38. R&D on hydrogen production by high-temperature electrolysis of steam

One of the objectives of the high-temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) is to demonstrate the effectiveness of high-temperature nuclear heat utilization, which aims to extend the application of nuclear heat to non-electric fields, especially to hydrogen production. As part of the development of the hydrogen production processes, laboratory-scale experiments of a high-temperature electrolysis of steam (HTES) had been carried out with a practical electrolysis tube with 12 solid-oxide cells connected in series. Using this electrolysis tube, hydrogen was produced at the maximum density of 44 N cm³/cm² h at a electrolysis temperature of 950 °C. Thereafter, to improve hydrogen production performance, a self-supporting planar electrolysis cell with a practical size (80 mm × 80 mm of electrolysis area) was fabricated. In the preliminary electrolysis experiment carried out at 850 °C, the planar cell produced hydrogen at the maximum density of 38 N cm³/cm² h, and the energy efficiency was almost as high as that obtained with the electrolysis tube at 950 °C. However, both electrolysis tubes and planar cells did not keep their integrity in one thermal cycle. Durability of the solid-oxide cell against the thermal cycle is one of the key issues of HTES.