A Study of Hydrogen Production in a Pacer Fusion Concept Based on Thorium Molten Salt Fuel

In this paper, two main aim were pursued. Firstly, to investigate the neutronic analysis of PACER fusion reactor and secondly, to examine the hydrogen production potential of the PACER by using different hydrogen production methods. Neutronic analysis was assessed with MCNP code, statically. In this reactor, ThF 4 heavy metal and LiF were used as molten salt jets. Additionally, when the neutronic analysis calculated, two different modes were utilized (Mode ①: 25 vol. % molten salt (LiF+ThF 4 ) + 75 vol. % void, Mode ②: 50 vol. % molten salt (LiF+ThF 4 ) + 50 vol. % void). At the same time, ThF 4 fuel ratios in each mode were investigated for 5-10-15-20-25 vol. % ratios. At the end of the neutronic analysis, tritium breeding ratio (TBR) and energy multiplication factor (M) were obtained. Depending on M values, hydrogen production potential of the reactor was investigated by calculating required total power ( P hpf ), the thermal power fraction (1- ψ) and the amount of hydrogen (kg/s). The scope of this paper, steam merhane reforming (SMR), sufur-iodine (S-I) cycled thermochemical method and high temperature electrolysis (HTE) were used. As a result of all analysis, it was seen that the hydrogen can be produced with the hydrogen production unit integrated PACER. When each method is examined within itself, it has been observed that the hydrogen production amount increases as the fuel rate increases. If the modes are examined within each other, it has been observed that the hydrogen production increases as the molten salt ratio increases (Mode ② > Mode ①). The highest hydrogen amount was obtained with SMR+WGS+MCS method, while the lowest value was obtained S-I method.