. Fernández, Angel G. & Gomez-Vidal, Judith & Oró, Eduard & Kruizenga, Alan & Solé, Aran & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2019. "Mainstreaming commercial CSP systems: A technology review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 152-176.
    11. Pitié, F. & Zhao, C.Y. & Baeyens, J. & Degrève, J. & Zhang, H.L., 2013. "Circulating fluidized bed heat recovery/storage and its potential to use coated phase-change-material (PCM) particles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 505-513.
    12. Zhang, Huili & Benoit, Hadrien & Gauthier, Daniel & Degrève, Jan & Baeyens, Jan & López, Inmaculada Pérez & Hemati, Mehrdji & Flamant, Gilles, 2016. "Particle circulation loops in solar energy capture and storage: Gas–solid flow and heat transfer considerations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 206-224.
    13. Argyrou, Maria C. & Christodoulides, Paul & Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2018. "Energy storage for electricity generation and related processes: Technologies appraisal and grid scale applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 804-821.
    14. Tian, Heqing & Wang, Weilong & Ding, Jing & Wei, Xiaolan, 2021. "Thermal performance and economic evaluation of NaCl–CaCl2 eutectic salt for high-temperature thermal energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    15. Kondaiah, P. & Pitchumani, R., 2023. "Progress and opportunities in corrosion mitigation in heat transfer fluids for next-generation concentrating solar power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 956-991.
    16. Kalogirou, Soteris A., 2013. "Solar thermoelectric power generation in Cyprus: Selection of the best system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 278-281.
    17. Han, Dongmei & Guene Lougou, Bachirou & Xu, Yantao & Shuai, Yong & Huang, Xing, 2020. "Thermal properties characterization of chloride salts/nanoparticles composite phase change material for high-temperature thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    18. He, Fan & Bo, Renfei & Hu, Chenxi & Meng, Xi & Gao, Weijun, 2023. "Employing spiral fins to improve the thermal performance of phase-change materials in shell-tube latent heat storage units," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 518-528.
    19. Wang, Haoran & Ran, Xiaofeng & Zhong, Yajuan & Lu, Linyuan & Lin, Jun & He, Gang & Wang, Liang & Dai, Zhimin, 2022. "Ternary chloride salt–porous ceramic composite as a high-temperature phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adrián Caraballo & Santos Galán-Casado & Ángel Caballero & Sara Serena, 2021. "Molten Salts for Sensible Thermal Energy Storage: A Review and an Energy Performance Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Ruan, Zhao-Hui & Gao, Peng & Yuan, Yuan & Tan, He-Ping, 2022. "Theoretical estimation of temperature-dependent radiation properties of molten solar salt using molecular dynamics and first principles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    3. Arias, I. & Cardemil, J. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Escobar, R., 2022. "Latest developments, assessments and research trends for next generation of concentrated solar power plants using liquid heat transfer fluids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Alva, Guruprasad & Lin, Yaxue & Fang, Guiyin, 2018. "An overview of thermal energy storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 341-378.
    5. Liu, Jinjin & Xiao, Xin, 2023. "Molecular dynamics investigation of thermo-physical properties of molten salt with nanoparticles for solar energy application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    6. Liu, Yang & Wang, Hongxia & Ayub, Iqra & Yang, Fusheng & Wu, Zhen & Zhang, Zaoxiao, 2021. "A variable cross-section annular fins type metal hydride reactor for improving the phenomenon of inhomogeneous reaction in the thermal energy storage processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    7. Gomez-Garcia, Fabrisio & Gauthier, Daniel & Flamant, Gilles, 2017. "Design and performance of a multistage fluidised bed heat exchanger for particle-receiver solar power plants with storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 510-523.
    8. Kondaiah, P. & Pitchumani, R., 2023. "Progress and opportunities in corrosion mitigation in heat transfer fluids for next-generation concentrating solar power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 956-991.
    9. Zhang, Huili & Kong, Weibin & Tan, Tianwei & Baeyens, Jan, 2017. "High-efficiency concentrated solar power plants need appropriate materials for high-temperature heat capture, conveying and storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 52-64.
    10. Han, Dongmei & Guene Lougou, Bachirou & Xu, Yantao & Shuai, Yong & Huang, Xing, 2020. "Thermal properties characterization of chloride salts/nanoparticles composite phase change material for high-temperature thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    11. Yu, Kunyang & Liu, Yushi & Yang, Yingzi, 2021. "Review on form-stable inorganic hydrated salt phase change materials: Preparation, characterization and effect on the thermophysical properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    12. Skrbek, Kryštof & Bartůněk, Vilém & Sedmidubský, David, 2022. "Molten salt-based nanocomposites for thermal energy storage: Materials, preparation techniques and properties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    13. Bravo, Ruben & Ortiz, Carlos & Chacartegui, Ricardo & Friedrich, Daniel, 2021. "Multi-objective optimisation and guidelines for the design of dispatchable hybrid solar power plants with thermochemical energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PB).
    14. Tian, Heqing & Kou, Zhaoyang & Pang, Xinchang & Yu, Yinsheng, 2023. "Molecular dynamics simulation on thermophysical properties and local structure of ternary chloride salt for thermal energy storage and transfer system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    15. Tomasz Tietze & Piotr Szulc & Daniel Smykowski & Andrzej Sitka & Romuald Redzicki, 2021. "Application of Phase Change Material and Artificial Neural Networks for Smoothing of Heat Flux Fluctuations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    16. Guo, Zhongjie & Wei, Wei & Chen, Laijun & Zhang, Xiaoping & Mei, Shengwei, 2021. "Equilibrium model of a regional hydrogen market with renewable energy based suppliers and transportation costs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    17. Wang, Wei & He, Xibo & Hou, Yicheng & Qiu, Jun & Han, Dongmei & Shuai, Yong, 2021. "Thermal performance analysis of packed-bed thermal energy storage with radial gradient arrangement for phase change materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 768-780.
    18. Luo, Qingyang & Liu, Xianglei & Wang, Haolei & Xu, Qiao & Tian, Yang & Liang, Ting & Liu, Qibin & Liu, Zhan & Yang, Xiaohu & Xuan, Yimin & Li, Yongliang & Ding, Yulong, 2022. "Synergetic enhancement of heat storage density and heat transport ability of phase change materials inlaid in 3D hierarchical ceramics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    19. Jingyu Zhong & Jing Ding & Jianfeng Lu & Xiaolan Wei & Weilong Wang, 2022. "Thermal Stability Calculation and Experimental Investigation of Common Binary Chloride Molten Salts Applied in Concentrating Solar Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-31, March.
    20. Soares, João & Oliveira, Armando C. & Valenzuela, Loreto, 2021. "A dynamic model for once-through direct steam generation in linear focus solar collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 246-261.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:288:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223031791. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.