• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2016

Application of fuel cell to produce renewable energy for commercial purpose is limited by the high cost of Pt based electrode materials. Development of inexpensive, high energetic electrode is the need of the hour to produce pollution free energy using bio-fuel through a fuel cell. Ni-Cu and Ni-CeO₂-Cu electrode materials, electro synthesized by pulse current have been developed. The surface morphology of the electrode materials is controlled by different deposition parameters in order to produce a high current from the electro-oxidation of the fuel, the ethanol. The developed materials are electrochemically characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Chronoamperometry (CA) and Potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results confirm that the high current is due to their enhanced catalytic properties viz. high exchange current density (i₀), low polarization resistance (R_p) and low impedance. It is worthwhile to mention here that the addition of CeO₂ to Ni-Cu has outperformed Pt as far as the high electro catalytic properties are concerned; the exchange current density is about eight times higher than the same on Pt surface. The morphology of the electrode surface examined by SEM and FESEM exhibits that the grains are narrow and sub spherical with 3D surface, containing vacancies in between the elongated grains. The fact has enhanced more surface area for electro oxidation of the fuel, giving rise to an increase in current. Presence of Ni, CeO₂, and Cu is confirmed by the XRD and EDXS. Fuel cell fabricated with Ni-CeO₂-Cu material electrode is expected to produce clean electrical energy at cheaper rates than conventional one, using bio fuel the derived from biomass.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

The lignite and bituminous coal are mainly used in thermal power plant. They exhaust green house gas (GHG) such as CO₂, and become deplete, thus require alternative energy resources. To solve the problem, the hydrochar production from biomass is suggested. In this study, both hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and solvothermal carbonization (STC) were used to produce high quality hydrochar. To improve the reactivity of water solvent process in HTC, STC process was conducted using ethanol solution. The experiments were carried out by varying the solid-liquid ratio (1:4, 1:8, 1:12), reaction temperature (150~300 ℃) and retention time (15~120 min) using kenaf. The characteristic of hydrochar was analyzed by EA, FT-IR, TGA and SEM. The carbon content of hydrochar increased up to 48.11%, while the volatile matter decreased up to 39.34%. Additionally, the fuel characteristic of hydrochar was enhanced by reaction temperature. The results showed that the kenaf converted to a fuel by HTC and STC process, which can be used as an alternative energy source of coal.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.663-671
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• 2023

This research experimentally evaluated the recyclability of four varieties of lignocellulosic fly ash(FA), a by-product from three power plants employing lignocellulosic biomass(Bio-SRF, wood pellets) as a fuel source. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on FA, encompassing both physical parameters (particle shape, size distribution, fineness, and density) and chemical properties(chemical composition and heavy metal content). Mortar test specimens, with FA mixing ratios ranging from 5 to 20%, were produced in compliance with KS L 5405 standards, and their flow and compressive strength were subsequently measured. The test results indicated that the four types of FA exhibited particle sizes approximately between 20~30㎛, densities around 2.3~2.5g/cm³, and a fineness range of 2,600~4,900cm²/g. The FA comprised approximately 50~90% of components such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and CaO, displaying characteristics akin to type-II and type-III FA of KS L 5405 standards, albeit with differences in chlorine and SiO₂ content. From the mortar tests, it was observed that the compressive strength of the mortar ranged between 34~47MPa when the pellet combustion FA was mixed in proportions of 5~20%. FA, produced exclusively from the combustion of 100% lignocellulosic fuel, is assessed to possess high recyclability potential as a substitute for conventional admixtures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.380-388
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• 2017

Wood pyrolysis oil(WPO) has been regarded as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. However, WPO is not feasible for use directly in diesel engines due to its poor fuel quality such as low energy density, high acidity, high viscosity and low cetane number. The most widely used approach to improve WPO fuel quality is to blend WPO with other hydrocarbon fuels that have a higher cetane number. However, WPO and fossil fuels are not usually blended because of their different polarity. Also, clogging and polymerization problems in the fuel supply system can occur when the engine is operated with WPO. Polymerization can be prevented by diluting WPO with other alcohol fuels. However, WPO-alcohol blended fuel does not produce self-ignition. Therefore, additional cetane enhancement to the blended fuel is required to enhance auto-ignitability. In this study, WPO was blended with n-butanol and two cetane enhancements(PEG 400 and 2-EHN) for application to a diesel generator. Experimental results showed that the WPO-butanol blended fuel achieved a very stable engine operation under maximum WPO content of 20 wt%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.795-796
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• 2010

Interest has been increasing worldwide in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (F-T) as a method of producing synthetic liquid fuels from biomass. Hydroisomerization of $C_7-C_{15}$ paraffins applies to production of diesel fuel with high cetane number and improved cold flow properties, such as viscosity, pour point and freezing point. The commercial products such as fuel jet produced from F-T synthesis should have low freezing and pour points. In this study, our major aim is to develop a catalyst for hydroisomerization of synthesis-oil for bio-jet fuel. Effects of zeolites and platinum loading on hydroisomerization of dodecane were investigated as a model reaction in a batch reactor.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.491-496
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• 2017

The hydrogen($H_2$) is promising energy carrier of renewable energy in the microgrid system such as small village and military base due to its high energy density, pure emission and convenient transportation. $H_2$ can be generated by photocatalytic water splitting, gasification of biomass and water electrolysis driven by solar cell or wind turbine. Solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs) are the most efficient way to mass production due to high operating temperature improving the electrode kinetics and reducing the electrolyte resistance. The SOECs are consist of nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia(NiO-YSZ) fuel electrode / YSZ electrolyte / lanthanum strontium manganite-YSZ(LSM-YSZ) air electrode due to similarity to Solid Oxide Fuel Cells(SOFCs). The Ni-YSZ most widely used fuel electrode shows several problems at SOEC mode such as degradation of the fuel electrode because of Ni particle's redox reaction and agglomeration. Therefore Ni-YSZ need to be replaced to an alternative fuel electrode material. In this study, We studied on the Double perovskite $PrBrMnO_{5+{\delta}}$(PBMO) due to its high electric conductivity, catalytic activity and electrochemical stability. PBMO was impregnated into the scaffold electrolyte $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Ga_{0.85}Mg_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$(LSGM) to be synthesized at low temperature for avoiding secondary phase generated when it exposed to high temperature. The Half cell test was conducted at SOECs and SOFCs modes.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.901-909
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• 2013

Owing to the Increasing use of fossil fuels, worldwide concerns over environmental pollution are increasing. As a solution, ligneous biomass has emerged as a promising alternative fuel in recent times. Therefore, in this study, a moisture evaporation model that largely influences the energy density and efficiency of ligneous biomass is studied using a numerical approach. Furthermore, the thermal characteristics are analyzed in terms of torrefaction temperature and moisture fractions in the wood, and the type of wood species. The results show that the temperature and moisture fractions of wood decrease with an increase in the torrefaction temperature. In particular, when the torrefaction temperature is lower than 423K, there were little changes in the moisture fraction in the wood. Furthermore, it was found that charcoal is produced more slowly as the moisture fraction in the wood increases.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.214-225
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• 2016

Gasification is one of the important contribution to resource recycling by conversion of biomass to a variety of energy sources such as alcohol, SNG etc., and to global warming prevention by reduction of green house gases such as $CO_2$. The aim of this study is to draw the optimal operation condition of dual fluidized-bed gasifier with biomass fuel, to verify SNG production efficiency and to establish the basis for the domestic commercialization of dual fluidized bed gasification. As a result, dual fluidized-bed gasifier has the optimal conditions at $826^{\circ}C$ with steam input 1,334 g/hr, air input 5.56 L/min. The carbon conversion is 81% and SNG production efficiency was $CH_4$ 92%.

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

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Microalgal cultivation using wastewater is now regarded as essential for biodiesel production, as two goals can be achieved simultaneously; that is, nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. Therefore, this study examined the effects of carbon sources, the N:P ratio, and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) to identify the optimal conditions for nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. The effluent from a 2nd lagoon was used to cultivate microalgae. Whereas the algal species diversity and lipid content increased with a longer HRT, the algal biomass productivity decreased. Different carbon sources also affected the algal species composition. Diatoms were dominant with an increased pH when bicarbonate was supplied. However, 2% $CO_2$ gas led to a lower pH and the dominance of filamentous green algae with a much lower biomass productivity. Among the experiments, the highest chlorophyll-a concentration and lipid productivity were obtained with the addition of phosphate up to 0.5 mg/l P, since phosphorus was in short supply compared with nitrogen. The N and P removal efficiencies were also higher with a balanced N:P ratio, based on the addition of phosphate. Thus, optimizing the N:P ratio for the dominant algae could be critical in attaining higher algal growth, lipid productivity, and nutrient removal efficiency.