Thermochemical water-splitting for hydrogen production. Final report 1 Jan 75-31 Dec 80. [Sulfur-iodine cycle]

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6743133· OSTI ID:6743133

Norman, J H; Basenbruch, G E; O'Keefe, D R

This report summarizes the work at GA on the sulfur-iodine water-splitting cycle. It presents data for the SO2-I2-H2O reaction. This reaction forms two separable phases: (1) one rich in H2SO4, (2) the other rich in HI. This report describes how the H2SO4 phase is enhanced by further reaction on contact with I2(l) and SO2. Catalytic decomposition of vaporized H2SO4 into SO2, H2O, and O2 and recovery of these products was found to be feasible. It reports on the conversion using H3PO4 of the HI product phase into the components, I2, H2O, and HI. Both gaseous and liquid catalytic conversion of HI were found to be reasonable processes to produce H2. In addition, the task group at GA has tried to improve the cycle, particularly to better handle the HI-pregnant phase. As a result of these studies, the sulfur-iodine water-splitting cycle is a leading candidate for commercialization with appropriate high-quality heat from fission reactors, fusion reactors, and concentrated solar energy. Engineering evaluations have determined the thermal efficiency of the cycle to be about 47%. Cost evaluations under way on another program of GA and done previously by other engineers support the commercial viability of the cycle.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6743133
• Report Number(s): PB-82-208174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080102* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Thermochemical Processes
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FUELS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENS
HYDRIODIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
INORGANIC ACIDS
IODINE
IODINE COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WATER