Numerical simulation of H₂SO₄ thermal decomposer for a VHTR helium loop-based SI hydrogen production test facility

The effect of the overall heat transfer coefficient on the helium outlet temperature and decomposition percentage of the decomposer was identified. The H₂SO₄ decomposer proposed is capable of outlet helium temperatures of 734 .deg. C for an overall heat transfer coefficient of 5 W/m²-K, which satisfies the operating condition of the out-of-pile helium loop. A creative semi-pilot scale H₂SO₄ thermal decomposer (SP-SATD-1000L) for a Nm³-H₂/h SI test facility incorporating heat transfer devices through coupling with the out-of-pile helium loop were newly designed. A numerical analysis was carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to simulate and analyze the helium flow patten, temperature distribution, and thermal decomposition percentages of H₂SO₄. The work highlighted the effect of the overall heat transfer coefficient on the helium outlet temperatures, maximum temperature in the reactor tubes, and the decomposition percentages. Outlet helium temperatures of the H₂SO₄ decomposer was 734 .deg. C for an overall heat transfer coefficient of 5 W/m²-K, which satisfy the operating temperature conitions of the out-of-pile helium loop.