Utilization of the Cu–Cl thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production using a laser driver thorium molten salts

Abstract

In this paper, neutronic analysis and hydrogen production potential of a laser inertial fusion driver (LIFE) fueled molten salt thorium was investigated. Neutronic calculations were performed with MCNP code. The thorium molten salt was investigated both in six different ratios (2% ThF4 – 98% Li2BeF4 coolant, 4% ThF4 – 96% Li2BeF4, 6% ThF4 – 94% Li2BeF4, 8% ThF4 – 92% Li2BeF4, 10% ThF4 – 90% Li2BeF4, 12% ThF4 – 88% Li2BeF4) and two different fuel zone thickness (50–100 cm). In addition, 6Li enrichment (in 15–25-50-75 and 90% vol. ratios) in molten salts were examined effect to neutronic performance. As a result of the neutronic assessments, hydrogen production potential of the laser driver fusion breeder was investigated by using three step copper chlorine (Cu–Cl) cycle that one of the thermochemical water splitting methods. As a result, it was observed that tritium-breeding ratio (TBR) increased with increasing fuel zone thickness and 6Li enrichment, and it decreased with increasing ThF4 ratio. The energy multiplication value (M) has changed in direct proportion to fuel zone thickness, 6Li enrichment and ThF4 ratio. Since produced hydrogen mass flow depend on energy multiplication value, the highest hydrogen mass flow rate (m˙H2) was observed in option 100 cm fuel zone thickness, 12% ThF4 ratio and 90% ratio 6Li enrichment.