CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Australia)

Sector: Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) Energy

Recognition: 2021 CSIRO Medal for Health, Safety and Environment Achievement

Overview

As part of its commitment to advancing renewable energy technologies, CSIRO sought to design a pilot scale high temperature sodium (HTS) test loop and containment system to support its next-generation concentrated solar thermal (CST) energy projects. Handling sodium—a highly reactive alkali metal—required exceptional engineering precision, risk mitigation, and real-world experience.

ATLM-Global was brought in to provide a high-level design review of the in-house system, ensuring best practices across construction, safety, operation, and long-term maintainability.

Challenge

Despite early in-house work and collaboration with legacy equipment suppliers on component procurement and preliminary P&ID diagrams, CSIRO recognized the need for ATLM-Global’s additional external expertise to:

• Review/critique process design and mechanical layout of CSIRO’s pilot scale HTS test loop 
• Assess risk related to high-temperature sodium handling‍
• Guide critical design elements, including the solar receiver, cold trap, economizer, air cooling, and heater systems‍
• Identify and avoid "unknown unknowns" in construction and long-term operation
• Recommend technical specifications on the sodium skid that were used for public tender

Our Role

Dr. Claude B. Reed of ATLM-Global conducted a comprehensive review of CSIRO’s test-loop system, with focus on:

• Alignment with global best practices for liquid metal systems‍
• Component sizing, temperature distribution, and instrumentation
• Functional requirements for pressure, flow, fume containment, and sodium purification‍
• Input on the P&ID development, including cold trap and pump integration
• Identification of potential safety, corrosion, or maintenance risks early in the design

This review included technical documentation support, such as:
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‍Update on the ASTRI High-Temperature Solar Sodium Facility
Sodium Pump Market Survey, Background Reports, and a Cold Trap Design specification

Results & Impact

Award-Winning Design: The project earned the 2021 CSIRO Medal for Health, Safety and Environment Achievement, recognizing ATLM-Global’s role in shaping a world-first system that safely utilizes sodium’s thermal properties for CST innovation.
Global Recognition: CSIRO’s design, supported by ATLM-Global’s engineering review, is now considered among the best in the world for sodium-based thermal systems.
Ongoing Collaboration: The success of this test-loop system has paved the way for the broader ASTRI Sodium Project currently in installation, right now in 2025. See photo of test-loop system atop the tower at CSIRO.

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Looking Ahead

This case is a benchmark for how early-stage design input from subject matter experts can prevent long-term risks and elevate a project to global leadership status. As sodium and other alkali metals gain renewed interest in fusion, solar thermal, and advanced nuclear reactor applications, our work helps ensure that innovation is not only possible—but safe, scalable, and award-winning.

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