Combined combustion and pyrolysis reactors for hydrogen production, and associated systems and methods

A combined combustion and pyrolysis (CCP) system for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon, the CCP system comprising:

• a CCP reactor that includes a plurality of chambers and an insulating material positioned to reduce heat loss from the plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers having a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, wherein:
• at least a first chamber includes a combustion component coupleable to a supply of a fuel and positioned to direct a combustion flue gas through the first chamber;
• at least a second chamber is fluidly couplable to an input valve to receive a hydrocarbon reactant and is in thermal communication with the first chamber to transfer combustion heat to the hydrocarbon reactant to cause a pyrolysis reaction generating the output;
• and
• a carbon separation component in fluid communication with the CCP reactor to remove at least a portion of the carbon from the output.

A method for operating a combined combustion and pyrolysis (CCP) system for generating hydrogen gas, the method comprising:

• directing a reactant through a first chamber of a CCP reactor, wherein the first chamber is in thermal communication with a second chamber of the CCP reactor via a thermally conductive shared wall;
• combusting, via a combustion component, a fuel within the second chamber to heat the reactant in the first chamber above a reaction temperature, wherein, at the reaction temperature, at least a portion of the reactant converts into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates;
• and
• separating at least a portion of the carbon particulates out of the output.