Advanced High Temperature Instrumentation for Gen3 CSP Systems

With current movement toward a net-zero carbon economy, in addition to mandates to reduce the burdens of fossil fuel usage, Gen3 concentrating solar power systems are in a unique position to meet the cost and efficiency targets set forth for US energy generation needs. Sporian Microsystems has been approached by industry stakeholders with a need for ultra-high temperature operable instrumentation that would impact the performance and operation of Gen3 CSP systems, and enable more efficient and affordable energy production to achieve SETO and industry targets for viable broad-scale deployment. Sporian Microsystems has previously developed in-situ, real-time, high temperature sensors for aerospace and energy applications, including high-temperature pressure, flow, and chemical composition sensor systems. The primary objective of the proposed effort is to leverage Sporianĺs prior work to realize a range of advanced high temperature instrumentation for solid particle systems for the Gen3 CSP pathway in alignment with Sandia National Laboratoriesĺ needs. In Phase I, Sporian worked with technical partners and industry stakeholders to define system requirements, evaluated hardware/electronics architectures and designs, and successfully evaluated/demonstrated the feasibility of both high temperature flow and level sensor technologies for use with solid particle media in advanced gen3 CSP applications. The Phase II effort will focus on total system hardware and firmware development for commercial-oriented products, with several rounds of prototyping, testing, and relevant-environment pilot-scale demonstrations, while working with relevant industry partners for testing and clarification of application utility for ultimate commercialization. The proposed technology will improve gen3 CSP test beds by providing an improved means of precisely monitoring dynamics of solid particles, which is critical to studying and optimizing solid particle-based energy systems. In the long term, the technology will improve condition monitoring and controls in plants by providing information on heat flow conditions in real time, enabling plants to run more efficiently and reliably to meet cost targets and meet adoption thresholds. These solid-particle technologies have benefits over other heat transfer fluids in cost, safety, and reduced complexity. The resulting high-temperature sensor products also have potential cross-cutting application across the range of industries, including fossil- and nuclear-fueled power generation systems and other high-temperature industrial heat processes.