Dow Heat Transfer Fluids Continue Innovation in Concentrated Solar Power

Dow Heat Transfer Fluids, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced it will attend the MENASOL 2012 4th North Africa & Middle East Solar Conference & Expo, May 16-17, 2012 at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Company is exhibiting in booth # 9.

"Dow applies a total solution approach to serving the CSP industry," said Carolina Barrios, market development manager for Dow Heat Transfer Fluids. "Advanced fluid technology, world-scale production capacity, robust supply chain and logistics capabilities, in-depth technical support services, and fluid regeneration opportunities support our CSP customers’ success and industry growth."

Barrios said Dow’s continual growth in the CSP industry has led to the use of DOWTHERM™ A heat transfer fluid in more than 24 large scale CSP installations globally with a total power generation capacity of more than 1 GW. DOWTHERM™ A is a specialized heat transfer fluid with a 75-year track record in high temperature service and an ability to withstand temperatures up to 400° C. Its proven track record, stability, and low viscosity throughout its entire operating range have made DOWTHERM™ A the leading fluid for CSP projects globally.

The Company creates innovative production and logistic solutions to meet the high volume fluid requirements of CSP plants. Included are complex fluid staging and delivery systems to meet narrow installation timeframes at plants in often remote locations.

Dow’s commitment to CSP innovation includes advancements in CSP system technology. The Company’s innovative dual loop CSP design improves efficiency and lowers operational costs by leveraging the proven reliability of DOWTHERM™ A and the high temperature capabilities of molten salt to produce 10 percent more electricity than a conventional CSP system with the same size solar field.

Dow also offers a diverse range of engineering support services and training programs to help operators monitor and maintain fluids, ensuring maximum system efficiency with minimum downtime.

How CSP Works

Concentrating Solar Power uses parabolic mirrors to reflect and magnify heat from the sun onto a closed circulating loop containing DOWTHERM™ A heat transfer fluid. The fluid collects the heat energy and transports it to a power station where it is used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.

Solar power technology like CSP offers many advantages in regions that require reliable new sources of energy. The technology helps diversify energy supply, is capable of producing power during periods of peak demand, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. When used instead of fossil fuel generation plants, CSP facilities offer improved air quality and can help many nations to address off-set goals for carbon emission produced by existing fossil fuel power plants. Unlike photovoltaic solar power and wind energy technologies, CSP plants can operate in conjunction with cost-effective thermal storage technology to deliver energy on-demand, making CSP a highly flexible source of renewable energy.

www.dow.com