Patent ID: 7726127

Claim:
A solar-powered hydrogen production system, the system comprising: a low temperature thermochemical system using a copper chloride thermochemical cycle for producing hydrogen with a maximum reaction temperature of about 530° C.; and a solar heating system having a molten salt heat transfer medium for providing thermal energy to the thermochemical system; wherein the copper chloride thermochemical cycle for producing hydrogen comprises the following set of chemical reactions and reaction temperatures: 2Cu(s)+2HCl(l)=2CuCl(l)+H 2 (g) at a temperature of between about 430° C. to about 475° C.; 2CuCl(s)=2CuCl 2 (aq)+2Cu at a temperature of between about 25° C. to about 75° C.; 2CuCl 2 (s)+H 2 O(g)=CuO*CuCl 2 (s)+2HCl(g) at a temperature of between about 350° C. to 400° C.; and CuO*CuCl 2 (s)=2CuCl(l)+½O 2 (g) at a temperature of about 530° C.