• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.101-104
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• 2017

In this investigation, synchrotron X-ray imaging was used to investigate the water distribution inside newly developed gas diffusion media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. In-situ radiography was used to reveal the relationship between the structure of the microporous layer (MPL) and the water flow in a newly developed MPL equipped with randomly arranged holes. A strong influence of these holes on the overall water transport was found. This contribution provides a brief overview to some of our recent activities on this research field.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2007

A 2-D model of fluid flow, mass transport and electrochemistry is analysed to examine the effect of current density at the current collector depending on active layer thickness of catlyst in polymer elecrolyte fuel cells. The finite element method is used to solve the continuity, potential and Maxwell-Stefan equations in the flow channel and gas diffusion electrode regions. For the material behavior of electrode reactions in the active catalyst layers, the agglomerate model is implemented to solve the diffusion-reaction problem. The calculated model results are described and compared with the different thickness of active catalyst layers. The significance of the results is discussed in the viewpoint of the current collecting capabilities as well as mass transportation phenomena, which is inferred that the mass transport of reactants dictates the efficiency of the electrode in the present analysis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.579-582
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• 2012

Removing residual water in a fuel cell is a critical operational process for managing its performance and controlling its lifetime. Understanding the mechanism of water transport in fuel cells is essential for the design of the water removal process. In this study, an experimental method for measuring the water evaporation rate through a gas diffusion layer, which is a porous medium, under steady-state conditions was developed. Experimental bench tests were conducted to apply the developed method. Then, the effects of various parameters of the drying gas and the gas diffusion layer were experimentally measured. The water evaporation rate increased as the humidity of the drying gas decreased and the flow rate of the drying gas increased. In addition, a thinner gas diffusion layer yielded a higher water evaporation rate.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.26 no.1_2
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• pp.161-176
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• 2008

The effect of variable viscosity on MHD mixed convection Hiemenz flow over a thermally stratified porous wedge plate has been studied in the presence of suction or injection. The wall of the wedge is embedded in a uniform Darcian porous medium in order to allow for possible fluid wall suction or injection and has a power-law variation of the wall temperature. An approximate numerical solution for the steady laminar boundary-layer flow over a wall of the wedge in the presence of thermal diffusion has been obtained by solving the governing equations using numerical technique. The fluid is assumed to be viscous and incompressible. Numerical calculations are carried out for different values of dimensionless parameters and an analysis of the results obtained shows that the flow field is influenced appreciably by the magnetic effect, variable viscosity, thermal stratification and suction / injection at wall surface. Effects of these major parameters on the transport behaviors are investigated methodically and typical results are illustrated to reveal the tendency of the solutions. Comparisons with previously published works are performed and excellent agreement between the results is obtained.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.11 no.1_2
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• pp.215-241
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• 2003

In this paper, solute transport in heterogeneous aquifers using a modified Fokker-Planck equation (MFPE) is investigated. This newly developed mathematical model is characterised with a time-, scale-dependent dispersivity. A two-dimensional finite volume quadrilateral mesh method (FVQMM) based on a quadrilateral background interpolation mesh is developed for analysing the model. The FVQMM transforms the coupled non-linear partial differential equations into a system of differential equations, which is solved using backward differentiation formulae of order one through five in order to advance the solution in time. Three examples are presented to demonstrate the model verification and utility. Henry's classic benchmark problem is used to show that the MFPE captures significant features of transport phenomena in heterogeneous porous media including enhanced transport of salt in the upper layer due to its parameters that represent the dependence of transport processes on scale and time. The time and scale effects are investigated. Numerical results are compared with published results on the some problems.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.367-374
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• 2014

In the present study, disc-type LSCF/GDC (20 : 80 vol%) dual-phase membranes having porous LSC/GDC (50 : 50 vol%) active layers were prepared and effect of active layers on oxygen ion transport behavior was investigated. Introduction of active layers improved drastically oxygen flux due to enhanced electron conductivity and oxygen surface exchange activity. As firing temperature of active layer increased from $900^{\circ}C$ to $1000^{\circ}C$, oxygen flux increased due to improved contact between membrane and active layer or between grains of active layer. The enhanced contact would improve oxygen ion and electron transports from active layer to membrane. Also, as thickness of active layer increased from 10 to $20{\mu}m$, oxygen flux decreased since thick active layer rather prevented oxygen molecules diffusing through the pores. And, STF infiltration improved oxygen flux due to enhanced oxygen reduction reaction rate. The experimental data announces that coating and property control of active layer is an effective method to improve oxygen flux of dual-phase oxygen transport membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2007

The cathode design is one of the most important parts in order to enhance the performance of fuel cells. A 3-D model of the porous oxygen reducing cathode with perforated current collectors is analysed for the enhanced design in fuel cells. Simulation is performed using equations of electric potential balance, momentum balance, and mass balance. The gas concentrations are quite large and are significantly affected by the reactions that take place. The weight fraction of oxygen, velocity field for the gas phase, and local overvoltage are illustrated in the porous reactive cathode layer. The current density is also analysed and the result shows the distribution and variation are stated in a wide range. It is found that the rate of reaction and the current production is higher beneath the orifice, and decreases as the distance to the gas inlet increases. The significance of the results is discussed in the viewpoint of the mass transportation phenomena, which is inferred that the mass transport of reactants dictates the efficiency of the electrode in this design and at these conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.315-316
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• 2006

The paper presents some results regarding the obtaining of some copper heat pipes with a porous copper internal layer for electronic components cooling. The heat pipes were realized by sintering of spherical copper powders of $90{\div}125\;{\mu}m$ size directly on the internal side of a copper pipe of 18 mm in diameter. The obtained pipes were then brazed in order to obtain a heat pipe of 0.5 m in length. After that, the heat pipe was sealed and filled with a small quantity of distilled water as working fluid. To establish the total heat transport coefficient and the thermal flow transferred at the evaporator, some external devices were realized to allow the heating of the evaporator and the cooling of the condenser. Water heat pipes are explored in the intermediate temperature range of 303 up to 500 K. Test data are reported for copper water heat pipe, which was tested under different orientations. The obtained results show that the water heat pipe has a good thermal transfer performance in the temperatures range between 345 and 463 K.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.442-454
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• 2021

The porous transport layer (PTL) is essential to effectively remove oxygen and hydrogen gas from the electrode surface at high current density operation conditions. In this study, the effect of PTL with different characteristics such as pore size, pore gradient, interfacial coating was investigated by multi-layered sintered mesh. A water electrolysis single cell of active area of the 34.56 cm² was constructed, and IV performance and impedance analysis were conducted in the range of 0 to 2.0 A/cm². It was confirmed that the multi-layered sintered mesh PTL, which have an average pore size of 25 to 57 ㎛ and a larger pore gradient, removed bubbles effectively and thus seemed to improve IV performance. Also, it was confirmed that the catalytic metals such as Ni, NiMo coating on the PTL reduced activation overpotential, but increased mass transport overpotential.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.197-210
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• 1999

The hydrogen storage performance and electrochemical properties of $Zr_{1-X}Ti_X(Mn_{0.2}V_{0.2}Ni_{0.6})_{1.8}$(X=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) alloys are investigated. The relationship between discharge performance and alloy characteristics such as P-C-T characteristics and crystallographic parameters is also discussed. All of these alloys are found to have mainly a C14-type Laves phase structure by X-ray diffraction analysis. As the mole fraction of Ti in the alloy increases, the reversible hydrogen storage capacity decreases while the equilibrium hydrogen pressure of alloy increases. Furthermore, the discharge capacity shows a maxima behavior and the rate-capability is increased, but the cycling durability is rapidly degraded with increasing Ti content in the alloy. In order to analyze the above phenomena, the phase distribution, surface composition, and dissolution amount of alloy constituting elements are examined by S.E.M., A.E.S. and I.C.P. respectively. The decrease of secondary phase amount with increasing Ti content in the alloy explains that the micro-galvanic corrosion by multiphase formation is little related with the degradation of the alloys. The analysis of surface composition shows that the rapid degradation of Ti-substituted Zr base alloy electrode is due to the growth of oxygen penetration layer. After comparing the radii of atoms and ions in the electrolyte, it is clear that the electrode surface becomes more porous, and that is the source of growth of oxygen penetration layer while accelerating the dissolution of alloy constituting elements with increasing Ti content. Consequently, the rapid degradation (fast growth of the oxygen-penetrated layer) with increasing Ti substitution in Zr-based alloy is ascribed to the formation of porous surface oxide through which the oxygen atom and hydroxyl ion with relatively large radius can easily transport into the electrode surface.