Hydrogen generation by the sulfur cycle - A progress update
During the 1979 Chemical Congress, the authors reported on the prospects for development of the sulfur cycle, one of the leading thermochemical processes for hydrogen production from water. Since that time, they have made some substantial progress in several areas of technology development and have been assessing the potential for solar heat to drive the cycle. As a hybrid electrochemical/thermochemical process, the cycle uses sulfuric acid as a circulating fluid with high temperature heat (about 1150K) used to decompose sulfur trioxide into sulfur dioxide and oxygen. The sulfur dioxide, after separation from the oxygen, is used to depolarize the anode of an electrolyzer that requires only a fraction of the electricity needed in conventional electrolysis. The temperature levels required for the thermal inputs are compatible with advanced high temperature solar receivers. The electrical power can be provided by a companion solar thermal electric plant, a solar photovoltaic plant, by fuel cells fed with a portion of the hydrogen and oxygen produced in the process, or by power from an available grid. Conceptual design studies have been conducted for process components that interface with the solar receiver. From related tradeoff studies, a preferred configuration emerged that involves an intermediate working fluid (e.g., hot gas) between the solar receiver and the sulfuric acid decomposition reactor.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
- OSTI ID:
- 6432492
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820304-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 27:1; ISSN ACPCA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
080101 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
080102* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Thermochemical Processes
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140900 -- Solar Thermal Utilization
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
FUEL CELLS
HEAT
HYBRID SYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
INORGANIC ACIDS
LYSIS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESS HEAT
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SOLUTIONS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFUR TRIOXIDE
SULFURIC ACID
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WATER