Muftasoft TM

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants with molten salt storage are a type of solar thermal power plant that utilizes molten salt as a thermal energy storage medium to enable the production of electricity even when the sun is not shining. These plants are also known as CSP with Thermal Energy Storage (TES) or CSP-TES plants. The combination of CSP technology with molten salt storage addresses the intermittency of solar energy, allowing for continuous and dispatchable power generation.

Here's how CSP plants with molten salt storage work:

1. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology:

1. CSP plants use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver. The receiver is typically located at the focal point of a parabolic trough, a solar tower, or a dish.
2. The concentrated solar energy heats a heat transfer fluid (usually synthetic oil or a mixture of salts) in the receiver, reaching high temperatures.

2. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) System:

1. In CSP plants with molten salt storage, the high-temperature heat transfer fluid is used to heat molten salt in a separate thermal energy storage system.
2. The molten salt is stored in large insulated tanks, which act as thermal energy reservoirs.

3. Charging (Energy Storage) Phase:

1. During sunny periods, when the sun is shining and solar energy is abundant, the heat transfer fluid absorbs concentrated sunlight in the receiver and reaches high temperatures.
2. The hot heat transfer fluid transfers its thermal energy to the molten salt in the thermal energy storage system. This charging process raises the temperature of the molten salt, storing thermal energy as sensible heat.

4. Discharging (Electricity Generation) Phase:

1. When electricity is needed, such as during cloudy periods or at night, the molten salt is pumped from the thermal energy storage tanks to a heat exchanger.
2. The high-temperature molten salt passes through the heat exchanger, transferring its thermal energy to water or another working fluid to produce steam.
3. The steam drives a turbine, which, in turn, drives an electricity generator to produce electricity.

5. Continuous Power Generation:

1. The stored thermal energy in the molten salt enables the CSP plant to continue generating electricity even when the sun is not shining, providing continuous power supply for several hours, typically into the evening.

CSP plants with molten salt storage offer several advantages, including:

- Dispatchable Power: The stored thermal energy allows CSP plants to provide dispatchable and reliable power, responding to grid demand even during periods of low solar radiation or at night. - Grid Integration: CSP-TES plants can be integrated into existing power grids, providing stable and predictable power supply that complements intermittent renewable sources like solar photovoltaic or wind power. - Renewable Energy Storage: The use of molten salt storage facilitates the integration of renewable energy into the grid, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction.

CSP with molten salt storage is considered a promising technology for large-scale renewable energy generation, and ongoing research and development aim to improve efficiency and reduce costs for broader adoption.