储能技术简介（英文版）_24页

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Technology Brief Summary

Core Content

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is a technology that stores thermal energy in various forms for later use in heating, cooling, and power generation. It plays a crucial role in balancing energy demand and supply, especially with renewable energy sources, and contributes to energy efficiency, cost reduction, and climate change mitigation.

Main Types of TES Systems

There are three primary types of TES systems:

1. Sensible Heat Storage: Stores energy by heating or cooling a medium (e.g., water, sand, molten salts). It is relatively inexpensive but has lower energy density and variable discharge temperature. Water is the most common and cost-effective medium.
2. Latent Heat Storage (PCM): Uses phase change materials (PCMs) to store energy during phase transitions (e.g., solid to liquid). It offers higher storage capacity and more consistent discharge temperatures. Energy density can reach up to 100 kWh/m³.
3. Thermo-Chemical Storage (TCS): Utilizes chemical reactions to store and release thermal energy. It provides the highest storage capacity (up to 250 kWh/t) and efficiency (up to 100%) but is more complex and expensive. Examples include adsorption and desorption processes.

Key Features of TES Systems

Application Areas

• Building Sector: Used for domestic hot water, space heating, and air conditioning.
• Industrial Sector: Applied in process heat and cold storage, helping reduce energy waste and improve efficiency.
• Renewable Energy Integration: Particularly useful in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, where solar heat can be stored for later electricity production.
• Seasonal Storage: Large-scale applications like underground thermal energy storage (UTES) and district heating systems.

Current Status and Development

• Sensible Heat Storage is the most mature and commercially available technology.
• PCM and TCS systems are still under development and demonstration, with significant R&D efforts focused on improving their performance, cost, and stability.
• UTES uses underground layers (e.g., aquifers, boreholes, caverns) as storage media, with borehole storage being particularly useful for seasonal applications.
• PCM integration in building materials (e.g., plaster, gypsum walls) is a promising area, especially for passive cooling and energy efficiency.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

• TES systems can reduce peak demand, energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and costs.
• They improve the overall efficiency of energy systems and enable better integration of variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
• In mature economies, low construction rates of new buildings limit TES deployment, while emerging economies offer greater potential.

Barriers to Deployment

• High Costs: PCM and TCS systems are significantly more expensive than sensible heat storage.
• Material Stability: Storage performance of PCM and TCS systems depends on material properties, which need improvement.
• Technical Complexity: These systems require advanced heat and mass transfer technologies, increasing their cost and complexity.

Future Prospects

• R&D Focus: On new materials and technologies, especially for PCM and TCS systems.
• Policy and Investment: Support for TES integration in buildings, industry, and renewable energy is essential for its widespread adoption.
• Integration with Renewables: TES systems can help store surplus energy and convert it into usable forms (e.g., heat or cold), enhancing the role of renewable energy in the grid.

Summary Table

Conclusion

TES systems are vital for enhancing energy efficiency and supporting the integration of renewable energy into the grid. While sensible heat storage is currently the most mature and cost-effective option, PCM and TCS systems offer greater potential for future applications. Continued R&D, supportive policies, and investment incentives are necessary to overcome the current barriers and achieve broader deployment of TES technologies.