Nuclear Hydrogen Production Suited for Canadian Supercritical Water-cooled Reactors

Abstract

The Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle, a moderate temperature hydrogen production process comprising chemical and electrochemical steps requiring a maximum temperature of only about 550 degrees C, is well suited for integration with the Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor under development in Canada. The technical feasibility of all the steps of this process has been confirmed. Significant advancements in the production of hydrogen from direct electrolysis of CuCl/HCl as the electrochemical step in this cycle have been demonstrated at the Chalk River Laboratories of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. This progress has been achieved through a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical reactions and selection of suitable operating conditions.