Numerical study on energy conversion characteristics of molten salt pump based on energy transport theory

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2022-04, Vol.244, p.122674, Article 122674
• Main Authors: Jin, Yongxin, Zhang, Desheng, Song, Wenwu, Shen, Xi, Shi, Lei, Lu, Jiaxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Concentrating solar power (CSP); Density; Divergence; Energy; Energy conversion; Energy distribution; Energy transfer; Energy transport; Enstrophy; Impellers; Lamb vector divergence; Molten salt pump (MSP); Molten salts; Power consumption; Pressure propulsion power; Salts; Solar power; Suction; Throats; Transport theory
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122674

Molten salt pump (MSP) used in concentrating solar power (CSP) system to circulate the molten salt. The operation of MSP needs to understand the energy conversion characteristics in the flow field. In this study, the energy conversion characteristics of MSP were investigated based on energy transport theory. A significant portion of power is consumed in the propulsion of pressure between the inlet throat to the outlet throat of the impeller passage. The increase in the energy of medium by the Lamb vector divergence mainly occurs on the rear of the impeller passage. Whereas the enstrophy dissipation area is primarily located in the suction surface area at the impeller outlet. In addition, the pressure propulsion power is critical for energy transfer in the impeller, while the contribution of Lamb vector divergence and enstrophy dissipation is limited. It was observed that the distribution of the three energy transport dynamic parameters have a high degree of coincidence irrespective of the medium density, which indicates that the density of the medium does not have a significant impact on the law of energy conversion. Therefore, when the geometrical characteristics of the impeller are determined, the energy conversion characteristics of different medium do not change significantly. •Energy conversion characteristics in MSP are analyzed by using energy transport theory.•Medium physical properties effect on energy conversion characteristics are analyzed in detail.•The composition of energy transport is analyzed.•The contribution of different energy transport components are analyzed.