Summary of Dr. Al-Zahrani Presentation 

Dr. Al-Zahrani presented the plant and objective of the research project conducted by Umm A-Qura University for the IAEA entitled “thermo-economic analysis and optimization of a large-scale nuclear hydrogen production utilizing high temperature electrolysis.” In this regards, a conceptual nuclear hydrogen production system is presented. The proposed system utilizes high temperature electrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water. The high temperature electrolysis plant design and thermodynamic analysis is presented to address the performance by evaluating the energy and exergy efficiencies of the electrolysis plant. Furthermore, the recent advances in solid oxide electrolysis technologies discussed and analyzed to highlight the maturity level of solid oxide cells in particularly the recent data of cells and stacks degradation rates. The presentation raises many questions and discussion which led to the suggestions that the focus should be narrowed to two types of reactors first, the high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), and second, the water cooled reactor (WCR). The research outcomes are planned to address the need for hydrogen in Saudi Arabia and the economic potential of this criterial commodity if produced by these nuclear technologies compared with current hydrogen production technologies.