A case study of a solar energy transfer and storage system in a freeze desalination project in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Performance evaluation studies of Syltherm-800 (a proprietary heat transfer fluid) and Partherm-290 (a proprietary heat storage salt) are reported based on the data collected for a 1-year operation of solar powered freeze desalination pilot plant (200 m³ capacity), located in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. In spite of some operational problems, the thermal stability of these heat transfer media has been observed to be good, which ensures their prolonged use in solar power-generation technology.