Hydrogen co-production from subcritical water-cooled nuclear power plants in Canada

Subcritical water-cooled nuclear reactors (Sub-WCR) operate in several countries including Canada providing electricity to the civilian population. The high temperature steam electrolysis process (HTSEP) is a feasible and laboratory demonstrated large-scale hydrogen production process. The thermal and electrical integration of the HTSEP with Sub-WCR based nuclear power plants (NPPs) is compared for best integration point, HTSEP operating condition and hydrogen production rate based on thermal energy efficiency. Analysis on integrated thermal efficiency suggests that the Sub-WCR NPP is ideal for hydrogen co-production with a combined efficiency of 36%. HTSEP operation analysis suggests that higher product hydrogen pressure reduces hydrogen and integrated efficiencies. The best integration point for the HTSEP with Sub-WCR NPP is upstream of the high pressure turbine. (author)