Thermo-technical assessment of hydrogen production and seawater desalination coupled with the 4x160 MWth NuScale SMR project

This study investigates the integration of NuScale small modular reactors (SMRs) with hydrogen production processes through alkaline electrolysis (AEC) and seawater desalination via Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), evaluating three configurations: hydrogen production, desalination, and cogeneration of both. Through a detailed computational model using a chemical process simulator, the cogeneration system demonstrated superior global energy efficiency (35.12 %), driven by the combined production, despite higher exergy destruction rates. While the configuration dedicated to MSF desalination exhibited higher energy efficiency than the isolated hydrogen production configuration, the electrolyzer efficiency in hydrogen production impacted the results. The exergy destruction analysis identified heat exchangers and condensers in the Rankine cycles as the main contributors to losses, with the MSF and hydrogen production processes accounting for a smaller share. Comparison with previous studies revealed that this proposal achieves competitive energy efficiency (35.12 %), surpassing some approaches due to better thermal energy utilization and greater hydrogen and water production capacity. This type of integrated system is particularly relevant for industrialized countries seeking to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring secure supplies of clean energy, potable water, and hydrogen. The proposed solution aligns with climate change mitigation strategies and offers a resilient pathway to support energy transitions in sectors with high environmental impact.