FWIW it seems that Abengoa (specifically Dylan Grogan) is also happy to use the 48:45:7 composition, as per http://www.osti.gov/scitech/biblio/1090096/, which cites Bradshaw and Siegel [1] as their source. And I note that Siegel used to work in the CSP group at Sandia...

[1] R. W. Bradshaw and N. P. Siegel, “MOLTEN NITRATE SALT DEVELOPMENT FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE IN PARABOLIC TROUGH SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS”, Energy Sustainability 2008, ES2008-54174, A.S.M.E.

Hi,

I read the combination of Kearney often, while the others I didn't read often and not many papers refer to them. Also please note, that the first commercial solar tower with salt technology is Gemasolar and in this plant not Hitec is used, more a Solar Salt type mixture. Parabolic Trough with salt HTM is also not commercial yet. In 1983 a HiTec type mixture was used in one of the first demonstration plants THEMIS. Later, at least for tower applications, more Solar Salt type mixtures were used. Today's plants have big issues due to high temperature corrosion and further interacting with the salt.

FWIW it seems that Abengoa (specifically Dylan Grogan) is also happy to use the 48:45:7 composition, as per http://www.osti.gov/scitech/biblio/1090096/, which cites Bradshaw and Siegel [1] as their source. And I note that Siegel used to work in the CSP group at Sandia...

[1] R. W. Bradshaw and N. P. Siegel, “MOLTEN NITRATE SALT DEVELOPMENT FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE IN PARABOLIC TROUGH SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS”, Energy Sustainability 2008, ES2008-54174, A.S.M.E.

This information may be useful for your research

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the use of a calcium potassium nitrate salt for the manufacture of a melt, in particulate a nitrate-based heat transfer fluid (HTF) and/or thermal energy storage fluid, for example in solar energy applications, such as in solar electrical power plant systems using a parabolic through, a central receiver or a linear Fresnel, which have both a low melting temperature and a high decomposition temperature, as well as to a method for the manufacture thereof.

The present invention relates to the use of a double salt of Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 for the manufacture of a melt, in particular a nitrate-based heat transfer fluid (HTF) and/or thermal energy storage fluid, for example in solar energy applications, such as in solar electrical power plant systems using a parabolic through, a central receiver or a linear Fresnel, which have both a low melting temperature and a high decomposition temperature, as well as to methods for the manufacture thereof. Using said double salt, a melt could be manufactured comprising at least NaNO3, KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, preferably, an eutectic ternary melt comprising Ca(NO3)2, NaNO3 and KNO3 in a weight ratio of about 42:15:43 with an operating temperature of about 131 °C to about 560 °C.

Ref:Use of a calcium potassium nitrate salt for the manufacture of a heat transfer fluid

WO 2014044652 A1

www.google.com/patents/WO2014044652A1?cl=en

Good information Mr. Maddali V S Murali Krishna