A new type of liquid air energy storage(LAES) system coupled with solar energy is proposed to address the issue of low round-trip efficiency(RTE) in current LAES systems. The discharging process of the new system is equipped with series-connected two-stage air heaters

which improves the RTE while allowing the system to operate in conventional ways under low solar radiation conditions. Sensitivity analysis of main parameters and exergy analysis are conducted on the new system

and the results show that

within the allowable range

the lower the liquefaction temperature

the lower the charging pressure and the higher the discharging pressure

resulting in higher RTE of the system. The optimal RTE of the system can reach 72.4%

and the system can still operate at an RTE of 53.6% when solar radiation is insufficient. The exergy efficiency of the new system is 38.0%

among which the solar collector field has the highest exergy destruction

accounting for 52.4% of the total exergy destruction

followed by the throttle valve and thermoelectric generator. In heat exchangers

there is significant exergy destruction in cold boxes and evaporators.