A solar adsorption thermal battery for seasonal energy storage

Adsorption thermal batteries have drawn burgeoning attention for addressing the mismatch between heat demand and supply, especially for seasonal energy storage. However, the heat release process at low ambient temperature in winter is still challenging. Here, a proof-of-concept compression-assisted adsorption thermal battery (CATB) prototype is presented. Real ammonia compression is used to adjust adsorption and desorption processes for flexible heat input and output. A 300% increase in the average output heat power is achieved when the compression ratio increases from 1 to 4. The prototype is then scaled up and simulated for worldwide domestic heating. The total heat supply amounts to 139.6 kWh, with CATB and solar thermal energy contributing 77.5% and 22.5%, respectively. It reveals that the most suitable regions for seasonal heat storage are primarily located around the latitudes of 45 degrees north and south. CATBs are promising, considering their superior performance and adaptability for seasonal energy storage.