Carbon recycle nuclear hydrogen carrier system for transportation field

• Published in: Progress in nuclear energy (New series) 2008-03, Vol.50 (2), p.417-421
• Main Authors: Kato, Yukitaka, Otsuka, Ken-ichiro, Ryu, Junichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Carbon neutral; Carbon recycle; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuel cells; Fuel reforming; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen carrier; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear hydrogen; Zero-emission
• ISSN: 0149-1970
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2007.11.024

Possibility of a carbon recycle hydrogen carrier system driven by nuclear power for transportation field was discussed. The hydrogen carrier system, which was zero carbon dioxide emission and small hydrogen compression work and explosion risk, was examined for fuel cell vehicles. The combination of the hydrogen carrier system with a high-temperature gas reactor was proposed. It was expected that the carrier system realized lower pressure and safe storage of hydrogen consisting with the similar energy efficiency of conventional water electrolysis hydrogen system. Carbon neutral bio-mass energy system and the carrier system were compared for the next generation vehicle energy system. Bio-mass energy had the limitation of quantity and would take small part of vehicle market in Japan. Nuclear assisted bio-mass hydrogen system could enhance yield of bio-fuels under carbon neutral. The carbon recycle nuclear hydrogen carrier system was expected to be applicable to the demand of much more larger number of vehicles because it was free from the limitation of bio-mass carbon quantity.