Inorganic Salt Storage via Equilibrium Gas Atmosphere
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing inorganic salts used as heat transfer and storage media face challenges in maintaining the stability and longevity of these salts, leading to decomposition and changes in physical properties.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of an inorganic salt in liquid form, where the salt decomposes into gaseous products upon heating, and a gas atmosphere is set to chemical equilibrium with the salt, shifting the decomposition equilibrium to minimize anion decomposition and maintain salt stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If inorganic salt is stored in liquid state at high temperature, then heat transfer and storage efficiency is improved, but anion decomposition occurs leading to reduced salt lifetime and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by establishing a controlled gas atmosphere composed of specific gases (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor) in defined partial pressures. This gas atmosphere acts as a protective environment that suppresses anion decomposition reactions while allowing the salt to operate at high temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature efficiency and salt stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by precisely controlling the composition and partial pressures of the gas atmosphere. By adjusting parameters such as oxygen partial pressure, carbon dioxide partial pressure, and water vapor content, the system optimizes the chemical equilibrium to minimize decomposition while maintaining high operating temperatures, thereby resolving the stability-temperature contradiction
2Use of energy by moving object
If inorganic salt is stored in liquid state, then heat transfer capability is improved, but decomposition into gaseous products occurs leading to loss of substance
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled gas atmosphere serves as a protective environment that prevents decomposition of the liquid inorganic salt into gaseous products. By maintaining specific partial pressures of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, the system suppresses decomposition reactions while preserving the liquid state and heat transfer capability of the salt
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful decomposition reaction into a beneficial equilibrium state. By controlling the gas atmosphere composition, the decomposition products are maintained in chemical equilibrium with the parent salt, preventing net loss of substance while allowing the salt to remain in the desirable liquid state for heat transfer applications
3Duration of action of stationary object
If pressure of gas atmosphere is increased to suppress decomposition, then salt lifetime is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by allowing the decomposition reactions to naturally establish chemical equilibrium within the closed vessel. The gas atmosphere composition and partial pressures are determined by the equilibrium thermodynamics of the salt decomposition reactions themselves, rather than requiring active external control systems. This naturally extends salt lifetime while avoiding complex pressure control machinery
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method extends the lifetime of the inorganic salt, maintains its physical properties, and allows for increased operating temperatures, enhancing the efficiency of heat transfer and storage applications.
Implementation Method 1
setting a pressure of a gas atmosphere, the gas atmosphere being in a chemical equilibrium with the inorganic salt in liquid state
Implementation Method 2
anions which on supply of heat decompose to form at least one gaseous disintegration product
Implementation Method 3
The pressure of the gas atmosphere is preferably subject to open—and/or closed-loop control
Implementation Method 4
providing an inorganic salt in liquid state
Data Source
AI summary
A method for storing an inorganic salt, wherein the inorganic salt has a long service life, and the stability of a salt melt made of the inorganic salt is increased. This is achieved in that the inorganic salt is provided in a liquid state, wherein the inorganic salt comprises anions which decompose when heat is supplied, thereby forming at least one gaseous decomposition product, and the pressure of the gas atmosphere is set such that the gas atmosphere is in chemical equilibrium with the inorganic salt in the liquid state.