Hybrid sulfur cycle operation for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors
AssigneeSavannah Nuclear Solutions, LLC
InventorMaximilian B. Gorensek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid sulfur (HyS) cycle process for the production of hydrogen is provided. The process uses a proton exchange membrane (PEM) SO2-depolarized electrolyzer (SDE) for the low-temperature, electrochemical reaction step and a bayonet reactor for the high-temperature decomposition step The process can be operated at lower temperature and pressure ranges while still providing an overall energy efficient cycle process.
Claims5
A hybrid sulfur cycle process comprising the steps of:
- supplying a heat source of substantially about 750 C;
- transferring the heat to a bayonet reactor;
- establishing a decomposition temperature for H2SO4 within a catalytic bed housed within the bayonet reactor;
- passing the gases of H2SO4 decomposition to a quench column to capture unreacted H2SO4 with additional gasses passing to an electrolyzer unit, the unreacted H2SO4 being concentrated within the quench column to a concentration of about 80%, the 80% concentrated H2SO4 being introduced into the bayonet stream feed;
- maintaining a feed pressure of the H2SO4 within the bayonet reactor of substantially about 12 bars;
- maintaining a feed pressure of a heat transfer fluid supplied to the bayonet reactor of between about 15-90 bars.
Hybrid sulfur process for hydrogen generation, utilizing the decomposition of H2SO4 to H2O, SO2 and O2 which comprises:
- utilizing a hybrid sulfur cycle, wherein an electrolyzer reacts SO2 with H2O to provide H2SO4 liquid to a H2SO4 vaporizer reactor operating at a temperature of about 750 C and at a pressure effective to provide vaporized gaseous H2SO4 and the gaseous H2SO4 is decomposed to gaseous H2O, SO2 and 02 in the reactor;
- concentrating the liquid H2SO4 product of the electrolyzer to a concentration of at least about 80% before passing it to a quench column;
- passing the H2O, SO2 and 02 decomposition gases along with unreacted H2SO4 to the quench column to remove unreacted H2SO4 from the product with the gases passing to the electrolyzer, the H2SO4 being adjusted within the quench column to a concentration of about 80%, the 80% concentrated H2SO4 introduced into the reactor stream feed;
- inputting electricity to the electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas and the H2SO4 liquid;
- wherein the hybrid sulfur process provides a source for a hydrogen generating process.
Hybrid sulfur process for hydrogen generation, utilizing the decomposition of H2SO4 to H2O, SO2 and O2 consisting essentially of:
- utilizing a hybrid sulfur cycle, wherein an electrolyzer provides H2SO4 liquid to a H2SO4 vaporizer reactor operating at a temperature of about 750 C and at a pressure effective to provide vaporized gaseous H2SO4 and the gaseous H2SO4 is decomposed to gaseous H2O, SO2 and O2 in the reactor;
- passing the H2O, SO2 and O2 product gases together with unreacted H2SO4 vapor to a quench column to capture unreacted H2SO4 for recycle with the product gases passing to the electrolyzer, the H2SO4 being concentrated within the quench column to a concentration of about 80%, the 80% concentrated H2SO4 being introduced into the reactor stream feed;
- inputting electricity to the electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas and the H2SO4 liquid;
- wherein the hybrid sulfur process provides a source for a hydrogen generating process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.