System for producing hydrogen while interworking with nuclear power plant

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for producing hydrogen while interworking with a nuclear power plant, the system comprising: a water electrolysis facility for producing hydrogen and oxygen by using vapor supplied from a nuclear power plant; and a power supply controller for selecting at least one reactor module from multiple reactor modules for hydrogen production by the water electrolysis facility, and selecting at least one from multiple generators or power grids such that power is supplied therefrom to the water electrolysis facility. According to an embodiment, power and hydrogen can be simultaneously produced. Particularly, hydrogen can be produced continuously in an economical and effective manner by selecting an optimal reactor module from multiple reactor modules for hydrogen production and by selecting an optimal power supply source from various power sources.

Description

Hydrogen production system linked to nuclear power plants

[0001] The present invention relates to a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system, which can produce electricity and hydrogen simultaneously, and in particular, to a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system which can continuously produce hydrogen economically and effectively by selecting an optimal reactor module from among a plurality of reactors and steam generators (hereinafter referred to as reactor modules) for hydrogen production and selecting an optimal power supply source from among various power sources.

[0002] In general, in the rapidly changing international energy environment, such as resource depletion, the enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol, and the surge in oil prices, the relative economic feasibility of new and renewable energy is becoming more advantageous, and the energy market based on new energy technologies such as hydrogen, fuel cells, and solar cells is expected to rapidly emerge as a huge industry that surpasses IT and BT. Accordingly, we have entered a global development competition system for the future new energy industry, and we need to prepare nationally to take the lead in the global market.

[0003] As the proportion of renewable energy has recently increased, the role of nuclear power plants is expanding beyond their role as baseload for national power generation to include hydrogen production for multi-purpose use in conjunction with renewable energy. This not only improves power facility utilization and energy efficiency, but also has the effect of contributing to the supply of hydrogen energy.

[0004] Meanwhile, since steam and electricity produced at nuclear power plants were used directly in connected water electrolysis facilities, continuous hydrogen production was impossible in the event of operational problems at the nuclear power plant.

[0005] Additionally, the hydrogen and oxygen produced in conventional electrolysis facilities had the problem of being simply stored and not being able to be used as a power source.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant that can continuously produce hydrogen regardless of operational issues at the nuclear power plant and that can store and effectively utilize the produced hydrogen and oxygen.

[0007]

[0008] The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to improve the conventional problems, and to provide a hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant that can produce electricity and hydrogen simultaneously, and in particular, can continuously produce hydrogen economically and effectively by selecting an optimal reactor module from a plurality of reactor modules for hydrogen production and an optimal power supply source from various power sources.

[0009] In addition, the technical task to be achieved by the present invention is to improve the conventional problems, and to provide a hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant, in which hydrogen and oxygen produced through a water electrolysis facility are stored in a separate storage tank and can be basically supplied to a place that requires it, and also stored as energy through a fuel cell when necessary.

[0010] The hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant according to the features of the present invention to solve these problems is as follows:

[0011] As a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system that produces hydrogen using a nuclear power plant and water electrolysis facilities,

[0012] A nuclear power plant having multiple reactor modules, turbines and generators;

[0013] A water electrolysis facility that produces hydrogen and oxygen using steam supplied from the above nuclear power plant;

[0014] A steam selection controller that comprehensively considers the steam demand of the electrolysis facility, the operating status of the reactor module, and the impact on the nuclear power plant due to the steam supply to select the optimal steam supply source among the plurality of reactor modules to supply steam to the electrolysis facility;

[0015] A power selection controller that comprehensively considers the power demand of the electrolysis facility, the operation status of the generator, the energy storage capacity of the power grid and the fuel cell, etc., and selects an optimal power supply source that can supply power from at least one of the plurality of generators, the power grid, or the fuel cell to supply power to the electrolysis facility;

[0016] A fuel cell that can produce and store energy by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the above electrolysis facility;

[0017] It includes a power supply controller that can supply or distribute power to a nuclear power plant, a water electrolysis facility, and a power grid as needed using the energy stored in the fuel cell.

[0018] A hydrogen storage tank for storing hydrogen produced in the above electrolysis facility;

[0019] It further includes an oxygen storage tank for storing oxygen produced in the above electrolysis facility.

[0020] The above nuclear power plants include light water reactors, SMRs, molten salt reactors and high temperature gas reactors.

[0021]

[0022] According to one embodiment, a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system can be provided that can produce electricity and hydrogen simultaneously, and that can continuously produce hydrogen economically and effectively by selecting an optimal reactor module from a plurality of reactor modules for hydrogen production and an optimal power supply source from various power sources.

[0023] In addition, according to one embodiment, hydrogen and oxygen produced through a water electrolysis facility are stored in separate storage tanks and can be supplied to a primary use site, and when necessary, they can be stored as energy through a fuel cell, thereby providing a hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant.

[0024]

[0025] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIGS. 2 to 4 are drawings showing a steam selection controller, a power selection controller, and a power supply controller of a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027]

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. The present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0029] Additionally, throughout the specification, whenever a part is said to "include" a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0030] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0032] A nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system that produces hydrogen using a nuclear power plant (100) and a water electrolysis facility (330).

[0033] A nuclear power plant (100) having multiple reactor modules, turbines and generators;

[0034] A water electrolysis facility (330) that produces hydrogen and oxygen using steam supplied from the above nuclear power plant (100);

[0035] A steam selection controller (310) that comprehensively considers the steam demand of the electrolysis facility, the operating status of the reactor module, and the impact on the nuclear power plant due to the steam supply to supply steam to the electrolysis facility (330) and selects the optimal steam supply source among the plurality of reactor modules;

[0036] A power selection controller (320) that comprehensively considers the power demand of the electrolysis facility, the operating status of the generator, the energy storage capacity of the power grid and the fuel cell, etc. to supply power to the electrolysis facility (330) and selects an optimal power supply source that can supply power from at least one of the plurality of generators, the power grid or the fuel cell;

[0037] A fuel cell (360) that produces and stores energy by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the above electrolysis facility (330);

[0038] It includes a power supply controller (370) that can supply or distribute power to a nuclear power plant, a water electrolysis facility, and a power grid as needed using the energy stored in the fuel cell (360).

[0039] A hydrogen storage tank (340) for storing hydrogen produced in the above electrolysis facility (330);

[0040] It further includes an oxygen storage tank (350) for storing oxygen produced in the above electrolysis facility (330).

[0041] A nuclear power plant (100) is composed of multiple reactor modules, turbines, and generators, and some of the steam produced in each reactor module can be transferred to a turbine for power generation and some can be transferred to a water electrolysis facility (330) for hydrogen production.

[0042] The electrolysis facility (330) can produce hydrogen by receiving steam and electricity from a nuclear power plant (100), and can also receive electricity from a power grid or fuel cell (360) when necessary.

[0043] The steam selection controller (310) comprehensively considers the steam demand of the electrolysis facility (330), the operating status of the reactor module, and the impact on the nuclear power plant due to the steam supply, and selects the optimal steam supply source capable of supplying steam from among the plurality of reactor modules to supply steam to the electrolysis facility (330).

[0044] The power selection controller (320) comprehensively considers the power demand of the electrolysis facility (330), the operating status of the generator, the energy storage capacity of the power grid and the fuel cell (360), etc., and selects the optimal power supply source that can supply power among the plurality of generators, the power grid, or the fuel cell, and supplies power to the electrolysis facility (330).

[0045] The fuel cell (360) can store energy by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the electrolysis facility (330), and can supply or distribute power to a nuclear power plant (100), a power utilization site, and the electrolysis facility (330) using the stored energy when necessary under the control of the power supply controller (370).

[0046]

[0047] *The power supply controller (370) can control the power supply or distribution to a nuclear power plant (100), a water electrolysis facility (330), or other power utilization sites as needed by comprehensively considering the energy storage capacity of the fuel cell (360), the status of the nuclear power plant, the power demand of the water electrolysis facility, and the power grid, etc.

[0048] The present invention can produce electricity and hydrogen simultaneously, and in particular, can continuously produce hydrogen economically and effectively by selecting an optimal reactor module from among multiple reactor modules for hydrogen production and selecting an optimal power supply source from among various power sources.

[0049] Hydrogen and oxygen produced through the electrolysis facility (330) are stored in separate hydrogen storage tanks and oxygen storage tanks, and can be supplied to places that require them as basic needs, and can also be stored as energy through a fuel cell (360) when necessary.

[0050] Figures 2 to 4 are drawings showing the characteristics of a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Referring to Figure 2, unlike conventional technologies, the steam selection controller enables optimal steam source selection. Specifically, the steam selection controller comprehensively considers factors such as the electrolysis facility steam demand, reactor module operating status, and the impact of steam supply on the nuclear power plant.

[0052] Referring to Figure 3, unlike conventional technologies, the power selection controller can select an optimal power source. Specifically, the power selection controller comprehensively considers factors such as the electrolysis facility's power demand, the generator's operating status, the power grid, and the fuel cell's energy storage capacity to select the optimal power source.

[0053] Referring to Figure 4, unlike conventional technology, the power supply controller can supply (distribute) energy stored in fuel cells individually or collectively. Specifically, when power is needed, power can be supplied or distributed to individual (one location) or collectively (multiple locations) based on comprehensive consideration of nuclear power plants, electrolysis facilities, and the power grid.

[0054] In this way, the present invention proposes a steam selection controller, a power selection controller, and a power supply controller that can be differentiated from the prior art.

[0055] That is, in the present invention, by monitoring key information among various steam supply sources, the optimal steam supply source can be selected (selection among reactor modules), by monitoring key information among various power supply sources, the optimal power supply source can be selected (selection among generators, power grids, and fuel cells), and when power is required at a nuclear power plant, water electrolysis facility, or power utilization site, the energy stored in the fuel cell can be used to supply or distribute power to individual or all facilities.

[0056] The operation of a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system according to an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration is described as follows.

[0057] First, multiple reactor modules, turbines and generators of a nuclear power plant (100) generate electricity.

[0058] Then, the electrolysis facility (330) produces hydrogen and oxygen using steam produced and supplied during the power generation process of the nuclear power plant (100).

[0059] The steam selection controller (310) selects an optimal steam supply source among the plurality of reactor modules and supplies steam from at least one of them to the water electrolysis facility (330).

[0060] In addition, the power selection controller (320) selects an optimal power supply source among the plurality of generator power grids or fuel cells and supplies power from at least one of them to the electrolysis facility (330).

[0061] The fuel cell (360) can produce and store energy by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the above-mentioned electrolysis facility (330).

[0062] And the power supply controller (370) can supply or distribute power to a nuclear power plant, a water electrolysis facility, and a power grid as needed using the energy stored in the fuel cell (360).

[0063] Meanwhile, hydrogen produced in the electrolysis facility (330) is stored in a hydrogen storage tank (340).

[0064] Additionally, the oxygen produced in the electrolysis facility (330) is stored in an oxygen storage tank (350).

[0065] According to the above embodiments of the present invention, electricity and hydrogen can be produced simultaneously, and in particular, by selecting an optimal reactor module from a plurality of reactor modules for hydrogen production and selecting an optimal power supply source from among various power sources, continuous economical and effective hydrogen production is possible.

[0066] In addition, according to one embodiment, hydrogen and oxygen produced through the electrolysis facility (330) are stored in a separate storage tank and can be supplied to a place that requires it as a basic utility, and can also be stored as energy through a fuel cell (360) when necessary.

[0067] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system that produces hydrogen using a nuclear power plant and water electrolysis facilities. A nuclear power plant equipped with multiple reactors and steam generators (hereinafter referred to as reactor modules), turbines, and generators; A water electrolysis facility that produces hydrogen and oxygen using steam supplied from the above nuclear power plant; A steam selection controller for selecting a steam supply source from at least one of the plurality of reactor modules to supply steam to the water electrolysis facility; A nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system including a power selection controller that selects a power supply source from at least one of the plurality of generators, power grids, or fuel cells to supply power to the water electrolysis facility.

2. In paragraph 1, A hydrogen storage tank for storing hydrogen produced in the above-mentioned electrolysis facility; A nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system further comprising an oxygen storage tank for storing oxygen produced in the above-mentioned electrolysis facility.

3. In paragraph 2, A fuel cell that produces and stores energy by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the above-mentioned electrolysis facility; A hydrogen production system linked to a nuclear power plant further comprising a power supply controller capable of supplying or distributing power using energy stored in the fuel cell to a nuclear power plant, a water electrolysis facility, and a power grid.

4. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, The above nuclear power plant is a nuclear power plant-linked hydrogen production system including a light water reactor, SMR, molten salt reactor, and high-temperature gas reactor.

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