Re: nuclear separation of hydrogen from water vs. electrolysis

From: Pete Lynn (pete_at_peterlynnkites.com)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 09:20:20 +1200

"pochas" <mapson@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:mapson-1606041103020001@24.247.210.103.bay.mi.chartermi.net...
>
> Not really. The nuke makes power by expanding steam through
> a steam turbine. The ones I am familiar with exhaust to a
> vacuum condenser, which means the condensing temperature is
> less than 100 C which is not hot enough to split water. As the
> steam expands and does work, it cools.

The HI process has two endothermic reactions at around 150C, IIRC. If
you raised the condensing temperature to this there would be a
considerable loss of turbine efficiency, though the condenser would be
much smaller an cheaper and I expect your overall efficiency, (including
hydrogen output), would improve significantly. There is also a trick of
using an electric gas turbine type heat pump to supply your high end
temperature, (quite cheap and easy). This will significantly lower your
required nuclear reactor temperature and as the HI process efficiency,
IIRC, improves significantly with higher temperature, this might further
improve your overall efficiency.

Pete.

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