PBMRs

Most research reports involve an inert, selective membrane that encloses a PB of catalyst particles, a packed-bed membrane reactor (PBMR). It must be noted that the catalyst bed can also be fluidized or fixed, but types other than PBs are rarely found in literature. The following are the advantages of this type of reactor ... 

The considerations above apply to zeolite membranes as applied on the macrolevel (e.g., PBMR). Zeohte membranes apphed on the particle level or smaller might lead to a more optimistic outlook since this type of application neither involves expensive modules and supports nor expensive sealing material. 

Alternative reactor types are possible for the VHTR. China s HTR-10 [35] and South Africa s pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) [41] adopted major elements of pebble bed reactor design including fuel element from the past German experience. The fuel cycles might be thorium- or plutonium-based or potentially use mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. 

Matzner, D., PBMR project status and the way ahead, in Proc. of the 2nd International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology, Beijing, September 22-24, 2004. 

For a packed-bed membrane reactor (PBMR) the membrane is permselective and removes the product as it is formed, forcing the reaction to the right. In this case, the membrane is not active and a conventional catalyst is used. Tavolaro et al. [45] demonstrated this concept in their work on CO2 hydrogenation to methanol using a LTA zeolite membrane. The tubular membrane was packed with bimetallic Cu/ZnO where CO2 and H2 react to form EtOH and H2O. These condensable products were removed by LTA membrane which increased the reaction yield when compared to a conventional packed bed reactor operating under the same conditions [45]. 

Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) A nuclear reactor technology that utilizes tiny silicon carbide-coated uranium oxide granules sealed in pebbles about the size of oranges, made of graphite. Helium is used as the coolant and energy transfer medium. This containment of the radioactive material in small quantities has the potential to achieve an unprecedented level of safety. This technology may become popular in the development of new nuclear power plants. 

Figure 4 Typical PBMR process heat plant coupled to a hybrid sulphur hydrogen production process...

This paper describes previously developed models of the S-I/HyS cycle and a PBMR-268. A general coupling methodology via the IHX is developed, and applied to these models. Finally, two nuclear reactor driven transient scenarios are considered. 

A simplified transient analysis model of the sulphur iodine and Westinghouse hybrid sulphur cycle was presented by Brown, et al. (2009). This model is utilised in this paper via coupling to a PBMR-268 model and a simple point kinetics model. Some of the key tenants of the analysis model are summarised however interested readers are referred to the original paper for greater detail. The S-I and HyS analysis model is a control-volume model which treats the chemical plant as a closed system. 

A PBMR is a thermal reactor, thus delayed neutrons are the important factor in reactor response. A thermal reactor has a time constant of about 55 seconds. In the chemical plant, Section 2 and Section 3 have different response times. Section 2 has a response time on the order of 20 seconds, whereas Section 3 has a response time on the order of 500 seconds. The limiting reaction rate in the chemical plant is that of Section 3. Since the chemical plant is composed of cyclic processes, we know that the slowest reaction rate will occur in Section 3, the HI decomposition section. The response rate of Section 3 provides at least a first-order approximation of the overall plant response. 

The PBMR-268 model is derived from the PBMR-268 design. Numerous assumptions were made regarding the geometry of the PBMR-268 design in the benchmark specification. Some of the most important geometric simplifications are (Seker, 2005) ... 

A transient control volume model of the S-I and HyS cycle is presented. An important conclusion based on the results of this model is that the rate-limiting step of the entire S-I cycle is the HI decomposition section. In the HyS cycle, the rate-limiting step is the H2S04 decomposition. A generalised methodology for coupling these thermochemical cycle models to a nuclear reactor model is overviewed. The models were coupled to a THERMIX-DIREKT thermal model of a PBMR-268 and a point kinetics model. Key assumptions in the PBMR-268 model include flattening of the core and parallelisation of the flow channels. 

Reitsma, F. (2004), PBMR-268 Neutronics and Transient Benchmark Problem, PBMR Ltd., South Africa. 

Seker, V., T.J. Downar (2005), Analysis of the OECD/NEA PBMR-268 Transient Benchmark Problem with the PARCS Neutronics Code , American Nuclear Society TRANSACTIONS, 92, 697-699. 

Several reactors are candidates for use as a high temperature heat source for the S-I cycle. Candidates include the modular helium reactor (MHR) and pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR). One of the most thoroughly investigated candidates is the PBMR. Recent work has been performed in benchmarking the THERMIX code to the PBMR-268 design (Reitsma, 2004 Seker, 2005). 

Safely implementing a thermochemical nuclear hydrogen generation scheme requires a robust understanding of the interaction between the nuclear plant and the chemical plant. In turn, this requires robust models of the chemical plant, reactor thermal-hydraulics and reactor physics. Efforts have been conducted in both the transient modelling of the sulphur-iodine (S-I) and hybrid sulphur (HyS) thermochemical cycles, as well as coupling to models of the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR-268) (Brown, 2009). 

Accident scenarios initiated in the PBMR plant have been described and thoroughly modelled as benchmark problems (Reitsma, 2004). While modelling these scenarios in a coupled nuclear reactor/ chemical plant scheme is interesting, it should be noted that in most of these scenarios the nuclear... 

Based on matenal considerations, membrane reactors can be classified into (1) organic-membrane reactors, and (2) inorgamc-membrane reactors, with the latter class subdivided into dense (metals) membrane reactors and porous-membrane reactors Based on membrane type and mode of operation, Tsotsis et al. [15] classified membrane reactors as shown in Table 3. A CMR is a reactor whose permselective membrane is the catalytic type or has a catalyst deposited in or on it. A CNMR contains a catalytic membrane that reactants penetrate from both sides. PBMR and FBMR contain a permselective membrane that is not catalytic the catalyst is present in the form of a packed or a fluidized bed PBCMR and FBCMR differ from the foregoing reactors in that membranes are catalytic. 

Before proceeding further it would be appropriate for our readers to familiarize themselves with the few additional acronyms that will be used in this chapter and which are listed in Table 11.1. They are used to describe some of the most common membrane reactor configurations that have been studied in the technical literature. By far the most commonly referred to reactor is the PBMR, in which the reaction function is provided by a packed bed of catalysts in contact with the membrane. The membrane is not itself catalytic at least not intentionally so. Some of the commonly utilized inorganic and metal membranes, on the other hand, are intrinsically catal) ically active. The PBMR clcissification, therefore, should be assigned with caution. When the packed bed... 

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