Course Description

NQE527: Gas-cooled Reactors and Hydrogen

Upon reviewing the history of gas-cooled reactors, hydrogen-production gas-cooled reactors are studied. This course teaches the basic principles of Brayton cycle, nuclear fuel / core design, and safety with the introduction of the gas-cooled fast reactors. We discuss the principle of hydrogen production through electrolysis and thermochemical process. We analyze a fuel-cell / turbine cycle and the economy of the various options of the hydrogen-production gas-cooled reactors.