Energy, Climate, & Infrastructure Security (ECIS)

Molten Salt

Molten Nitrate Salt Initial Flow Testing is a Tremendous Success

On November 2, 2012, in Concentrating Solar Power, News, Renewable Energy, Solar

  The Molten Salt Test Loop (MSTL ) system at Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) completed initial flow testing this week with great success.  The system pumped molten nitrate salt through a range of process conditions and showed performance characteristics that meet or exceed the design specifications.  The outstanding system performance was [...]


Molten Salt Test Loop Melted Salt

On October 10, 2012, in Concentrating Solar Power, Energy, News, Renewable Energy, Solar

The Molten Salt Test Loop (MSTL) team at Sandia National Laboratories melted 38 tonnes (84,000 pounds) of salt and filled the furnace of the MSTL system this week.  The salt melting was the culmination of many weeks of planning and preparation from a great team that assessed the hazards, planned the activities, modified the salt [...]


Molten Salt Test Loop Commissioning

On October 10, 2012, in Concentrating Solar Power, ECIS, Energy, News, News & Events, Renewable Energy, Solar

The Molten Salt Test Loop (MSTL) at Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) has successfully completed commissioning and demonstrated outstanding performance and control throughout the full range of operating parameters. The commissioning step confirms that a newly constructed facility meets all of the design requirements. The Molten Salt Test Loop was designed [...]


Molten Salt Test Loop Pump Installed

On August 30, 2012, in Concentrating Solar Power, Energy, Energy Storage Systems, News, Renewable Energy, Solar

  The pump was delivered and installed in the Molten Salt Test Loop (MSTL) system at Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). MSTL is designed to allow customers and internal researchers to test Concentrating Solar Power components and subsystems with nitrate salts flowing at realistic pressure, temperature, and flow rates. The pump, [...]


Solar CSP R&D Activities at Sandia

On March 3, 2011, in

Sandia supports the DOE Concentrating Solar Power Program and the CSP industry by providing: R&D on CSP components and systems; advanced component development; component and systems analysis; test and evaluation; and supporting market development activities. Listed below are systems and technologies supported by Sandia National Laboratories.


Last Updated: November 29, 2012
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