IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v384y2025ics0306261925002119.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Large-temperature-lift energy storage heat transformer for deep thermal energy utilization

Author

Listed:
  • Ding, Zhixiong
  • Wu, Wei

Abstract

The features of low grade and instability hinder the extensive utilization of renewable energy. Energy upgrading technology is needed to turn unusable renewable energy into usable energy, and energy storage systems are also required to solve the mismatch problem between energy sources and end users. Therefore, the energy storage heat transformer (ESHT) based on the desorption-absorption cycle has been proposed and regarded as a promising solution. To further reduce the heat input temperature and improve the cycle performance for deep utilization of renewable energy, a novel two-stage ESHT cycle is proposed and investigated. Preliminary experiments are conducted and used to validate the established dynamic model. Then, the performance under different working conditions are compared between the basic and two-stage ESHT cycles. Results show that one of the two solution tanks in the two-stage ESHT achieves a higher concentration compared to basic ESHT, increasing from 55.7 % to 65 % with the same temperature lift of 30 °C. The energy storage density (ESD) is significantly improved from 51.0 kWh/m3 to 96.1 kWh/m3 with similar energy storage efficiency (ESE) and exergy efficiency (EXE). A maximum temperature lift of 50 °C is reached under an input temperature of 60 °C. A minimum heat input temperature of 55 °C is achieved with a temperature lift of 35 °C. This work aims to provide references and suggestions for the improvement of absorption-based ESHT.

Suggested Citation

  • Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2025. "Large-temperature-lift energy storage heat transformer for deep thermal energy utilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:384:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925002119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125481
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925002119
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125481?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. You, Jinfang & Gao, Jintong & Li, Renpeng & Wang, Ruzhu & Xu, Zhenyuan, 2025. "Air-source heat pump assisted absorption heat storage for discharging under low ambient temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    2. Stengler, Jana & Linder, Marc, 2020. "Thermal energy storage combined with a temperature boost: An underestimated feature of thermochemical systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    3. Liu, Zijian & Lu, Ding & Tao, Shen & Chen, Rundong & Gong, Maoqiong, 2024. "Experimental study on using 85 °C low-grade heat to generate <120 °C steam by a temperature-distributed absorption heat transformer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    4. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2021. "A hybrid compression-assisted absorption thermal battery with high energy storage density/efficiency and low charging temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    5. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Huang, Si-Min & Huang, Hongyu & Bai, Yu & He, Zhaohong, 2023. "A novel compression-assisted energy storage heat transformer for low-grade renewable energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    6. Wang, Cun & Bi, Yuehong, 2024. "Dynamic characteristics and performance analysis of a double-stage energy storage heat transformer with a large temperature lift," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    7. Li, Tingxian & Wang, Ruzhu & Kiplagat, Jeremiah K. & Kang, YongTae, 2013. "Performance analysis of an integrated energy storage and energy upgrade thermochemical solid–gas sorption system for seasonal storage of solar thermal energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 454-467.
    8. Li, T.X. & Wang, R.Z. & Yan, T., 2015. "Solid–gas thermochemical sorption thermal battery for solar cooling and heating energy storage and heat transformer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 745-758.
    9. Gao, J.T. & Xu, Z.Y. & Wang, R.Z., 2020. "Experimental study on a double-stage absorption solar thermal storage system with enhanced energy storage density," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    10. Xu, Z.Y. & Wang, R.Z., 2019. "Absorption seasonal thermal storage cycle with high energy storage density through multi-stage output," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 1086-1096.
    11. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "Type II absorption thermal battery for temperature upgrading: Energy storage heat transformer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    12. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Chen, Youming & Leung, Michael, 2020. "Dynamic characteristics and performance improvement of a high-efficiency double-effectthermal battery for cooling and heating," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    13. Ding, Zhixiong & Sui, Yunren & Lin, Haosheng & Luo, Xianglong & Wang, Huasheng & Chen, Ying & Liang, Yingzong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "Experimental study on a two-stage absorption thermal battery with absorption-enhanced generation for high storage density and extremely low charging temperature (∼50 °C)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    14. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "A novel double-effect compression-assisted absorption thermal battery with high storage performance for thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 902-918.
    15. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2025. "Dynamic characteristics and performance enhancement of two-stage absorption thermal battery for long-term renewable energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    16. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Leung, Michael, 2021. "Advanced/hybrid thermal energy storage technology: material, cycle, system and perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Cudok, Falk & Giannetti, Niccolò & Ciganda, José L. Corrales & Aoyama, Jun & Babu, P. & Coronas, Alberto & Fujii, Tatsuo & Inoue, Naoyuki & Saito, Kiyoshi & Yamaguchi, Seiichi & Ziegler, Felix, 2021. "Absorption heat transformer - state-of-the-art of industrial applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    18. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "Simulation of a multi-level absorption thermal battery with variable solution flow rate for adjustable cooling capacity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    19. Jiang, L. & Wang, R.Q. & Tao, X. & Roskilly, A.P., 2020. "A hybrid resorption-compression heat transformer for energy storage and upgrade with a large temperature lift," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    20. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "A phase-change-material-assisted absorption thermal battery for space heating under low ambient temperatures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    21. You, Jinfang & Gao, Jintong & Wang, Ruzhu & Xu, Zhenyuan, 2024. "High-density and anti-clogging three-phase absorption heat storage with crystallization management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PA).
    22. Sifnaios, Ioannis & Sneum, Daniel Møller & Jensen, Adam R. & Fan, Jianhua & Bramstoft, Rasmus, 2023. "The impact of large-scale thermal energy storage in the energy system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    23. Anthony P. Straub & Ngai Yin Yip & Shihong Lin & Jongho Lee & Menachem Elimelech, 2016. "Harvesting low-grade heat energy using thermo-osmotic vapour transport through nanoporous membranes," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(7), pages 1-6, July.
    24. Wu, Xuewei & Zhang, Bin & Nielsen, Mads Pagh & Chen, Zhe, 2024. "Multi-stage planning of integrated electricity-gas-heating system in the context of carbon emission reduction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Xinyu & Liu, Zemin & Lu, Liu & Wang, Qihui & Li, Bo & Yang, Xiaohu & Li, Hailong, 2025. "Effect of gradient metal foam on phase change heat storage process under constant rotation condition: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2025. "Dynamic characteristics and performance enhancement of two-stage absorption thermal battery for long-term renewable energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    2. Wang, Cun & Bi, Yuehong, 2024. "Dynamic characteristics and performance analysis of a double-stage energy storage heat transformer with a large temperature lift," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    3. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "Simulation of a multi-level absorption thermal battery with variable solution flow rate for adjustable cooling capacity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Huang, Si-Min & Huang, Hongyu & Bai, Yu & He, Zhaohong, 2023. "A novel compression-assisted energy storage heat transformer for low-grade renewable energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    5. You, Jinfang & Gao, Jintong & Li, Renpeng & Wang, Ruzhu & Xu, Zhenyuan, 2025. "Air-source heat pump assisted absorption heat storage for discharging under low ambient temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    6. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "Type II absorption thermal battery for temperature upgrading: Energy storage heat transformer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    7. Liang, Zheng & Liang, Yingzong & Luo, Xianglong & Wu, Wei & Chen, Jianyong & Chen, Ying, 2025. "Dual-function absorption thermal battery embedded methanol-to-X system for seasonal energy dispatching: A dynamic parametric study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    8. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "A phase-change-material-assisted absorption thermal battery for space heating under low ambient temperatures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    9. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Leung, Michael, 2021. "Advanced/hybrid thermal energy storage technology: material, cycle, system and perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    10. Zhang, Y.X. & Fan, Y.B. & Zhang, W.Y. & Thinsurat, Kamon & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2025. "A compression-assisted sorption heat transformer for industrial heating application: working pairs and thermodynamics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    11. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "A novel double-effect compression-assisted absorption thermal battery with high storage performance for thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 902-918.
    12. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Leung, Michael K.H., 2022. "On the rational development of advanced thermochemical thermal batteries for short-term and long-term energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    13. Li, Wei & Xu, Shengguan & Wang, Qiuwang & Wang, Xiaoyuan & Wang, Bohong & Zeng, Min, 2025. "Adsorption thermochemical battery-based heat transformer for low-grade energy upgrading," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    14. Ding, Zhixiong & Sui, Yunren & Lin, Haosheng & Luo, Xianglong & Wang, Huasheng & Chen, Ying & Liang, Yingzong & Wu, Wei, 2024. "Experimental study on a two-stage absorption thermal battery with absorption-enhanced generation for high storage density and extremely low charging temperature (∼50 °C)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    15. Choi, Hyung Won & Jeong, Jinhee & Kang, Yong Tae, 2024. "Optimal discharging of solar driven sorption thermal battery for building cooling applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    16. Jiang, L. & Li, S. & Wang, R.Q. & Fan, Y.B. & Zhang, X.J. & Roskilly, A.P., 2021. "Performance analysis on a hybrid compression-assisted sorption thermal battery for seasonal heat storage in severe cold region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 398-409.
    17. Ji, Qiang & Che, Chunwen & Yin, Yonggao & Huang, Gongsheng & Pan, Tengxiang & Zhao, Donglin & Wang, Yikai, 2024. "Optimizing working fluids for advancing industrial heating performance of compression-absorption cascade heat pump," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PB).
    18. Li, Zhaojin & Bi, Yuehong & Wang, Cun & Shi, Qi & Mou, Tianhong, 2023. "Finite time thermodynamic optimization for performance of absorption energy storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    19. Jiang, L. & Liu, W. & Lin, Y.C. & Wang, R.Q. & Zhang, X.J. & Hu, M.K., 2022. "Hybrid thermochemical sorption seasonal storage for ultra-low temperature solar energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    20. Luo, Jielin & Yang, Hongxing, 2023. "Investigations on a bubble-pump-aided diffusion absorption heat transformer using deep eutectic solvent for harvesting and upgrading thermal energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:384:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925002119. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.