Nuclear Energy and Its Role in Hydrogen Production

Abstract

In this chapter the role of nuclear energy in hydrogen production at large scale is discussed. In the first part of the chapter various routes of hydrogen generation using nuclear energy are described. Five routes are identified for hydrogen generation by water splitting, among which four are based on thermal energy derived from nuclear reactor, while the fifth is based on the radiolytic effect (that is, disintegration of water molecule under the impact of nuclear radiation). The role of hydrogen as energy storage medium for load levelling of the regional electrical grid is extensively discussed. It is shown that hydrogen production when electricity demand is low, storage and its use in fuel cell for power generation when electricity demand is high, represents a very attractive method for effective generation of electricity in regional grids, which reduces the costs and decreases the environmental production when nuclear energy is the primary source. Large-scale hydrogen production is also essential for petrochemical operations and heavy (nonconventional) oil upgrading, or oil-sand extraction/processing procedures. Hydrogen option represents a potential solution for transportation sector where it can be used either directly (hydrogen is stored onboard of vehicles) or indirectly (hydrogen is converted in a synthetic fuel such as gasoline, diesel, methanol, or ammonia). All means of transportation can benefit from hydrogen as energy carrier; in this chapter the road, rail, and air transport are analyzed in detail.

Nomenclature

C :

Cost, any currency

E :

Energy (MJ)

F :

Radiative forcing (W/m²)

G :

Gibbs free energy (MJ/kg)

H :

Reaction enthalpy (kJ)

$\dot{\mathfrak{m}}$ :

Rate of hydrogen production (t/day)

Q :

Heat flux (kJ)

S :

Reaction entropy (kJ/kg K)

T :

Temperature (K)

x :

Molar fraction of methane

2.1.1 Greek Letters

γ :

Climate sensitivity factor

η :

Efficiency

2.1.2 Subscripts

0:

Reference value

c:

Compression

ΔG :

Gibbs free energy

e:

Electrolysis or earth

el:

Electric power train

fc:

Fuel cell

pm:

Prime mover

pp:

Turbine conversion of electrical power

ref:

Reference

SMR:

Steam methane reforming

t:

Transmission and distribution of electric power

tot:

Total

th:

Thermochemical, thermal

TΔS :

Heat transfer irreversibilities

w:

Per unit of energy