DEVELOPMENT OF A SULFUR-IODINE THERMOCHEMICAL WATER-SPLITTING CYCLE FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION.

A three-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle is being developed for the purpose of producing hydrogen from nonfossil energy sources. This cycle, which employs sulfur and iodine, can be conducted as an all liquid-and-gas process using concentrated solar heat or heat from a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). In coupling the cycle to an HTGR, process engineering has produced an estimate of 41. 4% for net thermal efficiency. Recent favorable chemical data indicate that a considerable increase in efficiency will be obtained for the next flow sheet. Material corrosion testing has shown some commercial construction materials to be candidates for containing portions of the chemical process.