Efficiency analysis of a hybrid copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) cycle for nuclear-based hydrogen production

The role of the Cu–Cl cycle for thermochemical water decomposition, potentially driven by heat from a nuclear power generation station, in producing hydrogen in a sustainable way is investigated by examining efficiencies. The energy efficiency of the cycle is found to be 45% and the exergy efficiency 10%. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the cycle are observed to vary with temperatures of the reactions and reference-environment, and cycle heat losses. A parametric study is carried out considering several heat losses, reaction and reference-environment temperatures, and component-efficiency scenarios.