Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

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Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research Group has been working on the design and manufacture of fuel cell module components (bipolar plates, membrane electrode assemblies, electro-catalysts), as well as conducting applied research & development studies on the design of varying power level modules and systems, performance tests, hydrogen generation systems and end-user product integrations (electric vehicle, micro-cogeneration, portable and fixed power systems) since 2000.

FIELDS OF ACTIVITY

  • Design and manufacture of fuel cell and electrolyzer module components (flow channel bipolar/end plate, membrane electrode assembly, electro-catalyst)
  • Design, development and manufacture of fuel cell and electrolyzer module and system (water/heat management,air/fuel supply, data monitoring and control components, power conditioning, etc.)
  • Design and manufacture of a system for generating hydrogen from sodium borohydride and water (PEM electrolysis) (a fully controlled system with 100L/min capacity that is scalable depending on the needs)
  • Fuel cell based domestic micro cogeneration systems (2-5 kWe)
  • Integration of fuel cells into electric platforms (unmanned aerial vehicles, electric cars, etc.) and range extension performance tests
  • Fuel cell system and electrolyzer automation (data monitoring and control)
  • Design and commissioning of fuel cell based power systems
  • Industrial services in various fields of fuel cell component characterization and system manufacturing (FUEL CELL GROUP TESTS)

PROJECTS 

Current Projects

1- Development of PEM Type Electrolyzer (2021-2023):The project, supported by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and TENMAK, aims to develop a national PEM Type electrolyzer system and components that are corrosion-resistant, low-cost, long-lasting, with 10 kW power and at Technological Readiness Level (THS) 7, and to make it ready for field application by running it in laboratory environment.(BROCHURE)

   

2- Fuel Cell Micro-cogeneration System Field Application Project (2016-2022): As part of the project supported by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, it is aimed to develop a prototype PEM type fuel cell micro-cogeneration system with 2kW electric and 8kW thermal output generating hydrogen from natural gas and to conduct performance tests at a field deemed suitable by the Ministry.  This is a follow-up project within the scope of the “Project Outputs Implementation Plan” (PSUP) of the “KAMAG-1007 Microcogen” project conducted under the leadership of Energy Institute between 2006 and 2010.

Completed Projects

1- Mobile Boron Based Hydrogen Generation System and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Integration Project (MAMBORGEN-e) (2019-2021): As part of the project supported by National Boron Research Institute (TENMAK BOREN) and conducted in coordination with GEN Auto Company, it is aimed to integrate a 10 kW fuel cell system into the vehicle platform of the domestically produced electric passenger car and to carry out vehicle performance tests in order to extend the cruise time. The hydrogen for the fuel cell is generated by a 70-100 L/min capacity auto-controlled process based on sodium borohydride and stored in a pressurized tank.

2-MAM Fuel Cell Power Supply (2018-2020): In the project supported by TÜBİTAK MAM, an air-breathing and air-cooled PEM fuel cell with 50 Watt output power was designed and manufactured as a portable power system. The prototype was developed for use in charging such devices as military and civil type radios, telephones, etc. and manufactured with an industrial design suitable for end users.  It was planned as a charging support unit in order to feed the critical and operational loads of moving units continuously and independently from network.(BROCHURE)

 

Completed projects

3- Cobalt-Boron-Nitrogen Dopped Oxygen Electrode (Cathode) Development (grafCAT) (2016-2018): In the project supported by the TUBITAK 1003 Call, Graphene support materials were developed for the oxygen reduction reaction, which should be examined in terms of both performance and cost in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, and new electrode structures were obtained through cobalt and boron doping. A 5-cell Graphene fuel cell stack was fabricated with Pt/Co electrocatalysts on a completely Graphene support.

4- Boron Based Fuel Cell Range Extender Project for Electric Vehicles (2014-2016): The hydrogen generated from sodium borohydride was converted into electrical energy via a fuel cell and vehicle range was extended by integrating it into a commercial SUV electric vehicle platform within Derindere Motor Vehicles Company. Chassis dynamometer tests to measure the range extension of the prototype vehicle were carried out in accordance with the "UN ECE R101" standard; and while the range with only the battery was 208 km, the vehicle prototype with the fuel cell and hydrogen generation system had a range of 444 km.

5- Fuel Cell Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project (2013-2015):  The project aimed the development of a hydrogen-generating system (2-4 L/min capacity) from sodium borohydride on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the design, development and production of a fuel cell with 200 W power output for the use of the hydrogen generated and the integration of them into a fixed wing mini UAV with 2.5m wingspan. As a project output, a Hydrogen Generation System and a Fuel Cell Module were manufactured ready to be integrated into a UAV body, and range extension tests were carried out by placing them on a UAV manufactured by a domestic manufacturer. As a result of the tests, the flight time, which was only 25 minutes with the battery, was increased to 50 minutes with the integration of the fuel cell system.

6- Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Project (2009-2011): In the project supported by BOREN, a 3 kW PEM type fuel cell system generating hydrogen from sodium borohydride was developed for vehicle applications. As part of the project, a small-scale hydrogen generation system (HGS) was developed to generate hydrogen from boron; fuel cell components and module were manufactured; power conditioning and control systems, the fuel cell and hydrogen generation system were integrated into the vehicle. The vehicle prototype in question is one of the leading platforms in this field both in our country and in the world. The project work was deemed worthy of the “Technology Award” by the Elginkan Foundation in 2011.

7- Fuel Cell Microcogeneration System Project (2006-2010): As part of the project, which was supported within the scope TÜBİTAK 1007 Call under the public patronage of the Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration, it was aimed to produce 5 kW of electricity and 30 kW of heat energy from natural gas using fuel cell and catalytic burner systems. As part of this project, on which the Hydrogen Technologies Group and the Fuel Cell Group worked jointly under the umbrella of Energy Institute, a catalytic burner, a fuel cell system with 5 kW output power, a power conditioning system (DC-AC converter unit) and a process control unit were developed as sub-components.

8- Development and Production of PEM Fuel Cell Module Components (2004-2006):  In the project supported by Koç Holding (Ford, TOFAŞ, Arçelik, Demirdöküm, Aygaz), it was aimed to develop fuel cell components and to manufacture prototypes with domestic resources. As project outputs, studies were conducted for the production and characterization of bipolar plates, membrane electrode assemblies and electrocatalysts, and prototype productions were made. Economic and technical evaluations were made according to the chosen method. Also, a technical report on hydrogen generation, storage and distribution was prepared in the project.

PATENTS

  • “A method for producing recyclable bipolar plate” Boyacı San F.G., Bican İ., Uysal S.,Tekin G., Erdör B., Okur O.,Tırıs M., Akgün F., Günen E., Behmenyar G., Şener T., Genç F., Sağlam G., Patent No:EP2015384, 2009-01-14
  • “Method for producing and integration of direct sodium borohydride fuel cell”, Boyacı San F.G., Behmenyar G., Uysal S., Erdör B., Genç F., Şener T.,Okumuş E., Okur O., Bican İ., USPTO Başvuru No: 20110189553

PUBLICATIONS

  • Erdör Türk B., Sarul M. H., Çengelci E., İyigün Karadağ Ç., Boyacı San F. G., Kılıç M., Okumuş E., Yazıcı M.S., “Integrated Process Control‐Power Management System Design and Flight Performance Tests for Fuel Cell Powered Mini‐Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,”   Energy Technology, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 2000879, 2021.
  • Boyaci San FG, Dursun S, Yazici MS, PtCo on continuous-phase graphene as PEM fuel cell catalyst, Int J. Energy Res. (2021), 45 (2), 1673-1684
  • Dursun S; Akay RG; Yazici MS, CVD Graphene Supported Cobalt (II) Phthalocyanine as Cathode Electrocatalyst for PEM Fuel Cells, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2020), 
  • Dursun S, Yazici MS, Mixed Carbon-Graphene Supports for Cobalt (II) Phthalocyanine as Fuel Cell Cathode, ECS J. Solid State Sci. Technol., 2020, 9, 4.
  • Bahar T, Yazici MS, Assessment of glucose oxidase based enzymatic fuel cells integrated with newly developed chitosan membranes by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Electroanalysis 2020, 32,1304-1314 DOI: 10.1002/elan.201900743
  • Yazici MS; Boyaci San FG, Bor doplu CVD grafen üretimi ve yakıt pili performansı, Bor Dergisi (Journal of Boron), 4 (3), 141-147, 2019.
  • Boyaci San FG, Dursun S, Yazici MS, Optimization of the PEMFC operating parameters for cathode in the presence of PtCo/CVD graphene using factorial design, Int J Energy Res. 2019; P 4506-4519.
  • Bahar T, Yazici MS, Performance Assessment of a Perfluorosulfonic Acid-type Membrane (i.e. Nafion™ 115) for an Enzymatic Fuel Cell, Electroanalysis, 31, 1656-1663, 2019.
  • Yazici MS; Azder MA, Salihoglu O; Boyaci San FG, Ultralow Pt loading on CVD graphene for acid electrolytes and PEM fuel cells, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 43, pages 18572-18577(2018).
  • Yazici MS; Azder MA, Salihoglu O, CVD grown graphene as catalyst for acid electrolytes, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 43, pages 10710-10716(2018).
  • Bahar T, Yazici MS, Immobilized glucose oxidase biofuel cell anode by MWCNTs, ferrocene, and polyethylenimine: Electrochemical performance. Asia‐Pac J Chem Eng. 2018; V13, p. 2149.
  • Boyaci San FG,  Okur O. 2017. The effect of compression molding parameters on the electrical and physical properties of polymer composite bipolar plates. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 23054-23069.
  • Okumus E, Boyaci San FG,  Okur O, Erdor Türk B, Çengelci E, Kılıç M, Iyigun Karadag Ç, Çavdar M., Turkmen A., Yazıcı MS.  2017. Development of boron-based hydrogen and fuel cell system for small unmanned aerial vehicle.  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 2691-2697
  • Boyaci San FG,  Iyigun Karadag Ç,  Okur O, Okumus E. 2016. Optimization of the catalyst loading for the direct borohydride fuel cell. Energy, 114:214-224.
  • İyigün Karadağ Ç., Behmenyar G., Boyacı San F. G., Şener T., 2015. Investigation of Carbon Supported Nanostructured PtAu Alloy as Electrocatalyst for Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell, Fuel Cells,15, No. 2, 262–269.
  • Boyaci San FG,  Okur O, Iyigun Karadag Ç,  Okumus E. 2014. Optimization of the Operation Conditions in a Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell with Carbon Supported Au Anode. Chapter in book: Progress in Exergy, Energy, and the Environment, January pp.927-935.
  • Boyaci San FG,  Okur O, Iyigun Karadag Ç,  Isık Gulsac I,  Okumus E. 2014 Evaluation of operating conditions on DBFC (direct borohydride fuel cell) performance with PtRu anode catalyst by response surface method. Energy: 71 160-169.
  • Okur O, Iyigun Karadag Ç, Boyaci San FG, Okumus E, Behmenyar G, 2013. Optimization of parameters for hot-pressing manufacture of membrane electrode assembly for PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells) fuel cell, Energy 57:574-580.
  • Boyaci San F.G, Isik Gulsac I, Okur O. 2013. Analysis of the polymer composite bipolar plate properties on the performance of PEMFC (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells) by RSM (response surface methodology). Energy 55:1067-1075.
  • Boyaci San FG, Isik-Gulsac, I, 2013. Effect of surface wettability of polymer composite bipolar plates on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performances. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy: 38(10):4089–4098.
  • Boyaci San F.G, Tekin G., 2013, A review of thermoplastic composites for bipolar plate applications, International Journal of Energy Research, Submitted (ER-12-2623),16-Feb-2012.
  • Celik C, Boyaci San F. G., Sarac H. I. 2012. Investigation of Ni Foam Effect for Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell, Fuel Cells 12(6) 1027–1031.
  • Taymaz, I., Akgun, F., Benli,M., 2011. Application of response surface methodology to optimize and investigate the effects of operating conditions on the performance of DMFC, Energy 36, 1155-1160.
  • Çelik, C., Boyacı San, FG, Sarac,H.İ., 2010. Improving the direct borohydride fuel cell performance with thiourea as the additive in the sodium borohydride solution, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 35, 16,  8678-8682.
  • Çelik, C, Boyacı San, F.G., Sarac,H.İ., 2010.  Influences of sodium borohydride concentration on direct borohydride fuel cell performance”, J. Power Sources, 195, 2599-2603.
  • Çelik, C, Boyacı San FG, Sarac,H.İ., 2008, Effects of operation conditions on direct borohydride fuel cell performance, Journal of Power Sources 185, 197–201.

PROJECTS / AWARDS

  • 26.05.2017, Innovation Achievement Award: Boron Based Fuel Cell Range Extender for Electric Vehicles
  • 2012, Elginkan Foundation - 7th Turkish Culture Research and Technology Award: BORMOBIL-Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell Vehicle  
  • 27.04.2011, 2010 Category-A Incentive Award:Direct Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell for Fixed Applications
  • 27.04.2011, 2010 Category-A Achievement Award: Fuel Cell Micro-Cogeneration System
  • Year 2007 Category-A Achievement Award: Direct Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell Production and Integration Project
  • 28.05.2007, Year 2006 Achievement Award: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Module Components Development and Production Project
  • 25.03.2005, Year 2004 Achievement Award: Fuel Cell Technology Development Project for Clean Energy Generation
  • Hydrogen Technologies Association Year-2022 Technology Award: Mobile Boron Based Hydrogen Generation System and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Integration (MAMBORGEN-e)