Abstract
The heat transfer characteristics of inorganic salt for high temperature heat storage material of solar power system were examined. The inorganic salts employed in this study was a mixture of $NaNO_3$ and $KNO_3$ and the operating temperature range was determined by measuring the melting temperature with DSC and by measuring the thermal decomposition temperature with TGA. The heat transfer characteristics was qualitatively obtained in terms of temperature profiles of salt in the tanks during the heat storage and heat release process as a function of steam flow rates, steam inlet temperature and the inlet position of steam. The effects of steam flow rates and inlet temperature of steam were experimentally determined and the effect of natural convection was observed due to significant density difference with temperature.