Title: H2-MHR conceptual designs based on the sulphur–iodine process and high-temperature electrolysis

Authors: Matt Richards, Arkal Shenoy, Ken Schultz, Lloyd Brown, Ed Harvego, Michael McKellar, Jean-Phillippe Coupey, S.M. Moshin Reza, Futoshi Okamoto, Norihiko Handa

Addresses: General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186–5608, USA. ' General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186–5608, USA. ' General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186–5608, USA. ' General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186–5608, USA. ' Battelle Energy Alliance, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, MS 3710, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3710, USA. ' Battelle Energy Alliance, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, MS 3710, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3710, USA. ' Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843, USA. ' Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843, USA. ' Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd. 1–1, Tanabeshinden, Kawasaki-ku Kawasaki-city 210–9530, Japan. ' Toshiba Corporation 8, Shinsugita-Cho, Isogo-ku Yokohama 235–8523, Japan

Abstract: For electricity and hydrogen production, the advanced reactor technology receiving the most international interest is a modular, passively safe version of the high-temperature, helium-cooled reactor referred to in the USA as the Modular Helium Reactor (MHR). Because of its ability to produce high-temperature helium, the MHR is well suited for a number of process-heat applications, including hydrogen production. Two hydrogen-production technologies have emerged as leading candidates for coupling to the MHR: (1) thermochemical water splitting using the Sulphur–Iodine (SI) process and (2) High-Temperature Electrolysis (HTE). In this paper, we provide an update on conceptual designs being developed for coupling the MHR to the SI process and HTE. These concepts are referred to as the SI-based H2-MHR and the HTE-based H2-MHR, respectively.

Keywords: advanced reactor technology; high-temperature reactors; electricity production; hydrogen production; nuclear energy; helium-cooled reactors; modular helium reactors; thermochemical water splitting; nuclear power; sulphur-iodine process; high-temperature electrolysis; conceptual design; nuclear reactors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNHPA.2006.009867

International Journal of Nuclear Hydrogen Production and Applications, 2006 Vol.1 No.1, pp.36 - 50

Published online: 20 May 2006 *

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