• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.1287-1300
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• 2017

Based on the observation that ignoring the angle dependency of multigroup resonance cross sections within a fuel pellet would result in nontrivial underestimation of the spatial self-shielding of flux, a parametrized spectral superhomogenization (SPH) factor library (PSSL) method is developed as a practical means of resolving the problem. Region-wise spectral SPH factors are calculated by the normal and transport corrected SPH iterations after ultrafine group slowing down calculations over various light water reactor pin-cell configurations. The parametrization is done with fuel temperature, U-238 number density, fuel radius, moderator source represented by ${\Sigma}_{mod}V_{mod}$, and the number density ratio of resonance nuclides to that of U-238 in a form of resonance interference correction factors. The parametrization is successful in that the root mean square errors of the interpolated SPH factors over the fuel regions of various pin-cells are within 0.1%. The improvement in reactivity error of the PSSL method is shown to be superior to that by the original SPH method in that the reactivity bias of -200 pcm to -300 pcm vanishes almost completely. It is demonstrated that the environment effect takes only about 4% in the reactivity improvement so that the pin-cell based PSSL method is effective in the assembly problems.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.236-242
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• 2015

We present two data-driven modeling methods, partial least square (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN), to predict the major operating and performance variables of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack. PLS and ANN models were constructed using the experimental data obtained from the testing of a 30 kW-class PEM fuel cell stack, and then were compared with each other in terms of their prediction and computational performances. To reduce the complexity of the models, we combined a variables importance on PLS projection (VIP) as a variable selection method into the modeling procedure in which the predictor variables are selected from a set of input operation variables. The modeling results showed that the ANN models outperformed the PLS models in predicting the average cell voltage and cathode outlet temperature of the fuel cell stack. However, the PLS models also offered satisfactory prediction performances although they can only capture linear correlations between the predictor and output variables. Depending on the degree of modeling accuracy and speed, both ANN and PLS models can be employed for performance predictions, offline and online optimizations, controls, and fault diagnoses in the field of PEM fuel cell designs and operations.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2016

Thermal management of a fuel cell is important to satisfy the requirements of durability and efficiency under varying load conditions. In this study, a linear state feedback controller was designed to maintain the temperature within operating conditions. Due to the nonlinearity of automotive fuel cell system, the state feedback controller results in marginal stable under load condition from $0.5A/cm^2$ to $0.7A/cm^2$. A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and the modified state feedback controller are applied to control the temperature under the load condition from $0.5A/cm^2$ to $0.7A/cm^2$. The cooling system model is composed of a reservoir, radiator, bypass valve, fan, and a water pump. The performance of the control algorithm was evaluated in terms of the integral time weighted absolute error (ITAE). Additionally, MATLAB/SIMULINK$^{(R)}$ was used for the development of the system models and controllers. The modified state feedback controller was found to be more effective for controlling temperature than other algorithms when tested under low load conditions.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

In recent days, fuel cell has received attention from the world as an alternative power source to hydrocarbon used in automobile engines. With the industrial advances of fuel cell, There have been a lot of researches actively conducted to find a way of generating hydrogen. Among many hydrogen production methods, Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell(SOEC) is not only a basic way but also environment-friendly method to produce hydrogen gas. Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell has lower electrical energy demands and high thermal efficiency since it is possible to operate under high temperature and high pressure conditions. For these reasons, experimental researches as well as studies on numerical modeling for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell have been under way. However, studies on numerical modeling are relatively less enough than experimental accomplishments and have limited performance prediction, which mostly is considered as a result from inadequate effects of electrochemical properties by temperature and pressure. In this study, various experimental studies of commercial Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) composed of Ni-YSZ (40wt%, Ni-60 wt% YSZ)/8-YSZ (TOSOH, TZ8Y)/LSM (La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃) was utilized for improving effectiveness of SOEC model. After numerically analyzing effects of electrochemical properties according to operating temperature, causing the largest deviation between experiments and simulation are that Charge Transfer Coefficient (CTC), exchange current density, diffusion coefficient, electrical conductivity in SOEC. Analyzing temperature effect on parameter used in overpotential model is conducted for modeling of SOEC. cross-validation method is adopted for application of various MEA and evaluating feasibility of model. As a result, the study confirm that the numerical model of SOEC based on structured process of effectiveness evaluation makes performance prediction better.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.382-382
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• 2009

In this study, we prepared electrodes containing ionic liquid for high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Effects of ILs on electrochemical properties of the electrodes were investigated carrying out measurement of cyclic voltammograms of the various electrodes with the content of IL in a strong supporting electrolyte. As the ILs content increased in electrodes, electrochemical surface area(ESA) decreased due to the leakage of ILs from Nafion ionomer. In addition, two case of cyclic voltammograms under two simulated environment, i.e. IL leakage from Nafion ionomer in I) electrode and ii) polymer electrolyte, were investigated. As a result, IL leakage from polymer electrolyte showed worse results in electrochemical properties of the electrode.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2002

In this study, high performance electrode catalyst was developed in fabrication of membrane electrode assembly for PEMFCs(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells). The I-V characteristics were measured to evaluate the influence of Nafion solution and Pt loading amount in the catalyst composition. The electrode characteristics were also investigated with respect to temperature change. The electrode performance was optimized at Nafion 5 wt% and 0.5 mg Pt/$\textrm{cm}^2$ content. The increase in the concentration of Nafion solution resulted in the decrease in electrode performance. At $80^{\circ}C$ of unit cell, I-V characteristics excelled those obtained at lower temperature. There was no difference in performance at low current density, but the improvement of voltage value in higher temperature could be found at high current density.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.636-644
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• 2008

The objective of this paper is to investigate characteristics of an autothermal reformer at various operating conditions. Numerical method has been used, and simulation model has been developed for the analysis. Pseudo-homogeneous model is incorporated because the reactor is filled with catalysts of a packed-bed type. Dominant chemical reactions are Full Combustion reaction, Steam Reforming(SR) reaction, Water-Gas Shift(WGS) reaction, and Direct Steam Reforming(DSR) reaction. Simulation results are compared with experimental results for code validation. Operating parameters of the autothermal reformer are inlet temperature, Oxygen to Carbon Ratio(OCR), Steam to Carbon Ratio(SCR), and Gas Hourly Space Velocity(GHSV). Temperature at the reactor center, fuel conversion, species at the reformer outlet, and reforming efficiency are shown as simulation results. SR reaction rate is improved by increased inlet temperature. Reforming efficiency and fuel conversion reached the maximum at 0.7 of OCR. SR reaction and WGS reaction are activated as SCR increases. When GHSV is increased, reforming efficiency increases but pressure drop from the increased GHSV may decrease the system efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

FCV is installed with a automatic valve attached in an high pressure cylinder to control the hydrogen flow. The supply of hydrogen from the cylinder into the fuel cell stack is controlled via the on/off operation of a solenoid attached to the automatic valve. The solenoid needs to provide the necessary attraction force even at any saturation temperature caused by drive of the vehicle. In this study, the simplified prediction equations for the saturation temperature are suggested. The finite element analysis was performed by steady state technique, according to the boundary condition in order to predict the saturation temperature and attraction force. Finally, the saturation temperature was validated through comparison between the analysis results and measurement results. From the results, the measured saturation temperature $5.9^{\circ}C$ lower with respect to the analysis results. And the error of attraction force ranged from 1.0 to 2.1 N at testing conditions.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.299-302
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• 2009

Oxygen ionic conductors of YSZ electrolyte in SOFC unit cell are applied to anode and cathode as well as electrolyte to have triple-phase-boundaries(TPB) of electrochemical reaction, and it is required to decrease the sintering temperature of anode-supported electrolyte by the nanoscale of YSZ powder.In this report, nanoscale YSZ powder was synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method. The particle size, surface area and morphology of the powder were observed by SEM and BET. Thin film electrolyte of under 10㎛ was fabricated by tape casting using the synthesized YSZ powder, and ionic conductivity and gas permiability of electrolyte film were evaluated. Finally, the SOFC unit cell was fabricated using the anode-supported electrolyte prepared by a tape casting method and co-sintering. Electrochemical evauations of the SOFC unit cell, including measurements such as power density and impedance, were performed and analyzed.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.218-221
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• 2009

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), as high-temperature fuel cells, have various advantages. In some merits of SOFCs, high temperature operation can lead to the capability for internal reforming, providing fuel flexibility. SOFCs can directly use CH4 and CO as fuels with sufficient steam feeds. However, hydrocarbons heavier than CH4, such as ethylene, ethane, and propane, induce carbon deposition on the Ni-based anodes of SOFCs. In the case of the ethylene steam reforming reaction on a Ni-based catalyst, the rate of carbon deposition is faster than among other hydrocarbons, even aromatics. In the reformates of heavy hydrocarbons (diesel, gasoline, kerosene and JP-8), the concentration of ethylene is usually higher than other low hydrocarbons such as methane, propane and butane. It is importatnt that ethylene in the reformate is removed for stlable operation of SOFCs. A new methodology, termed post-reforming was introduced for removing low hydrocarbons from the reformate gas stream. In this work, activity tests of some post-reforming catalysts, such as CGO-Ru, CGO-Ni, and CGO-Pt, are investigated. CGO-Pt catalyst is not good for removing ethylene due to low conversion of ethylene and low selectivity of ethylene dehydrogenation. The other hand, CGO-Ru and CGO-Ni catalysts show good ethylene conversion, and CGO-Ni catalyst shows the best reaction selectivity of ethylene dehydrogenation.