Experimental study on thermal performance of a novel medium-high temperature packed-bed latent heat storage system containing binary nitrate

•A novel medium-high temperature PBLHS system is designed and constructed.•The thermal efficiency of the initial stage of the heat storage and release process is higher.•The overall efficiency of the PBLHS system based on binary nitrate is 79.3%.•The temperature and flow rate of the air has a significant effect on the pressure loss of the PBLHS system.