• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.2066-2073
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• 2021

The use of nuclear reactors is a large studied possible solution for thermochemical water splitting cycles. Nevertheless, there are several problems that have to be solved. One of them is to increase the efficiency of the cycles. Hence, in this paper, a thermal energy optimization of a Sulfur-Iodine nuclear hydrogen production cycle was performed by means a heuristic method with the aim of minimizing the energy targets of the heat exchanger network at different minimum temperature differences. With this method, four different heat exchanger networks are proposed. A reduction of the energy requirements for cooling ranges between 58.9-59.8% and 52.6-53.3% heating, compared to the reference design with no heat exchanger network. With this reduction, the thermal efficiency of the cycle increased in about 10% in average compared to the reference efficiency. This improves the use of thermal energy of the cycle.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.15 no.2 s.46
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• pp.127-137
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• 2006

To resolve the environmental and economics problems of fossil fuel energy, a hydrogen economy is promoted in many developed countries. Massive production of hydrogen using a nuclear power is a practical way to feed fuel required for the hydrogen economy. The author introduces a very high temperature reactor and its development status. He also reviews recent achievements and directions of research in hydrogen production process, such as sulfur-iodine thermochemical cycle, sulfur hybrid cycle, and high temperature electrolysis.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.633-638
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• 2008

The bunsen reaction, part of IS(Iodine-sulfur) cycle that one of the hydrogen production by the thermochemical water splitting, was investigated. It was observed that $H_2SO_4$ was uniformly generated and generation of $H_2SO_4$ was independent of iodine input. However, generation of HI was decreased with increasing iodine input. It was thought that HI and unreacted iodine were formed complex compound such as $HI_3$ $HI_5$ or $HI_7$. The complex compound accelerated liquid-liquid separation properties in the product. It was also revealed that reaction kinetics was increased with increasing iodine input. Liquid-liquid separation properties were improved with increasing iodine input and reaction temperature. Moreover, no side reaction was occurred at all reaction conditions.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.235-247
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• 2020

Simulation study and validation on 50 L/hr pilot-scale Bunsen process was carried out in order to investigate thermodynamics parameters, suitable reactor type, separator configuration, and the optimal conditions of reactors and separation. Sulfur-Iodine is thermochemical process using iodine and sulfur compounds for producing hydrogen from decomposition of water as net reaction. Understanding in phase separation and reaction of Bunsen Process is crucial since Bunsen Process acts as an intermediate process among three reactions. Electrolyte Non-Random Two-Liquid model is implemented in simulation as thermodynamic model. The simulation results are validated with the thermodynamic parameters and the 50 L/hr pilot-scale experimental data. The SO₂ conversions of PFR and CSTR were compared as varying the temperature and reactor volume in order to investigate suitable type of reactor. Impurities in H₂SO₄ phase and HI_X phase were investigated for 3-phase separator (vapor-liquid-liquid) and two 2-phase separators (vapor-liquid & liquid-liquid) in order to select separation configuration with better performance. The process optimization on reactor and phase separator is carried out to find the operating conditions and feed conditions that can reach the maximum SO₂ conversion and the minimum H₂SO₄ impurities in HI_X phase. For reactor optimization, the maximum 98% SO₂ conversion was obtained with fixed iodine and water inlet flow rate when the diameter and length of PFR reactor are 0.20 m and 7.6m. Inlet water and iodine flow rate is reduced by 17% and 22% to reach the maximum 10% SO₂ conversion with fixed temperature and PFR size (diameter: 3/8", length:3 m). When temperature (121℃) and PFR size (diameter: 0.2, length:7.6 m) are applied to the feed composition optimization, inlet water and iodine flow rate is reduced by 17% and 22% to reach the maximum 10% SO₂ conversion.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.395-402
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• 2006

Iodine-sulfur(IS) hydrogenation production process consists of three sections, which are so called a Bunsen reaction section, a HI decomposition section and a $H_2SO_4$ decomposition section as a closed cycle. For highly efficient operation of a Bunsen reaction section, we investigated the phase separation characteristics of $H_2SO_4-HI-H_2O-I_2$ system into two liquid phases($H_2SO_4$-rich phase and $HI_x$-rich phase) in the high temperature ranges, mainly from 353 to 393 K, and in the $H_2SO_4/HI/H_2O/I_2$ molar ratio of $1/2/14{\sim}30/0.3{\sim}13.50$. The desired results for the minimization of impurities in each phase were obtained in conditions with the higher temperature and the higher $I_2$ molar composition. On the basis of the distribution of $H_2O$ to each phase, it is appeared that the affinity between $HI_x$ and $H_2O$ was more superior to that between $H_2SO_4$ and $H_2O$.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.490-497
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• 2008

For continuous operation of the sulfur-iodine(SI) thermochemical cycle, which is expected practical method for massive hydrogen production, suggesting operation conditions at steady state is very important. Especially, in the Bunsen reaction section, the Bunsen reaction as well as side reactions is occurring simultaneously. Therefore, we studied on the relation between the variation of compositions in product solution and side reactions. The experiments for Bunsen reaction were carried out in the temperature range, from 268 to 353 K, and in the $I_2/H_2O$ molar ratio of $0.094{\sim}0.297$ under a continuous flow of $SO_2$ gas. As the result, sulfur formed predominantly with increasing temperature and decreasing $I_2/H_2O$ molar ratios. The molar ratios of $H_2O/H_2SO_4$ and $HI/H_2SO_4$ in global system were decreased as the more side reaction occurred. A side reactions did not appear at $I_2/H_2O$ molar ratios, saturated with $I_2$, irrespective of the temperature change. We concluded that it caused by the increasing stability of an $I_{2x}H^+$ complex and a steric hindrance with increasing $I_2/HI$ molar ratios.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.386-393
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• 2008

The Sulfur-iodine(SI) thermochemical cycle is one of the most promising methods for massive hydrogen production. For the purpose of continuous operation of SI cycle, phase separation characteristics into two liquid phases ($H_2SO_4$-rich phase and $HI_x$-rich phase) were directly investigated via Bunsen reaction. The experiments for Bunsen reaction were carried out in the temperature range, from 298 to 333 K, and in the $I_2/H_2O$ molar ratio of $0.109{\sim}0.297$ under a continuous flow of $SO_2$ gas. As the results, solubility of $SO_2$, decreased with increasing the temperature, had considerable influence on the global composition in the Bunsen reaction system. The amounts of impurity in each phase(HI and $I_2$ in $H_2SO_4$-rich phase and $H_2SO_4$ in $HI_x$-rich phase) were decreased with increasing $H_2SO_4$ molar ratio and temperature. To control the amounts of impurity in $HI_x$-rich phase, temperature is a factor more important than $I_2/H2_O$ molar ratio. On the other hand, the affinity between $HI_x$ and $H_2O$ was increased with increasing $I_2/H2_O$molar ratio.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.848-852
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• 2005

The two important problems to solve before the industrialization of the iodine-sulfur (IS) process are (i) methods to separate $H_2SO_4$ and HI and (ii) to maintain constant components. However undesired reaction was occurred and $H_2S$ and S were formed during the Bunsen reaction. It is necessary to forbid the undesired reaction between $H_2SO_4$ and HI by separating the two acids into two different layers. The experimental conditions for the present study was chosen in such a way that to achieve the separation between the two acids and minimize the side reaction. $H_2S$ formation was reduced and the separations of the two liquids were occurred at $H_2O$ molar fraction from 0.86 to 0.909. But the separations between the two liquids were not occurred at $H_2O$ molar fraction more than 0.92.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2008

A Bunsen reaction section is a primary stage of Sulfur-iodine thermochemical hydrogen production cycle. This section is important, because it decides the efficiency of next stages. In order to produce hydrogen very efficiently, the characteristics of Bunsen reaction were investigated via two experimental methods. The one is a phase separation of $H_2SO_4-HI-H_2O-I_2$ mixture system, and the other is a direct Bunsen reaction. The characteristics of each method were investigated and compared. As the result of this study, the amount of HI and $I_2$ in $H_2SO_4$ phase via Bunsen reaction was more decreased than that via $H_2SO_4-HI-H_2O-I_2$ mixture system with increasing $I_2$ concentration. However, the amount of $H_2SO_4$ in $HI_x$ phase via Bunsen reaction was remarkably increased with increasing $I_2$ concentration, while that via $H_2SO_4-HI-H_2O-I_2$ mixture system was decreased. On the other hand, the range of initial composition which is able to separate into two liquid phases without $I_2$ solidification was almost alike.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.363-372
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• 2014

In this study, we proposed a newly designed sulfuric acid transfer system for the sulfur-iodine (SI) thermochemical cycle. The proposed sulfuric acid transfer system was evaluated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis for investigating thermodynamic/hydrodynamic characteristics and material properties. This analysis was conducted to obtain reliable continuous operation parameters; in particular, a thermal analysis was performed on the bellows box and bellows at amplitudes and various frequencies (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 Hz). However, the high temperatures and strongly corrosive operating conditions of the current sulfuric acid system present challenges with respect to the structural materials of the transfer system. To resolve this issue, we designed a novel transfer system using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, $Teflon^{(R)}$) as a bellows material for the transfer of sulfuric acid. We also carried out a CFD analysis of the design. The CFD results indicated that the maximum applicable temperature of PTFE is about 533 K ($260^{\circ}C$), even though its melting point is around 600 K. This result implies that the PTFE is a potential material for the sulfuric acid transfer system. The CFD simulations also confirmed that the sulfuric acid transfer system was designed properly for this particular investigation.