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Overcoming Power Limitations of Electric Heating in a Solar Salt Thermal Storage by Microwave Heating

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  • Roberto Grena

    (ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy)

  • Mattia Cagnoli

    (ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy)

  • Roberto Zanino

    (Dipartimento Energia, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy)

  • Michela Lanchi

    (ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, Italy)

Abstract

The expected increase in energy production from VRE (Variable Renewable Energy) requires a significant increase in energy storage capacity, with thermal storage potentially offering a key contribution. However, heat transfer mechanisms can limit the maximum power instantaneously transferable to the storage medium, posing a significant operational challenge. An analysis is presented here of the power limitations that arise when molten salt thermal storage adopting Solar Salt (NaNO 3 /KNO 3 , 60/40%wt) is heated by electrical resistances (Joule heating), and a possible alternative—the volumetric heating of the salt mass by microwaves—is discussed. Results show that microwave heating is an interesting path to overcome the power limitations of Joule heating. A first, theoretical analysis indicates a potential increase of more than 10 times in the maximum power transferable per unit area. Thermal-fluid-dynamic and electromagnetic models have been developed to numerically test the performance of a one-tank thermocline system endowed with a microwave heater. The proposed heating system showed limitations in terms of the maximum power that can be transferred to the salt because of the high temperatures established in the boundary layer. Finally, it performs in a comparable way with respect to an (ideal) heating system based on the Joule effect. However, many design improvements can still be adopted to enhance the performance of the proposed technology, likely overcoming the performance reachable using Joule heating systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Grena & Mattia Cagnoli & Roberto Zanino & Michela Lanchi, 2025. "Overcoming Power Limitations of Electric Heating in a Solar Salt Thermal Storage by Microwave Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:8:p:2059-:d:1636462
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valeria Russo & Giuseppe Petroni & Francesco Rovense & Mauro Giorgetti & Giuseppe Napoli & Gianremo Giorgi & Walter Gaggioli, 2025. "Experimental Testing Results on Critical Components for Molten Salt-Based CSP Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Kearney, D. & Kelly, B. & Herrmann, U. & Cable, R. & Pacheco, J. & Mahoney, R. & Price, H. & Blake, D. & Nava, P. & Potrovitza, N., 2004. "Engineering aspects of a molten salt heat transfer fluid in a trough solar field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 861-870.
    3. Adrián Caraballo & Santos Galán-Casado & Ángel Caballero & Sara Serena, 2021. "Molten Salts for Sensible Thermal Energy Storage: A Review and an Energy Performance Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Marco D’Auria & Roberto Grena & Michela Lanchi & Raffaele Liberatore, 2024. "Heat Supply to Industrial Processes via Molten Salt Solar Concentrators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
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