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Evaluation of the combined generation IV nuclear reactor and copper-chlorine cycle for the production of hydrogen and power using thermodynamics

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  • Hou, Yandong
  • Jin, Yanzhu
  • Chen, Peiyan
  • Zhang, Chao
  • Chen, Bowen
  • Xiang, Yan

Abstract

The findings of this research have brought to the development of a cohesive system that generates hydrogen and power via the utilization of a thermochemical copper-chlorine cycle, a small lead-cooled fast reactor, and a Brayton cycle. As part of this study, the system that was developed is investigated from a thermodynamic perspective, and the performance of the system is evaluated based on its energy and exertion efficiency. Thermochemical water splitting produces hydrogen in a four-stage thermoelectric copper-chlorine cycle, which is followed by the Brayton cycle producing energy and compression of the produced hydrogen to lower its storage volume. Chemical and energy process simulation software (Aspen Plus) was used for modeling and simulation in order to develop a cycle system that effectively uses the heat produced by the thermo-chemical cycle. We also looked into how various energy conversion technologies were affected by important characteristics. It is determined that the subsystem reheat Brayton cycle has the maximum overall efficiency. In addition, the improved Brayton cycle for each device exergy is analyzed to vary the parameters to control the inflow into the system exergy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hou, Yandong & Jin, Yanzhu & Chen, Peiyan & Zhang, Chao & Chen, Bowen & Xiang, Yan, 2025. "Evaluation of the combined generation IV nuclear reactor and copper-chlorine cycle for the production of hydrogen and power using thermodynamics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:328:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225022960
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136654
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    References listed on IDEAS

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