Monday, January 9, 2012

Molten Salts


What are Molten Salts? Do they even matter? Yes, yes they do. To answer my first question, the name is basically self explanatory. It is melted salts or fused salts. To reach this liquidated state, it must be heated to the point it is red hot where it will proceed to melt. The liquid is stable and will flow much like water will. The real differences between water and molten salts is molten will have a much higher capacity to hold heat and it will contract when frozen instead of water expanding. Some of the advantages of molten salts is it is capable of conducting electricity. This capability allows for use for possible energy projects. Not only for energy projects can be included, but it can be functioned as solvents, carry large heat capacity, move like a liquid, and some molten salts can have a chemical catalytic properties.

The knowledge of molten salts may help chances with use of solar energy. The article was very informative in the multiple applications that it can used for and its major properties. I found it very informative and I was able to understand much of what was written. The major thought I had with molten salts is the use of solar power. If it can store the energy even after sun has dropped, and continue giving, it may increase the productivity of solar energy plants. It truly can be a ground breaking material for the future.


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