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STATUS OF THE KOREAN NUCLEAR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PROJECT
Status of the Korean nuclear hydrogen production project
Jonghwa Chang, Won-Jae Lee
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
Korea
Abstract
The rapid climate changes and the heavy reliance on imported fuel in Korea have motivated interest in
the hydrogen economy. The Korean government has set up a long-term vision for transition to the
hydrogen economy. To meet the expected demand of hydrogen as a fuel, hydrogen production using
nuclear energy was also discussed. Recently the Korean Atomic Energy Committee has approved nuclear
hydrogen production development and demonstration which will lead to commercialisation in late
2030s. An extensive research and development programme for the production of hydrogen using nuclear
power has been underway since 2004 in Korea. During the first three years, a technological area was
identified for the economic and efficient production of hydrogen using a VHTR. A pre-conceptual
design of the commercial nuclear hydrogen production plant was also performed. As a result, the key
technology area in the core design, the hydrogen production process, the coupling between reactor and
chemical side, and the coated fuel were identified. During last three years, research activities have
been focused on the key technology areas. A nuclear hydrogen production demonstration plant (NHDD)
consisting of a 200 MWth capacity VHTR and five trains of water-splitting plants was proposed for
demonstration of the performance and the economics of nuclear hydrogen. The computer tools for the
VHTR and the water-splitting process were created and validated to some extent. The TRISO-coated
particle fuel was fabricated and qualified. The properties of high temperature materials, including
nuclear graphite, were studied. The sulphur-iodine thermochemical process was proved on a 3 litre/
hour scale. A small gas loop with practical pressure and temperature with the secondary sulphur acid
loop was successfully built and commissioned. The results of the first phase research increased the
confidence in the nuclear hydrogen technology. From 2009, the government decided to support further
key technology development on an enlarged scale in correspondence with the Generation IV
International Forum. The second phase of the key technology development will greatly reduce the
technical and economical risk in the nuclear hydrogen project. The government is also considering the
construction of the NHDD plant and will start funding for a conceptual design from 2010.
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