Nuclear Hydrogen Production in Saudi Arabia: Future and Opportunities

Transcription

1 Nuclear Hydrogen Production in Saudi Arabia: Future and Opportunities Abdullah A. AlZahrani University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Canada. Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. July 3,

2 Presentation Outline Introduction (-An Overview -Electricity -Desalination -Hydrogen) Hydrogen Production (-Worldwide -Saudi Arabia) Saudi Nuclear Program Nuclear Hydrogen Production Electrolysis Technologies (A Case Study on SMART-Powered Electrolyzers) Cost of Electrolysis Hydrogen Conclusions 2

3 Introduction: An Overview Population (M) 31.7 Population growth rate (%) 2.54 Land area (sq km) 2,150,000 Population density 15 (inhabitants/sq km) GDP per capita ($) 19,902 Climate arid & hot Crude oil reserve (M barrels) 266,455 Crude oil production (M barrel/day) ,6 Crude oil export (M barrel/day) 7.463,4 Oil demand (M barrel/day) 3.209,8 Source: General Authority for Statistics ( ) 3

4 Introduction: Electricity Electricity generation capacity is 55,718 MW with as maximum load of 60,828 MW. The desalination cogeneration plants produce 36,800,705 MWh The two largest uses of power are desalination and residential cooling. Million (MW) Industrial Consumption Total Consumption Total Generation 4

5 Introduction: Desalination The desalinated water demand is expected to double in the next 10 years. Nuclear plants are well-known as the best long-term base load sources. Economically, It is more profitable to sell oil and gas and utilize alternative resources such as nuclear for water desalination. Environmentally, nuclear option is expected to significantly reduce CO 2 emission. Million cubic meters Million (MWH) Total Production of Desalinated Water Electricity Generated by Desalination Plants (MWH) 5

6 Introduction: Hydrogen Hydrogen Production by Source 4% Currently, the global annul hydrogen capacity is about 0.1 GT. Most of this hydrogen is consumed on-site for 30% 18% 48% Natural Gas Oil and Naphtha Coal Electrolysis refineries, ammonia and metal production. Hydrogen demand is increasing at annual rate of Hydrogen Consumption by Process 4-8% due to the increasing regulations on fuel upgrading (desulfurization units) and the diverse 7% 20% 20% 53% Ammonia Refinaries Methanol industries. Others Data source: Idriss, H., M. Scott, and V. Subramani, 1 - Introduction to hydrogen and its properties, in Compendium of Hydrogen Energy. 2015, Woodhead Publishing: Oxford. p

7 Hydrogen in Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, significant amount of hydrogen is being produced to support crude oil refineries in addition to many metal and petrochemical industries. For example, in 2014 Air Liquide started production at its $392 million hydrogen site in Yanbu that has a capacity of 340,000 Nm 3 /h to support the processing of 400,000 b/d of heavy crude oil in Yasref refinery. SMR and Gasification operate mostly without CCS and produce significant amount CO 2, i.e. for each kg of H 2 about 5.5 kg of CO 2 is released. 7

8 Nuclear Hydrogen Production To meet the hydrogen demand while maintaining the low CO 2 emissions. Nuclear can power electrolysis and thermochemical to produce hydrogen. Electrolysis Hydrogen high purity grade meets high-tech application. Hydrogen as long-term storage especially for surplus electricity. Hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel for fuel cell transportation. 8

9 Saudi Nuclear Program Saudi Arabia plans to construct 16 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years to produce 17 GWe of nuclear electricity by 2040 at a total cost of $80 billion. In 2010 a royal decree stated: The development of atomic energy is essential to meet the Kingdom's growing requirements for energy to generate electricity, produce desalinated water and reduce reliance on depleting hydrocarbon resources." The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) was formed. 9

10 Saudi Nuclear Program In 2015, K.A.CARE signed contracts with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to support their cooperation in developing KAERI s SMART reactors. In 2017, K.A.CARE singed an agreement with China to jointly investigate the feasibility of constructing High Temperature Gascooled Reactors (HTGRs) in Saudi Arabia. 10

11 SMART Reactor Full name Reactor type Coolant Moderator Neutron spectrum Thermal capacity Electrical capacity Power output, net Steam Tem./Press. System-Integrated Modular Advanced Reactor Integral Type Reactor Light Water Light water Thermal Neutrons MW MW MW Plant efficiency 30.3 % Designers Plant design life 298 ºC/5.2 MPa KAERI 60 Years Source: Keun Bae Park, SMART An Early Deployable Integral Reactor for Multi-purpose Applications. INPRO Dialogue Forum on Nuclear Energy Innovations10-14 October 2011, Vienna, Austria 11

12 Electrolysis Technologies Electrolyzer is an electrochemical device Alkaline electrolyzer H 2 - Cathode e - e - Electrolyte OH - + Anode O 2 uses electricity to split water to hydrogen and oxygen. The three types of electrolyzers are: Alkaline, PEM and Solid Oxide. Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer Solid oxide electrolyzer H 2 H 2 H 2 O H + O 2- O 2 H 2 O O 2 Technology Alkaline Alkaline Advanced PEM SOE large-scale high-pressure Alkaline Status Commercial Commercial Pre-commercial Pre-commercial Prototype T ( ) P (bar) 1 25 Up to 690 Up to 120 Up to 400 Up to 30 kwh/kgh

13 Commercial Alkaline Electrolyzers A detailed specification of alkaline electrolyzers produced by Nel Hydrogen. Capacity A-150 A-300 A-485 Capacity range per unit Nm 3 H 2 /h Nm 3 H 2 /h Nm 3 H 2 /h Production capacity dynamic range % of nominal flow rate DC power consumption kwh/nm 3 H % of nominal flow rate kwh/nm 3 H % of nominal flow rate kwh/nm 3 H 2 purity 99.9% ± % ± % ± 0.1 O 2 purity 99.5% ± % ± % ± 0.2 H 2 outlet pressure after electrolyzer mm WG mm WG mm WG H 2 outlet pressure after compressor Max 250 barg Max 250 barg Max 250 barg Operating temperature 80 C 80 C 80 C Electrolyte 25% KOH aqueous solution 25% KOH aqueous solution H 2 25% KOH aqueous solution Feed water consumption 0.9 litre / Nm 3 H litre / Nm 3 H litre / Nm 3 H 2 Data and Photos: 13

14 Commercial PEM Electrolyzers Specifications of PEM electrolyzers provided by Proton Onsite 1 Model G200 G400 G600 G66-HP Flow rate (cc/min) Purity % % % % Output pressure 3 to 8 barg 1 Data and Photos: Type and specifications of PEM electrolyzers manufactured by Giner Inc. 2 Model G5 Merrimack Allagach Kennebec H 2 production (Nm 3 h -1 ) ,000 m 3 h -1 Power consumption (kw) ,000 5,000 H 2 maximum pressure (bar) n/a Operating temperature ( ) n/a External dimensions (cm 2 ) n/a 2 Data and Photos: 14

15 Case Study: SMART-Powered Electrolyzer SMART can be to produce hydrogen through electrolyzer and desalination integration. SMART PWR Steam Cycle 90 MWe H 2 Storage H 2 Electrolyzer Unit End User O 2 MED-TVC Unit Sea Water Return Brine Desalinated Water 40,000 t/day End User 15

16 Case Study: SMART-Powered Electrolyzer Considering the plant s thermal power and net electricity output, the energetic and exergetic efficiencies of hydrogen production can be defined as ηη eeee = mm HH 2 LLLLLL EE iiii (MMMM tth ) ηη eeee = mm HH 2 eexxcccc HH2 EExx iiii LLLLLL = MMMM/kkkk eexx CCCC HH2 = MMMM/kkkk EE iiii = 330 MMMM EExx iiii = MMMM Electrolyzer mmmmmm (kkkk/hh) mmmmmm (kkkk/hh) mm HH22 EE oooooo (MMMM) EExx oooooo MMMM kkkk/ss Alkaline large-scale % 35% Alkaline high-pressure % 32.3% Advanced Alkaline % 41.6% PEM % 38.9% SOE *33% *57.2% ηη eeee ηη eeee 16

17 Cost of Electrolysis Hydrogen SMR is considered a benchmarking technology achieves $2.5/kg H 2 without CCS 1. Electrolyzers, the cost of hydrogen is considerably dependent on the cost of electricity used in addition to the capital cost. The current state-of-the-art low-temperature electrolyzers (Alkaline and PEM) are achieving hydrogen production costs of $ $3.32/kg H 2. These rates are based on average electricity costs of $ /kWh 2. Distribution of Electrolysis Hydrogen Cost 77% 17% 5% 1% Capital Cost O&M Others Electricity 1 Manage et al. A techno-economic appraisal of hydrogen generation and the case for solid oxide electrolyser cells. int. j of hydrogen energy. 2011;36(10): Genovese et al. Current (2009) state of the art hydrogen production cost estimate using water electrolysis. NREL/BK-6A

18 Cost of Electrolysis Hydrogen In the case of high temperature solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE), High Temperature Gascooled Water Reactor (HTGR) integrated with SOE and the product hydrogen cost was an average of $3.23/kg H 2 1. It was estimated that hydrogen compression, storage and handling cost an additional $1.88 /kg H 2. According to KAERI 2 the Levelized Generation Cost (2007) is ~ 6.1 /kwh. This would reflect an approximate hydrogen production cost of less than $2.50/kg H 2 (2017). 1 Harvego et al. Economic Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor Powered High-Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plant. ASME nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability. 2 Keun Bae Park, SMART An Early Deployable Integral Reactor for Multi-purpose Applications. INPRO Dialogue Forum on Nuclear Energy Innovations10-14 October 2011, Vienna, Austria. 18

19 Conclusion Nuclear-powered electrolyzers are very promising technologies that can replace current hydrocarbon-based methods. Hydrogen production can be utilized as clean energy storage. Overall plant s hydrogen production efficiency of over 20% is achievable, in addition to water desalination process. It is expected that nuclear electrolyzers will near-future be able to produce hydrogen at a cost of less than $2.5/kg H 2. 19

20 Thank you Questions 20