Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ...
Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ... Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ...
APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR-PRODUCED HYDROGEN FOR ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL USE Figure1: Methods for hydrogen production by nuclear energy Primary Energy Fossil Fuels Nuclear Energy Carbon (H) Heat Heat Med. & High Temp. Steam Reforming Med. & High Temp. Water Thermochemical Med. & High Temp. Steam Electrolysis Turbine Generator Hydrogen Electricity Hydrogen Hydrogen Water Electrolysis Electricity Electricity Secondary Energy / Energy Carrier The leading processes presently under research and development are: • electrolysis of water by nuclear electricity; • high-temperature electrolysis of steam by nuclear electricity and heat; • thermochemical splitting of water by nuclear heat, or by both nuclear heat and electricity; • nuclear-heated steam reforming of natural gas, or other hydrocarbons. Although it is not certain what course the commercialisation of nuclear hydrogen production will take, a typical prospect based on the current state of knowledge (Hori, 2004) could be as follows: 1) In the near term, electricity generated by light water reactors (LWR) can be used to produce hydrogen from water by electrolysis. This process can be commercialised, in some cases by using off-peak power, because the relevant technologies are already proven. The electrolytic synthesis method of NH 3 from nitrogen and water will be promising for a future ammonia economy when it is combined with nuclear electricity. 2) In the intermediate term, nuclear-heated steam reforming of natural gas could be utilised, using medium-temperature reactors, in spite of some carbon dioxide emissions, because of its advantages in economic competitiveness and in technical feasibility. Also, high-temperature reactors could be used to carry out high-temperature steam electrolysis, with higher conversion efficiency and fewer materials problems. 3) In the long term, high-temperature reactors would be coupled to thermochemical water splitting. These bulk chemical processes benefit from economy of scale, and may turn out to be the best for very-large-scale nuclear production of hydrogen for a mature global hydrogen energy economy. Use applications of nuclear-produced hydrogen Nuclear hydrogen is expected to be used in diverse fields in the future as shown in Table 3, where appropriate production methods are to be chosen according to the application. Some of the aspiring applications are reviewed in the following. 90 NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010
APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR-PRODUCED HYDROGEN FOR ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL USE Table 3: Use application of nuclear produced hydrogen Field of use Application Transportation (airplane, railroad, automobile) Consumer use (home, building, factory) Oil/fuel industry Steel/chemical industry Electric utility Restoration of global environment ‣ Fuel cells ‣ Engine ‣ Combined heat and power by fuel cells ‣ Mixing to city gas ‣ Hydrogen addition to heavy oils ‣ Upgrading of bitumen from oil sands ‣ Producing synthetic gas from coal ‣ Nuclear iron making ‣ Ammonia synthesis ‣ Methanol synthesis ‣ Peak electricity supply ‣ Synergistic power generation ‣ Nuclear carbonisation/gasification of biomass Application to transportation sector Utilisation of hydrogen in automobiles, through fuel cell technology, is one of the primary goals of the hydrogen economy. There are still major problems to be solved before the commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be realised. The challenges include the cost of the fuel cell, the method of storing hydrogen on board the vehicle to ensure an adequate cruising range, and the creation of hydrogen distribution infrastructure. It is expected that application technologies will evolve by breaking through the various problems we encounter now, although it might take a few decades. There are other transportation applications of hydrogen fuel: for fuel cells to supply electricity to railway trains, marine vessels, and aircraft, and for jet engines to propel aircraft (Airbus, 2003). If the application of hydrogen to jet engine aircraft occurs in the future, nuclear-produced hydrogen is the best suited for its supply at hub airports for its features of no CO 2 emission and bulk supply capability. Nuclear upgrading of oil sands bitumen Liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and diesel oil derived from petroleum are far higher in energy density and far easier to transport and store than hydrogen, which is currently considered as future energy carriers for transportation. These liquid fuels will continue to be useful in the future although they emit CO 2 from engine or other combustion device at the final consumption stage. As a substitute for petroleum, when we produce synthetic crude oil (SCO) from the oil sands, hydrogen is necessary for hydrogenation and de-sulfurisation of bitumen, the oil ingredient extracted from oil sands. Figure 2 is an example of applying nuclear hydrogen to the SCO production process from bitumen of oil sands, where a portion of product (11% of product SCO) is fed back to the steam reforming part to produce hydrogen (Hori, 2005; Numata, 2006). NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010 91
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APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR-PRODUCED HYDROGEN FOR ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL USE<br />
Table 3: Use application <strong>of</strong> nuclear produced hydrogen<br />
Field <strong>of</strong> use<br />
Application<br />
Transportation<br />
(airplane, railroad, automobile)<br />
Consumer use<br />
(home, building, factory)<br />
Oil/fuel industry<br />
Steel/chemical industry<br />
Electric utility<br />
Restoration <strong>of</strong> global<br />
environment<br />
‣ Fuel cells<br />
‣ Engine<br />
‣ Combined heat and power by fuel cells<br />
‣ Mixing to city gas<br />
‣ <strong>Hydrogen</strong> addition to heavy oils<br />
‣ Upgrading <strong>of</strong> bitumen from oil sands<br />
‣ Producing synthetic gas from coal<br />
‣ <strong>Nuclear</strong> iron making<br />
‣ Ammonia synthesis<br />
‣ Methanol synthesis<br />
‣ Peak electricity supply<br />
‣ Synergistic power generation<br />
‣ <strong>Nuclear</strong> carbonisation/gasification <strong>of</strong><br />
biomass<br />
Application to transportation sector<br />
Utilisation <strong>of</strong> hydrogen in automobiles, through fuel cell technology, is one <strong>of</strong> the primary goals <strong>of</strong> the<br />
hydrogen economy. There are still major problems to be solved before the commercialisation <strong>of</strong><br />
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be realised.<br />
The challenges include the cost <strong>of</strong> the fuel cell, the method <strong>of</strong> storing hydrogen on board the<br />
vehicle to ensure an adequate cruising range, and the creation <strong>of</strong> hydrogen distribution infrastructure.<br />
It is expected that application technologies will evolve by breaking through the various problems we<br />
encounter now, although it might take a few decades.<br />
There are other transportation applications <strong>of</strong> hydrogen fuel: for fuel cells to supply electricity to<br />
railway trains, marine vessels, and aircraft, and for jet engines to propel aircraft (Airbus, 2003). If the<br />
application <strong>of</strong> hydrogen to jet engine aircraft occurs in the future, nuclear-produced hydrogen is the<br />
best suited for its supply at hub airports for its features <strong>of</strong> no CO 2 emission and bulk supply capability.<br />
<strong>Nuclear</strong> upgrading <strong>of</strong> oil sands bitumen<br />
Liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and diesel oil derived from petroleum are far higher in<br />
energy density and far easier to transport and store than hydrogen, which is currently considered as<br />
future energy carriers for transportation. These liquid fuels will continue to be useful in the future<br />
although they emit CO 2 from engine or other combustion device at the final consumption stage.<br />
As a substitute for petroleum, when we produce synthetic crude oil (SCO) from the oil sands,<br />
hydrogen is necessary for hydrogenation and de-sulfurisation <strong>of</strong> bitumen, the oil ingredient extracted<br />
from oil sands.<br />
Figure 2 is an example <strong>of</strong> applying nuclear hydrogen to the SCO production process from bitumen<br />
<strong>of</strong> oil sands, where a portion <strong>of</strong> product (11% <strong>of</strong> product SCO) is fed back to the steam reforming part<br />
to produce hydrogen (Hori, 2005; Numata, 2006).<br />
NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010 91
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