High Efficiency Generation of Hydrogen Fuels Using Nuclear Power

Brown, L. C.; Besenbruch, G. E.; Lentsch, R. D.; Schultz, K.R.; Funk, J. F.; Pickard, Paul S.; Marshall, Albert C.; Showalter, Steven K.

doi:10.2172/761612

Cited by 57 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This can be done using conventional room temperature electrolysis, but water becomes easier to split into its consituents at higher temperatures, and more thermodynamically efficient and hopefully more economical processes can be developed that can effectively use the high-temperature heat provided by HTGRs. Three such processes that are currently under development by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy are the Sulfur-Iodine Process [18], the Hybrid Sulfur Process [19], and High-Temperature Electrolysis [20]. Each of these processes uses thermal energy at about 800 • C or higher to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.…”

Section: Co 2 Capture Process Extensionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere

Sherman

2009

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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A process for capturing CO 2 from the atmosphere was recently proposed. This process uses a closed cycle of sodium and calcium hydroxide, carbonate, and oxide transformations to capture dilute CO 2 from the atmosphere and to generate a concentrated stream of CO 2 that is amenable to sequestration or subsequent chemical transformations. In one of the process steps, a fossilfueled lime kiln is needed, which reduces the net CO 2 capture of the process. It is proposed to replace the fossil-fueled lime kiln with a modified kiln heated by a high-temperature nuclear reactor. This will have the effect of eliminating the use of fossil fuels for the process and increasing the net CO 2 capture. Although the process is suitable to support sequestration, the use of a nuclear power source for the process provides additional capabilities, and the captured CO 2 may be combined with nuclear-produced hydrogen to produce liquid fuels via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or other technologies. Conceivably, such plants would be carbon-neutral, and could be placed virtually anywhere without being tied to fossil fuel sources or geological sequestration sites.

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Section: Co 2 Capture Process Extensionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere

Sherman

2009

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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“…That implies the secondary coolant supply temperature could be as high as 900 to 950°C, resulting in decomposition reactor peak temperatures as high as 900°C. Since the catalytic SO 3 decomposition reaction is negligible below about 650 to 675°C, 18 the catalyst bed outlet temperature should be higher, making 750°C a reasonable, practical lower limit. Figure 5 illustrates how high-temperature heat would be transferred from an advanced helium gas-cooled nuclear reactor to the sulfuric acid decomposition reactor, using a secondary coolant loop to isolate the nuclear process from the chemical process.…”

Section: Operating Variable Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7,9,18 Lower acid concentrations would allow more efficient electrolyzer operation in the hybrid sulfur cycle due to lower reversible potential, 19 so concentrations as low as 30 wt% (expressed as 0.068 mole fraction SO 3 , where 1 mole H 2 SO 4 is equivalent to 1 mole H 2 O + 1 mole SO 3 ) were considered. A value of 90 wt% (0.384 mole fraction SO 3 ) was used for the upper limit.…”

Section: Operating Variable Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was earlier noted that the catalytic SO 3 decomposition reaction is negligible below about 650 to 675°C, 18 resulting in the somewhat arbitrary choice of the catalyst bed inlet temperature, T cat , being set equal to 675°C. While the endothermic decomposition can then occur over a 225°C range when the peak process fluid temperature is 900°C, it is limited to a 25°C range if the peak temperature is only 700°C.…”

Section: Helium Heat Source Pinch Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy Efficiency Limits for a Recuperative Bayonet Sulfuric Acid Decomposition Reactor for Sulfur Cycle Thermochemical Hydrogen Production

Gorensek

Edwards

2009

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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A recuperative bayonet reactor design for the high-temperature sulfuric acid decomposition step in sulfur-based thermochemical hydrogen cycles was evaluated using pinch analysis in conjunction with statistical methods. The objective was to establish the minimum energy requirement. Taking hydrogen production via alkaline electrolysis with nuclear power as the benchmark, the acid decomposition step can consume no more than 450 kJ/mol SO 2 for sulfur cycles to be competitive. The lowest value of the minimum heating target, 320.9 kJ/mol SO 2 , was found at the highest pressure (90 bar) and peak process temperature (900°C) considered, and at a feed concentration of 42.5 mol% H 2 SO 4 . This should be low enough for a practical watersplitting process, even including the additional energy required to concentrate the acid feed.Lower temperatures consistently gave higher minimum heating targets. The lowest peak process temperature that could meet the 450-kJ/mol SO 2 benchmark was 750°C. If the decomposition reactor were to be heated indirectly by an advanced gas-cooled reactor heat source (50°C temperature difference between primary and secondary coolants, 25°C minimum temperature difference between the secondary coolant and the process), then sulfur cycles using this concept could be competitive with alkaline electrolysis provided the primary heat source temperature is at least 825°C. The bayonet design will not be practical if the (primary heat source) reactor outlet temperature is below 825°C.

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“…Hybrid cycles use a combination of both heat and electrical work to drive the process, implying that at least one of the reactions has a significantly positive free energy change. At least 115 different cycles have been proposed in the open literature [Brown et al (2000)]. …”

Section: Thermochemical Cyclesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Hydrogen Production Using Laser Inertial Fusion as the Primary Energy Source

Gorensek¹

2006

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High Efficiency Generation of Hydrogen Fuels Using Nuclear Power

Cited by 57 publications

References 10 publications

Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere

Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere

Energy Efficiency Limits for a Recuperative Bayonet Sulfuric Acid Decomposition Reactor for Sulfur Cycle Thermochemical Hydrogen Production

Feasibility of Hydrogen Production Using Laser Inertial Fusion as the Primary Energy Source

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High Efficiency Generation of Hydrogen Fuels Using Nuclear Power

Cited by 57 publications

References 10 publications

Nuclear powered CO2 capture from the atmosphere

Nuclear powered CO2 capture from the atmosphere

Energy Efficiency Limits for a Recuperative Bayonet Sulfuric Acid Decomposition Reactor for Sulfur Cycle Thermochemical Hydrogen Production

Feasibility of Hydrogen Production Using Laser Inertial Fusion as the Primary Energy Source

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere

Nuclear powered CO₂ capture from the atmosphere