HTGR Knowledge Base

IAEA-TECDOC--1085: Hydrogen as an energy carrier and its production by nuclear power

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

Abstract

The impact of power generation on environment is becoming an ever increasing concern in decision making when considering the energy options and power systems required by a country in order to sustain its economic growth and development. Hydrogen is a strong emerging candidate with a significant role as a clean, environmentally benign and safe to handle major energy carrier in the future. Its enhanced utilization in distributed power generation as well as in propulsion systems for mobile applications will help to significantly mitigate the strong negative effects on the environment. It ia also the nuclear power that will be of utmost importance in the energy supply of many countries over the next decades. The development of new, innovative reactor concepts utilizing passive safety features for process heat and electricity generation are considered by many to play a substantial role in the world's energy future in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This report produced by IAEA documents past and current activities in Member States in the development of hydrogen production as an energy carrier and its corresponding production through the use of nuclear power. It provides an introduction to nuclear technology as a means of producing hydrogen or other upgraded fuels and to the energy carries hydrogen and its main fields of application. Emphasis is placed on high-temperature reactor technology which can achieve the simultaneous generation of electricity and the production of high-temperature process heat.

view the full text of this report (format: PDF, size= 21981kB, 335 pages)

Chapters

Contents
(format: PDF, size= 210kB, 4 pages) )
1. Introduction
(format: PDF, size= 313kB, 6 pages) )
2. Nuclear Power and its Potential for Hydrogen Generation
(format: PDF, size= 1450kB, 26 pages) )
3. Safety Considerations concerning Nuclear Power Plants associated with Process Heat and/or Hydrogen Production
(format: PDF, size= 2020kB, 30 pages) )
4. Energy Situation and Activities on Nuclear Power with potential use for Process Heat and Hydrogen Production in some exemplary Countries
(format: PDF, size= 2316kB, 38 pages) )
5. Conventional and advanced Hydrogen Production Methods
(format: PDF, size= 2516kB, 42 pages) )
6. Storage and Transport of Hydrogen
(format: PDF, size= 1635kB, 26 pages) )
7. Applications of Hydrogen
(format: PDF, size= 1586kB, 22 pages) )
8. Safety Risks of a large-scale Hydrogen Application
(format: PDF, size= 3560kB, 58 pages) )
9. Past and present Activities on Hydrogen in the World
(format: PDF, size= 2583kB, 38 pages) )
10. Transition to a future Hydrogen Energy Economy
(format: PDF, size= 808kB, 12 pages) )
11. Final Remarks
(format: PDF, size= 137kB, 2 pages) )
12. Summary
(format: PDF, size= 1830kB, 24 pages) )
Appendix A: Thermochemical Cycles for Hydrogen Production
(format: PDF, size= 435kB, 10 pages) )
Appendix B: Chemical Heat Pump Systems
(format: PDF, size= 309kB, 6 pages) )
Appendix C: Chemical Heat Pump Systems
(format: PDF, size= 69kB, 2 pages) )
Glossary of Abbreviations
(format: PDF, size= 95kB, 4 pages) )
Contributors to Drafting and Review
(format: PDF, size= 28kB, 1 page) )
Reference:
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--1085