SOLAR POWER STORAGE USING MOLTEN SALT

A major deterrent to the development of solar power generation, is the ability to store on a large-scale, the electricity produced during the day for use at night.  The only true options to this point are to use solar photovoltaics (PV’s) only when it’s sunny or to charge batteries.  The charging of batteries with their limited storage capacity is not cost-effective for commercial use.

A new technology called Molten Salt, offers the potential of solving this problem.  Through the use of a Tower Power Solar-type plant (where the sun light and thermal energy is concentrated through the use of tracking mirrors or heliostats, onto a receiver) temperatures of 1000 degrees fahrenheit, may be produced.

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When this heat is focused on molten salt it liquefies and is allowed then to flow into insulated thermal storage tanks (which allows heat retention of close to 98% of its thermal efficiency at 10 hours).  Then the liquified molten salt can be pumped into a steam generator, which produces electricity by conventional means, heating water to steam-driven turbines to produce electricity.

A 150 mega-watt project, using technology developed by United Technology Companies in Arizona, will be able to produce continuous power to 100,000 homes.

This energy storing system provides stable, reliable electricity without harmful emissions from fossil fuels.

Credits:

Mike Breslin:  Electrical Contractor Magazine, May 11, 2011

Websites:  Pratt & Whitney – Rocketdyne

United Technologies

Crossroads Project

Solar Reserve

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