Design and analysis of a thermolysis reactor for scaled-up copper-chlorine hydrogen production cycle
Date
2017-12-01
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Abstract
Alternative hydrogen production methods are being explored with the goal of
finding efficient and economical process. The copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycle for
hydrogen production has been the focus of the Clean Energy Research
Laboratory (CERL) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
(UOIT). The Cu-Cl cycle has lower thermal energy requirements compared to
other methods and utilizes waste heat from power plants and/or some
industrial processes. The cycle includes the electrolysis, hydrolysis and
thermolysis reaction steps. Decomposition of copper oxychloride (CuOCuCl2)
occurs in the thermolysis reactor between 480°C and 530°C. A thermolysis
reactor design is presented here with the purpose of scaling it up for a pilot
plant of the Cu-Cl process. Transient thermal simulations were conducted with
2.0kg of cuprous chloride (CuCl), single and dual heating sources, and 1, 2 and
4 Wm-2K-1 internal surface convection rates. The dual heater configuration
provided the required temperature distribution to allow decomposition to
occur. Experimental data with dual heat sources showed that surface
temperatures reached 531°C ± 14.0°C. Faster heating was observed with
granular CuCl in comparison to solidified CuCl, because the material was
allowed to mix in the reactor while it was melted. Simulations with 10.35kg
CuCl confirmed adequate surface temperatures for decomposition at low
convection rates. Fouling in the phase separation section was observed: XRD
analysis showed that the bottom was crystalized CuCl while the upper section
was a mixture of predominately CuCl2 dihydrate and CuCl. The vapor
production was due to temperatures exceeding 530°C at the CuCl-crucible
interface.
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Keywords
Copper-chlorine, Thermochemical, Decomposition, Hydrogen production, Copper oxychloride