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U.S. Department of Energy
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Thermochemical hydrogen production based on magnetic fusion

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7035658

Conceptual design studies have been carried out on an integrated fusion/chemical plant system using a Tandem Mirror Reactor fusion energy source to drive the General Atomic Sulfur-Iodine Water-Splitting Cycle and produce hydrogen as a future feedstock for synthetic fuels. Blanket design studies for the Tandem Mirror Reactor show that several design alternatives are available for providing heat at sufficiently high temperatures to drive the General Atomic Cycle. The concept of a Joule-boosted decomposer is introduced in one of the systems investigated to provide heat electrically for the highest temperature step in the cycle (the SO/sub 3/ decomposition step), and thus lower blanket design requirements and costs. Flowsheeting and conceptual process designs have been developed for a complete fusion-driven hydrogen plant, and the information has been used to develop a plot plan for the plant and to estimate hydrogen production costs. Both public and private utility financing approaches have been used to obtain hydrogen production costs of $12-14/GJ based on July 1980 dollars.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7035658
Report Number(s):
UCRL-87718; CONF-820605-26; ON: DE83000739
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English