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Comparative Environmental Impact Assessment of Nuclear-Based Hydrogen Production via Mg–Cl and Cu–Cl Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles

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Causes, Impacts and Solutions to Global Warming

Abstract

The environmental impacts of nuclear-based hydrogen production processes are evaluated and compared, considering magnesium–chlorine (Mg–Cl) and copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical water decomposition cycles and using life cycle analysis. Variations of environmental impacts (acidification potential and global warming potential) with hydrogen production plant lifetime are reported. An artificial neural network model is used to develop the results. Relations between environmental impacts and economic factors are also presented using the social cost of carbon concept. The results show that the Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle has lower acidification and global warming potentials per unit mass of hydrogen produced compared to the Mg–Cl thermochemical cycle due to its lower electrical work requirement.

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Abbreviations

W n :

Weights of ANN

x n :

Inputs of ANN

y n :

Outputs of ANN

α:

Activation function

Σ:

Summation function

ANN:

Artificial neural network

AP:

Acidification potential

AECL:

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

CML:

The Center of Environmental Science of Leiden University

DC:

Direct current

GHG:

Greenhouse gas

GWP:

Global warming potential

HTE:

High temperature electrolysis

ISO:

International Organization for Standardization

LCA:

Life cycle assessment

LCI:

Life cycle inventory

LCIA:

Life cycle impact assessment

PEM:

Proton exchange membrane

SCC:

Social cost of carbon

SCWR:

Super-critical water cooled reactor

SOEP:

Solid oxide electrolysis cell

TC:

Thermochemical cycle

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, Canada, L1H 7K4

    Ahmet Ozbilen, Ibrahim Dincer & Marc A. Rosen

Authors
  1. Ahmet Ozbilen
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  2. Ibrahim Dincer
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  3. Marc A. Rosen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmet Ozbilen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Ibrahim Dincer

  2. Makina Muhendisligi Bolumu, Dokuz Eylul University, Buca, Izmir, Turkey

    Can Ozgur Colpan

  3. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey

    Fethi Kadioglu

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Ozbilen, A., Dincer, I., Rosen, M.A. (2013). Comparative Environmental Impact Assessment of Nuclear-Based Hydrogen Production via Mg–Cl and Cu–Cl Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles. In: Dincer, I., Colpan, C., Kadioglu, F. (eds) Causes, Impacts and Solutions to Global Warming. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7588-0_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7588-0_26

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