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Charles Forsberg
Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave; Bld. 42-207a; Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: (617) 324-4010; Email: cforsber@mit.edu
New Technologies: Hydrogen
MIT Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
2009 World Nuclear University Institute
Cambridge, England
Wednesday July 8, 2009
File: Nuclear Renewable Futures; Great Britain July09
Overview
Hydrogen May be the Future of Liquid Fuels,
Metals, and Peak-Electricity Production
Hydrogen Production Technologies Match
Nuclear Energy Characteristics
Nuclear-Hydrogen May be the Transformational
Energy Technology and the Enabling
Technology for Large-Scale Use of Renewables
Many Questions Remain
2
Outline
Perspective on Nuclear Hydrogen Futures
Nuclear Hydrogen Applications
Peak Electricity
Nuclear-Biomass Liquid Fuels
Materials Production
Nuclear Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen: An Intrinsically Large-Scale
Technology that Matches Nuclear Power
Conclusions
3
Perspectives on
Nuclear Hydrogen Futures
4
Energy Futures May Be Determined
By Two Sustainability Goals
No Imported Crude Oil No Climate Change
Tropic of Cancer
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Oman
Persian
Red
Sea
Gulf of Aden
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Caspian
Sea
Aral Sea
Lake Van
Lake Urmia
Lake Nasser
T'ana Hayk
Gulf of Suez Gulf of Aqaba
Strait of Hormuz Gulf
Suez Canal
Saudi Arabia
Iran Iraq
Egypt
Sudan
Ethiopia
Somalia
Djibouti
Yemen
Oman
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Bahrain
Socotra (Yem en)
Turkey
Syria
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Romania
Bulgaria
Greece
Cyprus
Lebanon
Israel
Jordan
Russia
Eritrea
Georgia
Armenia Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
0 200
400 miles
400
200 0
600 kilometers
Middle East
Tropic of Cancer
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Oman
Persian
Red
Sea
Gulf of Aden
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Caspian
Sea
Aral Sea
Lake Van
Lake Urmia
Lake Nasser
T'ana Hayk
Gulf of Suez Gulf of Aqaba
Strait of Hormuz Gulf
Suez Canal
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Iraq
Egypt
Sudan
Ethiopia
Somalia
Djibouti
Yemen
Oman
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Bahrain
Socotra (Yem en)
Turkey
Syria
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Romania
Bulgaria
Greece
Cyprus
Lebanon
Israel
Jordan
Russia
Eritrea
Georgia
Armenia Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
0 200
400 miles
400
200 0
600 kilometers
5
Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Photo provided by the National Snow and Ice
Data Center
World Oil Discoveries Are Down and
World Oil Consumption Is Up
The Era of Conventional Oil Is Ending
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Dis
co
veri
es
(b
illio
n b
bl/
year)
Pro
du
cti
on
(b
illio
n b
bl/year)
Discovery
Consumption
Oil and Gas J.; Feb. 21, 2005; Most projections indicate one to two decades of large swings in oil prices in the transition off of oil
6
Massive Challenge If Fossil Fuel Use
Is Limited to Prevent Climate Change
U.S. Goal: 80% Reduction in
Greenhouse Gas Releases by 2050
7
Hydrogen Can Replace Fossil
Fuels For Many Applications
Hydrogen is an energy carrier Today: Produced using fossil fuels
Can be produced from water using electricity and/or heat from nuclear or renewable energy sources
Hydrogen from nuclear and renewable sources may replace fossil fuels where its unique chemical characteristics give it unique capabilities Peak electricity production
Liquid fuels production
Metals production
Hydrogen is unlikely to replace fossil fuels as a one-to-one substitute: Not a substitute heat source
8
Hydrogen Production Today
Major hydrogen markets:
Ammonia fertilizer production
Conversion of heavy oil and coal into liquid fuels
Primary production method
Steam reforming of fossil fuels
Two step process
CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2
CO + H2O → CO2 + H2
Fossil fuels are burnt to provide the heat to drive
the chemical process
Energy required to make hydrogen is dependent
upon the feedstock
Natural gas: Chemically reduced hydrogen
(Lowest energy input to make hydrogen)
Coal: Hydrogen deficient
Water: Oxidized hydrogen
9
Today: Alkaline Electrolysis
Commercial technology
2H2O + electricity → 2H2 + O2
Mid-term: High-Temperature
Electrolysis (HTE) based on solid-
oxide fuel cell operated in reverse
2H2O + electricity + heat → 2H2 + O2
Electrical efficiency up to 100% LHV
plus heat requirement
Long-term: Thermochemical cycles
2H2O + heat → 2H2 + O2
Nuclear Energy Hydrogen Production
10
Future Markets:
Peak Electricity Production
11
12
Electricity Demand Varies
By the Day, Week, and Season
Example: Hourly load forecasts for 3 weeks in Illinois
spring
summer
winter
weekendWorkweek
12
Today a Mixture of Technologies Are
Used To Minimize Electricity Costs
High-capital-cost low-
operating-cost plants
operate at full output Nuclear
Wind and Solar
Low-capital-cost high-
operating-cost plants
operate with variable
outputs to match electricity
production with demand
Fossil plants 13
Fossil Fuel Characteristics Enable Its
Use For Peak Electricity Production
Fossil fuels are inexpensive to store (coal piles, oil
tanks, etc.)
Only two options for peak electricity production Fossil fuel (Usually natural gas)
Hydroelectricity (Available in only some locations)
What replaces peak electricity from fossil fuels
if fossil fuel use is limited or expensive?
Systems to convert fossil fuels to heat or electricity have low capital costs
14
Electricity Generation and Demand
in a Low-Carbon World
Generation Nuclear: Not match seasonal variation
Wind: Regional resource that peaks in the
spring—time of low electric demand
Solar: Regional resource with production
match in southwest U.S. and a mismatch
elsewhere
Fossil fuels: Regional resource
dependent on sequestration sites
All low-carbon options have
high-capital cost and low-
operating costs—expensive for
variable electricity production 15
Requirements To Minimize Electricity
Costs in a Low-Carbon World
Capital intensive nuclear and renewables facilities
must operate at maximum output to minimize
energy generation costs
Require methods to match electricity production
with electricity demand
Daily swing can be met with many storage technologies
such as pump hydro storage and batteries
New technologies required for seasonal (fall, winter,
spring, and summer) electricity storage
16
Fuel Cells, Steam Turbines, or
Other TechnologyH2
Production
Nuclear
Reactor
2H2O
Heatand/or
Electricity
2H2 + O 2
Underground
Hydrogen/Oxygen
(Optional)
Storage
Relative Capital Cost/KW
Facility
$$$$ $$ $ $$
Energy
Production
Rate vs TimeTime Time Time
Constant Constant Variable
Fuel Cells, Steam Turbines, or
Other TechnologyH2
Production
Nuclear
Reactor
2H2O
Heatand/or
Electricity
2H2 + O 2
Underground
Hydrogen/Oxygen
(Optional)
Storage
Relative Capital Cost/KW
Facility
$$$$ $$ $ $$
Energy
Production
Rate vs TimeTime Time Time
Constant VariableVariable
Electricity To Grid
Base-Load Operation
Nuclear Peak Electricity Systems
17
Example Nuclear Hydrogen Peak
Electricity System
High-Temperature
Electrolysis / Fuel Cell
Hydrogen and
Oxygen StorageLight-Water Reactor
Nuclear Power Plant
↓
Off-Peak
Electricity
and Heat
→
→H2 / O2
Off-Peak
Peak Electricity
↓
↓H2 / O2
Oxy-Hydrogen
Steam Turbine
←
H2 / O2
←Peak
18
Today: Alkaline Electrolysis
2H2O + electricity → 2H2 + O2
Mid-term: High-Temperature
Electrolysis (HTE)
2H2O + electricity + heat → 2H2 + O2
Long-term: Thermochemical cycles
2H2O + heat → 2H2 + O2
Nuclear Energy
Hydrogen Production
19
Low-Cost Hydrogen / Oxygen Storage
for Weeks or Months
Underground storage is the only cheap hydrogen storage technology today—but only viable on a large scale (match nuclear)
Commercial hydrogen storage technology based on natural-gas storage technology
Same technology applicable to oxygen storage but not demonstrated for oxygen
←Chevron Phillips↑Clemens Terminal for H2
160 x 1000 ft cylinder salt cavern
Many geology options 20
Today: Gas Turbine
Mid-term High-temperature fuel cell
High-temperature electrolysis system operating in reverse
Fuel cell / gas turbine (Siemens) ~70% efficiency
Siemens
Oxy-hydrogen steam cycle
Peak Electricity Production
From Stored Hydrogen
Requires High Efficiency and Low Capital Cost
(System Operates a Limited Number of Hours per Year)
21Courtesy of Clean Energy Systems
A Single System May Convert
Electricity to Hydrogen and Back
Combined High-Temperature Electrolysis (HTE) – Fuel Cell (FC)
Peak power requires low capital costs
Capital cost associated with:
Conversion of electricity to hydrogen
Conversion of hydrogen to electricity
High-temperature electrolysis units can
be operated as high-temperature fuel
cells (same technology)
Minimize capital costs with dual use
Technology under development
22
Oxy-Hydrogen Steam Cycle for
Peak Electricity Production
High-temperature
(1500°C) steam cycle
2H2+ O2 → Steam
Low cost
No boiler
High efficiency (+70%)
Lowest capital-cost
peaking system
Unique feature: Direct
production of high-
pressure high-
temperature steam
Steam
1500º C
Hydrogen
Water
PumpCondenser
Burner
Steam
Turbine
In
Out
CoolingWater
Generator
Oxygen
23
Oxy-Hydrogen Combustor Replaces Steam
Boiler: Lower Cost & Higher Efficiency
But Requires Hydrogen and Oxygen As Feed
Coal Boiler to
Produce SteamOxy-Hydrogen Combustor
to Produce Steam24
Courtesy of Clean Energy Systems
Peak-Power Production Economics
The price of peak electricity is several times that of base-load electricity
Requirements for peak electricity production Low capital costs because of the limited number of
hours equipment is operated each year
Higher fuel costs are acceptable
Likely future peak-power requirements No greenhouse gas emissions
Large capacity to provide backup for renewables when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine
Cover seasonal variations in electricity demand
Potential match with nuclear-hydrogen systems25
Variable Demand Results in Variable
Marginal Electricity Prices
Price vs. Hours/year
Dollars/MW(e)-h
Ho
urs
/year
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
5,000
<5
5-1
0
10-1
5
15-2
0
20-2
5
25-3
0
30-3
5
35-4
0
40-4
5
45-5
0
50-5
5
55-6
0
60-6
5
65-7
0
70-7
5
75-8
0
80-8
5
85-9
0
90-9
5
>95
FY 2004 FERC Marginal Price ($/MWh)
Data for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Incentive to Use Low-Price Electricity for Hydrogen Production
26
Future Markets:
Nuclear-Biomass Liquid Fuels
27
Urban Residues
We Will Not Run Out of Liquid Fuels —
Chemical Engineers Can Convert Any
Biomass or Fossil Fuel into Gasoline
But the Less a Feedstock
Looks Like Gasoline, the
More Energy it Takes in the
Conversion Process
Agricultural Residues
Coal
28
Vehicle Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Versus
Fossil-Fuel Feedstock to Make Diesel Fuel
No Problem Replacing Oil; But, Massive Increases in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Illinois #6 Coal Baseline
Pipeline Natural Gas
Wyoming Sweet Crude Oil
Venezuelan Syncrude
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Gre
enh
ouse Im
pa
cts
(g C
O2-e
q/m
ile in S
UV
)
Conversion/Refining
Transportation/Distribution
End Use Combustion
Extraction/Production
Business As Usual
Using Fuel
Making and
Delivering of Fuel
(Fisher-TropschLiquids)
(Fisher-TropschLiquids)
Sou
rce o
f Gre
en
hou
se
Impacts
←N
ucle
ar
En
erg
y
Can
Su
pp
ly
←Feedstock29
Three Inputs into Liquid Fuels
Products:Ethanol
Biofuels
Diesel
Feedstock Conversion Process
Carbon:Fossil fuel
Biomass
Energy:Fossil fuel
Biomass
Nuclear
HydrogenFossil Fuel
Biomass
Nuclear
The Greater the External Energy Input in Heat and Hydrogen,
the More Fuel per Ton of Fossil Fuel or Biomass Input30
Biomass Fuels Are the
Low-Carbon Liquid Fuel Option
But, Conversion Processes Require Energy
CxHy + (X + y
4 )O2
CO2 + ( y2
)H2OLiquid Fuels
AtmosphericCarbon Dioxide
Fuel Factory
Biomass
Cars, Trucks, and Planes
Energy
BiomassNuclearOther
31
Logging ResiduesAgricultural Residues
Urban Residues
Biomass: Worldwide Resources
Measured in Billions of Tons per Year
Without Significantly Impacting Food, Fiber, and Timber
Algae and Kelp (Ocean)
But, The Capability to Replace Oil Is Dependent Upon the Conversion Process
Liquid Fuels From Biomass Depends
Upon the Bio-refinery Energy Source
Convert to Diesel Fuel with Outside
Hydrogen and Heat
Convert to Ethanol
Burn Biomass
12.4
4.7
9.8
0
5
10
15
Ene
rgy
Val
ue (
10
6ba
rrel
s of
die
sel
fuel
equ
ival
ent p
er d
ay)
Energy Value of 1.3 Billion Tons/year of U.S. Renewable Biomass Measured
in Equivalent Barrels of Diesel Fuel per Day (World Situation Is Similar)
←U.S. Transport
Fuel Demand
Biomass
Energy to
Operate
Bio-refinery
33
Feedstock Nuclear Energy Input
Starch (Corn, potatoes,
etc) to ethanol [Today]
Low-temperature heat
Cellulose to ethanol,
gasoline, and diesel
Low-temperature heat
and some hydrogen
Biomass to gasoline
and diesel
Hydrogen*
Nuclear-Biomass Liquid Fuel Options
Each Option Sequentially Increases the Liquid Fuels Yield
per Ton of Biomass with More External Energy Inputs
*Biomass to gasoline and diesel may also be possible using high-temperature heat;
however, both the reactor and the process must be developed
Nuclear heat economics are favorable today and no new technology is
required. Has been done in Canada. Renewed interest today
Starch(corn, potatoes, etc.)
Ethanol
Steam
Ethanol Plant Steam Plant Nuclear Reactor Ethanol Plant
Steam
Natural Gas/Biomass
Nuclear/Biomass
50% Decrease in CO2 Emissions/Gallon Ethanol50% Reduction in Steam Cost
Electricity
Ethanol
AnimalProtein
NaturalGas
AnimalProtein
Fossil Energy Input 70% ofEnergy Content of Ethanol
Starch to Ethanol
Cellulosic Liquid-Fuel Options
Cellulose Is the Primary Form of Biomass
Biomass(1.3 billion tons/year)
Cellulose(65-85% Biomass)
Lignin(15-35% Biomass)
Gasoline/Diesel
Ethanol
Steam
Ethanol Plant Steam Plant Lignin Plant Nuclear Reactor Ethanol Plant
Hydrogen(small
quantities)
Heat
Steam
BiomassNuclearBiomass
50% Increase Liquid Fuel/Unit Biomass
Electricity
Ethanol
36
Nuclear-Cellulosic Liquid-Fuel
Option Requires a Lignin-to-Fuel Process
Conventional cellulose-to-
ethanol process burns lignin
biomass for energy
Nuclear cellulose ethanol
fuel option
Nuclear steam for cellulose
ethanol production
Lignin conversion to liquid
fuels (not a boiler fuel)
Leading candidate is to
hydrocrack lignin to a
gasoline-type fuel
Hydrogen to convert lignin to
hydrocarbon fuelsLignin (Biological
precursor to crude oil)37
Full Conversion of Biomass
to Diesel and Gasoline
Maximize liquid fuels by: Conversion of all carbon into liquid fuels
Maximize energy carried per carbon atom
Produce only high-energy liquid fuel
Diesel and gasoline
Routes to maximize total energy content of liquid fuels per ton of biomass Fischer-Tropsch with nuclear hydrogen input (current
technology option)
Fischer-Tropsch with high-temperature heat for steam gasification (Need development of high-temperature reactor and the conversion process)
Direct hydrogenation of biomass with nuclear hydrogen (Need development of conversion process)
38
Gasifier
Product Upgrade
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Gas Cleanup
Nuclear Plant Electrolyzers
CO2
H2S
O2
H2
Sulfur Product
Synfuel
Biomass provides the chemically-reduced carbon for the liquid fuel
Nuclear primary input is hydrogen (Oxygen is a minor input)
Nuclear-Hydrogen-Biomass to
Diesel and Gasoline
39
Status of Low-Greenhouse-Gas
Transport Fuel Options
Biofuels are the near-term non-fossil-fuel option Workable
Some production routes are now economic without tax breaks
Large potential for improvements
Longer-term transport fuel options; but, each has special challenges Liquid fuels from air
Hydrogen as a fuel
All electric car
In all cases will likely require liquid fuels for application such as air transport
40
Fuels From Intercepted Carbon Dioxide:
―Unlimited‖ But Larger H2
Requirements
Includes Option of Extracting Carbon Dioxide from Air
Cement Plants
Land Fills
Carbon Dioxide
Liquid Fuel ProductionWith Hydrogen
Sewer Plants
Hydrogen
LiquidFuels
41
Electric Transport Options
Electric car limitations Limited range
Recharge time (Gasoline/Diesel refueling rate is ~10 MW)
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Electric drive for short trips
Recharge battery overnight to avoid rapid recharge requirement
Hybrid engine with gasoline or diesel engine for longer trips
Plug-in hybrids and other technologies may cut gasoline use in half—but not eliminate the need for transport fuels
Courtesy of the Electric Power Research Institute 42
Future Markets:
Materials Production
43
Iron, Cement, and Other Materials
We use massive quantities of steel, concrete, and other materials
The earth is made of oxides and carbonates, not metals or cement
Fossil fuels are the chemical reducing agents to convert oxides and carbonates to useful materials
Hydrogen Can Replace Carbon
For Materials Production
44
The Chemistry of Materials Production
Example: Steel Production
Oxidized raw material (iron ore) +
Carbon (coal, oil or natural gas) →
Partly refined material (pig iron) +
Carbon dioxide ↑
Partly refined material (pig iron) +
Added Processing → Steel
45
The Chemistry of Materials Production
Is Switching to Hydrogen
Carbon (coal, oil or natural gas) + Oxygen +
Water → Hydrogen + Carbon dioxide ↑
Oxidized raw material (iron ore) + Hydrogen
→ Steel + Water
Hydrogen is used for 4% of iron production to
produce high-purity iron
Non-Fossil Hydrogen Can Be the Chemical
Reducing Agent For Materials Production46
Nuclear Hydrogen Production
47
Multiple Technology Options
Commercial technology for almost a century
2H2O + electricity → 2H2 + O2
Efficiency: 66% LHV
Cell lifetime: 20 years
Capital costs are decreasing and efficiency is increasing
Alkaline Electrolysis
48
High-Temperature Electrolysis Cell (Courtesy of INL and Ceramatec)
Technology being developed 2 H2O + Electricity + Heat → 2H2 + O2
Solid oxide membrane Oxygen transport though membrane Operating temperature ~800°C Same technology as fuel cell
More efficient than electrolysis Cold Electrolysis: Electricity
Converts liquid water to gases Breaks chemical bonds
HTE: Electricity and Heat Heat converts water to gas (steam)
and weakens chemical bond Electricity breaks chemical bond
Efficiency dependent upon the temperature of delivered heat Potential to exceed 50% with high-
temperature reactors
High-Temperature Electrolysis (HTE)
Steam Electrolysis of Water
49
High-Temperature Electrolysis Cell (Courtesy of INL and Ceramatec)
2 H2O + Electricity + Heat →
2 H2 + O2 (Cell at 800°C)
LWR variant Steam at 200 to 300°C
Heat steam to cell temperatures Counter-flow of product H2 and O2
from electrolytic cell
Final temperature boost from
electrical inefficiencies
Estimated LWR efficiencies Electricity: 36%
Cold electrolysis: 25.7%
HTE: 33 to 34%
High-Temperature Electrolysis (HTE)
Using Light-Water Reactors
50
Thermochemical Cycles
2H2O + Heat → 2H2 + O2
Potential for better economics
Heat is cheaper than electricity
Potential to scale up to large equipment sizes
Many proposed cycles with different peak
temperatures from ~500°C to 1000°C
Significant potential for lower costs; but, much
R&D is required
51
Thermochemical Hydrogen Production
(Example [leading candidate]: Iodine–Sulfur Process)
I + SO2 2 2 + 2H OH SO 2 4
Heat
Oxygen Hydrogen
Water
800-1000 Co
2H O2
H2
2HI + H2 4SOH2 2 2O + SO + ½O
H2 2 + I
I2SO2
O2
2HI
H2 4SO HI
52
Nuclear Hydrogen May Determine
World Energy System Architecture
Today we have two parallel energy systems
Liquid and gaseous fuels
Electricity
Hydrogen may couple these energy systems
Can convert hydrogen to electricity and back (Successful
development of reasonable cost, efficient HTE/fuel cell)
Hydrogen is storable on a seasonal basis
In a low-carbon world, the electrical production system will
have low-cost off-season electricity that can be converted
to hydrogen—implies coupled fuels/electricity system
53
←High-Temperature
Electrolysis / Fuel Cell
Nuclear
Energy
↓
Off-Peak
Electricity
and Heat
→H2 / O2 Off-Peak →
Peak Electricity
↓
← H2 / O2 Peak
Electricity
RenewablesBio-Liquid
Fuels
↑
←
↓↑H2 / O2
↑→
Nuclear-Hydrogen-Renewable System
54
Hydrogen: An Intrinsically
Large-Scale Technology
There Is a Long-Term Natural Coupling of
Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Production
Electricity is Not an Intrinsically
Large-Scale Technology
55
Underground storage is the only cheap hydrogen storage technology—but only on a large scale
Centralized hydrogen storage favors centralized hydrogen production to avoid transport costs
Technology
Underground storage in multiple geologies
Used for natural gas (~400 existing facilities in U.S.)
Existing hydrogen storage technology
56
←Chevron Phillips↑Clemens Terminal-H2
160 x 1000 ft cylinder salt cavern
There is Only One Low-Cost Hydrogen
Storage Technology: Underground
Hydrogen Collection and Distribution
are Different than for Electricity
Electricity transport
Two-way systems with transformers
Efficient methods to change voltage
Hydrogen transport is similar to
natural gas
Hydrogen transmits one way: high to
low pressure
Large economics of scale associated
with hydrogen compression
H2 transport characteristics
favor centralized production,
storage, and transport
57
Hydrogen Production Favors
High-Capacity Centralized Systems
H2 properties create major problems in small systems H2 leakage (Surface area dependent) Inefficient H2 compression
Economics of Scale Electricity (Electrons):
Multiple production methods (wind, nuclear, coal, etc.)
Plant sizes vary by over 3 orders of magnitude
Electricity costs vary by a factor of 3 Not intrinsically a large-scale technology
Hydrogen (Atoms): Large economics of scale Chemical industry experience
58
Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant (Courtesy of TVA)
Economics have Driven the Largest Natural
Gas-to-Hydrogen Plant Outputs to Match
Three 1000-MW(e) Nuclear Power Plants
*Natural gas-to-H2 plant with total output from four trains of 15.6 • 106 m3/day 59
Nuclear Energy Characteristics
Match Hydrogen Production Needs
60
Natural Coupling of
Nuclear and Hydrogen
Production Technologies
Conclusions
We may soon see the greatest change in energy systems since the beginning of the industrial revolution with the transition to fossil fuels
The future is unknowable; but, nuclear hydrogen is on the short list of transformational energy technologies
Hydrogen is not a one-to-one substitute for fossil fuels Used where its chemical properties give it unique advantages
Deployment dependent upon development of both production and user technologies
Nuclear energy characteristics match hydrogen production, storage, and distribution characteristics
Nuclear hydrogen may become the enabling technology for the large-scale use of renewables Peak power backup for large-scale use of wind and solar
Biomass liquid fuels 61
Biography: Charles Forsberg
Dr. Charles Forsberg is the Executive Director
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Study. Before joining MIT,
he was a Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory. He is a Fellow of the
American Nuclear Society, a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of
Science, and recipient of the 2005 Robert E.
Wilson Award from the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers for outstanding chemical
engineering contributions to nuclear energy,
including his work in hydrogen production and
nuclear-renewable energy futures. He
received the American Nuclear Society special
award for innovative nuclear reactor design.
Dr. Forsberg earned his bachelor's degree in
chemical engineering from the University of
Minnesota and his doctorate in Nuclear
Engineering from MIT. He has been awarded
10 patents and has published over 200 papers.
62
References
1. C. W. Forsberg, “Sustainability by Combining Nuclear, Fossil, and Renewable Energy
Sources,” Progress in Nuclear Energy, 51, 192-200 (2009)
2. C. W. Forsberg, “Meeting U.S. Liquid Transport Fuel Needs with a Nuclear Hydrogen
Biomass System,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34 (9), 4227-4236, (May 2009)
3. C. Forsberg and M. Kazimi, “Nuclear Hydrogen Using High-Temperature Electrolysis and
Light-Water Reactors for Peak Electricity Production,” 4th Nuclear Energy Agency
Information Exchange Meeting on Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Oak Brook, Illinois,
April 10-16, 2009. http://mit.edu/canes/pdfs/nes-10.pdf
4. C. W. Forsberg, “Nuclear Energy for a Low-Carbon-Dioxide-Emission Transportation System
with Liquid Fuels,” Nuclear Technology, 164, December 2008.
5. C. W. Forsberg, “Use of High-Temperature Heat in Refineries, Underground Refining, and
Bio-Refineries for Liquid-Fuels Production,” HTR2008-58226, 4th International Topical
Meeting on High-Temperature Reactor Technology, American Society of Mechanical
Engineers; September 28-October 1, 2008;Washington D.C.
6. C. W. Forsberg, “Economics of Meeting Peak Electricity Demand Using Hydrogen and
Oxygen from Base-Load Nuclear or Off-Peak Electricity,” Nuclear Technology, 166, 18-26
April 2009.
63
Today’s Methods For Peak
Electricity Production
Requirement Hydro Fossil
Energy
Storage
Lake behind
dam
Oil tank or
natural gas
Electricity
Production
Hydro-turbine Gas turbine
Limitation Hydro sites
(water storage)
Climate
change
64
Carbon dioxide sequestration likely to be prohibitively expensive for
fossil peak power units that operate a few hours per day
CES is Developing a
Natural Gas–Oxygen Steam System
Enabling Technology for Oxy-Hydrogen Steam Cycle
Recycle Water
C.W.
Cond.
FuelProcessing
Plant
CrudeFuel
AirSeparation
Plant
Air
N2
Coal, RefineryResidues, or
Biomass
NG, Oil orLandfill Gas
HP IP LP
O2
Fuel*
CO2Recovery
* CH4, CO, H2, etc.
ExcessWater
EOR, ECBM, orSequestration
DirectSales
HX
ElectGen.
Multi-stageTurbines
Gas Generator
CO2
RH
Recycle Water
C.W.
Cond.
FuelProcessing
Plant
CrudeFuel
FuelProcessing
Plant
CrudeFuel
AirSeparation
Plant
Air
N2
AirSeparation
Plant
Air
N2
AirSeparation
Plant
Air
N2
Coal, RefineryResidues, or
Biomass
NG, Oil orLandfill Gas
HP IP LP
O2
Fuel*
CO2Recovery
CO2Recovery
* CH4, CO, H2, etc.
ExcessWater
EOR, ECBM, orSequestration
DirectSales
HX
ElectGen.
Multi-stageTurbines
Gas Generator
CO2
RH
Courtesy of Clean Energy Systems (CES) 65
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