Stress and Deformation Analysis of the Foundation of a Large High-Temperature Molten-Salt Storage Tank

Concentrating solar power (CSP) is a promising renewable energy technology, and molten-salt storage tanks are core equipment for ensuring its stable operation, where the foundation plays a decisive role in the structural design and safe service of the tanks. To address the lack of systematic stress and deformation analysis for large high-temperature molten-salt storage tank foundations, this study aims to investigate the mechanical and thermal behaviors of the foundation under actual operating conditions. A numerical simulation method was adopted to perform stress and deformation analysis on the foundation of a large high-temperature molten-salt storage tank. The results show that the maximum von Mises stress of 229.26 MPa is concentrated on the steel plate of the foundation. The radial deformation of the foundation was calculated, and the maximum radial deformation reaches 36.64 mm, which provides an important reference for the design of both the foundation and the entire molten-salt storage tank. Under the given internal pressure and operating temperature, the height of the molten salt has a significant impact on the radial deformation of the foundation. Additionally, ambient temperature variations from −28.7 °C to 20 °C exert little influence on the temperature distribution of the foundation, indicating that the thermal insulation performance of the tank is excellent. The findings of this study can provide theoretical support for optimizing the design and operation strategies of molten-salt storage tanks, particularly their foundations.