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Harnessing the sun: Empowering Concentrated Solar Power with Endress+Hauser precision
Reliable measurement and smart solutions for efficient, safe and sustainable solar thermal energy
Introduction
A new path towards sustainability
As the global energy landscape evolves and energy demand rises, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) offers a promising path toward a more sustainable future. By capturing and converting solar energy into thermal power, CSP enables clean electricity generation on a large scale.
Today, the most established CSP technologies include parabolic trough systems, solar power towers and Linear Fresnel Reflectors (LFRs), all of which use mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver. The heat collected is used to produce steam, which drives steam turbines (STGs) to generate electricity. With cold and hot storage tanks for thermal energy storage (TES) using heat transfer media such as molten salt, CSP can also generate electricity after sunset.
Ključna dejstva
TES could triple in size by 2030
The global market for thermal energy storage (TES) could triple in size by 2030, growing from gigawatt-hours (GWh) of installed capacity in 2019 to over 800 GWh within a decade.
Vir: IRENA
Insights
Flow measurement of heat transfer fluids
Accurate flow measurement is essential for transferring thermal energy in CSP plants, a process that comes with unique challenges—particularly when handling heat transfer fluids (HTFs) like thermal oil and molten salt, which operate at extreme temperatures and make conventional flow meters unreliable. Thermal oil systems typically reach temperatures up to 400°C (752 °F), while molten salt systems can exceed 550 °C (1’022 °F). Additionally, thermal oil has low electrical conductivity and moderate viscosity, while molten salt, especially mixtures such as sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate, is highly corrosive and prone to solidification below 220 °C (428 °F) posing risks of blockage and equipment damage if not properly maintained at elevated temperatures.
Our expertise in the field
These challenging conditions impose strict requirements on instrumentation, as high temperatures and temperature cycling can degrade materials, affect sensor performance and demand special insulation. In addition, both fluids may experience property changes over time, further complicating accurate flow measurement. Ultrasonic flow meters address these issues by ensuring precise measurement even under harsh conditions, reducing energy losses and improving heat transfer efficiency.
- System can be completely thermally isolated
- Installation can be carried out without interrupting ongoing operations and does not require the use of a crane
- Proline Prosonic P 500 HT allows for non-intrusive installation on metallic pipes from DN 50 - 600 (2" - 24"), minimizing risk in high-temp, corrosive environments
- Early detection of fluid deterioration through speed-of-sound monitoring improves safety and availability
- Real-time diagnostics improve reliability and uptime
- No pressure drop with short inlet/outlet runs
Insights
Temperature measurement in tanks
Temperature measurement in molten salt tanks is essential for safe and efficient CSP plant operation. Variation in tank sizes, high temperatures more than 550 °C (1’022 °F) and corrosive conditions require durable thermocouples with flexible design. Sensors are often placed at multiple heights to monitor stratification, with heat tracing and insulation preventing solidification and ensuring reliable long-term performance.
Our expertise in the field
Endress+Hauser provides a comprehensive system for simultaneous temperature monitoring at three critical points: inner tank walls, tank basement and the molten salt medium inside thermal storage vessels, ensuring maximum operational safety and reliability throughout the energy conversion process.
- iTHERM MultiSens Flex TMS01 ensures accurate temperature profiling along the tank inner surface/wall to protect the tank structure, avoid salt solidification and control the heat transfer. The multipoint thermometer also provides reliable temperature monitoring in tight basement spaces to avoid mechanical damages, like cracks in the concrete
- iTHERM MultiSens Bundle TMS31 delivers precise temperature measurements in molten salt by monitoring the temperature at different levels in the tank, enabling the determination of the energy content, state of charge and process control of the salt storage system
Insights
Level measurement in CSP
Level measurement in molten salt systems is technically challenging due to the extreme temperature, corrosive nature and risk of solidification. Yet, with robust design and advanced technologies, reliable monitoring is essential in hot salt tanks and header systems. Maintaining correct levels is critical for operational safety and energy storage capacity in CSP plants, where molten salt in the receiver heats rapidly under concentrated sunlight. Real‑time level measurement in the inlet and outlet buffer tanks prevents receivers from overheating or burning out, while accurate monitoring of thermal storage tanks and HTF oil vessels ensures overall process stability.
Our expertise in the field
With non-contact radar, Endress+Hauser delivers accurate, dependable level measurements in molten salt tanks and HTF oil vessels, enabling you to safeguard operational safety, optimize energy storage capacity and ensure efficiency and reliability across the entire plant.
- Micropilot FMR62B 80GHz radar sensor is equipped with a high-temperature option (up to 450 °C ( 842 °F), and higher with thermal isolation spacer) and is immune to pressure and temperature fluctuations
- 80 GHz technology offers a narrow beam angle, which minimizes interference from internal obstructions
- Developed in accordance with IEC 61508, these solutions ensure the highest level of safety
Insights
Temperature measurements at receivers
Heat transfer fluid (HTF) systems form the backbone of CSP plants, transferring heat from solar collectors to steam generation system (SGS). Continuous temperature monitoring is essential to ensure optimal heat exchange and prevent overheating, which can damage equipment and reduce efficiency. In solar tower power plants, concentrated radiation can raise receiver surface temperatures to around 1,000 °C (1,832 °F), with actual limits depending on the HTF medium. Regardless of CSP technology, accurate temperature measurement at the receiver surface and within the HTF—such as thermal oil or molten salt in receiver tubes—is crucial for system efficiency and operational safety.
Our expertise in the field
Endress+Hauser provides highly accurate, reliable and application proven temperature measurement solutions for HTF in CSP plants, ensuring stable heat exchange, preventing overheating and maximizing plant availability and efficiency.
- iTHERM CableLine TSC310 provides robust and precise temperature measurement directly on the receiver surface, ensuring accurate monitoring under extreme heat for optimal energy absorption and system safety
- iTHERM ModuLine TM111 delivers highly reliable temperature measurement in HTF on the heat receiver tube, enabling stable operation, efficient heat exchange and protection against overheating in demanding CSP conditions
Takeaway
Our offering
Endress+Hauser supports the transition to large-scale solar power generation with reliable measurement devices and solutions tailored to the unique challenges of CSP plants. From collector field to thermal energy storage and steam generation, our instrumentation ensures safe, efficient and consistent operation - contributing to the long-term success of solar power initiatives.
- Best-fit measurement equipment and expertise supporting decentralized energy supply and renewable power generation from one single supplier
- Proven technology and solutions for CSP ensuring safety, reliability and efficiency
- Comprehensive expertise for accurate and dependable measurement in extreme conditions
- Increase system performance while reducing operational costs with Heartbeat Technology, which provides continuous self-diagnostics and alerts the user when intervention is needed
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