There are two main types of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells which can also be run in an electrolysis mode:
  1. Oxygen ion conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (O=SOFC)
  2. Proton conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (H+SOFC)
The working principles of both types of fuel cells are different what defines their influence on the steam cycle when integrated. O=SOFC generates hydrogen inside the steam flow by extracting oxygen, whereas H+SOFC will generate pure hydrogen and introducing oxygen into the steam at the same time. Both solutions have their pros and cons. Producing hydrogen inside a steam flow, gives certain difficulties with obtaining this gas at adequate purity afterwards. On the other hand, putting oxygen inside the steam cycle may cause with increase of corrosion processes, but amount of oxygen in steam flow is two times smaller than adequate amount of hydrogen.
Introducing of high temperature electrlysis into the steam cycle can dry a steam from moist by heating the steam up.

Hydrogen Production in Solid Oxide Electrolyzers coupled with Nuclear Reactors

The analysis considers Pressurized Water Reactors, the scheme is based on two cycles of water/steam and the turbine is powered by non-radioactive steam (see Fig. \ref{424195}). The steam is generated in a special steam generator that allows to obtain saturated steam, rarely slightly overheated. Low parameters of steam requires specific measures to avoid blade erosion. The operation of the turbine in the wet steam area is accompanied by additional energy losses that strongly reduce internal efficiency, in relation to the efficiency achieved in the case of super heated steam, wet steam due erosion causes damage to the flow part, mainly rotating blades. Thus, low steam parameters in the nuclear power plant turbines cooperating with water-cooled reactors, requires modification the thermal cycle of the turbine in relation to the standard steam turbine cycle. The impermissible moisture level of the steam in the turbine, permissible due to the erosion of the flow part and the reduction in efficiency, requires the introduction of external water separators in the thermal system, usually including interstage steam superheated with steam.