In the research group within molten salt technology, we investigate how we can utilize molten salt in the power systems of the future.
About the Molten Salt Technology group
Molten salts are ionic compounds that are in the solid phase at room temperature but become liquid at elevated temperatures. Molten salts are generally thermally stable, they have good heat transfer properties, they can act as solvents, and some salt melts have catalytic properties.
At REALTEK, we investigate how these properties can be utilized when molten salts are used as reaction media for e.g. conversion of biomass to biofuels and CO2 capture. We work experimentally on a lab scale to understand the fundamental principles of these processes. In addition, we work with theoretical modelling to develop new phase diagrams for molten salts, as well as process simulations for future upscaling of the technologies. We collaborate with various partners and institutes, both in Norway and internationally.Niazi, Sepideh; Olsen, Espen; Nygård, Heidi S Hydrolysis of eutectic compositions in the ZnCl2:KCl:NaCl ternary system and effect of adding ZnO Journal of Molecular Liquids 2020, 317, 114069. Grøtan, Åshild; Olsen, Espen; Nygård, Heidi S Carbon Capture with Metal Oxides in Molten Salts: MgO, SrO and CaO as Sorbents SINTEF proceedings 2019 (4) s. 63-75. Nygård, Heidi S.; Meyer, Julien; Di Felice, Luca; Eldrup, Nils Henrik; Haug, Alf Tore; Olsen, Espen Techno-economic study of the CCMS Technology for CO2 capture from ferro-silicon production SINTEF proceedings 2019 (4) s. 63-75. Nygård, Heidi S; Hansen, Maria; Alhaj-Saleh, Yasen; Palimaka, Piotr; Pietrzyk, Stanislaw; Olsen, Espen Experimental evaluation of chemical systems for CO2 capture by CaO in eutectic CaF2-CaCl2 AIMS Energy 2019. 7. p. 619-633. Olsen, Espen; Hansen, Maria; Nygård, Heidi S Hydrolysis of molten CaCl2-CaF2 with additions of CaO AIMS Energy 2017; 5, (6), p. 873-886. Nygård, Heidi S.; Tomkute, Viktorija; Olsen, Espen Kinetics of CO2 absorption by calcium looping in molten halide salts Energy Procedia 2017; 114, p. 250-258. Tomkute, Viktorija; Solheim, Asbjørn; Sakirzanovas, SImas; Olsen, Espen Reactivity of CaO with CO2 in molten CaF2–NaF: formation and decomposition of carbonates Energy Science & Engineering 4.3 (2016): 205-216. Nygård, Heidi S.; Olsen, Espen Molten salt pyrolysis of milled beech wood using an electrostatic precipitator for oil collection AIMS Energy 2015; 3 (3), p. 284-296 Nygård, Heidi S.; Olsen, Espen Effect of salt composition and temperature on the thermal behavior of beech wood particles in molten salt pyrolysis. Energy Procedia 2014; 58, p. 221-228. Tomkute, Viktorija, Solheim, Asbjørn; Sakirzanovas, SImas; Øye, Bjarte; Olsen, Espen Phase equilibria evaluation for CO2 capture: CaO–CaF2–NaF, CaCO3–NaF–CaF2, and Na2CO3–CaF2–NaF Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data 59.4 (2014): 1257-1263. Olsen, Espen, and Viktorija Tomkute Carbon capture in molten salts Energy Science & Engineering 1.3 (2013): 144-150. Tomkute, Viktorija, Asbjørn Solheim, and Espen Olsen Investigation of high-temperature CO2 capture by CaO in CaCl2 molten salt Energy & Fuels 2013, 27, 9: pp. 5373-5379. Nygård, Heidi S.; Danielsen, Filip; Olsen, Espen Thermal History of Wood Particles in Molten Salt Pyrolysis Energy & Fuels 2012; 26 (10) p. 6419-6425. Westerhof, R. J. M.; Nygård, Heidi S.; Swaaij, W. P. M. van; Kersten, S. R. A.; Brilman, D. W. F. Effect of Particle Geometry and Microstructure on Fast Pyrolysis of Beech Wood Energy & Fuels 2012; 26 (4) p. 2274-2280. Nygård, Heidi S.; Olsen, Espen Review of thermal processing of biomass and waste in molten salts for production of renewable fuels and chemicals International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies 2012; 7 (4) p. 318-324. - Sepideh Niazi, 2022: Experimental and theoretical evaluation of thermodynamic properties of low melting chlorides suitable for liquefaction of biomass
- Heidi S. Nygård, 2015: The potential of molten salts as heat transfer media in fast pyrolysis of wood
- Viktorija Tomkute, 2014: Carbon capture by CaO in molten halide salts
- Helene Flakke, 2021: Electrochemical Removal of Impurities in Molten ZnCl2-NaCl-KCl
- Petter Nygård Lerøen, 2020: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts: An extensive survey of chemical systems with MgO as sorbent
- Åshild Grøtan, 2019: Carbon Capture with Metal Oxides in Molten Salts: MgO, SrO and CaO as sorbents
- Nils Amund Rusås Ruud, 2018: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts: The Effect of Sulfation
- Maria Hansen, 2017: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts: The Effect of Hydrolysis
- Yasen Alhaj-Salah, 2014: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts: Absorption and Desorption of CO2 by CaO-sorbent in Eutectic CaF2/CaCl2-melt
- Ana Korvald, 2012: Carbon Capture in Molten Salts: Absorption and Desorption of CO2 by CaO in Molten NaF/CaF2