• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 2023

The activation process is essential for PEMFC to improve initial performance. The most commonly used activation method is a voltage change (load change) method, which may accompany degradation of the electrode catalyst if excessively performed. In many activation processes, the voltage change range is activated in a wide range from 0.4 V to OCV, and research is needed to reduce the voltage change range in order to prevent electrode catalyst degradation and shorten the activation time. Therefore, in this study, when the activation voltage range was 0.4~0.6 V, 0.4~0.8 V, and 0.4~OCV, we tried to research and develop an effective activation method by analyzing the performance and characteristics of the electrode and polymer membrane. The performance improvement was the lowest in the activation with a wide voltage range from 0.4 V to the highest OCV, and the performance decreased by 10% when activated for 56 cycles. The 0.4~0.6 V activation cycle showed the highest performance improvement up to 20% and the smallest decrease in performance due to overactivation, indicating that it is optimal method.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.540-544
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• 2013

During start up and shut down of a proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the performance and lifetime of PEMFC were reduced. In this study, effect of startup and shutdown were investigated in dead-end type PEMFC using oxygen as a cathode gas with polarization curve, impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dummy load which eliminates residual hydrogen and oxygen during startup and shutdown operation should be applied to mitigated the degradation of PEMFC performance. At 50% relative humidity (RH) under the repetitive on/off cycling, the cell performance decayed faster than at 100% RH because of corrosion of the cathode carbon support. Water suppling into cell reduced the degradation rate of dead-end type PEMFC during start up and shut down cycling at 50% RH.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2012

The recovery of a Pt anode in a PEMFC through 30 ppm $H_2S/H_2$ exposure was evaluated by using a cyclic voltametry(CV) scan. First, the PEMFC unit cell performanc loss was measured three times under an anode feeding with 30 ppm $H_2S/H_2$ for 1hr at $0.5A/cm^2$ of current density. The initial cell performance was $1.16A/cm^2$ at 0.6 V without $H_2S$ poisoning. After first poisoning step for 1hr the cell performance was decrease to $0.77A/cm^2$, and the further poisoning steps decreased up 0.57 V. Finally, the recovery of the cell performance of $H_2S$ poisoned PEMFC was achieved up to 90.3% by applying CV scan. Moreover, we also found out that another possible approach for over 80% recovery of the cell performance of $H_2S$ poisoned anode Pt catalyst layer was to just inject fresh hydrogen into the anode feeding stream.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 2014

In this research, we evaluated the performance and characteristics of carbon supported PtM (M = Ni and Y) alloy catalysts (PtM/Cs) synthesized by a modified polyol method. With the PtM/Cs employed as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of cathodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), their catalytic and ORR activities and electrical performance were investigated and compared with those of commercial Pt/C. Their particle sizes, particle distributions and electrochemically active surface areas (EAS) were measured by TEM and cyclic voltammetry (CV), while their ORR activity and electrical performance were explored using linear sweeping voltammetries with rotating disk electrodes and rotating ring-disk electrodes as well as PEMFC single cell tests. TEM and CV measurements show that PtM/Cs have the compatible particle size and EAS with Pt/C. When it comes to ORR activity, PtM/C showed the equivalent or better half-wave potential, kinetic current density, transferred electron number per oxygen molecule and $H_2O_2$ production(%) to or than commerical Pt/C. Based on results gained by the three electrode tests, when the PEMFC single cell tests were carried out, the current density measured at 0.6 V and maximum power density of PEMFC single cell adopting PtM/C catalysts were better than those adopting Pt/C catalyst. It is therefore concluded that PtM/C catalysts synthesized by modified polyol can result in the equivalent or better ORR catalytic capability and PEMFC performance to or than commercial Pt/C catalyst.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2005

PFC(Perfluorocarbon) decontamination process is one of best methods to remove hot particulate adhered at inside surface of hot cell and surface of equipment in hot cell. It was necessary to develop a particulate filtration equipment to reuse PFC solution used on PFC decontamination due to its high cost and to minimize the volume of second wastewater. Contamination characteristics of hot particulate were investigated and then a filtration process was presented to remove hot particulate in PFC solution generated through PFC decontamination process. The removal efficiency of PVDF(Poly vinylidene fluoride), PP(Polypropylene), Ceramic(Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ filter showed more than 95$\%$. The removal efficiency of PVDF filter was a little lower than those of other kiters at same pressure(3psi). A ceramic filter showed a higher removal efficiency with other filters, while a little lower flux rate than other filters. Due to inorganic composition, a ceramic filter was highly stable against radio nuclides in comparison with PVDF and PP membrane, which generate H$_{2}$ gas in e-radioactivity atmosphere. Therefore, the adoption of ceramic filter is estimated to be suitable for the real nitration process.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.131-131
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• 2009

최근 환경규제가 강화되면서 친환경적인 전력생산 요구 등의 외부환경 변화에 따른 우리나라의 전력구조가 기존의 중압 집중형 발전을 탈피한 분산전원 발전에 대한 관심이 증대되고 있는 실정이다. 특히, 분산전원으로서의 전력생산은 공급의 안전성, 경쟁력 및 에너지의 지속성 등이 요구되어지는데, 재생에너지가 가지고 있는 에너지 지속성의 한계 및 설치의 제약성을 탈피할 수 있는 시스템으로 현재 연료전지시스템이 가장 근접해 있는 실정이다. 즉, 도시가스 인프라가 우수하고 인구조밀 지역이 많은 우리나라의 특성상 각 가정 및 건물에 쉽게 설치하고 공급의 안전성을 갖는 건물용 연료전지는 최근 가장 각광받고 있는 분산전원 시스템 중의 하나이다. 올해부터 모니터링사업의 일환으로 수용가에 설치 될 연료전지 시스템이 얼마나 안정적으로 전기와 열을 각 가정에 공급하고 시스템의 안전성을 확보하는 가는 건물용 연료전지의 분산전원으로서의 가능성 및 국민의 수용성을 증대시키는 중요한 역할을 할 것이다. 연료전지시스템은 상용전력과 연계되어 있기 때문에 시스템의 안정성 뿐만 아니라 상용전력의 변화에 대응하여 안정적인 운전을 하는지에 대한 평가가 필수적이다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 가정용 연료전지시스템의 성능 및 안전성평가의 일환으로 계통연계형 전력변환장치의 성능 및 안전성을 평가 하고자 한다. 연료전지 검사를 위한 계통연계형 전력변환장치의 시험평가 항목으로는 크게 정상특성성능시험, 보호기능성능시험, 과도응답특성성능시험 및 외부사고성능시험 등으로 나뉘어진다. 본 연구에서는 외부사고 성능시험 항목들인 출력측 단락시험, 계통전압 순간정전?순간강하시험 및 부하차단 시험 등을 통하여 외부사고에 대한 성능 및 안전성을 평가하였다. 외부사고 성능시험의 주 목적은 시스템의 이상 운전이 아니라 외부의 영향에 따른 시스템의 안전성 및 전력품질을 평가한다. 출력측 단락시험을 수행하기 위해서 전력변환장치를 정격 출력 전압, 정격 출력 주파수 및 정격 출력에서 운전한 후, 교류 전원장치는 단락 전류를 검출하여, 사고 발생 후 0.3초 이내에 개방하도록 설정하였다. 여기서, 단락 저항 Rsc를 정격 전류의 10배 이상에 해당하는 부하와 같은 값으로 설정하였다. 스위치 SWSC를 폐로하여 단락 상태를 만들며, 이 때 전력변환장치의 출력전류와 차단 또는 정지 시간을 측정하였다. 실험 결과에 대한 판정기준은 단락전류를 검출하여 0.5초 이내에 개폐기 개방 또는 게이트 블록 기능이 동작하여 시스템을 안정하게 정지시키고 시스템 어떤 부위에도 손상이 없어야 한다. 실험 결과 파워컨디셔너의 출력전류 및 차단 또는 정지된시간이 40ms로 나타났고, 출력전류의 파형도 매우 안정함을 볼 수 있었다. 이와 같이 모든 실험을 수행한 결과 외부사고에 대하여 시스템이 안전하게 정지하는 등 연료전지 시스템의 안전성을 확인하였다.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2007

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a promising power source for portable applications due to many advantages such as simple construction, compact design, high energy density, and relatively high energy-conversion efficiency. In this work, an electrochemical methanol sensor for monitoring the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells was fabricated using a thin composite nafion membrane as the electrolyte. We have analyzed the I-V characteristic of the fabricated methanol sensor as a function of methanol concentration, catalyst electrode and platinum(Pt) thickness. The fabricated sensor was analyzed by I-V measurement with various methanol concentration. When we measured the sensor characteristics with 10nm Pt and at 1V, the current value was $1.30{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;2.80{\times}10^{-6} A$ for three methanol concentration of 1M, 2M and 3M, respectively. When the methanol concentration was fixed at 2M, the current value of the fabricated device with Pt layers of 5, 10 and 15 nm thickness was $3.06{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;1.00{\times}10^{-6}A$, respectively. These results lead us to the conclusion that when the methanol concentration increases, the output current increases and when the catalyst electrode become thinner, the current increase more. It showed that, the thinner the catalyst electrode, the more electrochemistry become activation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2005

The electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a LiCl-Li$_{2}$O molten salt system has been studied in a 10 g U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ /batch-scale experimental apparatus with an integrated cathode assembly at 650$^{\circ}C$. The integrated cathode assembly consists of an electric conductor, the uranium oxide to be reduced and the membrane for loading the uranium oxide. From the cyclic voltammograms for the LiCl-3 wt$\%$ Li$_{2}$O system and the U$_{3}$O$_{8}$-LiCl-3 wt$\%$ Li$_{2}$O system according to the materials of the membrane in the cathode assembly, the mechanisms of the predominant reduction reactions in the electrolytic reactor cell were to be understood; direct and indirect electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide. Direct and indirect electrolytic reductions have been performed with the integrated cathode assembly. Using the 325-mesh stainless steel screen the uranium oxide failed to be reduced to uranium metal by a direct and indirect electrolytic reduction because of a low current efficiency and with the porous magnesia membrane the uranium oxide was reduced successfully to uranium metal by an indirect electrolytic reduction because of a high current efficiency.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2011

Proton conductors have attracted considerable attention for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), hydrogen pump, gas sensor, and membrane separators. Doped $SrCeO_3$ exhibits appreciable proton conductivity in hydrogen-containing atmosphere at high temperature. However commercial realization has been hampered due to the reactivity of $SrCeO_3$ with $CO_2$. The chemical stability and proton conductivity are dependent on dopant type. The purpose of this work is to investigate chemical stability of $SrCe_{0.95}Gd_{0.05}O_{3-\alpha}-Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{2-\beta}$ composites in $CO_2$ and $H_2$ gases. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed in gaseous $CO_2$ and electrical conductivity of the composites were also measured between 500 and $900^{\circ}C$ in air and $H_2$ atmosphere. $SrCe_{0.95}Gd_{0.05}O_{3-\alpha}-Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{2-\beta}$ composite membranes showed good chemical stability of in $CO_2$ atmosphere and high conductivity at hydrogen condition. The hydrogen permeation of $SrCe_{0.95}Gd_{0.05}O_{3-\alpha}-Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{2-\beta}$ composite membranes was investigated as a function of volumetric content of $SrCe_{0.95}Gd_{0.05}O_{3-\alpha}$. The $SrCe_{0.95}Gd_{0.05}O_{3-\alpha}-Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{2-\beta}$(6:4) membrane with a thickness of 1.0 mm showed the highest hydrogen permeability with the flux reaching of 0.12 $ml/min{\cdot}cm^2$ at $800^{\circ}C$ in 100%$H_2/N_2$ as feed gas.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2007

Proton conducting crosslinked membranes have been prepared by polymer blending, which consist of poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE) and poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA-co-PMA) at 50 : 50 wt ratio. Two kinds of PSSA-co-PMA copolymer with 3 : 1 and 1 : 1 the molar ratio of PSSA to PMA wereused as a proton conducting source. The ethylene content of PVA-co-PE was also changed as 0, 27 and 44 mol%. The membranes were thermally crosslinked via the esterification reaction between -OH of PVA and -COOH of PMA, as demonstrated by FT-IR spectroscopy (PVA-co-PE)/(PSSA-co-PMA) membranes with 3 : 1 the molar ratio of PSSA to PMA showed higher ion exchange capacity (IEC), lower water uptake and higher proton conductivity than those with 1 : 1 molar ratio. As the PE concentration increased, the IEC values, water uptake and proton conductivities decreased continuously. These properties were elucidated in terms of competitive effect between the concentration of sulfonic acid, hydrophilicity and the crosslinked structure of membranes.