Nuclear Hydrogen Production: Re-Examining the Fusion Option

Transcription

1 Nuclear Hydrogen Production: Re-Examining the Fusion Option May 30th, 2007 Canadian Hydrogen Association Workshop on Hydrogen Production from Non-Fossil Sources 1

2 Outline of Presentation Part I: Introduction Part II: Fusion Part III:NHP by Fusion Part IV: Policy, R&D, Techno-Economic Issues Part V: Conclusions 2

3 NHP by Fusion?? The Very Idea! Use nuclear energy of Fuel (Hydrogen plasma) Create molecular Hydrogen From Carbon-free Hydrogen-rich rich compounds Store and Use Electro-chemically chemically (Fuel Cell) or chemically (H2 ICE) So, the fuel is also the product!! Is that all? 3

4 NHP by Fusion?? The Very Idea! The nuclear fuel needed (rare isotope, 1 T 3 ) is bred by the process Can also breed other nuclear fuels (U, Th, Pu) Transmute long-lived lived radioactive wastes Is that really all? No, you can also boil water with it! Why isn t t it here yesterday?? Well, it was here, 15 billion years ago, for about 400 seconds. Sorry you missed it?! 4

5 NHP by Fusion?? The Very Idea! So is it worth trying to do again? You Betcha! But is it going to happen in my lifetime? Not if we don t t give it a really good, no, our very best shot! 5

6 Goals of This Presentation NHP by Fusion Re-examine examine idea For NHP, Fusion came first. Look Ahead & Look Around Assess Fusion/NHP as it may apply to Canada Outline Policy Issues Fusion/NHP: Technological Commercial Socio-economic Canadian Context 6

7 Part I Introduction 7

8 Introduction Hydrogen Economy only makes sense If Hydrogen produced with no greenhouse gas emissions (Climate Change) Non-fossil energy options : Nuclear fission Solar Renewables: : Wind, Hydro, Tidal, Geothermal Clean coal & gas Need Hydrogen + CCS Fusion fusion is nuclear hydrogen energy All fossil and non-fossil energy derives from solar. And solar energy derives from Fusion! 8

9 Introduction (Cont d) Some History Considerable Fusion R&D 1970s and 80s: Hydrogen Economy significant focus Thermochemical Hydrogen Production First proposed General Atomics Analyzed several dozen chemical cycles Future Fusion reactor proposed as source of heat As commercial fusion receded, suggested: High Temperature Fission Reactor (HTGR) 9

10 Part II Fusion 10

11 Two Main Directions Fusion Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Inertial Fusion Energy Fast implosion D-T fuel capsules. 200 Gbar pressure created. Several ~ 350 MJ bursts of energy per second. 11

12 Fusion (Cont d) Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Magnetic pressure (100 s atm) confine lowdensity plasma. In toroidal magnetic bottle for ~ 10 km; 100 s of collisions per event. Fusion power density (~10 MW/m 3 ) 12

13 Other Contenders Fusion (Cont (Cont d) Possible Technologies Magnetized Target Fusion (Canadian company, General Fusion in Vancouver) acoustic pressure + magnetic containment Muon-catalyzed Fusion (TRIUMF, Vancouver) Sonoluminescence (light + sound pressure) Bubble Fusion Cold Fusion Still others 13

14 Fusion (Cont d) International Developments ITER got going US, China, Russia, India joined Administrative, IP-related, Cost-sharing sharing sorted out. US, UK, EU, Russia, Japan, Korea, China, India: each pursuing National Fusion Programs. Fusion emerging as likely (possible) component of Nuclear Technology Mix ~ Canada now only G-8 G 8 nation without a National Fusion Program 14

15 Fusion (Cont d) Canada and Fusion: Complicated History Bid for ITER in Clarington Canadian National Fusion Program, admin by AECL. Cancelled 1997; Varennes Tokamak shut down. Canada Big Picture strategy Energy Superpower Fusion Science is free,, but ITER technology is IP of participants. This may represent significant upside risk to Canada. 15

16 Fusion (Cont d) Layout of a D-T D T (Li) Magnetic Fusion Plant 16

17 Schematic of a Fusion Power Plant: Studied by EFDA NHP Courtesy: European Fusion Development Agreement 17

18 Fusion (Cont d) IFE System Layout 18

19 Fusion (Cont d) ITER Design Parameters 19

20 Fusion (Cont d) Commercialization Strategy Llewellyn Smith,

21 Fusion (Cont d) Planned Fusion Commercialization Timeline 21

22 Part III NHP by Fusion 22

23 NHP by Fusion Why Fusion for Hydrogen? Other than big picture molecular H 2 from nuclear 1 H (proton) Fusion Neutrons more energetic: Higher temperature may be more easily reached Enables all the NHP processes fission does (if commercialized) Perhaps, maybe,, intrinsically more safe but Gen-IV might be as safe (?) 23

24 NHP by Fusion Fusion Electricity => Electrolysis Fusion Electricity + Fusion Heat Nuclear SMR, HTE, Thermochemical Efficiencies ~ 50% temperature dependent Technologies for NHP both with MFE and IFE Also: Fusion-unique unique processes for NHP studied And Hydrogen-only only schemes for Fusion 24

25 NHP by Fusion Fusion- Unique Unique Hydrogen Production Technologies Radiolysis Extremely energetic neutrons break chemical bonds in H 2 O,, releasing H 2. E.g., H 2 O H 2 + ½ O 2 ; Issues: Recombination, competing reactions. Also occurs in Nuclear Fission reactors, a problem Thermal Spike Chemistry Neutrons create transient high temperature zones, enabling non-equilibrium chemistry catalysis effect Problems: low yields, instability, tritium contamination, neutron activation some of these also possible with fission. 25

26 NHP by Fusion: Hydrogen Only Fusion Island (Nuttall, Glowacki,, Clarke 2005 Culham,, Cambridge UK) Courtesy: Prof. Bill Nuttall, Cambridge University 26

27 Fusion Island: NHP by Fusion Fusion Island The Concept About producing only Hydrogen, not Electricity (Nuttall, Glowacki, Clarke, 2005) Hydrogen proposed to be made thermochemically from Fusion Heat 100 MWe on-site H 2 Gas Turbine generator (for reactor restart, safety and cryogenic plant operation). 27

28 NHP by Fusion Fusion Island The Concept Hydrogen proposed as The Product Shipped ( frozen H 2 ) The Coolant in the Reactor (liquid H 2 ) The Fuel in the Reactor (D-T Plasma) The Fuel Bred in the Blanket (T) The Fuel for Gas Turbine cryogenic plant (H 2 gas) Hydrogen Everything All 4 states of matter All major isotopes A True Hydrogen Economy 28

29 Fusion Island Strategic Vision Hydrogen is proposed as: The Future Product of Current Oil Industry In Canada, Oil Industry a Current (and Growing) Heavy User of Hydrogen Hoped-for co-investor in Fusion R&D Coupling to on-site desalination or ammonia manufacture also envisaged Aside: Russia builds 6 Floating Nuclear Fission Plants this decade shipyards, submarines, captives, off-grid 29

30 NHP by Fusion Fusion Island In Canada? Hydrogen-Only by Fusion Production Imagine H2E in Canada years out. Impacts: Oil, Nuclear, Hydrogen, Auto, Heavy Engg Great Lakes region and/or Quebec and /or BC-Alberta. Great Lakes: Strong Auto Sector BC and Quebec: Strong H 2 E Base Alberta Current User of Hydrogen Future Producer? Island location not critical to concept Hydrogen for Canadian Consumption and Export: Made in Canada manufactured fuel may substitute Oil and Natural Gas exports today. 30

31 Part IV Policy Issues 31

32 Commercializing Fusion Policy Issues Conception and Vision Many see: Organizational, not technical challenge. Fusion Technology Commercialization Vision: Develop, Deploy, Export like CANDU EFDA studied 4 Fusion Reactor Concepts, costing both Hydrogen and Electricity comparable with other sources But will assumptions be valid in Canada? Some technical problems in Fusion common with Generation IV fission reactors Materials issues (high temperature & radiation-strength, Helium) Coolant ( thermal( blanket ) ) for fusion reactors Supercritical CO 2 already being studied at AECL for SCWR. 32

33 Schematic of a Fusion Power Plant NHP Courtesy: European Fusion Development Agreement 33

34 Commercial: Policy Issues Commercial: Fusion Plant Economics Scale: Is Fusion better for Hydrogen or Power? Larger more stable plasma, more energy Typical commercial plant size 3000 MWth ITER 500 MWth DEMO 3000 MWth 1GWe (?) Fusion Power may be difficult to bring into Grid A 1GWe Power Plant with possible instability. So H 2 production Fusion plants also proposed. 34

35 Policy Issues R&D Issues Common: Gen-IV and Fusion Reactors Reactor Physics Especially epithermal fast neutronics Insights from Fission R&D may benefit Fusion R&D Insights from Fusion R&D may benefit both Gen-IV and Gen-V V Fission. Fusion-Fission Fission Hybrids Power conversion technologies ( thermal( hydraulics ) Fusion coolant ( blanket( blanket ) ) possibilities vs Cladding Water-cooled Lithium-Lead Lead Helium-Pebble Bed (European Fission Development Agreement). Hydrogen and Helium Embrittlement,, Tritium Contamination etc. Many others. This type of commonality enables elements of Fusion Reactor R&D Program to piggy-back on Gen- IV. Synergy and Complementarity 35

36 Fusion and its Ramifications Physicists in Wonderland Commercializing Fusion needs Can-Do Culture instead 36

37 Technical: Policy Issues Technical: Fission Fusion Synergies Future: Complements, not Competitors CANDU fission reactors may supply tritium for ITER, could have continuing role Fusion plants could breed fission fuel; transmute actinides Fission-Fusion Fusion Hybrids Generation V Fission reactors could include Non-classical Reactor Concepts Gas cores, magnetic containment, MHD: higher efficiency, burn-up up Fusion R&D could benefit Fission later and vice-versa versa 37

38 Toward A Possible Strategy for Canada Costs and Options Commercial MFE Fusion: Both Reactors and R&D may require large investments. May also be true of IFE. Lower cost options leveraging existing technical capabilities also proposed (e.g. General Fusion) Oil companies long-term strategic interest to invest. Government may have enabling role. ITER and/or IFE cost-sharing sharing with existing strong player: EU, US or Japan also possible. 38

39 Policy Issues Toward a Possible Canadian Fusion Strategy Pressure building for DEMO plant without waiting for ITER A sustained, committed effort will be necessary for Fusion to become commercial as well. Can-do,, like CANDU, less Physics. Fusion is Next Generation Nuclear, and NHP is Next Generation Oil NHP by Fusion marries the two. Curiosity-driven science can be a start, but dedicated, mission-driven laboratory similar to and/or expanding Chalk River Labs more likely to yield results. UK announced a new National Nuclear Laboratory late 2006, ground has been broken already. 39

40 Part V Conclusions 40

41 Conclusions Although contrary views also exist, significant consensus commercial fusion mid-century or sooner. (Contrary views: no, not now, not ever) EU, UK, Japan, US seriously exploring MFE, IFE and NHP with both, as components of Energy R&D portfolio As only G-8 G 8 country today without a National Fusion Program, Canada runs upside risk of losing out on key developments. 41

42 Conclusions Commercial Fusion: Place in Canadian Energy technology suite Possible advantages in NHP Public and regulatory acceptance Hydrogen yield, Energy efficiency, Process flexibility. Decision to commit to Fusion R&D Program: Opportunity cost versus Upside Risk NHP by Fusion Could be future of Oil and Nuclear Other stakeholders: Auto, Hydrogen, Public Fusion = Hydrogen + Nuclear! 42