Importance

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Abstract

A technique increases the round-trip efficiency (“RTE”) of a pumped thermal energy storage system by changing the coefficient of performance (“COP”) and efficiency of the cycles by changing the temperature ratios of each, which is accomplished by using two separate low temperature reservoirs (“LTRs”) that are at different temperatures. More particularly, the disclosed technique accomplishes this by using a low-temperature thermal reservoir during the charging process that is at a higher temperature than the generating cycle's low-temperature thermal reservoir. The low-temperature thermal reservoirs are “decoupled” and “independently existing”, in that their temperature and utilization are independent of one another. In general, decoupled and independently existing reservoirs may also be different in their independent reservoir media, reservoir location, and heat exchangers.

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First Claim