Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.191, 157-163, 2019
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): An efficient technique for monitoring corrosion processes in molten salt environments in CSP applications
This study assessed the behaviour of a constructive material in CSP plants, namely ferritic-martensitic steel, with molten NaNO3/ICNO3 (60/40 wt%), also known as Solar Salt. To this end, EIS is presented as a suitable technique to evaluate and monitor the resistance of this material to Solar Salt at 580 degrees C. Tests were performed up to 1000 h and results were also supported by gravimetric and microstructural characterisation of the samples and chemical analysis of the salt. According to the EIS results, a diffusion-controlled reaction occurred during contact, which indicates that the corrosion process follows a porous layer mechanism. The results also indicated variations in corrosion layer thickness and instability of the salt during the whole test. The EIS results were also used for determining the corrosion rate, this being estimated at similar to 300 mu m year(-1). Results obtained by EIS were in line with the behaviour of P91 steel as measured by gravimetric, morphological and chemical analysis. Thus, the results confirm the suitability of EIS for monitoring corrosion processes in real-time of constructive materials in CSP plants.