Research and development on nuclear hydrogen production using HTGR at JAERI

JAERI has been conducting R&D on HTGR and on hydrogen production using HTGR. The reactor technology has been developed using HTTR installed at Oarai site of JAERI. HTTR reached its full power operation of 30MW in 2001 and demonstrated reactor outlet helium temperature of 950°C in April 2004. As for the hydrogen production technology, the thermo-chemical IS process is under study. The process control method for continuous hydrogen production has been examined using a bench-scale apparatus. Also, studies are underway on process improvement and on materials of construction to be used in the corrosive environment. As for the system integration of HTGR and the hydrogen production plant, R&D is underway aiming to develop technologies for safe and economical connection. It covers safety technology against explosion, safety technology against radioactive materials release, control technology to prevent the thermal disturbance from hydrogen production plant to reactor, etc.