Assessment and analysis of hydrogen and electricity production from a Generation IV lead-cooled nuclear reactor integrated with a copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle

Al‐Zareer, Maan; Dinçer, İbrahim; Rosen, Marc A.

doi:10.1002/er.3819

Cited by 23 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The lower operating temperature (approximately 530°C) and high efficiency (approximately 43%) of Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle and less stringent requirement for materials of construction as compared with those of S‐I cycle improves the prospects for scaling up and hydrogen production at commercial scale . Also, because of its lower temperature requirements, the Cu–Cl cycle can be more readily combined with solar, geothermal, or waste heat sources . This cycle in tandem with most of the Generation IV nuclear reactors (based on molten salts or supercritical water) may serve as a suitable candidate for accomplishment of NGNP‐NHI (Next Generation Nuclear Plant‐Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14 Also, because of its lower temperature requirements, the Cu-Cl cycle can be more readily combined with solar, geothermal, 15 or waste heat sources. 16 This cycle in tandem with most of the Generation IV nuclear reactors (based on molten salts or supercritical water) may serve as a suitable candidate for accomplishment of NGNP-NHI (Next Generation Nuclear Plant-Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative). In addition, this cycle shows better hydrogen and oxygen generation kinetics and higher efficiency.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Investigations on the hydrolysis step of copper‐chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production

et al. 2019

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Summary Detailed investigations of CuCl2 hydrolysis step of Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle were carried out on various aspects: (a) characterization and thermal properties of reactants/products using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry (TG‐MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD), and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS); (b) performance evaluation of fixed bed hydrolysis; (c) parametric optimization with respect to S/Cu, flow rate (gas hourly space velocity, GHSV), reaction duration, temperature, and particle size; and (d) monitored hydrolysis using isothermal TG experiments at 360°C, 370°C, 380°C, 390°C, and 400°C to derive kinetic parameters rate constant (k) and activation energy (Ea) on the basis of the shrinking‐core model. 97% conversion to Cu2OCl2 at 17 630 h−1 of GHSV, 400°C was achieved using ball‐milled CuCl2 (BM6), as compared with that of 55% over commercial un–ball‐milled reactant, CuCl2 (UBM). Correspondingly, higher k value of 2.84 h−1 over BM6 as compared with 0.97 h−1 over UBM reactant at 400°C was achieved. Ea for hydrolysis of BM6 was 93 kJ/mol, while it was 106 kJ/mol for UBM as derived from the Arrhenius plot. A probable pathway for CuCl2 hydrolysis is proposed here. It was found to be diffusion controlled, and the particle size of reactant molecules affects the packing and diffusion length. Based on our investigations, it is very unlikely to get >99% phase pure product (Cu2OCl2). Cu2OCl2 is labile in nature and tends to transform into structurally similar and stable compounds CuO and CuCl2.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Investigations on the hydrolysis step of copper‐chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production

et al. 2019

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“…Activities related to hydrogen production and distribution have already been initiated by many advanced countries, and they have developed their own systems for this purpose. The most relevant to the current study includes an integration system for hydrogen and electricity production from Gen IV nuclear reactors (lead cooled and super critical water cooled nuclear reactors [SCWR]) . These studies were supported by detailed energy and exergy analyses and applied a copper chlorine (Cu–Cl) coupled cycle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most relevant to the current study includes an integration system for hydrogen and electricity production from Gen IV nuclear reactors (lead cooled and super critical water cooled nuclear reactors [SCWR]). 5,6 These studies were supported by detailed energy and exergy analyses and applied a copper chlorine (Cu-Cl) coupled cycle. This research assessed various nuclear power plants and concluded that HTGR was the feasible option based on technical and economic analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using next generation nuclear power reactors for development of a techno‐economic model for hydrogen production

Khan

2019

Int J Energy Res

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Summary Nuclear and hydrogen are considered to be the most promising alternatives energy sources in terms of meeting future demand and providing a CO₂‐free environment, and interest in the development of more cost‐effective hydrogen production plants is increasing—and nuclear‐powered hydrogen generation plants may be a viable alternative. This paper is a report on investigating the application of new generation nuclear power plants to hydrogen production and development of an associated techno‐economic model. In this paper, theoretical and computational assessments of generations II, III+, and IV nuclear power plants for hydrogen generation scenarios have been reported. Technical analyses were conducted on each reactor type—in terms of the design standard, fuel specification, overnight capital cost, and hydrogen generation. In addition, a theoretical model was developed for calculating various hydrogen generation parameters, and it was then extended to include an economic assessment of nuclear power plant‐based hydrogen generation. The Hydrogen Economic Evaluation Program originally developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency was used for calculating various parameters, including hydrogen production and storage costs, as well as equity, operation and maintenance (O&M), and capital costs. The results from each nuclear reactor type were compared against reactor parameters, and the ideal candidate reactor was identified. The simulation results also verified theoretically proven results. The main objective of the research was to conduct a prequalification assessment for a cogeneration plant, by developing a model that could be used for technical and economic analysis of nuclear hydrogen plant options. It was assessed that high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactors (HTGR‐PM and PBR200) represented the most economical and viable plant options for hydrogen production. This research has helped identify the way forward for the development of a commercially viable, nuclear power‐driven, hydrogen generation plant.

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“…Moreover, Sayyaadi and Boroujeni indicated a thermal efficiency improvement of the 5‐step Cu‐Cl thermochemical cycle by using an optimization algorithm and a heat exchanger network (HEN). Al‐Zareer et al proposed a novel system integration by using a combination of the 5‐step Cu‐Cl thermochemical cycle, a nuclear reactor, a combined cycle, and a hydrogen compression system, to carry out the cogeneration of compressed hydrogen and electricity where the overall energy and exergy efficiencies were found to be 25.4% and 40.6%, respectively . Notably, the overall energy efficiency of the integrated system decreases by using Rankine cycle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and energy evaluation of a stand-alone copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle system for trigeneration of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen

Hsu

Chen

2017

Int J Energy Res

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Summary In this article, a new stand‐alone Cu‐Cl cycle system (SACuCl) for trigeneration of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen using a combination of a specific combined heat and power (CHP) unit and a 2‐step Cu‐Cl cycle using a CuCl/HCl electrolyzer is presented. Based on the self‐heat recuperation technology for the CHP unit and the heat integration of the Cu‐Cl cycle unit, the power efficiency of the SACuCl for 5 prescribed scenarios (case studies) is predicted to achieve about 48% at least. The SACuCl uses the technologies of the dry reforming of methane and the oxy‐fuel combustion to achieve a relatively high CO2 concentration in the flue gas, and CO2 emissions for power generation could be almost restricted by 0.418 kg/kWh. From the aspect of the electricity required for hydrogen production, it is verified that the 2‐step Cu‐Cl cycle system is superior to the conventional water electrolyzer because the CHP process supplies the heat/electricity for Cu‐Cl thermochemical reactions and a thermoelectric generator is connected to the exhaust gas for recovering the power consumption from the compressor and the CuCl/HCl electrolyzer. Finally, the heat exchanger network and the pinch technology are employed to determine the optimum heat recovery of the Cu‐Cl cycle. In case 5 analyzed for the SACuCl, the electricity required for the heat‐integrated 2‐step Cu‐Cl cycle is predicted to dramatically decrease from 4.39 to 0.452 kWh/m3 H2 and the cycle energy efficiency could be obviously increased from 23.77 to 31.97%.

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Assessment and analysis of hydrogen and electricity production from a Generation IV lead-cooled nuclear reactor integrated with a copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle

Cited by 23 publications

References 17 publications

Investigations on the hydrolysis step of copper‐chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production

Investigations on the hydrolysis step of copper‐chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production

Using next generation nuclear power reactors for development of a techno‐economic model for hydrogen production

Design and energy evaluation of a stand-alone copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle system for trigeneration of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen

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