Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ...

ACTIVITIES OF NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE REZ IN THE AREA OF HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES
Nuclear Research Institute Rez plc
NRI provides a wide range of expertise and services for operators of the nuclear power plants in the
Czech Republic and abroad, supports central state institutions in the Czech Republic in the domains of
strategic energy planning and development, management of radioactive waste (Ministry of Trade and
Industry), provides independent professional expertise for the State Office of Nuclear Safety, supports
development of exploitation of ionising radiation and irradiation services for basic and applied research,
health service and industry, provides research and services for radioactive waste disposal, production
of radiopharmaceuticals, education and training of expert and scientific specialists and many other
activities. Apart from that, the Institute also functions in non-nuclear areas, for example in the fossil
energy sector, chemical industry and environmental protection.
Due to the increasing importance of hydrogen technologies, the Institute established a dedicated
research unit working in this area. There are two kinds of activities of the unit: demonstration projects
focused on presentation of the possible use of hydrogen, and theoretical research and development
activities. Certain studies on possible production of hydrogen from current and future nuclear power
plants are also performed. Some activities of the research unit are briefly described below.
Hydrogen-related activities of the Institute
Current activities of the Institute include:
• Demonstration projects:
– hydrogen-powered bus (H2Bus);
– hydrogen-powered ship (project Zemships – zero-emission ships);
– control of power from renewable energy sources (in preparation).
• Research and development activities:
– on-line visualisation of hydrogen vehicle propulsion;
– purification of waste hydrogen from chemical industry;
– production of hydrogen in nuclear power plants;
– experiments on hydrogen production by high temperature electrolysis (in preparation).
H2Bus – the first hydrogen-powered bus in the new EU countries
Preparation of the bus has been undertaken by a consortium of seven stakeholders with NRI as a
leader of the consortium. The main objective of the project is to initiate activities connected with
hydrogen utilisation in transport in the Czech Republic. Advanced technologies are utilised in order to
optimise energy flows – the main energy source is electricity generated by fuel cells (50 kW). Other
parts are accumulators and ultra capacitors used for recuperation. About 20 kg of pressurised
hydrogen (at pressure 35 MPa) will be stored in pressure vessels, which will be mounted on the bus
roof. The hydrogen bus as well as first hydrogen filling station in central Europe is going to start in
June 2009. The bus is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: H2Bus
448 NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010