In a concentrated solar power plant molten salt is used as a storage medium to h
ID: 830378 • Letter: I
Question
In a concentrated solar power plant molten salt is used as a storage medium to hold the energy and
allows for electricity production on demand. The question is how long can a thermal storage tank
actually hold the heat?
Using a lumped capacitance model, and the following parameters for a cylindrical tank of molten salt (see Fig.) determine how long it takes for the tank to cool from its initial
temperature at 565C to 223C (the freezing point of the salt). The density of the molten salt is 1899
kg/m^3, its heat capacity is 1495 J/kg/K, the natural convection coefficient inside the tank is 150 W/m^2/K,
the conductive resistance through the insulation is 6.241e-4 K/W, the convective heat transfer
coefficient on the outer surface of the insulation to the environment is 8 W/m^2/K. The inner diameter of
the tank is 10 m, the tank height is 10 m and the insulation thickness is 10 cm. Radiation can be
neglected and heat loss from the top and bottom of the container can also be neglected.
Figure below
http://i.imgur.com/KPDfH9Z.png
Explanation / Answer
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