Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants
Oxide ceramics could be attractive high-temperature construction materials for critical structural parts in high-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems due to their excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. The 3D-printing technology allows the production of cera...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2599 |
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| author | Wenjin Ding Yuan Shi Markus Braun Fiona Kessel Martin Frieß Alexander Bonk Thomas Bauer |
| author_facet | Wenjin Ding Yuan Shi Markus Braun Fiona Kessel Martin Frieß Alexander Bonk Thomas Bauer |
| author_sort | Wenjin Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oxide ceramics could be attractive high-temperature construction materials for critical structural parts in high-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems due to their excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. The 3D-printing technology allows the production of ceramic components with highly complex geometries, and therefore extends their applications. In this work, 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics were immersed in molten MgCl<sub>2</sub>/KCl/NaCl under argon or exposed in argon without molten chlorides at 700 °C for 600 h. Their material properties and microstructure were investigated through three-point-bend (3PB) testing and material analysis with SEM-EDX and XRD. The results show that the 3D-printed Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> maintained its mechanical property after exposure in the strongly corrosive molten chloride salt. The 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> had an enhanced 3PB strength after molten salt exposure, whereas no change was observed after exposure in argon at 700 °C. The material analysis shows that some of the ZrO<sub>2</sub> on the sample surface changed its crystal structure and shape (T→M phase transformation) after molten salt exposure, which could be the reason for the enhanced 3PB strength. The thermodynamic calculation shows that the T→M transformation could be caused by the reaction of the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-stabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> with MgCl<sub>2</sub> (mainly Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and ZrO<sub>2</sub> with gaseous MgCl<sub>2</sub>). In conclusion, the 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics have excellent compatibility with corrosive molten chlorides at high temperatures and thus show a sound application potential as construction materials for molten chlorides. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:45:04Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:45:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
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| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-3226b81c64784715a82ba6797da4ca802023-11-21T18:09:58ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-05-01149259910.3390/en14092599Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP PlantsWenjin Ding0Yuan Shi1Markus Braun2Fiona Kessel3Martin Frieß4Alexander Bonk5Thomas Bauer6Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Structures and Design, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Structures and Design, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Structures and Design, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, GermanyOxide ceramics could be attractive high-temperature construction materials for critical structural parts in high-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems due to their excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. The 3D-printing technology allows the production of ceramic components with highly complex geometries, and therefore extends their applications. In this work, 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics were immersed in molten MgCl<sub>2</sub>/KCl/NaCl under argon or exposed in argon without molten chlorides at 700 °C for 600 h. Their material properties and microstructure were investigated through three-point-bend (3PB) testing and material analysis with SEM-EDX and XRD. The results show that the 3D-printed Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> maintained its mechanical property after exposure in the strongly corrosive molten chloride salt. The 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> had an enhanced 3PB strength after molten salt exposure, whereas no change was observed after exposure in argon at 700 °C. The material analysis shows that some of the ZrO<sub>2</sub> on the sample surface changed its crystal structure and shape (T→M phase transformation) after molten salt exposure, which could be the reason for the enhanced 3PB strength. The thermodynamic calculation shows that the T→M transformation could be caused by the reaction of the Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-stabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> with MgCl<sub>2</sub> (mainly Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and ZrO<sub>2</sub> with gaseous MgCl<sub>2</sub>). In conclusion, the 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics have excellent compatibility with corrosive molten chlorides at high temperatures and thus show a sound application potential as construction materials for molten chlorides.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2599concentrated solar power (CSP)3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramicsthree-point-bend strength (3PB strength)corrosion resistancemolten salt |
| spellingShingle | Wenjin Ding Yuan Shi Markus Braun Fiona Kessel Martin Frieß Alexander Bonk Thomas Bauer Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants Energies concentrated solar power (CSP) 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics three-point-bend strength (3PB strength) corrosion resistance molten salt |
| title | Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants |
| title_full | Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants |
| title_fullStr | Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants |
| title_short | Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants |
| title_sort | compatibility of 3d printed oxide ceramics with molten chloride salts for high temperature thermal energy storage in next generation csp plants |
| topic | concentrated solar power (CSP) 3D-printed ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> ceramics three-point-bend strength (3PB strength) corrosion resistance molten salt |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2599 |
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