Sulzer, the venerable Swiss purveyor of fluid engineering solutions, has recently clinched a notable milestone in the renewable energy sector by supplying molten salt pumps for a groundbreaking 100 MW concentrated solar power project nestled in the heart of China. This pioneering endeavor marks Sulzer’s inaugural deployment of pumps catering to both the scalding hot and chilling cold circuits of the CSP infrastructure, meticulously crafted at their manufacturing bastion in Suzhou, China.
The project, poised to furnish uninterrupted solar energy day and night, epitomizes a paradigm shift in sustainable energy provision, harnessing the bountiful potential of molten salt technology. Sulzer’s technological acumen is underscored by the deployment of three cold molten salt pumps, each fortified with robust 2.6 MW motors, plunging a staggering 18 meters into the cold molten salt reservoir. These stalwart pumps are complemented by two counterparts tasked with managing the searing heat of the system.
A primary challenge encountered in this ambitious venture was the demand for heightened operational pressures within the molten salt conduits, necessitating pumps capable of withstanding pressures scaling up to 100 bar. Sulzer’s adept engineering prowess came to the fore, as each pump was meticulously tailored to accommodate these exacting specifications, ensuring seamless functionality under rigorous operational conditions.
Sulzer’s foray into molten salt technology predates the current venture by over 15 years, where they initially carved a niche in leveraging high-temperature fluids for cooling circuits, akin to methodologies entrenched in the nuclear sphere for nearly seven decades. This endeavor not only underscores Sulzer’s indelible imprint in advancing renewable energy but also amplifies their stature as vanguards of technological innovation in the fluid dynamics domain.
The deployment of Sulzer’s cutting-edge pumps in the 100 MW CSP project represents a watershed moment in the renewable energy landscape, epitomizing the fusion of sustainable energy solutions with avant-garde engineering prowess. As the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions intensifies, Sulzer’s role in pioneering technological innovations underscores their commitment to spearheading transformative changes in the renewable energy sector.
