Digital phase diagram and thermophysical properties of KNO3-NaNO3-Ca(NO3)2 ternary system for solar energy storage

Mengmeng Chen, Yuesong Shen, Shemin Zhu, Peiwen Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The molten nitrate salt has become one of the most promising heat storage and transfer medium for solar energy. A series of molten salt systems containing KNO3-NaNO3, Ca(NO3)2-NaNO3, KNO3-Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3-NaNO3-Ca(NO3)2 were designed and prepared to study the liquidus surface, and the thermal stability of the KNO3-NaNO3-Ca(NO3)2 ternary system was mainly studied. A 3D stable molten temperature diagram was developed to predict melting points and thermal decomposition points in the KNO3-NaNO3-Ca(NO3)2 ternary system, as well as its eutectic temperature and composition. The predicted eutectic composition is 42% KNO3-17% NaNO3-41% Ca(NO3)2, which has a low predicted melting point of 129.1 °C and a high predicted decomposition temperature of 597.9 °C. Moreover, a series of melting points and thermal decomposition points obtained from the 3D stable molten temperature diagram were respectively verified experimentally using thermo-gravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with that of obtained values from the 3D stable molten temperature diagram.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)225-233
Number of pages9
JournalVacuum
Volume145
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2017

Keywords

  • 3D stable molten temperature diagram
  • KNO-NaNO-Ca(NO)
  • Molten salt
  • Thermal stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Instrumentation
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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