LAUSR

Abstract The use of molten salt as Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) in linear concentrators to reach temperatures >500 °C has received increasing interest in the CSP sector. So far, some experiences have been carried out on small test loops, while results obtained on larger (pre-commercial) plants have not been thoroughly published in the open literature, yet. This paper reports results obtained and lessons learned during the experimental operation of a CSP plant using Molten Salts (MS) as HTF in linear Parabolic Trough (PT) collectors. This demonstration has been carried out in the framework of the EU project MATS and refers to a stand-alone and fully-integrated 1 MWe CSP plant built in a typical desert environment in Egypt. With about 10,000 m2 mirrors’ surface, the MS-PT solar field of MATS plant is the first of its kind and size. The solar field was in operation for more than 2500 h with solar salt circulation under different conditions, including start-up, draining, night circulation and solar tracking tests. The technical issues dealing with the management of a MS-PT solar field (and, in general, in linear concentrators) are discussed. Results demonstrated the reliability of the MS-PT technology for future exploitation on commercial scale plants.