• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2008

Cu/Fe/$Al_2O_3$ granules with various sizes have been prepared by a combination of sol-gel and oil drop method for the use in sulfur trioxide decomposition, a subcycle in thermochemical sulfur-iodine cycle to split water in the hydrogen and oxygen. The size of composite granules have been mainly changed by the flow-rate of the gel mixture before dropping in the synthesis. The structural properties of the samples were comparable with granule size. In the reaction, the catalytic activity was enhanced by decreasing size in the entire reaction temperature ranges.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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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.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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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.

• 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.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2010

The Sulfur-Iodine (SI) thermochemical hydrogen production process of a closed cycle consists of three sections, which are so called the Bunsen reaction section, the $H_2SO_4$ decomposition section and the HI decomposition section. To identify the role of oxygen that can be supplied to the Bunsen reaction section via the $H_2SO_4$ decomposition section, Bunsen reactions with a $SO_2,\;SO_2-O_2$ mixture and $SO_2-N_2$ mixture as feed gases were carried out using a stirred reactor in the presence of $I_2/H_2O$ mixture. As the results, the amounts of $I_2$ unreacted under the feed of mixture gases were higher than those under the feed of $SO_2$ gas only, and the amount of HI produced was relatively decreased. The results of Bunsen reaction using $SO_2-O_2$ mixture were similar to those using $SO_2-N_2$ mixture. It may be concluded that an oxygen in $SO_2-O_2$ mixture has a role as a carrier gas like a nitrogen in $SO_2-N_2$ mixture. The effects of oxygen were decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing oxygen content in $SO_2-O_2$ mixture.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-151
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• 2011

The sulfur-iodine (SI) thermochemical water splitting cycle is one of promising hydrogen production methods from water using high-temperature heat generated from a high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor (HTGR). The SI cycle consists of three main units, such as Bunsen reaction, HI decomposition, and $H_2SO_4$ decomposition. The feasibility of continuous operation of a series of subunits for $H_2SO_4$ decomposition was investigated with a bench-scale facility working at ambient pressure. It showed stable and reproducible $H_2SO_4$ decomposition by steadily producing $SO_2$ and $O_2$ corresponding to a capacity of 1 mol/h $H_2$ for 24 hrs.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2011

The Sulfur-Iodine(SI) thermochemical hydrogen production process consists of three sections, which are so called the Bunsen reaction section, the $H_2SO_4$ decomposition section and the HI decomposition section. In order to identify the phase separation characteristics in the reaction conditions with the high solubility of $SO_2$, we conducted the Bunsen reaction at the low temperatures, ranging from 283 to 298K, with the $I_2/H_2O$ molar ratios of 2.5/16.0 and 3.5/16.0. The molar ratios of HI/$H_2SO_4$ products obtained from low temperature Bunsen reactions were ca. 2, indicating that there were no side reactions. The amount of reacted $SO_2$ was increased with decreasing the temperature, while the amounts of unreacted $I_2$ and $H_2O$ were decreased. In the phase separation of the products, the amount of a $H_2SO_4$ impurity in $HI_x$ phase was increased with decreasing the temperature, though the temperature has little affected on HI and $I_2$ impurities in $H_2SO_4$ phase.

• 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.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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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.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 2014

SI Cyclic process is one of the thermochemical hydrogen production processes using iodine and sulfur for producing hydrogen molecules from water. VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor) can be used to supply heat to hydrogen production process, which is a high temperature nuclear reactor. IHX (Intermediate Heat Exchanger) is necessary to transfer heat to hydrogen production process safely without radioactivity. In this study, the strategy for the optimum design of IHX between SI hydrogen process and VHTR is proposed for various operating pressures of the reactor, and the different cooling fluids. Most economical efficiency of IHX is also proposed along with process conditions.