For electricity and hydrogen production, the advanced reactor technology receiving the most international interest is a modular, passively safe version of the high-temperature, helium-cooled reactor referred to in the USA as the Modular Helium Reactor (MHR). Because of its ability to produce high-temperature helium, the MHR is well suited for a number of process-heat applications, including hydrogen production. Two hydrogen-production technologies have emerged as leading candidates for coupling to the MHR: (1) thermochemical water splitting using the Sulphur–Iodine (SI) process and (2) High-Temperature Electrolysis (HTE). In this paper, we provide an update on conceptual designs being developed for coupling the MHR to the SI process and HTE. These concepts are referred to as the SI-based H2-MHR and the HTE-based H2-MHR, respectively.
Keywords: advanced reactor technology, high-temperature reactors, electricity production, hydrogen production, nuclear energy, helium-cooled reactors, modular helium reactors, thermochemical water splitting, nuclear power, sulphur-iodine process, high-temperature electrolysis, conceptual design, nuclear reactors