• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.27-35
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• 2021

Recently, as a solution to the sharp drop in "power reserve ratio", it is being converted to a microgrid that enables bi-directional transmission and distribution. A microgrid is composed of a small-scale distributed power supply and a load. As a representative technology of distributed power generation, there is a Micro Combined Heat and Power system applied to homes and buildings. In this study, a safety standard was developed by dividing the power generation system, cooling system, lubrication system, and exhaust system to derive safety standards for a small gas engine power generation system with a gas consumption less than 232.6kW (200,000 kcal/h). In the case of the power generation system, a filter was installed and the system was stopped by detecting gas leakage and abnormalities in engine speed or output and the cooling system is stipulated to stop the system in case of insufficient cooling water or overheating. The lubrication system monitors the pressure and temperature of the lubricating oil and stops the system when an abnormality occurs, and the exhaust gas emission concentration regulation value was specified in accordance with domestic and foreign standards. Through the results of this study, it is judged that the safety of the gas engine power generation system can be improved and it can contribute to the commercialization of products.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.413-424
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• 2021

In this study, we quantitatively analyze the effect of ocean emission sources on the simulated O₃ concentrations in South Korea using the community multi-scale air quality (CMAQ) model. To analyze changes in O₃ concentrations by ocean emissions, two different CMAQ simulations considering ocean emissions (OE case) and without considering ocean emissions (NE case) were conducted during the Korea-United States air quality (KORUS-AQ) campaign period (May-June 2016). The changes in the simulated O₃ concentrations due to the effect of ocean emissions (OE case-NE case) appeared mostly in the ocean areas (+1.201 ppbv). The effect of ocean emissions was positive during the daytime (+1.813 ppbv), but negative during the nighttime (-0.612 ppbv). Analysis using the integrated process rate (IPR) confirmed that the increase or decrease in O₃ concentration by ocean emissions was mainly due to chemical processes. Further analysis using the integrated reaction rate (IRR) showed that the daytime increase in O₃ concentration was mainly attributable to the increased O₃ production via O + O₂ + M → O₃ + M reaction as photolysis of NO₂ increased due to the added ocean emissions. The nighttime decrease in O₃ concentration was mainly due to the increased O₃ titration by NO (NO + O₃ → O₂ + NO₂) due to the increased NO emission. These results indicate that the changes in the concentration O₃ in the sea area by the effect of ocean emissions are mainly due to increased NO_x emissions. However, there could be a number of uncertainties in ocean emissions data used in this study, thus continuous comparative research using the most updated data will need to be carried out in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.451-457
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• 2019

In this study, the characteristics of coffee grounds were reviewed by making them from solid fuel through heat-drying and oil-drying method. The differences in the higher calorific power by each dried sample were compared. And industrial analysis using the thermogravimetric analyzer was considered for applicability to organic waste and oily samples. Before and after drying, the surface of the specimen was observed with SEM equipment and the ingredients were measured through the EDS equipment. As a result, no other hazardous substances, such as heavy metals, were measured. Next, The differences between thermal decomposition and combustion reactions were considered through the TG and DTG curves. As a result, it is that the oil-dried coffee grounds is longer to burn than the heat-dried coffee grounds. Finally, the combustion gases emitted through the thermogravimetric analyzer were collected and the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide performed qualitative and quantitative analysis using GC over time.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.451-463
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• 2016

We explore the impact of Chinese future air pollutant emissions on ozone air quality in Northeast Asia (NEA) and health in South-Korea using an assessment framework including ICAMS (The Integrated Climate and Air Quality Modeling System) and BenMAP (The Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program). The emissions data sets from the climate change scenarios, the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) (emission scenarios, EMSO), are used to simulate ozone air quality in NEA in the current (1996~2005, 2000s), the near future (2016~2025, 2020s) and the distant future (2046~2055, 2050s). Furthermore, the simulated ozone changes in the 2050s are used to analyze ozone-related premature mortality and economic cost in South-Korea. While different EMSOs are applied to the China region, fixed EMSO are used for other country regions to isolate the impacts of the Chinese emissions. Predicted ozone changes in NEA are distinctively affected by large changes in NOx emission over most of China region. Comparing the 2020s with the 2000s situation, the largest increase in mean ozone concentrations in NEA is simulated under RCP 8.5 and similarly small increases are under other RCPs. In the 2050s in NEA, the largest increase in mean ozone concentrations is simulated under RCP 6.0 and leads to the occurrence of the highest premature mortalities and economic costs in South-Korea. Whereas, the largest decrease is simulated under RCP 4.5 leads to the highest avoided premature mortality numbers and economic costs. Our results suggest that continuous reduction of NOx emissions across the China region under an assertive climate change mitigation scenario like RCP 4.5 leads to improved future ozone air quality and health benefits in the NEA countries including South-Korea.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2021

Major anthropogenic emissions of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) occur from coal-fired power plants, and the emissions can be controlled successfully using NH₃-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems with catalysts. Although the catalysts can easily convert the gaseous mercury into Hg²⁺ species, the reactions are greatly dependent on the flue gas constituents and SCR conditions. Numerous deNO_xing catalysts have been proposed for considerable reduction in power plant mercury emissions; however, there are few studies to date of elemental mercury oxidation using SCR processes with MW- and full-scale coal-fired boilers. In these flue gas streams, the chemistry of the mercury oxidation is very complicated. Coal types, deNO_xing catalytic systems, and operating conditions are critical in determining the extent of the oxidation. Of these parameters, halogen element levels in coals may become a key vehicle for obtaining better Hg⁰ oxidation efficiency. Such halogens are Cl, Br, and F and the former one is predominant in coals. The chlorine exists in the form of salts and is transformed to gaseous HCl with a trace amount of Cl₂ during the course of coal combustion. The HCl acts as a very powerful promoter for high catalytic Hg⁰ oxidation; however, this can be strongly dependent on the type of coal because of a wide variation in the chlorine contents of coal.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.288-300
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• 2022

As industrialization and urbanization progress extensively, climate change is intensifying due to greenhouse gas emissions. In Korea, the average temperature increased, and the annual precipitation also increased due to climate change. In addition, the meaning of the solar term, which expresses seasons according to the movement of the sun, is also being overshadowed. Therefore, this study investigated the seasonal changes and solar-term changes of average temperature and precipitation observed in the past as well as simulated for future RCP climate change scenarios for five major regions (Capital Region, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gangwon). For the seasonal length, the length of summer became longer, the length of winter became shorter nationwide, and the precipitation in summer generally increased compared to the past. In the Chungcheong area, under the RCP 8.5 scenario, the length of summer increased by 46%, precipitation increased by 16.2%, and the length of winter decreased by 31.8% compared to the past. For the solar term, the temperature rose in all seasons. In the Chungcheong area, under the RCP 8.5 scenario, the temperature of major heat increased by 15.5%, and the temperature of major cold increased by 75.7% compared to the past. The overall results showed that the hydrological characteristics of the season and solar term were identified by region, which can be used as basic data to prepare policies to respond to climate change.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.567-575
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• 2021

Residents in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, in which large-scale emissions facilities such as coal-fired power plants and steel mills are concentrated, are very much concerned about their health despite the local government's aggressive efforts to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases. To understand the impact of coal-fired power plants and external factors on local air pollution, the origins of local pollutants were investigated using stable carbon isotopes that are generally used as tracers of the provenance of fine or ultrafine dust. The origins of the pollutants were analyzed with the data library, built using the seasonally measured data for the two separate locations selected considering the distance from the coal-fired power plant and the analysis of previous studies, and with the back trajectory analysis. As a result of analyzing stable isotope ratios, the tendency of high concentration was found in the order of winter > spring > fall > summer. According to the data matching with the library, the mobile pollutants and open-air incineration had a relatively higher impact on the local air pollution. It is believed that this study, as a pilot study, should focus on securing the reliability of the study results through continuous monitoring and data accumulation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2021

Urban stormwater runoff contains heavy metals that accumulate in on-site treatment systems, thus resulting to facility deterioration and maintenance problems. In order to resolve these problems, low impact development (LID) technologies that promote natural materials circulation are widely used. LID facilities are capable of treating heavy metals in the runoff by means of plant uptake; however, the uptake or phytoremediation capabilities of plants have not been studied extensively, making it difficult to select the most suitable plant species for a certain LID design. This study investigated the vegetative components of an LID facility, roadside plants, and plants in landscape areas with different heavy metal exposure and frequency to determine the uptake capabilities of different plant species. The plants harvested inside the LID facilities and roadsides with high vehicular traffic exhibited greater heavy metal concentrations in their tissues as compared with the plants in landscape areas. Generally, the accumulation of heavy metals in the plant tissues were found to be influenced by the environmental characteristics (i.e. influent water quality, air pollution level, etc.). Dianthus, Metasequoia, Rhododendron lateritium, and Mugwort were found to be effective in removing Zn in the urban stormwater runoff. Additionally, Dianthus, Metasequoia, Mugwort, and Ginkgo Biloba exhibited excellent removal of Cu. Cherry Tree, Metasequoia, and mugwort efficiently removed Pb, whereas Dianthus was also found to be effective in treating As, Cr, and Cd in stormwater. Overall, different plant species showed varying heavy metal uptake capabilities. The results of this study can be used as an effective tool in selecting suitable plant species for removing heavy metals in the runoff from different land use types.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.321-333
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• 2022

In this study, the concentration and distribution characteristics of BTEX (benzene toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) emitted from Daesan Petrochemical Industrial Complex were examined to determine their potential hazards to local residents. Residents living nearby the complex areas may be exposed to the chemicals through various media (air, water, and soil), especially by air. This study evaluated human health risks by inhalation using both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment approaches. As a result of the deterministic risk assessment, the non-cancer risk was much lower than the regulation limit of hazard index (HI 1.0) for all the points. However, in case of cancer risk evaluation, it was found that the risk of excess cancer for benzene at point A located in the industrial complex was 2.28×10^-6, which slightly exceeded the standard regulatory limit of 1.0×10^-6. In addition, the probabilistic risk assessment revealed that the percentile exceeding the standard of 1.0×10^-6was found to be 45.3%. The sensitivity analysis showed that exposure time (ET) had the greatest impact on the results. Based on the risk assessment study, it implied that ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene had little adverse effects on potential human exposure, but benzene often exceeded the cancer risk standard (1.0×10^-6). Further studies on extensive VOCs monitoring are needed to evaluate the potential risks of industrial complex areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.385-393
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• 2022

Hydrogen has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the main cause of global warming, and is emerging as an eco-friendly energy source for ships. Hydrogen is a substance with a lower flammability limit (LFL) of 4 to 75% and a high risk of explosion. To be used for ships, it must be sufficiently safe against leaks. In this study, we analyzed the effect of changes in the area of the air inlet / vent port on the ventilation performance when hydrogen leaks occur in the hydrogen tank storage room. The area of the air inlet / vent port is 1A = 740 mm × 740 mm, and the size and position can be easily changed on the surface of the storage chamber. Using ANSYS CFX ver 18.1, which is a CFD commercial software, the area of the air inlet / vent port was changed to 1A, 2A, 3A, and 5A, and the hydrogen mole fraction in the storage chamber when the area changed was analyzed. Consequently, the increase in the area of the air inlet port further reduced the concentration of the leaked hydrogen as compared with that of the vent port, and improved the ventilation performance of at least 2A or more from the single air inlet port. As the area of the air inlet port increased, hydrogen was uniformly stratified at the upper part of the storage chamber, but was out of the LFL range. However, simply increasing the area of the vent port inadequately affected the ventilation performance.