Solar-thermochemical production of hydrogen from water

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:7152296

Cox, K E; Bowman, M G

There is a widespread interest in the development of a ''hydrogen economy'' as an eventual solution to many of the problems associated with the growing energy crisis. Hydrogen is also valuable as a chemical intermediate. As fossil sources become inadequate, large scale hydrogen production must utilize energy sources such as solar energy for the decomposition of water by thermochemical cycles, electrolysis or perhaps, by a hybrid combination of these methods. The potential higher efficiency and lower cost for thermochemical methods, versus the overall electrolysis path has been rather widely recognized. The criteria for the selection of an appropriate thermochemical cycle for matching with a high temperature solar heat source are detailed. Advantages of a thermochemical cycle based on a solid sulfate decomposition that makes use of isothrmal high temperature energy is detailed and a plan for the implementation of such a cycle on a central tower solar receiver is given.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7152296
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-78-1052; CONF-780447-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080102 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Thermochemical Processes
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH SULFATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
FLUIDS
FURNACES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
INORGANIC ACIDS
LYSIS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR FURNACES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WATER