Quantitative evaluation of leakage flow rate in the sealing part using graphite gland packing to mount a hydrogen separation membrane tube for HI decomposition membrane reaction

Sugimoto, Chihiro ; Myagmarjav, O.  ; Tanaka, Nobuyuki ; Noguchi, Hiroki  ; Takegami, Hiroaki ; Kubo, Shinji  

The thermochemical iodine-sulfur (IS or SI) process can produce hydrogen by decomposing water through chemical reactions and nuclear heat. The hydrogen iodine (HI) decomposition reaction of the IS process thermally decomposes HI at ca. 500C to produce hydrogen. The thermal efficiency of hydrogen production in the thermochemical IS process can be effectively enhanced using a membrane reactor for the HI decomposition reaction; hydrogen separation membrane tubes made of ceramic are attached to a tube plate via sealing parts. The applicability of a sealing method using the expanded graphite grand packing was investigated. During 50 thermal cycles ranging between 25 C-450 C and gas pressure of 0.2-0.8 MPa (gauge), the leakage flow rate was approximately 210 Pa m s. This value is comparable to a detection limit of the standard bubble leak test, indicating that this sealing method works effectively.