38.R&Donhydrogenproductionbyhigh-temperatureelectrolysisofsteamOriginalResearchArticle

Oneoftheobjectivesofthehigh-temperatureengineeringtestreactor(HTTR)istodemonstratetheeffectivenessofhigh-temperaturenuclearheatutilization,whichaimstoextendtheapplicationofnuclearheattonon-electricfields,especiallytohydrogenproduction.Aspartofthedevelopmentofthehydrogenproductionprocesses,laboratory-scaleexperimentsofahigh-temperatureelectrolysisofsteam(HTES)hadbeencarriedoutwithapracticalelectrolysistubewith12solid-oxidecellsconnectedinseries.Usingthiselectrolysistube,hydrogenwasproducedatthemaximumdensityof44Ncm3/cm2hataelectrolysistemperatureof950°C.Thereafter,toimprovehydrogenproductionperformance,aself-supportingplanarelectrolysiscellwithapracticalsize(80mm×80mmofelectrolysisarea)wasfabricated.Inthepreliminaryelectrolysisexperimentcarriedoutat850°C,theplanarcellproducedhydrogenatthemaximumdensityof38Ncm3/cm2h,andtheenergyefficiencywasalmostashighasthatobtainedwiththeelectrolysistubeat950°C.However,bothelectrolysistubesandplanarcellsdidnotkeeptheirintegrityinonethermalcycle.Durabilityofthesolid-oxidecellagainstthethermalcycleisoneofthekeyissuesofHTES.