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Title: Producing hydrogen and oxygen by decomposition of water via the thermochemical iron--chlorine system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7214094

The process comprises decomposition of water to hydrogen and oxygen with the aid of a thermochemical cyclic process based upon the iron/chlorine system by reduction of FeCl/sub 2/ in the presence of H/sub 2/ to Fe, oxidation of the Fe with steam to Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/, treatment of the hot Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ with steam and chlorine to obtain oxygen, conversion of the mixture of iron oxides so obtained with hydrogen chloride to FeCl/sub 2/ and recycling of the FeCl/sub 2/ to the reduction stage, where a part of the heat required for the process is supplied by heating the hydrogen and steam in indirect heat exchange with a hot coolant from a high temperature nuclear reactor. The conversion of the iron oxides to FeCl/sub 2/ is carried out via the intermediate stage of dimeric FeCl/sub 3/ and it is thus possible to convey the solid reaction products by free fall through the reaction zones.

Assignee:
TIC; ERA-02-047848; EDB-77-105320
Patent Number(s):
US 4024230
OSTI ID:
7214094
Resource Relation:
Patent Priority Date: Priority date 14 Sep 1974, German, Federal Republic of (F.R. Germany)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English