Hydrogen production started from factory chimneys in Tekirdağ

With the project implemented in TEKİRDAĞ in cooperation with Namık Kemal University (NKÜ) and industry, hydrogen began to be produced without the carbon monoxide gas coming out of the factory chimneys mixing with the atmosphere. Çorlu Faculty of Engineering Dean Prof. stated that the hydrogen obtained from the project implemented to contribute to the green energy transformation of the region can be used in fuel and electricity production in industrial facilities. Dr. Lokman Hakan Tecer said, “By producing hydrogen, we compensate and support the energy needed by the factory with green energy.”

NKÜ Çorlu Faculty of Engineering and companies operating in the field of technology started a collaboration to expand green energy transformation in the region where organized industry is widespread. With the protocol signed within the scope of the cooperation, a system that can convert the toxic carbon monoxide gas released from facilities in the region into hydrogen was developed. With the developed system, hydrogen gas was obtained by spraying water on carbon monoxide gas with specially developed catalysts at high temperatures and converting it into carbon dioxide.

‘COAL USE CAUSED AIR POLLUTION’

Çorlu Faculty of Engineering Dean Prof. Dr. Lokman Hakan Tecer said that with the project, the toxic gas released from factory chimneys will be converted into hydrogen before it reaches the atmosphere and will be used in fuel and electricity production. Referring to the importance of the project realized with university-industry cooperation, Tecer said, “We obtain hydrogen that can be used as fuel with the technology developed from the carbon monoxide pollutant coming out of factory chimneys, especially the chimneys of coal-burning facilities. Now, recently, industrial facilities operating in our region have had difficulty in competing, especially due to the increase in natural gas prices.” occurred and the use of coal as an alternative was causing intense air pollution in this region. As a result of our research to find a solution to this problem of this region, we, as our university, signed a consortium, system supervision and consultancy protocol for this project. “Therefore, with this project, we are starting our search for a technological solution to the problems caused by natural gas use and air pollution in this region.”

‘WE CONVERT CARBON MONOXIDE GAS INTO GREEN ENERGY’

Explaining that they converted the carbon monoxide gas coming out of the chimney into hydrogen gas that can be used as fuel within the scope of the project, Tecer said, “When we spray water on this carbon monoxide gas with specially developed catalysts at high temperatures, it turns into carbon dioxide, while hydrogen gas is also obtained and released. The innovation here is that this hydrogen gas is used as fuel.” It must reach a purity level of 99 percent in order to be used as a carbon dioxide. We have been following the system developed by this technology company for a long time and it contributes to the green energy transformation of this region, reducing air pollution and competitive conditions both abroad and abroad. “We saw it as a solution to provide solutions and put it forward. As of today, we will have started our projects in this sense in this region,” he said.

‘WE PREVENT TOXIC AIR POLLUTANTS FROM BEING DISPOSED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE’

Prof. Dr. Stating that the project is important for industrialists and the region, Tecer said, “Especially in this region, the carbon monoxide concentrations coming out of the chimneys of textile companies and coal-burning textile companies are on average at the level of 50-150 mg/cubic meter. As you know, carbon monoxide is an important air pollutant and has a toxic effect.” With this system, we convert this air pollutant, carbon monoxide, into carbon dioxide and hydrogen when we add it with water. In this sense, we prevent a toxic air pollutant from being thrown into the atmosphere through the chimney. Moreover, by producing hydrogen, we compensate and support the energy needed by the factory with green energy, hydrogen energy. “The cost of this system is 1/3 lower than conventional fuel systems, especially natural gas and coal. If the electrical energy to be used here is taken from solar power plants or solar energy systems, this cost will decrease to 1/4,” he said.

Tecer also stated that, at this point, the system, whose production has been completed, is ready to be used in factories that desire it.