PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF POUR L'UTILIZATION D'ENERGIE THERMIQUE A HAUTE TEMPERATURE

摘要

1412327 Decomposing steam using potassium ; potassium oxide; potassium peroxide GAZ DE FRANCE 12 Jan 1973 [13 Jan 1972] 1816/73 Heading C1A At least part of the thermal energy available from a high temperature heat source is utilized in a reaction cycle in which potassium, K, is reacted with water vapour to give gaseous hydrogen, which is separated and recovered, and solid or liquid potassium oxide (K 2 O) which is then thermally dissociated into its components, viz oxygen which is separated and recovered and potassium which is recycled. The preferred heat source is a nuclear pile or reactor. The reaction between water vapour and potassium may be carried out at a temperature of 500‹ C. The thermal dissociation of the potassium oxide is effected by melting the oxide so as to cause its disporoportionation into potassium vapour and liquid potassium peroxide, which is then reacted with molten lead to give molten litharge PbO which is separated and potassium vapour which is recycled, the molten litharge being vapourized under reduced pressure to give molten lead which is recycled and oxygen which is recovered. The disproportionation of K 2 O may be carried out at normal pressure and a temperature of 1270‹ C., if a lower pressure is used, the required temperature is lower. The reaction between lead and potassium peroxide may be carried out at normal pressure and a temperature of 1130‹ C. The decomposition of lead oxide is preferably carried out at a pressure of 0À005 bars. The potassium vapour produced in the reaction cycle may be used as a heat carrier, being used in a heat exchanger to produce steam for the process and for operating a conventional steam turbine.