Design and prototype application of the autonomous and portable hydrogen generator system supported by sodium borohydride

In this experimental thesis, it is aimed to design and prototype a hydrogen generator working with sodium borohydride to provide lightly and more efficient hydrogen gas production. For this purpose, a prototype with both a compact structure and autonomous control is produced, and unlike the hydrogen generators available in the literature, it works with solid sodium borohydride dosing logic. In addition, a cheap, efficiently and environmentally friendly alternative catalyst solution is sought for hydrogen production instead of costly and high yielding noble metal catalysts used in the sodium borohydride's hydrolysis reaction. A high metal content slag byproduct is used to synthesize this catalyst alternative. Catalysts synthesized using slag; Performance tests were carried out using various parameters, for example, catalyst concentration, component ratios, reaction temperature. Considering the Co-B catalyst studies in the literature, it was seen that the hydrogen gas production rate rise in the range of 5 and 10 times. The best performances were demonstrated by acid-treated slag catalyst samples supplemented with 40% and 50% Co-B with preheating at 50 °C with catalyst hydrogen production rates of approximately 65 L/min.g in 25 minutes. The prototype, controlled by Adunio Uno, consists of 4 different compartments, the water and catalyst mixture was injected onto solid sodium borohydride with water pumps and nozzles. Thus, fuel wastage is reduced by 15%; this is achieved by using multiple fuel chambers instead of a single fuel chamber. In addition, with the use of slag, catalyst costs are reduced by 25% and 35%. The test results of the catalyst samples were compared and discussed with the optimum liquid injection amount and optimum mixing percentages. The performance analyzes of the prototype and catalysts were completed utilizing 20 ml of distilled water and 2 g of NaBH4. These results were showed the prototype has a relatively consistent hydrogen gas stream of around 17.5 L/min and the total flow is 343.46 L for 20 min. As a result; the tightness and performance tests of the prototype were investigated using different catalyst samples during 1 hour, and the results were investigated in depth. The average flow rate of this 4-part autonomous generator is approximately 3.00 L/min.gcatalyst during 1 h. In the working cycle, the soft ripples have spied on the hydrogen-produced amount from time to time.