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Conversion of Off-peak Nuclear Energy to H2and Onboard H2 Supply

8th International Hydrail Conference (Hydrail 2013), Toronto, Canada, June 11-12, 2013

Dr. Forest Wang, Prof. Greg F. Naterer, Prof. Marc Rosen, Prof. Ibrahim Dincer, Prof. Kamiel S. Gabriel

Clean Energy Research Laboratory (CERL),University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT),

Oshawa, Ontario

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1. CERL (Clean Energy Research Laboratory) and ACE (Automotive Centre of Excellence ) of UOIT

2. Off-peak nuclear energy for hydrogen production

3. Onboard hydrogen storage and release

4. Major achievements

Outline

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1.1 Clean Energy Research Laboratory (CERL)

• Hydrogen: 30 researchers for H2 projects• Nuclear, solar, wind, heat engine, and heat recovery

Nuclear-based H2productionCERL

Onboard H2 storage & releaseH2 research team

Wind turbine

• The signature test chamber: a climatic wind tunnel. Wind: 260 km/h -40˚C to +60˚C 5% to 95% humidity Snow, rain, freezing rain

1.2 Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE)

• Large enough: trucks, buses, light rail, aerospace components and wind turbines.

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Natural gas reforming: GHG emissions, not renewable

2.1 Why water splitting for hydrogen?Environmentally friendly !

Water (H2O) H2+ ½ O2

CH4

H2O

Heat

H2 + CO2

Water splitting: Renewable

(http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/electricity/?page=nuclear-ontario-plants)

Gap: 7,000 MW (daily)Modulation: frequent & large

2.2 Why nuclear-based?-Renewable and economic !

H2?

2.3 Nuclear energy for H2-based GO Trains - economic !

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2.4 H2 production projects at CERL-- Thermochemical H2 Production

Sulfur-Based Cycles(USA, France, Japan, China, South

Korea)

Max. temperature of 850 oC

Copper-Chlorine Cycle (Canada, USA, France, Romania, South Africa)

Max. temperature of 530 oC, matching SCWR of Canada

Direct water splitting: >4000oC

Indirect splitting: thermochemical cycles

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2.5 Hydrogen production projects at CERL-- Copper-Chlorine Cycle

WATEROXYGEN

HYDROGENdrying(70 oC) CuCl (s)

OUTPUT

OUTPUTINPUT

high-gradeheat heat

INPUTHCl(aq)

HCl (g)

CuO*CuCl2 (s)

hydrolysis(400 oC)

CuCl2(s)

CuCl2 (aq)

waste heat

heat

heat

decomposition(500 oC)

electrolysis (70 oC)Copper-Chlorine Cycle

heatrecovery

CuCl (l)

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Oxychloride Decomposer

WATER + HEAT

HYDROGEN

Electrolyzer

Spray Dryer

Fluidized Bed

2.6 Hydrogen production projects at CERL-- Experimental loops

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Fluidized Bed (at UOIT)

Molten Salt Reactor (at UOIT)

Electrolyzer (at AECL)

Spray Dryer (at UOIT)

WATER + HEAT

HYDROGENNote: Auxiliary equipment, flow loops and heat exchangers for Cu-Cl cycle at UOIT not shown

2.7 Hydrogen production projects at CERL-- Experimental apparatus

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2.8 Hydrogen projects at CERL-- Photocatalytic H2 Production

Direct water splitting with sunlight

3.1 Onboard H2 storage-- ammonia (NH3)

Target: 500 km / tank

Challenges:

Gas tank: P > 500 bars

Liquid tank: T < -253oC

Toyota Prius: 960km (High P, Liquid, -260oC)

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1717/

UOIT Solution: H2 carrier (hydride)

Carrier H2 (wt%)

Natural gas (CH4) 25.0

Propane (C3H8) 18.2

Butane (C4H10) 17.2

Ethanol(C2H5OH) 13.0

Methanol(CH3OH) 12.5

NH3Manufacturing is mature in industry.

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CO2emissions

3.2 Onboard H2 storage and release-- ammonia-based

• Novel ammonia decomposition and separation reactor design, built and tested at UOIT• Catalytic membrane reactor type (plate and tubular design versions)• More than 60 kW H2 power per kg of Nickel catalyst

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4.1 Major achievements in H2 energy

Nuclear-based H2 production:• AECL / UOIT leading the Cu-Cl nuclear hydrogen program in the world.• Phase 1 (2006 -2011): $11 million received.• Phase 2 (2012 -2017): $10 million granted.• A number of industrial partners.

Onboard H2storage and release:

Solar Energy Research at UOITDr. Franco Gaspari

4.2 Industry Partners

Many thanks!