• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.3148-3153
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• 2008

Residential fuel cell cogeneration systems have gained much interest due to its high efficiency. In this study, we have performed numerical simulation of residential fuel cell cogeneration system which includes a fuel cell/grid hybrid system. The cogeneration system consists of 1kW PEFC, cooling system, inverter/converter and reformer. Several empirical models have been employed for respective components to improve the accuracy of the simulations. The load varies seasonally. The present simulations can successfully predict the characteristics of the hybrid cogeneration system and thus it can be utilized for establishing an optimal operating strategy of the system.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.123.2-123.2
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• 2010

Fuel Cell cogeneration system is a promising technology for generating electricity and heat with high efficiency of low pollutant emission. We have been developed 5kW class fuel cell cogeneration system for commercial and residential application. The fuel processor is a crucial part of producing hydrogen from the fossil fuels such as LNG and LPG. The 5kW class high efficiency fuel processor consists of steam reformer, CO shift converter, CO preferential oxidation(PrOx) reactor, burner and heat exchanger. The one-stage CO shift converter process using a metal oxide catalyst was adopted. The efficiency of 5 kW class fuel processor shows 75% based on LHV. In addition, for the purpose of continuous operation with load fluctuations in the commercial system for residential use, load change of fuel processor was tested. Efficiency of 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% load shows 75%, 75%, 73% and 72%(LHV), respectively. Also, during the load change conditions, the product gas composition was stable and the outlet CO concentration was below 5 ppm. The Fuel processor operation was carried out in residential fuel cell cogeneration system with fuel cell stack under dynamic conditions. The 5kW class fuel processor have been evaluated for long-term durability and reliability test including with improvement in optimal operation logic.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.358-368
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• 2023

The fuel cell market is expected to grow rapidly. Therefore, it is necessary to scale up fuel cells for buildings, power generation, and ships. A multi-stack system can be an effective way to expand the capacity of a fuel cell. Multi-stack fuel cell systems are better than single-stack systems in terms of efficiency, reliability, durability and maintenance. In this research, we developed a residential fuel cell stack and system model that generates electricity using the fuel cell-photovoltaic hybrid system. The efficiency and hydrogen consumption of the fuel cell system were calculated according to the three proposed power distribution methods (equivalent, Daisy-chain, and optimal method). As a result, the optimal power distribution method increases the efficiency of the fuel cell system and reduces hydrogen consumption. The more frequently the multi-stack fuel cell system is exposed to lower power levels, the greater the effectiveness of the optimal power distribution method.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.373-385
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• 2013

To obtain higher power efficiency of Residential Power Generation system(RPG), it is needed to operate system on optimized stoichiometric ratios of fuel and air. Stoichiometric ratios of fuel/air are closely related to efficiency of stack, reformer and power consumption of Balance Of Plant(BOP). In this paper, optimizing stoichiometric ratios of fuel/air are conducted through systematic experiments and modeling. Based on fundamental principles and experimental data, constraints are chosen. By implementing these optimum values of stoichiometric ratios, power efficiency of the system could be maximized.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.556-566
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• 2019

Recently, as the supply of residential polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) increases, the durability and lifetime of the PEMFC system are becoming important. The related studies have been mainly focused on the durability and lifetime of materials while the research on the durability and maintenance of the system level is insufficient. In this paper, a model-based fault detection method is developed considering an air supply system that is dominant to the system performance and efficiency. A commercial 1 kW residential fuel cell system is built, and experiments are conducted under various operation loads and states (normal, 6 faults). From the experimental data, nominal models and residuals are generated. With the residual pattern obtained from real-time data, the detection and classification of various faults can be possible. The technical importance of this paper is to minimize extra sensor installation by using the empirical model rather than a complex mathematical model, and to decrease the number of models by using the applicable model at three loads. Finally, the model-based fault detection method for the air supply system of a PEMFC is established and is expected to be applicable to other subsystems.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.129-133
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• 2010

A hybrid system which is combined several complementary new and renewable power sources, such as photovoltaic, fuel-cell, and wind generator, etc., has been presented in various approaches. For instance, a photovoltaic cannot always generate stable output power with ever-changing weather condition, so it might be co-generated with a wind generator, diesel generator, and some other sources. In this paper, a residential PV-FC hybrid system is suggested as a distribution power source, and its operation is optimized by HOMER$^{(R)}$. As a result, it is the most economic that 5[kW] PV, 1[kW] FC, 4 batteries, 2[kW] electrolyzer, 0.5[kg] $H_2$ tank, 3[kW] converter are applied to the hybrid system.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2026-2031
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• 2007

Hydrogen is receiving much research attention as an alternative substitute for hydrocarbon fuels these days due to its cleanliness and renewability. However, hydrogen should be used with caution because of its high propensity for leak and wide flammable range. This study deals with a situation that hydrogen leaks and then forms a flammable mixture inside 1kW class residential fuel cell. The residential fuel cell was modeled as a box-shaped chamber with vent openings at the top and bottom, filled with various components such as reformer, desulfurizer, fuel cell stack and humidifier. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the diffusion, buoyant flow and accumulation of leaked hydrogen in the modeled chamber. From the simulation, the risk region vulnerable to flame was identified and the methods to minimize such hazardous region was discussed. When the vent openings are 1% of the total surface, as the quantity of hydrogen leakage increases the risk regions increases accordingly. As the vent openings of the total surface increased from 1% to 2.3%, averaged hydrogen mole fraction is under 1% in the system.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.62 no.12
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• pp.1792-1797
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• 2013

Recently, due to the excessive use of fossil fuels, many studies about the fossil fuels such as solar and fuel cell energy source are progressing. Fuel cell system has high energy conversion efficiency. Also, fuel cell system is environmentally friendly system because the carbon emission is almost not occur. Therefore, the fuel cell system is considered as the core technology of in the fields of the future energy and environmental. Fuel cell system has an effect on distribution power system because another power source of other than large power plants. So, fuel cell system can be reason of power quality in the power system. In this paper, we constructed the system for an assessment on Islanding. The system is composed with power source, Impedance coordination load and linear load, fuel cell system. we are performed assessment on voltage and power quality in customer and the distributed power system during the Islanding of residential fuel cell system. In addition, no change in the impedance of power system, we made a islanding condition only using the actual load, As a variation of generation and load current under islanding, an analysis results based on assessment system showed that the power qualities of distribution system became more aggravation as effect of voltage sag and voltage swell phenomena.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2009-2014
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• 2007

Hydrogen is a fuel of fuel cell system, which has powerful explosion possibility. Hence, the fuel cell system needs safety evaluation to prevent risk of hydrogen leakage. We use a actual size chamber of a common fuel cell module to analyze hydrogen. Hydrogen injection holes are located in lower part of the chamber in order to simulated hydrogen leakage. The hydrogen sensor can detect range of 0${\sim}$4%. Since the hydrogen gas, of which leaked amount is controled by MFC, are injected at the bottom holes, the transient sensor signals are measured. At a condition of 10cc/s of hydrogen leakage, the sensor detects hydrogen leakage after 22sec and there is also several seconds of time delay depending on the position of the sensor. This experimental data can be applied for the design of the hydrogen detection system and ventilation system of a residential fuel cell system.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.29-32
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• 2008

Testing was conducted to determine the performance of a residential fuel cell system when subjected to DSS and WSS operation, especially for start-up and shut-down characteristics. In terms of start-up time, it took about 70min to start output power generation and stably to reach 1kW at cold start. Measurement of the characteristics of heat and power generation were carried out at start-up and shut-down time. Fuel gas is used for heating both reformer and stack from start-up to the beginning of power generation. In terms of start-up and shut-down characteristics, it was important to control the reformer temperature precisely. The average output water temperature during the rated output operation(960W) was $63.2^{\circ}C$ constantly. The results of the investigation are being used to develop a new test protocols for residential fuel cell system.