1. Estimation of Blockage Position, Geometry, and Solidity in Molten Salt Pipelines
- Author
-
Hector Andres Mayor, Pedro J. Villegas, Juan A. Martin-Ramos, Miguel J. Prieto, Alberto M. Pernia, and Juan A. Martinez
- Subjects
Materials science ,heat transfer fluid (HTF) ,020209 energy ,02 engineering and technology ,lcsh:Chemical technology ,magnetostriction ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,Article ,Analytical Chemistry ,law.invention ,law ,0103 physical sciences ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,lcsh:TP1-1185 ,thermosolar ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Molten salt ,Spark plug ,010301 acoustics ,Instrumentation ,Electrical conductor ,Electromagnetic acoustic transducer ,guided waves (GW) ,Attenuation ,molten salts ,Acoustic wave ,Mechanics ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,magnetostrictive sensors (MsS) ,electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) ,Transducer ,Solidity ,non-destructive testing (NDT) - Abstract
In solar thermal plants, the use of molten salt as a heat transfer fluid is an advantageous alternative, although it has some disadvantages such as the formation of salt plugs in the pipes due to possible stratification of the salt or its solidification. The aim of this study was to implement an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) not only capable of identifying the position of the plug, but also of determining whether the plug blocks the entire conductive surface or, on the contrary, is partial, allowing the fluid to pass through a smaller section. The proposed transducer is intended to be minimally invasive, allowing it to be used in the same way as a temperature probe. To do so, it creates torsional waves in the pipe, which are then used for a combination of measurements: pulse-echo and attenuation of the acoustic waves. Two materials with different densities (silicone and cement) were used in the tests carried out, which made it possible to check that for a given size of blockage, it is possible to identify the type of material from which it is formed.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF