TEST OF ONE-LOOP FLOW SCHEME FOR THE UT-3 THERMOCHEMICAL HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION PROCESS

Reactivity of Ca compounds in the UT-3 thermochemical hydrogen production process has been improved by introducing the alkoxide method. Also, the gas flow process in the UT-3 process has been improved to a one-loop flow scheme. In the one-loop flow scheme, it was found that during the bromination of CaO in the presence of steam, the reactivity can be well maintained above 863 K. Dependence of concentration of both gas reactant and solid reactant on the reaction rate of bromination of CaO above 863 K was measured and the rate equations were obtained for two temperature ranges, i.e. from 863 to 883 K and from 883 to 923 K. A bench-scale hydrogen production plant was operated continuously using the new flow scheme, and hydrogen was produced smoothly during the operation of 11 cycles.