Recent Advances in Nuclear-Based Hydrogen Production With the Thermochemical Copper-Chlorine Cycle

Abstract

This paper presents a review of recent advances in nuclear-based hydrogen with the thermochemical copper-chlorine cycle. Growing attention has focused on thermochemical water decomposition as a promising alternative to steam-methane reforming as a sustainable future method of hydrogen production. Recent advances of specific processes within the Cu-Cl cycle will be presented, particularly for purposes of calculating the overall heat requirements of the cycle and preferred configurations of the oxygen cell, disposal of molten salt and the electrochemical process of copper electrowinning. Energy balances for each individual process will be formulated and numerical results will be obtained for the heat requirements of the chemical reactors.