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U.S. Department of Energy
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Cadmium-cadmium hydroxide thermochemical water-splitting cycle

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5416906
The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) has derived and developed a hybrid thermochemical water-splitting cycle based on cadmium chemistry: (1) Cd(s) + 2H/sub 2/O(l) ..-->.. Cd(OH)/sub 2/(s) + H/sub 2/(g), (2) Cd(OH)/sub 2/(s) ..-->.. CdO(s) + H/sub 2/O(g), and (3) CdO(s) ..-->.. Cd(g) + 1/2 O/sub 2/(g). All steps in this cycle have been tested in the laboratory and proven workable. Reaction 1 is an electrochemical step that can operate at below 0.4 V. Novel electrochemical solutions to the problem of anodic passivation are presented. The high-temperature (T > 1300/sup 0/K) decomposition of cadmium oxide (Reaction 3) is scheduled for testing at the US Army White Sands Solar Facility in New Mexico in 1980. A rapid quench may be required to prevent recombination of the Cd and O/sub 2/ produced. A conceptual engineering analysis shows that if some heat can be recovered from the decomposition products, this cycle will have a very high energy efficiency - in excess of 50%.
OSTI ID:
5416906
Report Number(s):
CONF-800616-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English