A molten salt system with a ground base-integrated solar receiver storage tank

Recent developments in the optical concept of a solar "reflective tower" makes it attractive for melting solid salts and metals (e.g., potash, aluminum scrap) and heating liquids to high temperatures, 600-900 degrees C (e.g., molten salts). In this paper, the "reflective tower" concept is applied to heat a mixture of molten nitrate salts used as a heat transfer fluid to a steam generator in a solar power plant. Two approaches are analyzed and in both, the solar receiver is integrated in the storage tank. In the first approach, the heating is done through a conductive metal wall, and in the second the molted salt is directly illuminated through a transparent window.