Abstract: To operate solar thermal technology economically, a cheap heat transfer fluid is used. To either completely spare or significantly reduce the energy-intensive auxiliary heating at night, a water tank is simply installed in the plant without a threat to the environment. With the water tank, the salt HTF is thinned by adding water when the solar heating is not in operation.

Abstract: A mixture of inorganic nitrate salts may include sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate in certain proportions which can be used both for the storage of thermal energy and as heat transfer fluid, for example within concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. Such mixture may be used, for example, in thermodynamic solar systems with point-focusing, receiver-type power towers using heliostat mirror geometries on-ground. As another example, the disclosed mixture may be used as heat transfer fluid in a number of applications for industrial processes involving heat exchanges in a wide range of temperatures. One example mixture is an anhydrous, binary salt mixture, comprising potassium nitrate KNO3 and sodium nitrate NaNO3 wherein the KNO3 content ranges from 60% by weight to 75% by weight, e.g., from 63% by weight to 70% by weight, e.g., from 65% by weight to 68% by weight.

Abstract: A heat transfer medium is used in solar thermal power plants. The heat transfer medium can reversibly absorb and release water. The heat transfer medium releases water during heating and releases heat during re-absorption of the water.

Abstract: To operate solar thermal technology economically, a cheap heat transfer fluid is used. To either completely spare or significantly reduce the energy-intensive auxiliary heating at night, a water tank is simply installed in the plant without a threat to the environment. With the water tank, the salt HTF is thinned by adding water when the solar heating is not in operation.

Abstract: A heat transfer medium for solar thermal systems, a solar salt, contains nitrate salts. By admixing Ba and/or Sr are added to Li—Na—K—NO3 to improve the properties of the solar salt.

Abstract: A heat transfer medium is used in solar thermal power plants. The heat transfer medium can reversibly absorb and release water. The heat transfer medium releases water during heating and releases heat during re-absorption of the water.