• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.377-380
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• 2005

In this paper, accelerated stress test(AST) for Magnetic Switch (MS) are applied to assure specified reliability of the products. Magnetic contactor that functions with over-current relay is called MS. Magnetic contactor closes and opens the motor load with ON/OFF switch of electronic contactor. It is also used for protecting and controlling the load. Magnetic contactor detects the over-current flow in the load with a over-current relay and disconnects the load by opening its control power. In this study, AST for product assembly are developed in order to improve the weak point so that increase the product reliability. Also we will show the basic information for the accelerated life test(ALT). The proposed AST results and procedures may be extended and applied to testing similar kinds of products to reduce test times and costs of the tests remarkably. Finally the results of this study will contribute to improving reliability of products and strengthening competitiveness of our products in the world markets.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.778-782
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• 2012

Until a recent day, degradation of PEMFC MEA (membrane and electrode assembly) has been studied, separated with membrane degradation and electrode degradation, respectively. But membrane and electrode were degraded coincidentally at real PEMFC operation condition. Therefore in this work, AST (Accelerated Stress Test) of MEA degradation was done at the condition that membrane and electrode were degraded simultaneously. There was interaction between membrane degradation and electrode degradation. Membrane degradation reduced the decrease range of catalyst active area by electrode degradation. Electrode degradation reduces increase range of the hydrogen crossover current and FER (Fluoride Emission Rate) by membrane degradation.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2290-2295
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• 2018

An acceleration stress test (AST) was performed to evaluate the durability of a polymer membrane in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for 500 hours. Previous studies have shown that hydrogen crossover measured by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) increases when the polymer membrane deteriorates in the AST process. On the other hand, hydrogen crossover of the membrane often decreases in the early stages of the AST test. To investigate the cause of this phenomenon, we analyzed the MEA operated for 50 hours using the AST method (OCV, RH 30% and $90^{\circ}C$). Cyclic voltammetry and transmission electron showed that the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) decreased due to the growth of electrode catalyst particles and that the hydrogen crossover current density measured by LSV could be reduced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis showed that -S-O-S- crosslinking occurred in the polymer after the 50 hour AST. Gas chromatography showed that the hydrogen permeability was decreased by -S-O-S- crosslinking. The reduction of the hydrogen crossover current density measured by LSV in the early stages of AST could be caused by both reduction of the electrochemical surface area of the electrode catalyst and -S-O-S- crosslinking.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2021

The durability of the PEMFC stack for large commercial vehicles should be more than 5 times that for passenger vehicles. If the Chemical Accelerated Stress Test (AST) of PEMFC(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells) membrane for passenger cars is applied as it is for large commercial vehicles, there is a problem that the AST time becomes more than 2,500 hours. In order to shorten the AST time of DOE (Department of Energy), the chemical durability of the polymer membrane was evaluated using oxygen instead of air as a cathode gas. In this study, Nafion XL was used as a polymer membrane to evaluate accelerated durability under OCV, 90?, RH 30%, H₂/(air or oxygen) conditions. Among the DOE membrane durability target criteria, the decrease rate of short resistance was the fastest. By using oxygen instead of air, the degradation rate of the polymer membrane was accelerated while being less affected by electrode deterioration, reducing the polymer membrane durability evaluation time to less than half.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2023

For durability improvement of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) polymer membrane, accelerated durability evaluation methods that can evaluate durability in a short time have been researched and developed. However, the lifespan of fuel cells for large commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses is more than three times that of passenger cars, and the chemical accelerated stress test (AST) time is also longer, reaching 1,500 hours or more. Therefore, in this study, as a method to evaluate the chemical durability of a membrane within a short time, it was examined whether the durability could be predicted by the pristine membrane characteristics. Hydrogen crossover current density (HCCD) and short resistance (SR) were estimated as initial characteristics, and AST time was predicted through the Fenton experiment, which was possible as an out-of-cell experiment for 3 hours. As the HCCD and fluoride ion emission concentration increased, the AST time tended to be linearly shortened, but there was a deviation (R² ≒0.65). When the SR decreased, the AST time showed a linear increase, and the accuracy was high (R² =0.93), so the AST time could be predicted with the initial SR of the membrane.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2014

The globally used PV qualification tests and reports the pass/fail only. Therefore, the reliability of new PV materials and parts can't be compared quantitatively with the reliability of the PV parts and materials in the market. Global PV materials and parts companies test and compare their materials, parts, and modules using the failure-to-test (FTT). However, it takes a long accelerated stress test (AST) until failure. It also needs to test the new and existing materials and parts. Therefore, it requires excessive equipment time and cost. In order to reduce the time and cost, a new reliability enhancement methodology has been developed. It tests the PV materials, parts, and modules in the global market and stores them in the PV reliability database. It reduces the time and cost of the comparison and enhancement of PV reliability. An example of the reliability enhancement of the PV encapsulant, EVA is presented.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-22
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated the deactivation characteristics of Ni-Zn-Fe electrodes due to intermittent operation in alkaline water electrolysis. To find suitable method to accelerate deactivation of electrode, the accelerated stress-test (AST) which repeated on/off step was performed with constant current/voltage control. The AST under constant voltage control is suitable to deactivate electrode so it were selected to investigate deactivation of electrode. The AST which repeated on/off step in range of -1.3 V and 0 V was performed and the relationship between oxidation current and electrode deactivation in the off step was investigate. As results, it was confirmed that the nickel and zinc on electrode surface were oxidized due to anodic current which occurred at off step.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.659-666
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• 2019

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) generate electricity by electrochemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen. PEMFCs are expected to alternate electric power generator using fossil fuels with various advantages of high power density, low operating temperature, and environmental-friendly products. PEMFCs have widely been used in a number of applications such as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and stationary fuel cell systems. However, there are remaining technical issues, particularly the long-term durability of each part of fuel cells. Degradation of a carbon supported-platinum catalyst in the anode and cathode follows various mechanistic origins in different fuel cell operating conditions, and thus accelerated stress test (AST) is suggested to evaluate the durability of electrocatalyst. In this article, comparable protocols of the AST durability test are intensively explained.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.558-563
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• 2014

To study the effects of fabrication methods on the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) were fabricated using a Dr blade method, a spray method, screen print method and screen print + spray method. The performance of single cells assembled with the prepared MEAs were initially measured and compared. Electrode accelerated stress testing (AST) involving a potentiostatic step-wave with 10 s at 0.6 V followed by 30 s at 0.9 V was applied to test durability of MEAs. Before and after 6,000cycles of the AST, I-V curves, impedance spectra, cyclic voltammograms, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were measured. Under the operating conditions, the Dr Blde MEA exhibited the highest initial performance. After electrode accelerated stress testing, screen print + spray MEA showed lowest degradation rate.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.1065-1068
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• 2008

Marine bridges are readily deteriorated due to the exposure to marine environment. The concrete deterioration occurred by corrosion of steel in concrete is mainly relevant to chloride in seawater. Chloride ions penetrate through porous concrete, and then reach to the reinforcing steel, and finally corroded them. The corrosion by-products(rusts) increase the volume as much as 6 to 10 times of origin steel. this creates expanding pressure and tensile stress, which cause the structures cracking and spalling. Sometimes the rebar corrosion is accelerated, and then collapsed catastrophically. In order to prevent corrosion damage, it is important to understand well regarding the reason of concrete corrosion, the quantification of its damage, and protection method/system to stop or to mitigate the corrosion. In this study, slab specimens were fabricated to evaluate the effect of cathodic protection which was simulated to marine bridges, and/or port structures. Zn-mesh sacrificial anode has been applied as a chathodic protection system and accelerated test conditions, i.e. temperature and salt concentration have been used in this study.