The Challenge
Harsh-fluid environments (HFE) such as molten salts, molten metals, and mineral slurries are key components of many industrial operations. Due to the extreme conditions in these fluids (i.e., high temperatures, high corrosivity, high-radioactivity, or abrasive entrained solids), HFE processes are unable to take advantage of the near-real-time analysis and feedback tools used in other industries. Currently, most HFE process monitoring is conducted via manual sampling and offline analysis. This approach has multiple drawbacks, including:
- Poor process control due to long feedback lag times
- Inaccurate analysis due to non-representative samples
- Low precision due to low throughput analysis and too few samples
- High labor expenses and skilled labor requirements
- Health and safety concerns
The Innovation
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory are developing high-temperature-fluid and sample-handling platforms with integrated analytical capabilities to enable in-process monitoring of molten salt and other HFE processes.
The Benefits
- Improved process control
- Improved product quality
- Improved energy efficiency
- Precise material accountancy
- Capital asset preservation
Applicable Industries
- Electrometallurgy
- Electrodeposition
- Molten salt reactors
- Concentrating solar power
- Oil and gas
- Mineral processing
- Laboratory automation