CIEMAT-Plataforma Solar de Almeria (PSA)-MOSA
TA17 – CIEMAT-PSA-MOSA
Location
Ctra. de Senés, km. 4,5
04200 Tabernas, Spain
Description
The Plataforma Solar de Almeria (PSA) is recognised as a major European scientific facility by the European Commission and is also the largest and most complete research and development (R&D) centre in the world dedicated to solar thermal concentrating systems, solar desalination and photochemistry. It is a privileged place for the development, evaluation, demonstration, and transfer of solar concentrating technologies, both for thermal applications and for chemical processes. It offers researchers a location with insolation and climate characteristics similar to those of developing countries of the equatorial belt with the advantages of owning the largest scientific facilities among European countries. The PSA consists of solar concentrating and solar water treatment facilities that are unique in the world due to their variety and size.
Two-tank molten salt storage system for simulation models validation:
The service consists of testing hydraulic components and equipment (i.e. heat exchangers, electrical heaters, valves, pressure transducers, etc.) to be implemented in molten solar salt loops in order to verify their behaviour and reliability. The tests will be carried out in the indoor test bench or in the outdoor test loop, depending on which specific component or feature has to be tested.
Characterisation of equipment and components for molten salt loops:
The service consists of testing hydraulic components and equipment (i.e. heat exchangers, electrical heaters, valves, pressure transducers, etc.) to be implemented in molten solar salt loops in order to verify their behaviour and reliability. The tests will be carried out in the indoor test bench or in the outdoor test loop, depending on which specific component or feature has to be tested.
Two-tank molten salt storage system for simulation models validation:
Since MOSA is a replica of a thermal energy storage system with molten salts and two-tank configuration, it can be used to validate any simulation model used to predict the behaviour of such type of thermal storage systems.
Testing the conversion of electricity into thermal energy:
A new molten salt electric heater is being installed at the MOSA facility (construction started in November 2022, operational from September 2023). It can be used to study the storage of electricity as thermal energy to evaluate the feasibility of Carnot batteries.
Testing Capabilities
The two-tank molten salt storage system is used for testing hydraulic components, characterising equipment for molten salt loops, validating simulation models of thermal storage systems, and studying the conversion of electricity into thermal energy.
Technical Equipment
Two-tank molten salt storage system for validating simulation models, testing of hydraulic components and equipment for molten salt loops, and a new molten salt electric heater for studying electricity-to-thermal energy conversion.
Additional information
Technology Readiness Level: 7 or above
Special considerations: N/A
Technology clusters: CSP/STE, Energy Storage
Website: https://www.psa.es
Availability: All year
Provision of tools to prepare data sets in a FAIR way: Yes
