Analysis of turbopump feed systems for hydrogen-nuclear rockets
Turbopump feed systems for hydrogen nuclear rockets
NUCLEAR ROCKET↗
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Nuclear Energy for Economy-wide Net Zero Solutions: Advancing Nuclear-Hydrogen Production
This presentation was prepared for the Canadian Standards Association Virtual Seminar on Hydrogen Production using Nuclear Energy, held on February 15, 2022. The presentation introduces the US DOE program on Integrated Energy Systems and provides an overview of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability projects to demonstrate hydrogen production at operating nuclear plants in the US.
08 HYDROGEN↗
Analysis of Multi-Output Hybrid Energy Systems Interacting with the Grid: Application of Improved Price-Taker and Price-Maker Approaches to Nuclear-Hydrogen Systems
The growing recognition of the value of hydrogen as an energy intermediate in supporting future power systems with high shares of variable renewable energy has prompted many studies to quantify the economic potential of multi-output hybrid systems, which are one type of integrated energy systems (IES). Because of the complexity of modeling multiple sectors, these studies typically use simplified modeling approaches to capture the interactions between sectors. In this study, we explore the implications of alternative modeling approaches for nuclear-hydrogen IES focusing on a power system in the Midwest United States. We combine highly resolved capacity expansion and production cost modeling tools of the power system with a detailed hydrogen system optimization tool to determine the optimal electrolyzer and storage sizing and optimal operations of the nuclear-hydrogen hybrid resource across three future study years. We compare economic and operational outcomes across a spectrum of modeling approaches, including a non-hybridized base approach; a traditional price-taker approach that does not include the impact of hydrogen production on the electricity system; a power-system-focused price-maker approach that does not account for temporal hydrogen constraints; and two improved price-taker and price-maker approaches that each address the impact of revenue-optimal levels of electricity production on the resulting power system and temporal hydrogen constraints on the overall feasible solution. Results show how a traditional price-taker approach can overestimate the economic benefits of multi-output nuclear-hydrogen IES compared to our two improved approaches that estimate both hydrogen system constraints and power system interaction. We find that hydrogen output requirements and storage size limits are key drivers to overall operations and some economic outcomes. Under our assumed constant hydrogen output requirement, storage costs, test system, and modeling approaches, our results indicate that hybridization can provide a net benefit, but results are sensitive to the treatment of hydrogen revenues and electricity prices as impacted by the power system evolution.
capacity expansion modeling↗
Integrated techno-economic framework for nuclear hydrogen production: assessing the role of high temperature steam electrolysis and safety considerations
This manuscript presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of nuclear integrated hydrogen production through high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Given the significant role of hydrogen as an energy carrier and chemical feedstock, the research evaluates the feasibility of co-locating HTSE facilities with existing nuclear power plants (NPPs) to enhance hydrogen production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Here, the study highlights the advantages of HTSE over traditional low-temperature electrolysis, particularly in leveraging thermal and electrical energy from NPPs. A novel framework for hydrogen deployment is introduced, integrating hydrogen market analysis, techno-economic evaluation (TEA), and safety assessments. The findings underscore the economic viability of hydrogen production in light of current market conditions, including fluctuating natural gas prices and the impact of production tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. A case study in the Gulf Coast region demonstrates the potential for strategic hydrogen production to meet growing industrial demand while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. Overall, this research contributes to the advancement of nuclear integrated hydrogen production as a sustainable energy solution.
08 - HYDROGEN↗
A nuclear-hydrogen hybrid energy system with large-scale storage: A study in optimal dispatch and economic performance in a real-world market
Here a study in optimal dispatch and economic analysis of a novel nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) with large-scale hydrogen storage and a novel control scheme is conducted. The control scheme makes charge and discharge decisions by using the real-time electricity price relative to the historical price distribution. The pricing data is taken from the ERCOT Houston and West load zones with different price oscillations. Six case control studies with different levels of aggressiveness were chosen for each load zone for a total of 12 case studies. It is found that in a high price volatility load zone, a more aggressive control strategy maximizes revenue, while in a less oscillatory load zone, a moderate control strategy performs better. The NHES can store energy when the price is low and sell additional electricity when the price is high, as well as participate in the ancillary services market. Due to these advantages, the NHES can generate 10–40 million USD more revenue annually than a stand-alone nuclear plant. Due to higher costs, the NHES has a higher LCOE (81.36 USD/MWh) than a stand-alone plant (68.66 USD/MWh); however, the LCOE of the NHES is still comparable to other new forms of electricity generation. It is found that both the NHES and the stand-alone plant are not economical in the existing electricity market. Due to the extra revenue generated, the hybrid system has a positive annual cashflow whereas the stand-alone plant does not. It is found that the hybrid plant needs less cost subsidy than a stand-alone plant to become economical.
08 HYDROGEN↗
Hydrogen infused nuclear reactor core monoliths
Hydrogen infused nuclear reactor core monoliths and processes for their production are disclosed. Such monoliths may function as both a core monolith and a moderator, providing structure and at least some moderation. Hydrogen infused monoliths may be complementary to or be used in lieu of separate moderators for thermalizing neutrons.
Shivprasad, Aditya↗
Analysis of Topping and Bleed Turbopump Units for Hydrogen-propelled Nuclear Rockets
Topping and bleed turbopump unit for hydrogen propelled nuclear rocket
NUCLEAR ROCKET↗
Radiation enhanced dissociation of hydrogen in nuclear rockets
The effect of radiation-induced dissociation of hydrogen gas in nuclear rockets is studied. The dissociation degree is obtained by solving rate equations, which include the fast-ion induced dissociation and ionization of atomic and molecular hydrogens. Analytical formulas are used to estimate a change in the viscosity and the specific impulse. It was found that the fast-ion induced dissociation plays an important role in enhancing the specific impulse for nuclear rocket concepts using hydrogen gas at low pressures (less than 0.1 MPa) and low temperatures (less than 3000 K). It is also shown that the specific impulse is enhanced by mixing helium-3, lithium-6, boron-10, or uranium-235 with hydrogen.
Watanabe, Yoichi↗
Investigation of Eight-stage Bleed-type Turbine for Hydrogen-propelled Nuclear Rocket Applications. II - Experimental Overall and Stage Group Performance Determined in Cold Nitrogen
Eight-stage bleed-type turbine for hydrogen propelled nuclear rocket applications - experimental overall and stage group performance determined in cold nitrogen
TURBINE↗
Investigation of Eight-stage Bleed-type Turbine for Hydrogen-propelled Nuclear Rocket Applications. I - Design of Turbine and Experimental Performance of First Two Stages
Eight-stage bleed-type turbine for hydrogen propelled nuclear rocket applications - design of turbine and experimental performance of first two stages
TURBINE↗
Composite seals for liquid hydrogen and nuclear radiation environments.
Description of plastic composite seals for service in a liquid-hydrogen and nuclear-radiation environment. The radiation-resistant aromatic heterocyclic class of polymers, including polyimide, polybenzimidazole, and polyquinoxaline, were evaluated for this application. The seal developed is based on a design involving a resin-starved laminate consisting of alternating layers of woven glass fabric and polymer film. This design imparts a mechanical spring characteristic to the seal, resulting in essentially complete elastic recovery when unloaded, and eliminates cold flow. Encapsulating techniques employing the polyquinoxaline polymer were developed which rendered the seal impervious to liquid hydrogen. The seals were tested before and after gamma irradiation up to 10 to the 10th ergs/g. Load/deflection and leakage tests were performed over a temperature range from -423 through +500 F.
Van Auken, R. L.↗
Resilience of uranium mononitride/zirconium carbide composites and uranium-zirconium carbonitride in hot hydrogen for nuclear thermal propulsion
Nuclear thermal rockets require fuels capable of withstanding flowing hydrogen propellant up to 3200 K. Presently, there has not been a fuel type that reliably operates at these conditions. A promising candidate anticipated to endure this demanding environment is a ceramic-ceramic composite comprising of uranium mononitride and zirconium carbide. Further, this investigation assesses the behavior and resilience of variations of this composite and its resultant homogenized form (uranium-zirconium carbonitride) under two hot hydrogen conditions (2273 K and 3000 K). The findings revealed that composites that homogenize into UZrCN exhibit superior structural integrity in hydrogen compared to heterogeneous counterparts. Consequently, this study underscores the potential of homogenized uranium-zirconium carbonitride for enhanced performance in nuclear thermal propulsion applications.
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
Nuclear microreactors and thermal integration with hydrogen generation processes
Not provided.
Nuclear Science & Technology↗
Estimating the Value of Nuclear Integrated Hydrogen Production and the Dependency of Electricity and Hydrogen Markets on Natural Gas
Producing low carbon Hydrogen at a competitive price is one of the challenges to hydrogen being part of the solution to reach net-zero emission targets set by the U.S. DOE by 2050. With projected near-term improvements in technology, hydrogen production via solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) / high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) integrated with existing light water reactor (LWR) Nuclear Power Plants (NPP-HTSE) can produce carbon-free hydrogen competitively. In the near term, a 10-year production tax credit (PTC) found in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been passed, which will catalyze the development and improvement of hydrogen production technology to be competitive. The “1-1-1” target set by the U.S. DOE is to reduce the cost of carbon-free hydrogen by 80% to $1 per kilogram in 1 decade. Several models are available to analyze the profitability, opportunity, and technical capability of NPP-HTSE systems. In order of complexity from most complex to least complex some of these models include: RAVEN/HERON, process models using Aspen HYSYS and capital expense estimations using Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) calculation using the H2A model (Hydrogen Analysis Model), and custom spread sheets built by the interested party. Though some of the more advanced existing models provide detailed analysis to complex grid integrated problems, they also can take considerable time to setup and run. These advanced models are well suited to complex grid integrated analysis and the consideration of flexibility and variability of regulated and de-regulated electricity price and advanced estimation of capital and operating expenses and heat and material balances.
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
Conventional Reactors and Hydrogen Production
This talk provides a conceptual overview of nuclear-hydrogen hybridization, including results from a recent study evaluating the potential profit impacts of hybridizing a nuclear power plant to product hydrogen during low electricity price periods.
39 EE - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (EE-3F↗
Analytical Investigation of the Effect of Turbopump Design on Gross-Weight Characteristics of a Hydrogen-Propelled Nuclear Rocket
The effect of turbopump design on rocket gross weight was investigated for a high-pressure bleed-type hydrogen-reactor long-range rocket with a fixed mission. Axial-flow, mixed-flow, and centrifugal pumps driven by single and twin turbines were considered. With an efficiency of 0.7 assumed for all pumps, the lowest rocket gross weights were obtained with an axial-flow or a mixed-flow pump driven by a single turbine of at least eight stages. All turbopump combinations could be used, however, with gross weight varying less than 8 percent for a given payload. Turbopump efficiencies have a significant effect on the ratio of gross weight to payload with the magnitude of the effect determined by the ratio of rocket structural weight to total propellant weight. One point in pump efficiency is worth 0.2 percent in gross weight for a given payload with a structural weight parameter of 0.1 and 0.6 percent with a structural weight parameter of 0.2. Turbine and pump weights are much less significant in terms of gross-to-pay weight ratio than the efficiencies of these components. One point in pump efficiency is equivalent to approximately 13 percent in pump weight, while 1 point in turbine efficiency is equivalent to about 7 percent in turbine weight.
Rohlik, Harold E.↗
Nuclear Integrated Hydrogen Production Analysis Tool
This is an Excel-based time-independent discount cash flow calculator for LWR-HTSE systems. The tool incorporates (1) discounted cash flow and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) analysis, (2) sensitivity analysis with respect to select financial performance metrics with output ‘tornado’ charts, (3) profitability analysis represented by heat maps using the two most sensitive parameters, (4) electricity versus hydrogen production preference analysis by comparing change in net present value (?NPV) between NPP-HTSE and business-as-usual electricity production for the grid, and (5) competitiveness analysis by comparing the calculated LCOH for NPP-HTSE with that of steam methane reforming, which is the conventional process to produce hydrogen.
Cheng, WenChi [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Id↗
The use of a very high temperature nuclear reactor in the manufacture of synthetic fuels
The three parts of a program directed toward creating a cost-effective nuclear hydrogen production system are described. The discussion covers the development of a very high temperature nuclear reactor (VHTR) as a nuclear heat and power source capable of producing the high temperature needed for hydrogen production and other processes; the development of a hydrogen generation process based on water decomposition, which can utilize the outputs of the VHTR and be integrated with many different ultimate hydrogen consuming processes; and the evaluation of the process applications of the nuclear hydrogen systems to assess the merits and potential payoffs. It is shown that the use of VHTR for the manufacture of synthetic fuels appears to have a very high probability of making a positive contribution to meeting the nation's energy needs in the future.
Farbman, G. H.↗