Engineering challenges in high temperature liquid lead storage for concentrated solar power systems

Today the technical limit for central receiver thermodynamic solar systems (solar towers) is represented by the temperature (about Tmax = 560 ° C) that can be reached with current storage and exchange fluids (molten salts). This paper deals with a full-scale experimental technology test to transfer and improve current technologies by applying the experience, actually consolidated in the field of liquid lead exchangers in nuclear sector, to accumulate solar energy at higher temperature. With the adoption of liquid lead as a means of storing heat and exchange fluid with highly efficient air systems, it is possible to reach and exceed 800 ° C with undoubted advantages in terms of efficiency. This is a real innovative technical gap solved. The adoption of molten lead as a storage and heat exchange material, however, poses important problems both in terms of corrosion and resistance to creep for the temperatures reached, the paper describes the technical solutions adopted to overcome these problems in an unexplored region.