Росатом завершил испытания уникального стенда для производства низкоуглеродного водорода

Rosatom scientists have created a unique test stand for developing technology for producing low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas. JSC "Rosatom Nauka" reported that the stand's tests have been completed, and it is fully ready for research. Autonomous tests have been completed, the stand's readiness has been confirmed, and the implementation of the experimental work program has begun.

The creation of a block-modular test stand for developing technology for the production of low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen-containing mixtures using the heat of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) was completed at the site of the Protvino branch of NII NPO "LUCH" (part of the Scientific Division of the Rosatom State Corporation). Specialists from TsKBM (part of the Machine-Building Division of the Rosatom State Corporation) and employees of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU, part of the Consortium of опорных вузов "Rosatom") took part in the development and creation of the stand. The work is being carried out by order of the Electric Power Division of Rosatom as part of an investment project to create domestic technologies for the large-scale production and consumption of hydrogen and hydrogen-containing products.

The stand has a hydrogen production capacity of 150 Nm³/h with a purity of at least 99.99%. It includes separate block modules for working out all technological stages: preparation of compressed natural gas, sulfur purification, steam and steam-oxygen reforming, medium-temperature and low-temperature conversion of carbon monoxide, amine purification and separation of hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing mixture. When creating the stand, Russian specialists developed unique equipment that allows conducting studies of non-stationary processes, testing catalysts and sorbents, as well as studying the processes of heat exchange, gas dynamics and combustion.

Rosatom specialists have formed and begun implementing a program of experimental work on the created stand, designed for 2024–2025. The results of these studies will be used to validate calculation models, create "digital twins" and design industrial units of the chemical-technological part of the nuclear power technology station and large-tonnage plants for the production of synthesis gas, hydrogen, methanol and ammonia.

The creation of such a unique stand allows not only to develop technical solutions for the chemical-technological part of a nuclear power technology station with an HTGR reactor, but also to organize a scientific and testing center for testing technologies for processing synthesis gas, separating carbon dioxide, purifying and using hydrogen. The presence of such a stand significantly expands Rosatom's capabilities in mastering the relevant technologies, provides an opportunity for developers from all over the country to conduct tests and develop processes and catalysts on a mutually beneficial basis, which is an important step towards achieving Russia's technological independence in the field of hydrogen technologies and the production of gas chemical products using low-carbon nuclear heat, as emphasized by the scientific supervisor for the chemical-technological part of the NPTS, scientific consultant to the General Director of JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom", Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Anton Maksimov.

The technological scheme for the production of low-carbon ammonia, developed by specialists of the Protvino branch of JSC "NII NPO "LUCH", as the most promising hydrogen-containing product on the world market, is optimized for use in the chemical-technological part of the high-potential heat produced by a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (with a single thermal capacity of 200 MW) as part of a nuclear power technology station or an external energy source. A distinctive feature of the technology is the use of modern equipment, as well as reduced energy costs for the separation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.