Thermochemical hydrogen production from the sulphur-iodine cycle powered by solar or nuclear sources

Stone, Howard Brian James (2007) Thermochemical hydrogen production from the sulphur-iodine cycle powered by solar or nuclear sources. University of Southampton, School of Engineering Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 183pp.

Abstract

Since mankind's adoption of fossil fuels as its primary energy carrier for heating, elec- tricity and transportation, the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has increased constantly . A potential replacement energy carrier is hydrogen. Current industrial techniques for dissociating hydrogen from its common substances are con- ventionally reliant on fossil fuels and thus greenhouse gases are still released. As a mechanism to develop a hydrogen economy current industrial techniques will suffice; however, a long-term sustainable solution to hydrogen mass production that does not release greenhouses gases is desired. The United States of America Government be- lieves that the Sulphur-Iodine thermochemical hydrogen production cycle, thermally powered by a nuclear source, is the most likely long-term solution. A critical part of the Sulphur-Iodine cycle is the point of interaction between the thermal source and sulphuric acid used within the cycle. A novel bayonet heat exchanger made from silicon carbide is theoretically applied to the point of interaction. Through a combination of experiments and theoretical modelling, the bayonet heat exchanger is characterised. The bayonet model is then modified to simulate the intended nuclear reactor favoured by the United States Department of Energy. In addition, the bayo- net heat exchanger is analysed for a solar thermal application. An advanced design of the bayonet is also presented and theoretically analysed for its increased thermal efficiency.

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