Design of the LIMELIGHT Test Rig for Component Testing for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage with Liquid Metals

Abstract

Thermal energy storage systems for high temperatures >600 °C are currently mainly based on solid storage materials that are thermally charged and discharged by a gaseous heat transfer fluid. Usually, these systems benefit from low storage material costs but suffer from moderate heat transfer rates from the gas to the storage medium. Therefore, at the Karlsruhe Liquid Metal Laboratory, liquid metals are investigated as alternative heat transfer fluids for such heat storage systems, making use of the broad temperature range, in which the metals are in a liquid state, and their efficient heat transport capabilities. In this work, the design and construction of a high-temperature test rig using liquid lead is presented. The goal of the experiments is to demonstrate the operability of a pump, valves and measurement equipment at 700 °C in a challenging corrosive environment. Based on material pre-tests in stagnant lead at 700 °C, which are also shown in this study, aluminizing and pre-oxidation of the pipes and components are applied for enhanced corrosion protection.