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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Revised flowsheet and process design for the ZnSe thermochemical cycle

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7280280
We have completed a preliminary process design, flowsheet, and an economic analysis of an improved version of the ZnSe cycle for hydrogen production. The amount of ZnSO/sub 4/ that needs to be decomposed at high temperatures has been reduced by a factor of 2 in this revised cycle, thereby both lowering overall heat requirements and spreading out the prime heat required over a broader temperature range than before. Corresponding inprovements have been achieved in both cycle efficiency and equipment costs. Assuming a VHTR nuclear reactor heat source and incorporating special equipment designs for critical steps in the cycle, we now obtain an overall cycle efficiency of about 40 percent and a hydrogen production cost of about $13/GJ. We believe that this cost is conservative at this point of cycle development because the input data on reaction rates and equipment lifetimes have been conservative, and the analysis has not been optimized.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7280280
Report Number(s):
UCRL-80282; CONF-771131-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English