Syngas production systems

Abstract

Syngas components hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be formed by the decomposition of carbon dioxide and water or steam by a solid-oxide electrolysis cell to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a portion of which may be reacted with carbon dioxide to form carbon monoxide. One or more of the components for the process, such as steam, energy, or electricity, may be provided using a nuclear power source.

1 . A syngas production system, comprising:
 a nuclear power source configured to generate steam; and   at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell operably coupled to receive steam generated from the nuclear power source.   
     
     
         2 . The syngas production system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one carbon dioxide source, wherein the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell is operably coupled to receive carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source. 
     
     
         3 . The syngas production system of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon dioxide source comprises a carbon dioxide source selected from the group consisting of a combustion process, a cement clinker process, a petrochemical refining process, a bio-mass reduction process, and a carbon dioxide storage facility. 
     
     
         4 . The syngas production system of  claim 1 , further comprising a product stream conduit for collecting at least one of hydrogen or carbon monoxide from the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         5 . The syngas production system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water source operably coupled to the nuclear power source to provide water for generating steam. 
     
     
         6 . The syngas production system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell comprises:
 a cathode;   an anode; and   an electrolyte positioned between the cathode and anode.   
     
     
         7 . The syngas production system of  claim 6 , wherein the cathode comprises a nickel-zirconia cermet material. 
     
     
         8 . The syngas production system of  claim 6 , wherein the anode comprises a strontium doped lanthanum manganite material. 
     
     
         9 . The syngas production system of  claim 6 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an electrolyte selected from the group consisting of an yttria stabilized zirconia electrolyte material, a scandia stabilized zirconia electrolyte material, a lanthanum gallate electrolyte material, an ytterbium stabilized zirconia electrolye material, and a ceria electrolyte material. 
     
     
         10 . The syngas production system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell comprises an array of solid-oxide electrolysis cells. 
     
     
         11 . A syngas production system, comprising:
 a nuclear power source configured for producing at least one of steam, heat, and an electrical current;   a first arrangement configured for combining the steam produced by the nuclear power source with carbon dioxide to form an inlet stream and for feeding the inlet stream to at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell; and   a second arrangement for supplying the electrical current produced by the nuclear power source to the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell to decompose the steam and the carbon dioxide of the inlet steam with the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an apparatus for transferring the heat from the nuclear power source to the carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the nuclear power source is selected from the group consisting of a nuclear power plant, a nuclear power facility, a nuclear battery, and a portable nuclear power source. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell comprises:
 a cathode;   an anode; and   an electrolyte positioned between the cathode and anode.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an arrangement configured for routing the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide to a synfuel production process. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a combustor configured for producing the carbon dioxide by combusting materials using the heat generated by the nuclear power source. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second arrangement is configured for adjusting a magnitude of the electrical current supplied to the solid-oxide electrolysis cell to control concentrations of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell.