Concentrated Solar Power

Concentrated solar power runs at very high temperatures — molten salt around 565°C and receivers far higher — so insulation must survive sustained heat and resist salt corrosion. Receiver towers can exceed 200 m, making lightweight, durable high-temp materials essential for both efficiency and safety.

Concentrated Solar Power Application Scenarios

• CSP receivers — ceramic fiber insulates tower and trough receivers operating under intense concentrated flux (tower receivers can stand over 200 m high).
• Molten-salt tank insulation — ceramic fiber resists salt corrosion while limiting standby heat loss.
• High-temperature molten-salt piping — ceramic fiber on salt lines withstands heat and corrosion.
• Equipment insulation — calcium silicate on various plant equipment.
• Fire-safety systems — calcium silicate in integrated fire-and-insulation packages for the plant.

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CSP Insulation Standards

Concentrated solar power operates at temperatures where most building-insulation products are out of their range, so the relevant standards are the high-temperature mineral-wool and fire-safety specifications rather than general building codes.

• EN 14303 — the European specification for factory-made mineral wool used in building equipment and industrial installations, covering product forms and declared properties; it addresses mineral wool service up to about +800 °C, which covers molten-salt and many equipment duties.
• EN 13501-1, Class A1 — non-combustible mineral wool supports the passive fire safety of plant equipment and tanks.
• ASTM C553 and ASTM C592 — mineral-fiber insulation specifications for high-temperature piping and equipment, referenced for North American and export projects.
• ASTM E84 — surface-burning characteristics for materials used in plant buildings and equipment enclosures.

Because molten salt operates around 565 °C and receivers run far hotter, ceramic fiber is specified for the highest-temperature sections and calcium silicate for equipment and integrated fire-thermal packages.

How to Select CSP Insulation

1. Split the loop by temperature. Molten-salt tanks and piping around 565 °C are served by mineral wool and calcium silicate; receivers and tower sections above 1000 °C call for ceramic fiber.
2. Account for salt corrosion. Specify chemically stable, salt-resistant linings for any surface touching or near molten salt.
3. Respect the height. Receiver towers can exceed 200 m, so lightweight ceramic fiber reduces structural and handling load versus rigid alternatives.
4. Integrate fire safety. Use calcium silicate where fire and thermal protection are combined in one package.
5. Detail for cycling. Daily start-stop thermal cycling demands joints and supports that accommodate movement without cracking.

See our ceramic fiber blanket and calcium silicate board for receiver, molten-salt and equipment insulation in CSP plants.

Concentrated solar power relies on high-temperature thermal storage and reflective surfaces. Related high-heat applications:

• Power generation insulation for thermal and steam-cycle generation
• Cement kiln insulation for high-temperature kiln systems
• Aerospace and defense insulation for high-heat thermal protection
• Pipe insulation for solar-field heat-transfer piping