Thermomechanical testing under operating conditions of A516Gr70 used for CSP storage tanks

•A516Gr.70-molten salts pair under operation conditions was evaluated.•Tensile strength test was performed and compared at 380 °C and room temperature.•A reduction of σy, E modulus, and elongation were obtained.•After 7 days experiment, A516Gr.70 presents similar mechanical properties than after 5′.•Microstructures were checked and the changes are described.

Thermal energy storage (TES) in molten salts is the storage dominating technology in solar power applications today. In two-tank molten salt storage systems energy density ranges from 30 to 70 kW h/m3 are achievable. The salt material used is a binary system, composed of 60% NaNO3 and 40% KNO3. In the 8 MWhth pilot plant built and tested by Abengoa, the storage tanks were made of steel A516Gr.70 using the Appendix M of code API 650 for their design. A specific testing device was developed to evaluate thermo-mechanical properties, and a study was conducted in order to evaluate tensile properties of A516Gr.70 specimens under operation conditions for the hot tank at the pilot plant that is in contact with molten salts at 380 °C. Results confirmed the outcomes of the work: the reduction of the yield limit, elongation before fracture, and Young modulus at 380 °C after having been 5 min immersed in molten salts. Moreover, after a creep-test simulating operating 7 days conditions during, an additional reduction of the yield limit was measured.