• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.89-99
• /
• 2014

The cultivation of biomass crops is now global demand for decreasing emissions of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from fossil fuel. Miscanthus species have been studied as a suitable crop for biomass production, due to its characteristics of fast growth and high biomass. In Korea, Miscanthus species have gained wide attention as an option for biomass production alternative to fossil fuels, recently. New strain of giant Miscanthus has been developed and two large trial sites for the giant Miscanthus production were built in the lower reaches of the Geum River. To evaluate the ecological influence of the giant Miscanthus as an bioenergy crop for the future, we investigated the impact of the construction of the giant Miscanthus production fields on the biota and also compared it with biota in paddy fields near the study sites. The biota including plants, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, avifauna, insects, and bugs was investigated. The plant diversity of the giant Miscanthus production fields was poorer than the paddy fields because the high height of the giant Miscanthus might hinder the growth of other plants. However, the giant Miscanthus production fields serves habitat to animals, leading to rich diversity of animals including avifauna, insects, and bugs. The rich diversity of the animals in the giant Miscanthus production fields coincides with the fact that the giant Miscanthus was grown without any pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer. This study showed that the giant Miscanthus can influence on biota and further long term study is needed to elucidate the interaction between the diversity of biota and the giant Miscanthus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.1131-1142
• /
• 2014

In this study, the variations of the carbon dioxide fluxes were investigated with soil temperatures in the grassplot and seasonal variations of carbon dioxide concentrations and fluxes were analysed. Soil temperatures, carbon dioxide concentrations and fluxes were measured on the grassplot in Pukyong National University. Field measurements were carried out 25 times from March in 2010 to March in 2011 with nine points on the grassplot. Seasonal variations of carbon dioxide concentrations and fluxes showed an inverse relation. In summer, carbon dioxide concentrations are lower and carbon dioxide fluxes are higher. In winter, carbon dioxide concentrations are higher and carbon dioxide fluxes are lower. On the grassplot, carbon dioxide emission rate increase when the soil temperature is more than $20^{\circ}C$ and the emission rate decrease when the soil temperatures are less than $10^{\circ}C$. When the accumulated rainfall for five days before measurement day is 20~100 mm, it is showed that the more rainfall, the more carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide emission rate from the grassplot to the upper atmosphere was increased or decreased by the factors such as soil temperature, growth and wither of grass and rainfall. The results of this study showed that the emission of carbon dioxide in the grassplot is dominantly controlled by seasonal factors (especially soil temperature and rainfall).

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.64 no.9
• /
• pp.1391-1397
• /
• 2015

Recently, various researches are conducted in the application of regenerative energy produced during the operation of an electric locomotive. Regenerative energy is produced by a generator in the brake procedure. The generator is operated by kinetic energy of an electric railroad using an electric motor. The process of producing regenerative energy varies with the current type of a railroad and its running condition. The quality of electric power can be improved and electric energy can be utilized effectively, especially in the use of an energy storage system (ESS). Thus, it is necessary to apply ESS into AC section and high speed railway. This study analyses the composition of the regenerative ESS equipment installed in Yong-Jeong sectioning post, operational principle, charge and discharge algorithm and energy efficiency. The analysis shows that CO2 emissions can be reduced about 0.5 ton per a day. In addition, ESS helps saving the energy and the compensation of the voltage drop caused by the operation of high speed train when it is installed at the end of the feeder section. The number of high speed train will be increased continuously related to the electrification rate. Therefore, applying the ESS to high speed railway is expected to solve the instability of the feeder voltage and the equipment capacity problem caused by the high speed trains.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.576-582
• /
• 2016

To cope with international regulations, such as Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) and so forth, and to enforce limitations on $CO_2$ emissions, green-ship technology to lower fuel consumption has been actively researched, and the development of an energy-saving device (ESD) is being pursued. In order to design an ESD for small and medium-sized domestic vessels, an analysis on flow characteristics has been performed in the present study. Through a model test and numerical analyses, the characteristics of flow around the stern bilge and bulb have been compared to improve wake quality and resistance performance. As a result of these comparisons and analyses, a vertical plate has been adopted,, as a new ESD. Design criteria for the proposed ESD are also suggested. By applying this new ESD, it is expected that the total resistance and average nominal wake can be reduced by 3.04 % and 18.8 %, respectively.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2017

Purpose: G-SEED's evaluation of existing buildings in Korea is an important point because the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of existing buildings are continuously increasing due to the aging of buildings over time. In 2016, the government has set up a 'Green Remodeling Certification Standard' in G-SEED in order to revitalize the green remodeling business of existing buildings. As a result, G-SEED is distinguished between buildings with green remodeling and buildings with general remodeling. Therefore, this study analyzed the system of the certification of the green remodeling building which is aimed at improving the performance of the building. Method: First, we analyze characteristics of the existing building certification standards of G-SEED(Korea), LEED(USA), and BREEAM(UK). Second, the evaluation criteria are based on the G-SEED Green Remodeling Certification, 2016, LEED for BD + C: New construction and major renovation v.4, BREEAM UK Non-Domestic Refurbishment and Fit-out 2014. Based on the analysis results, we propose the improvement direction of G-SEED Green Remodeling Certification Standard. Result: Existing buildings should be classified into 'existing building certification' for re-certification and 'green remodeling certification' accompanied by building performance improvement. In addition, building green buildings through performance improvement should include not only energy performance, but also creating a pleasant indoor environment and minimizing environmental impact. Finally, existing buildings have accumulated information on energy and resource use, and a performance improvement plan should be established based on this information.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.320-326
• /
• 2009

The carbon dioxide concentration of the atmosphere is projected to increase by almost 50% over the first 50 years of this century. The major cause of this increase is continued combustion of fossil fuels. As a result, the significant changes in climate that have already occurred will be amplified, in particular a global temperature increase. Renewable energy production has a central role to play in abating net $CO_2$ emissions to a level that will arrest the development of global warming. Especially, biomass crops are becoming increasingly important as concerns grow about climate change and the need to replace carbon dioxideproducing fossil fuels with carbon-neutral renewable sources of energy. To succeed in this role, biomass crop has to grow rapidly and yield a reliable, regular harvest. A prime candidate is Miscanthus, or Asian elephant grass, a perennial species that produces over 3 metres of bamboo-like stems in a year. Miscanthus species are typically diploid or tetraploid. Hybrids between species with different ploidy levels result in the highly productive triploid hybrids, M. ${\times}$ giganteus. Here we will detail the Miscanthus characteristics desired of a biomass fuel crop.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.449-456
• /
• 2010

The HCCI engine is a prospective internal combustion engine with which high diesel-like efficiencies and very low NOx and particulate emissions can be achieved. However, several technical issues must be resolved before HCCI engines can be used for different applications. One of the issues concerning the HCCI engine is that the operating range of this engine is limited by the rapid pressure rise caused by the release of excessive heat. This heat release is because of the self-accelerated combustion reaction occurring in the engine and the resulting engine knock in the high-load region. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of thermal stratification and fuel stratification in reducing the pressure rise rate in an HCCI engine. The concentrations of NOx and CO in the exhaust gas are also evaluated to confirm combustion completeness and NOx emission. The computation is carried out with the help of a multizone code, by using the information on the detailed chemical kinetics and the effect of thermal and fuel stratification on the onset of ignition and rate of combustion. The engine is fueled with dimethyl ether (DME), which allows heat release to occur in two stages, as opposed to methane, which allows for heat release in a single stage.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were $4.18{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-7}$, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.90-101
• /
• 2009

An objective of this study is to suggest a procedure to evaluate vehicle emissions regardless of the driving pattern. Field experiments using portable emission measurement system were conducted under the real world driving cycle. Standardized average for NOx, $CO_2$ emission and fuel consumption rates were calculated while the vehicle specific power distribution within each vehicle speed bin was taken into consideration. Composite emission factor and fuel economy, which were obtained based on the standardized average results and traffic statistics, showed good similarity to those acquired through the conventional chassis dynamometer tests qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Considering that a conventional method obviously has a limitation to reflect various characteristics of the real world, the new approach suggested in this study can be used as an alternative procedure to collect more specific data to establish the mobile emission factors.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2018

It has recently been reported that methanol fuel has been used in the product carrier with established duel fuel engine, which has been greatly reducing emissions of $CO_2$, NOx and SOx from the engine. However, to use methanol alone as fuel oil in a general diesel engine, design modification of cylinder head is needed because the ignition aid device or the duel fuel injection system is needed. On the other hand, only if the mixer is installed on the fuel oil supply line, diesel oil - methanol blending oil can be used as fuel oil for the diesel engine, but there is a problem of the phase separation when two fuels are mixed. In this study, diesel oil and methanol were blended compulsorily in preventing the phase separation with installing agitators and a fuel oil boost pump on fuel line of a test engine. Also, cylinder pressure and fuel consumption quantity were measured according to engine load and methanol blending ratio, and indicated mean effective pressure, heat release rate and combustion temperature obtained from the single zone combustion model were analyzed to investigate the effects of latent heat of vaporization of methanol on combustion stability and characteristics. As a result, the combustion stability and characteristics of 10% methanol blending oil are closest to the those of diesel oil, and it could be used as fuel oil in existing diesel engines without deterioration of engine performance and combustion characteristics.