(224c) Design of Composite Sulfuric Acid Decomposition Reactor, Concentrator and Preheater for Hydrogen Generation Processes

The Westinghouse Sulfur Process (WSP), as well as similar sulfur cycles for the production of nuclear hydrogen, requires the decomposition of sulfuric acid into sulfur dioxide, oxygen, and water at temperatures above 800°C and a pressure near 9 MPa. Westinghouse is currently in the process of developing a composite decomposition reactor design that concentrates, preheats, and decomposes sulfuric acid. This composite reactor addresses numerous design challenges including maintaining small pressure differentials and good thermal efficiency while utilizing readily available materials of construction. Calculations include the development of a temperature-enthalpy diagram of the decomposition process, detailed modeling and optimization of the decomposition portion of the reactor, geometric and flow calculations for the preheater section, and initial modeling work of the concentrator section.