Publications

Permitting for a Gen 3 pilot-scale sodium and molten salt system

Madden, Dimitri A.; Armijo, Kenneth M.; Winckel, Rip

The development of a Generation 3 Liquid-Pathway, Pilot-scale sodium and molten chloride salt concentrating solar power system at Sandia National Laboratories requires extensive permitting to ensure code and environmental safety & health compliance for nominal, safe operation. This includes permitting for National Environmental Policy Act, U.S. Airforce approvals, and abiding by the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code. This work also details the failure modes effects analysis procedures to address design engineering and administration controls for technical risks. To facilitate permitting and safety procedures, staged sodium spray and pool fire variants were demonstrated. Soda ash extinguishing agents were utilized to demonstrate fire mitigation by Fire Department personnel. For this work, temperature data was measured for characterizing sodium fire temperatures and the zone of influence to provide PPE level information to emergency response personnel.