Hydrogen production options for water-cooled nuclear power plants

Supercritical water cooled reactors have the potential to reach outlet temperatures of 550oC. Although most hydrogen production technologies currently being pursued require higher temperatures, a few are compatible with these lower temperatures. Of these, low-temperature water electrolysis is the only technology currently available commercially. The high cost of electricity, however, makes hydrogen from these systems more expensive than hydrogen from current fossil- based methods. Other hydrogen production options that would be compatible with water-cooled reactors, such as membrane-assisted steam methane reforming and lower-temperature thermo- electrochemical cycles, are at various stages of research. None are close to having demonstrated commercial viability. Nonetheless, process flowsheets suggest that system efficiencies can be higher than for low-temperature water electrolysis. (author)