Hydrogen Production by DME Steam Reforming and High-Efficiency Nuclear Reactor Technology

摘要

Hydrogen, a potential alternative energy source, is produced commercially by methane(natural gas) or LPG steam reforming. The hydrogen production process requires hightemperatures, which are produced by burning fossil fuels. This process emits large amountsof CO2, then replacement of the combustion heat source by a nuclear heat source for773-1173 K processes has been proposed to eliminate these CO2 emissions. The authorspropose a novel method of low-temperature nuclear hydrogen production by dimethyl ether(DME) steam reforming with the use of a low-temperature nuclear reactor at about 573 K.The present paper identified conditions that provide high hydrogen production fraction attemperatures of about 523-573 K and low pressure. It was found theoretically that setting thislow-temperature hydrogen production process at about 573 K upstream from a turbine leadsto the possible high total energy utilization efficiency of 53%. For a fast breeder reactor(FBR) and a supercritical light water reactor (SCLWR), an overall efficiency possiblyamounts to 75% and 76%, by setting a turbine upstream of the hydrogen production plant.Furthermore, the concept of low-temperature nuclear hydrogen production system mentionedabove are based on the characteristic of catalysts for the DME steam reforming, which theauthors are developing.