Introduction and preliminary testing of a 5 m3/h hydrogen production facility by Iodine–Sulfur thermochemical process

Abstract

The Iodine–Sulfur (IS) or Sulfur–Iodine (SI) thermochemical water-splitting cycle is considered as one of the most promising hydrogen production methods through thermal chemical cycle process with heat. This paper introduces the new built hydrogen production testing facility of IS process made by industrial structural material (IS-5m3 facility). The TC4, Hastelloy C276 and SiC materials were chosen in this pilot-scale testing facility for different modules. The new designed structure of Bunsen reactor, HI decomposer and H2SO4 decomposer are described particularly, and the corresponding individual tests are successfully executed to verify the function of each section. Based on testing, a preliminary continuous experimental run was carried out in September of 2021 for about 4 h with the hydrogen production capacity of 80 L/h. The problems such as slight corrosion, lower hydrogen gas yield and shorter operation time faced in this experiment will be modified in the near future. A longer time operation and higher H2 production rate test will be carried out soon.