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Idaho National Laboratory has been researching the application of solidoxide electrolysis cells for large-scale hydrogen production from steam over a temperature range of 800 to 900°C. This report summarizes the FY 2010 experimental program, which has focused on advanced cell and stack development and degradation studies.

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INTRODUCTIONMany advanced nuclear reactor designs require new fuel, cladding, and structural materials. Data are needed to characterize the performance of these new materials in high temperature, oxidizing, and radiation conditions. To obtain this data, robust instrumentation is needed that can survive proposed test conditions. Traditional methods for measuring temperature in-pile degrade at temperatures above 1080 ºC. Hence, a project was initiated to develop specialized thermocouples for high temperature in-pile applications (see Rempe and Wilkins, 2005). This paper summarizes efforts to develop, fabricate, and evaluate these specialized thermocouples. BACKGROUND

The Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, has requested that a Hydrogen Technology Down-Selection be performed to identify the hydrogen production technology that has the best potential for timely commercial demonstration and for ultimate deployment with the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). An Independent Review Team (IRT) has been assembled to execute the down-selection. This report has been prepared to provide the members of the Independent Review Team with detailed background information on the High Temperature Electrolysis (HTE) process, hardware, and state of the art. The Idaho National Laboratory has been serving as the lead lab for HTE research and development under the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative. The INL HTE program has included small-scale experiments, detailed computational modeling, system modeling, and technology demonstration. Aspects of all of these activities are included in this report. In terms of technology demonstration, the INL successfully completed a 1000-hour test of the HTE Integrated Laboratory Scale (ILS) technology demonstration experiment during the fall of 2008. The HTE ILS achieved a hydrogen production rate in excess of 5.7 Nm 3 /hr, with a power consumption of 18 kW. This hydrogen production rate is far larger than has been demonstrated by any of the thermochemical or hybrid processes to date.This report was prepared in April-May 2009 specifically for the IRT, which at the end of its evaluation in July 2009, recommended that:DOE-NE should focus on the continued development of HTSE [High Temperature Steam Electrolysis] as the leading candidate for integration with NGNP in 2021. This conclusion is based upon the IRT judgment that HTSE has the highest probability of meeting the down-selection criteria described in the report, including efficient production of hydrogen at NGNP conditions.

New fundamental measurements are presented for the transition process in flat plate boundary layers downstream of two-dimensional square ribs. By use of laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and a large Matched-Index-of-Refraction (MIR) flow system, data for wall-normal fluctuations and Reynolds stresses were obtained in the near wall region to y+<0.1 in addition to the usual mean streamwise velocity component and its fluctuation. By varying velocity and rib height, the experiment investigated the following range of conditions: k+=5.5 to 21, 0.3<k/δ1<1,180<Rek<740,6×104<Rex,k<1.5×105,ReΘ660,−125<x−xk/k<580. Consequently, results covered boundary layers which retained their laminar characteristics through those where a turbulent boundary layer was established shortly after reattachment beyond the forcing rib. For “large” elements, evolution of turbulent statistics of the viscous layer for a turbulent boundary layer y+<∼30 was rapid even in flows where the mean velocity profile still showed laminar behavior.

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