Geothermal‐based hydrogen production using thermochemical and hybrid cycles: A review and analysis

Geothermal‐based hydrogen production, which basically uses geothermal energy for hydrogen production, appears to be an environmentally conscious and sustainable option for the countries with abundant geothermal energy resources. In this study, four potential methods are identified and proposed for geothermal‐based hydrogen production, namely: (i) direct production of hydrogen from the geothermal steam, (ii) through conventional water electrolysis using the electricity generated through geothermal power plant, (iii) by using both geothermal heat and electricity for high temperature steam electrolysis and/or hybrid processes, and (iv) by using the heat available from geothermal resource in thermochemical processes. Nowadays, most researches are focused on high‐temperature electrolysis and thermochemical processes. Here we essentially discuss some potential low‐temperature thermochemical and hybrid cycles for geothermal‐based hydrogen production, due to their wider practicality, and examine them as a sustainable option for hydrogen production using geothermal heat. We also assess their thermodynamic performance through energy and exergy efficiencies. The results show that these cycles have good potential and attractive overall system efficiencies over 50% based on a complete reaction approach. The copper‐chlorine cycle is identified as a highly promising cycle for geothermal‐hydrogen production. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[1]  Haruki Tsuchiya,et al.  Innovative renewable energy solutions for hydrogen vehicles , 2008, Renewable Energy.

[2]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  A review on solar-hydrogen/fuel cell hybrid energy systems for stationary applications , 2009 .

[3]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Performance investigation of high-temperature heat pumps with various BZT working fluids , 2009 .

[4]  G. Naterer,et al.  Recent Advances in Nuclear Based Hydrogen Production With the Thermochemical Copper-Chlorine Cycle , 2009 .

[5]  Michele A. Lewis,et al.  Evaluation of alternative thermochemical cycles - Part I the methodology. , 2009 .

[6]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  The oxygen production step of a copper–chlorine thermochemical water decomposition cycle for hydrogen production: Energy and exergy analyses , 2009 .

[7]  Marc A. Rosen,et al.  Exergy analysis of hydrogen production by thermochemical water decomposition using the Ispra Mark-10 Cycle , 2008 .

[8]  Greg F. Naterer,et al.  Synergistic roles of off-peak electrolysis and thermochemical production of hydrogen from nuclear energy in Canada , 2008 .

[9]  G. Naterer,et al.  Cost analysis of a thermochemical Cu–Cl pilot plant for nuclear-based hydrogen production , 2008 .

[10]  I. Dincer,et al.  Energy and exergy assessments of the hydrogen production step of a copper–chlorine thermochemical water splitting cycle driven by nuclear-based heat , 2008 .

[11]  T. Nejat Veziroglu,et al.  21st Century's Energy: Hydrogen Energy System , 2008 .

[12]  B. Kroposki,et al.  Renewable hydrogen production , 2008 .

[13]  I. Dincer,et al.  A review on macro‐level modeling of planar solid oxide fuel cells , 2008 .

[14]  S. Makino,et al.  Hydrogen Production by High Temperature Electrolysis with Nuclear Reactor , 2008 .

[15]  Liu Mingyi,et al.  Thermodynamic analysis of the efficiency of high-temperature steam electrolysis system for hydrogen production , 2008 .

[16]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Thermodynamic Analysis of the Use a Chemical Heat Pump to Link a Supercritical Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactor and a Thermochemical Water-Splitting Cycle for Hydrogen Production , 2008 .

[17]  Mario Alves.  HYDROGEN ENERGY: TERCEIRA ISLAND DEMONSTRATION FACILITY , 2008 .

[18]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Geothermal energy use in hydrogen liquefaction , 2007 .

[19]  C. Mansilla,et al.  Can high temperature steam electrolysis function with geothermal heat , 2007 .

[20]  André Bontemps,et al.  Heat management for hydrogen production by high temperature steam electrolysis , 2007 .

[21]  T. Veziroglu,et al.  THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTROOXIDATION OF SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE ON VARIOUS METAL ELECTRODES IN AQUEOUS BASIC SOLUTIONS , 2007, Alternative Energy and Ecology (ISJAEE).

[22]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Environmental and sustainability aspects of hydrogen and fuel cell systems , 2007 .

[23]  B. Yildiz,et al.  US work on technical and economic aspects of electrolytic, thermochemical, and hybrid processes for hydrogen production at temperatures below 550°C , 2006 .

[24]  Maria H. Maack,et al.  Implementing the hydrogen economy , 2006 .

[25]  Mujid S. Kazimi,et al.  Efficiency of hydrogen production systems using alternative nuclear energy technologies , 2006 .

[26]  A. Bontemps,et al.  Heat transfer problems for the production of hydrogen from geothermal energy , 2006 .

[27]  A. Steinfeld.  Solar thermochemical production of hydrogen--a review , 2005 .

[28]  M. Simpson,et al.  A hybrid thermochemical-electrolytic process for hydrogen production based on the Reverse Deacon Reaction. , 2006 .

[29]  Mildred Dresselhaus,et al.  Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy , 2004 .

[30]  Charles W. Forsberg,et al.  Hydrogen, nuclear energy, and the advanced high-temperature reactor , 2003 .

[31]  Sanford Gordon,et al.  NASA Glenn Coefficients for Calculating Thermodynamic Properties of Individual Species , 2002 .

[32]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Technical, environmental and exergetic aspects of hydrogen energy systems , 2002 .

[33]  Edward A. Fletcher,et al.  Solarthermal Processing: A Review , 2001 .

[34]  J. Funk.  Thermochemical hydrogen production: past and present , 2001 .

[35]  Marc A. Rosen,et al.  Comparative efficiency assessments for a range of hydrogen production processes , 1998 .

[36]  M. Rosen.  Energy and exergy analyses of electrolytic hydrogen production , 1995 .

[37]  Bragi Árnason,et al.  New concepts in hydrogen production in Iceland , 1993 .

[38]  M. Rosen,et al.  Exergy analysis of hydrogen production from heat and water by electrolysis , 1992 .

[39]  S. Yalçin,et al.  A review of nuclear hydrogen production , 1989 .

[40]  E. Costogue,et al.  Performance data for a terrestrial solar photovoltaic/water electrolysis experiment , 1977 .

[41]  M. Eisenstadt,et al.  Hydrogen production from solar energy , 1975 .

[42]  Bernard M. Abraham,et al.  A Low-Temperature Thermal Process for the Decomposition of Water , 1973, Science.