Hydrogen Production from Thermal Decomposition of Water (by Solar Radiation)

摘要

The high temperature apparatus has been modified to its final form and works satisfactorily. Steam protective coatings for refractory metals (e.g. Mo) have been prepared. However, none lasted long enough although they were superior to any found in the literature. Thus the original approach was not feasible for the following reasons: (1) the technology of protective coatings is not yet advanced enough; (2) it is doubtful whether coated membranes are sufficiently permeable for H2, (3) the pressure gradient of H2 across the membrane will be very small even at 2500C and exceedingly large membranes will have to be heated. The results forced us to look for new approaches. Two were tested by successful preliminary experiments: (1) the thermal gradient approach and (2) the Two-Step Approach where production and permeation of H2 are completely separated. This second approach is a complete breakthrough in the area of H2-production from thermal decomposition of water and will be the subject-matter of a continuation proposal being submitted.