Life cycle assessment of hydrogen production from a high temperature electrolysis process coupled to a high temperature gas nuclear reactor

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 4019-4033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario R. Giraldi ◽  
Juan-Luis François ◽  
Cecilia Martin-del-Campo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Electrolysis Process ◽  
High Temperature Gas ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

scholarly journals Analysis of a High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Powered High Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen Plant

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. McKellar ◽  
E. A. Harvego ◽  
A. M. Gandrik
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Electric Power ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
System Pressure ◽  
Reference Design ◽  
High Temperature Gas ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

An updated reference design for a commercial-scale high-temperature electrolysis (HTE) plant for hydrogen production has been developed. The HTE plant is powered by a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) whose configuration and operating conditions are based on the latest design parameters planned for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). The current HTGR reference design specifies a reactor power of 600 MWt, with a primary system pressure of 7.0 MPa, and reactor inlet and outlet fluid temperatures of 322°C and 750°C, respectively. The reactor heat is used to produce heat and electric power for the HTE plant. A Rankine steam cycle with a power conversion efficiency of 44.4% was used to provide the electric power. The electrolysis unit used to produce hydrogen includes 1.1 million cells with a per-cell active area of 225 cm2. The reference hydrogen production plant operates at a system pressure of 5.0 MPa, and utilizes a steam-sweep system to remove the excess oxygen that is evolved on the anode (oxygen) side of the electrolyzer. The overall system thermal-to-hydrogen production efficiency (based on the higher heating value of the produced hydrogen) is 42.8% at a hydrogen production rate of 1.85 kg/s (66 million SCFD) and an oxygen production rate of 14.6 kg/s (33 million SCFD). An economic analysis of this plant was performed with realistic financial and cost estimating The results of the economic analysis demonstrated that the HTE hydrogen production plant driven by a high-temperature helium-cooled nuclear power plant can deliver hydrogen at a competitive cost. A cost of $3.03/kg of hydrogen was calculated assuming an internal rate of return of 10% and a debt to equity ratio of 80%/20% for a reactor cost of $2000/kWt and $2.41/kg of hydrogen for a reactor cost of $1400/kWt.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor Powered High-Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plant

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Harvego ◽  
M. G. McKellar ◽  
M. S. Sohal ◽  
J. E. O’Brien ◽  
J. S. Herring
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
System Pressure ◽  
Reference Design ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

A reference design for a commercial-scale high-temperature electrolysis (HTE) plant for hydrogen production was developed to provide a basis for comparing the HTE concept with other hydrogen production concepts. The reference plant design is driven by a high-temperature helium-cooled nuclear reactor coupled to a direct Brayton power cycle. The reference design reactor power is 600 MWt, with a primary system pressure of 7.0 MPa, and reactor inlet and outlet fluid temperatures of 540°C and 900°C, respectively. The electrolysis unit used to produce hydrogen includes 4,009,177 cells with a per-cell active area of 225 cm2. The optimized design for the reference hydrogen production plant operates at a system pressure of 5.0 MPa, and utilizes an air-sweep system to remove the excess oxygen that is evolved on the anode (oxygen) side of the electrolyzer. The inlet air for the air-sweep system is compressed to the system operating pressure of 5.0 MPa in a four-stage compressor with intercooling. The alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC) conversion efficiency is 96%. The overall system thermal-to-hydrogen production efficiency (based on the lower heating value of the produced hydrogen) is 47.1% at a hydrogen production rate of 2.356 kg/s. An economic analysis of this plant was performed using the standardized H2A Analysis Methodology developed by the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program, and using realistic financial and cost estimating assumptions. The results of the economic analysis demonstrated that the HTE hydrogen production plant driven by a high-temperature helium-cooled nuclear power plant can deliver hydrogen at a competitive cost. A cost of $3.23/kg of hydrogen was calculated assuming an internal rate of return of 10%.

Hydrogen production by high temperature electrolysis with nuclear reactor

2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (2-6) ◽  
pp. 422-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiji Fujiwara ◽  
Shigeo Kasai ◽  
Hiroyuki Yamauchi ◽  
Kazuya Yamada ◽  
Shinichi Makino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

System Evaluation and Economic Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor Powered High-Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen-Production Plant

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Harvego ◽  
M. G. McKellar ◽  
M. S. Sohal ◽  
J. E. O’Brien ◽  
J. S. Herring
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
System Pressure ◽  
Reference Design ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

A reference design for a commercial-scale high-temperature electrolysis (HTE) plant for hydrogen production was developed to provide a basis for comparing the HTE concept with other hydrogen-production concepts. The reference plant design is driven by a high-temperature helium-cooled nuclear reactor coupled to a direct Brayton power cycle. The reference design reactor power is 600 MWt, with a primary system pressure of 7.0 MPa, and reactor inlet and outlet fluid temperatures of 540°C and 900°C, respectively. The electrolysis unit used to produce hydrogen includes 4,009,177 cells with a per-cell active area of 225 cm2. The optimized design for the reference hydrogen-production plant operates at a system pressure of 5.0 MPa, and utilizes an air-sweep system to remove the excess oxygen that has evolved on the anode (oxygen) side of the electrolyzer. The inlet air for the air-sweep system is compressed to the system operating pressure of 5.0 MPa in a four-stage compressor with intercooling. The alternating current to direct current conversion efficiency is 96%. The overall system thermal-to-hydrogen-production efficiency (based on the lower heating value of the produced hydrogen) is 47.1% at a hydrogen-production rate of 2.356 kg/s. This hydrogen-production efficiency is considerably higher than can be achieved using current low-temperature electrolysis techniques. An economic analysis of this plant was performed using the standardized hydrogen analysis methodology developed by the Department of Energy Hydrogen Program, and using realistic financial and cost estimating assumptions. The results of the economic analysis demonstrated that the HTE hydrogen-production plant driven by a high-temperature helium-cooled nuclear power plant can deliver hydrogen at a competitive cost. A cost of $3.23/kg of hydrogen was calculated assuming an internal rate of return of 10%.

scholarly journals Thermodynamic Considerations for Thermal Water Splitting Processes and High Temperature Electrolysis

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Thermal Water ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thermodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Temperature Ranges ◽  
Reactor Types ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

A general thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production based on thermal water splitting processes is presented. Results of the analysis show that the overall efficiency of any thermal water splitting process operating between two temperature limits is proportional to the Carnot efficiency. Implications of thermodynamic efficiency limits and the impacts of loss mechanisms and operating conditions are discussed as they pertain specifically to hydrogen production based on high-temperature electrolysis. Overall system performance predictions are also presented for high-temperature electrolysis plants powered by three different advanced nuclear reactor types, over their respective operating temperature ranges.

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