DEVELOPMENT OF A PHASE-CHANGE THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM USING MODIFIED ANHYDROUS SODIUM HYDROXIDE FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION.

The objectives were to study analytically and experimentally the performance of a phase-change thermal energy storage (TES) unit operating in the mid-temperature range, develop a preliminary design, and estimate the manufacturing cost. Physical properties of the medium were measured, and a reference design was developed using a previously developed computer model. A 0. 1 scale model TES system was designed, constructed and tested. Preliminary design of a TES unit and a manufacturing cost estimate is presented.