WSRC-STI-2006-00344 APP Max Gorensek, PhD, PE Senior Fellow Engineer Computational and Statistical Science 16 th HAPL Workshop Princeton, NJ December 12-13,

WSRC-STI-2006-00344APP

Max Gorensek, PhD, PESenior Fellow Engineer

Computational and Statistical Science

16th HAPL Workshop Princeton, NJ

December 12-13, 2006

Feasibility of Hydrogen Production Using Laser IFE as the Primary Energy Source


National Security Demands Energy Security

• The U.S. imports more than 50% of its crude oil and is expected to import more than 60% by 2010.

• U.S. consumers pay foreign countries over three billion dollars a week to satisfy the demand for imported oil.

• Much of our oil is imported from politically unstable areas of the world.

Photo: oil fire in Kuwait following Desert Storm


Oil Production Will Peak Before Mid-Century

Source: US (DOE) Energy Information Administration


Fossil Fuels Have an Inherent Problem

Source: The White House Initiative on Global Climate Change, Barnola et al.


Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Is Growing…

Source: Climate Change 2001:The Scientific Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.


… and Could Double Pre-Industrial Level By 2100

Source: United Nations Environment Programme / GRID-Arendal


A “Hydrogen Economy” Is Part of the Solution

Broad-based use of hydrogen as a fuel– Energy carrier analogous to electricity– Produced from variety of primary energy sources– Can serve all sectors of the economy: transportation, power,

industry and buildings– Replaces oil and natural gas as an end-use fuel– Makes renewable and nuclear energy “portable”

Advantages:– Inexhaustible– Clean– Universally available to all countries


Hydrogen Can Be Made from a Variety of Domestic Energy Resources

HydroWindSolar

Geothermal

.

Distributed Generation

Transportation

Biomass

Water

Coal

Nuclear

NaturalGas

Oil

Wit

h C

O2

Seq

ues

trat

ion

HIGH EFFICIENCY& RELIABILITY

ZERO/NEAR ZEROEMISSIONS

Source: US DOE


A Hydrogen Economy Will Need a Lot of Hydrogen

H2 demand for all U.S. light-duty vehicles 110 MMt/yr by 2050*

– 12-fold increase over current (industrial) use

– Power content = 450 GWth (current average US electricity demand = 450 GWe)

Other applications could double H2 demand

Energy for H2 production would be similar to energy for electric power generation, will require multiple primary sources

– Fossil fuels with CO2 sequestration

– Renewable energy with electrolysis– Nuclear water-splitting* “The Hydrogen Economy; Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and

R&D Needs”, National Academy of Engineering (2004).


Current Industrial Hydrogen Market Is AlreadySignificant

World hydrogen consumption is 42 MMtons/yr– Major users are refineries and fertilizer (ammonia) plants

– Represents 200 GWth of power (5.7 Quad)

U.S. production is 9 MMtons/yr– 1.1% of primary energy (5% of U.S. natural gas usage)– Sufficient to power 60 million fuel cell vehicles– Equals energy output of 40 nuclear power plants

Rapidly growing hydrogen demand in refineries to process heavier, higher sulfur crude oils

Development of tar sands and oil shale will require additional hydrogen


Time of Day/MonthH2 Storage

High Capacity Pipeline

Industrial H2 Users

Hydrogen Fueled Future

Distributed Power

Transport Fuel

Centralized Nuclear Hydrogen Production Plant

Nuclear Hydrogen Future

Thermochemical Process H2O → H2 + ½ O2

DOE-NE’s Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative actively supporting development of H2 production technology

Could easily substitute Laser-IFE (or other fusion energy device) for VHTR

Heat

Modular Helium Reactor (850 to

1,000°C)

O2


“Big Dumb” Laser IFE Chamber Concept

Tungsten-armored ferritic steel first wall

Molten lithium self-cooled blanket

Maximum radius 6.5 m Twelve side blanket modules Separate upper and lower

blankets Coolant connections at

bottom Vacuum vessel supports

blanket modules

Sviatoslavsky, I.N et al., Fusion Science & Techn., 47(3), 535 (2005).


Lithium Self-Cooled Blanket Concept Parameters

Fusion Power (MW) 1,800

Total Thermal Power (MW) 2,103

First Wall Material F82H FS ODS FS

FW Maximum Average Temperature (°C) 550 700

FS/Li Interface Maximum Temperature (°C) 600 600

Li Inlet Temperature (°C) 383 533

Li Outlet Temperature (°C) 650 800

Li Pressure Drop, MPa < 0.5 < 0.5

Power Conversion Cycle Efficiency 0.40 0.45

Sviatoslavsky, I.N et al., Fusion Science & Techn., 47(3), 535 (2005).


Laser IFE with Magnetic Diversion Concept

SiC first wall (Tmax = 1,000°C)

Liquid Pb-17Li self-cooled blanket (Pb-Li/SiC interface Tmax = 1,000°C)

Magnetic diversion mitigates first wall ionic bombardment– Cusp-shaped magnetic field

diverts ions to collectors– >90% of ion energy resistively

dissipated in SiC structure (can’t use metal structure)

– <10% of ion energy deposited in collectors

Graphic Courtesy A.R. Raffray, University of California, San Diego


Magnetic Diversion Chamber Concept

Courtesy G. Sviatoslavsky, University of Wisconsin

Magnets

Upper Pole Blanket

Upper-mid Blanket

Lower-mid Blanket

Lower Pole Blanket

Ring Cusp Armored Dump

Point Cusps Armored Dump

6m


Magnetic Diversion Concept Blanket Parameters

First Wall Material SiCf/SiC

Total Thermal Power (MW) Pb-17Li

FW Maximum Average Temperature (°C) 1,000 1,100

SiC/Pb-Li Interface Maximum Temperature (°C) 900 950

Li Inlet Temperature (°C) 483 580

Li Outlet Temperature (°C) 799 930

Li Pressure Drop, MPa 0.3 0.3

Power Conversion Cycle Efficiency 0.50 0.55

A.R. Raffray et al., 15th HAPL Program Workshop, La Jolla, CA, August 9, 2006


HAPL Blanket Development Summary

Detailed conceptual design of W-armored, FS chamber with liquid Li self-cooled blanket completed

Conceptual design of SiCf/SiC chamber with magnetic diversion underway– Pb-17Li and Flibe self-cooled blankets considered– Outlet temperatures up to 930°C calculated for Pb-17Li– Current work at UCSD suggests outlet temperatures as high as 1,100°C

may be possible with Pb-17Li

Helium-cooled, dual-cooled blanket concepts will be considered Blanket development has been focused on power production High temperature, low pressure blankets hold promise for water-

splitting applications to make hydrogen


Water Splitting Options Using Laser IFE Heat

Conventional Electrolysis– Thermal Energy → Electricity → Hydrogen– ηHHV = 24% (LWR), 36% (HTGR), 40+% (Laser-IFE?)

High Temperature Steam Electrolysis– Uses both heat and electricity– ηHHV = 45-55%

Thermochemical Water-splitting– Direct heat to chemical energy conversion– ηHHV = 45-60%

η = ΔH(H2)/QIFE

H2O(l) → H2(g) + ½O2(g) ΔHrxn = 285.7 MJ/kmol


Conventional Electrolysis

H2O (l) → ½O2 (g) + 2H+ + 2e-2H+ + 2e- → H2 (g)


Conventional Electrolysis

Electricity Generation Electrolysis

of Water

Energy(IFE Heat)

Energy Losses

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Overall Electrolysis Process

Water

CCGT generating efficiency for Laser IFE up to 57% (MWe/MWth) Typical electrolysis efficiency is

75% (HHV H2/MWe)Combined efficiency no more

than 42% (HHV H2/MWth)


Raising temperature of electrolysis reaction decreases cell potential (work requirement).

Basis for High Temperature Electrolysis

High Temperature Electrolysis

Temperature, °C Cell potential, V*

25 1.23

500 1.06

1000 0.94

1500 0.81

2000 0.64

* P = 1 atm.


High Temperature Steam Electrolysis

Source: US DOE-NE, Nuclear Hydrogen R&D Plan, March 2004


Steam Electrolysis

Electrolysis reactions:H2O(g) + 2 e– → H2(g) + O= cathode reaction

O= → ½ O2(g) + 2 e– anode reaction

H2O(g) → H2(g) + ½ O2(g) net reaction

O= is the charge carrier in the ceramic electrolyte (solid oxide, typically yttria-stabilized zirconia)


Simplified Flowsheet of Laser IFE-driven High Temperature Steam Electrolysis Process

Adapted from US DOE-NE, Nuclear Hydrogen R&D Plan, March 2004

Laser IFE Heat Source


Thermochemical Water-splitting

What is a thermochemical cycle?– Chemical process– Series of chemical reactions that combine to split water– All intermediate reactants regenerated– True thermochemical cycles use only heat to drive process– Hybrid cycles use both heat and electricity– Extensively studied from mid 1970s to early 1980s– Hundreds have been proposed– At least 115 reported in the literature


The Sulfur Family of Thermochemical Cycles

Source: US DOE-NE, Nuclear Hydrogen R&D Plan, March 2004


Hybrid Sulfur (HyS) Hybrid Cycle for Production of H2

H2SO4 ½O2 + SO2 + H2O> 800°C

Heat

H2 + H2SO4 SO2 + 2H2O100°C

Electric Energy SO2 + H2OH2SO4 (H2O)

H2OH2O

H2H2

½O2½O2

Inputs:

• Water

• Heat (>800°C)

• Electricity

Outputs:

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Waste heat


HyS Cycle Simplified Flowsheet

Power Generation

Laser IFE Heat Source

Sulfuric Acid Decomposition

Electrolyzers and Auxiliaries

Sulfur Dioxide / Oxygen Separation

Thermal Energy

H2O, SO2, O2

H2SO4

H2O FeedO2 By-product

H2O, SO2

Electric Power

H2 Product


SRNL Electrolyzer Configuration

• Nafion® or other proton exchange membrane

• Gas diffusion carbon electrodes

• Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) construction

• Porous carbon flow fields• Recirculating acid anolyte• No catholyte needed

Anode

(+) (−)

Cathode

PEMSeparator

2 H+

2 e−

2 H+ + 2 e− → H2(g)

H2(g)

SO2(aq) + H2O(l) → SO3(aq) + 2 H+ + 2 e−

SO2(aq), H2O(l)

SO3(aq) + H2O(l) → H2SO4(aq)

H2SO4(aq)


E-1

5

3

ANODE

CATHODE

1

THR-01

6

4

2

HX-01

7

8

9

THR-02

10

HX-02

11

12

13

THR-03

14

HX-03

15

16

17

PUMP-01

18

HX-04

19

20

21

PUMP-02

22

HX-05

23

25

24

PUMP-03

26

TO-01

KO-05

KO-04

KO-03

KO-02

KO-01

56 HX-17

57 KO-06

58

53

Hot He In

Hot He Out

RX-01

52

54

59

HX-16

HX-18

60

KO-12

61

62

HX-19

63

HX-20

64

KO-13

6566

HX-06

27

PUMP-04HX-07

28

PUMP-05

HX-08

KO-06

29

35

36

PUMP-06

37

CO-01

39

HX-11

HX-09

KO-07

30

41

PUMP-07

CO-02

44

HX-12

KO-08

47

PUMP-08

45

HX-10

31

CO-03

46

HX-13PUMP-09

50

51

48

38

33

32

34

Hx-14

75

KO-10

76

77

78

DR-02

82

MCOMP-01

79

KO-11

81

THR-04

80

43

40

42

85

83 SEP-01

84

MCOMP-02

86

PUMP-11

87

PUMP-10

69

HX-21

68

MIX-01

TO-02

67

74

71

73

72Oxygen Product

70 Water Feed

Hydrogen Product

HX-15

DR-01

55

49

SRNL HyS Process Flowsheet

electrolyzer

3-stage vacuum flash 2-stage pressurized flash

acid decomposition loop

single stage absorber

H2/water separation


Hydrogen Production Using Laser IFE

SRNL white paper study for HAPL program– Feasibility of concept– Advantages over other H2 production methods (especially nuclear)– Suitability of FTF for H2 production demonstration

Self-cooled blanket temperatures overlap GenIV coolant temperatures – most technology can be “borrowed” from NHI– Same thermochemical and high temperature electrolytic methods as NHI– Low coolant pressure, higher temperature range may provide advantage– If Laser IFE being developed for power production, Laser IFE H2

production should also be considered Differences that will need further study

– Need for secondary coolant– Heat source/ H2 plant separation– Heat transfer at higher temperatures with molten salts


Net Thermal Efficiency Estimates for HAPL Blanket Concepts

Case No. T 1, °C T 2, °C η p, id * η p, max *

1. Li / FS 383 650 0.746 0.4812. Li / ODS FS 533 800 0.820 0.5293. Pb-17Li / SiCf/SiC (1,000°C) 483 799 0.808 0.5224. Pb-17Li / SiCf/SiC (1,100°C) 580 930 0.852 0.5505. He / SiCf/SiC A-HCPB 350 700 0.747 0.4826. Pb-17Li / SiCf/SiC ARIES-AT 800 1,100 0.910 0.587

* assumes T 0 = 25°C

Tp Q

H

)½(22222 OHOHOHOH hhhnH

Enthalpy change between end product and starting materials

Total heat requirement from primary energy source

Enthalpy change for water-splitting


Acknowledgements

This work sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC09-96SR18500

Funding provided by the Naval Research Laboratory under the High Average Power Laser Program– Dr. John D. Sethian

Consultation– Prof. A. René Raffray (University of California, San

Diego)

WSRC-STI-2006-00344 APP Max Gorensek, PhD, PE Senior Fellow Engineer Computational and Statistical Science 16 th HAPL Workshop Princeton, NJ December 12-13,

Documents