• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.12 s.295
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• pp.812-822
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• 2006

This study amis to investigate the functional analysis of anode and cathode materials in Anode supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The concentration polarization of single cell was investigated with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method for the case of the different morphology by using four types of unit cell and discussed to reduce the concentration polarization. The concentration polarization at anode side effected the voltage loss in Anode supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and increased contact areas between fuel gas and anode side could reduce the concentration polarization. For intermediate temperature operation, Anode-supported single cells with thin electrolyte layer of YSZ (Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia) were fabricated and short stacks were built and evaluated. We also developed diesel and methane autothermal reforming (ATR) reactors in order to provide fuels to SOFC stacks. Influences of the $H_2O/C$ (steam to carbon ratio), $O_2/C$ (oxygen to carbon ratio) and GHSV (Gas Hourly Space Velocity) on performances of stacks have been investigated. Performance of the stack operated with a diesel reformer was lower than with using hydrogen as a fuel due to lower Nernst voltage and carbon formation at anode side. The stack operated with a natural gas reformer showed similar performances as with using hydrogen. Effects of various reformer parameters such as $H_2O/C$ and $O_2/C$ were carefully investigated. It is found that $O_2/C$ is a sensitive parameter to control stack performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

In this study, a catalytic oxidation-heat recovery system was designed that can remove unreacted with a concentration of about 1% to 6% in the exhaust gas of hydrogen fuel cells and recover heat to ensure safety in the hydrogen economy. The safety system was devised by filling hydrogen oxidation catalysts at room temperature that can remove unreacted hydrogen without any energy source, and an exhaust-heat recovery device was integrated to efficiently recover the heat released from the oxidation reaction. Through CFD analysis, variations in pressure and fluid within the system were shown depending on the filling conditions of the hydrogen oxidation system. In addition, it was found that waste heat could be recovered by optimizing the temperature of the exhaust gas, flow rate, and pressure conditions within the heat recovery system and securing hot water above 40 ℃ by utilizing the exhaust gas oxidation heat source above 300 ℃. Through this study, it was possible to confirm the potential of utilizing hydrogen processes, which are applied in small to medium-sized systems such as hydrogen fuel cells, as a safety system by evaluating them at a pilot scale. Additionally, it could be a safety guideline for responding to unexpected hydrogen safety accidents through further pilot-scale studies.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.208-214
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• 2024

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 ℃ is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.10 s.269
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• pp.777-782
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• 2004

In this research, $5\times5cm^2$ unit cells were fabricated via liquid condensation process and uniaxial pressing followed by the screen printing of electrolyte and cathode layer. The SOFC stack was assembled with unit cells, gasket-type sealant and metal interconnect. The stack was designed to have a single column with internal-manifold and cross-flow type gas-channels. The SOFC stack produced 15 W, which is $50\%$ of the maximum power being expected from the maximum power density of the unit cell. Controlling factors for the proper operation of the SOFC stack and other designing factors of stack manifold and gas channels were discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2010

Two types of microbial fuel cells(MFC) were continuously operated using synthetic wastewater. One was conventional two-chambered MFC using proton exchange membrane(PEM-MFC), the other was upflow type membraneless MFC(ML-MFC). Graphite felt was used as a anode in PEM-MFC. In membraneless MFC, two MFCs were operated using porous RVC(reticulated vitreous carbon) as a anode. Graphite felt was used as a cathode in all experiments. In experiment of PEM-MFC, the COD removal rate based on the surface area of anode was about $3.0g/m^2{\cdot}d$ regardless of organic loading rate. And the coulombic efficiency amounted to 22.4~23.4%. The acetic acid used as a fuel was transferred through PEM from the anodic chamber to cathodic chamber. The COD removal rate in ML-MFC were $9.3{\sim}10.1g/m^2{\cdot}d$, which indicated the characteristics of anode had no significant effects on COD removal. Coulombic efficiency were 3.6~3.7 % in both cases of ML-MFC experiments, which were relatively small. It was also observed that the microbial growth in cathodic chamber had an adverse effects on the electricity generation in membraneless MFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2017

Doped-$LaCrO_3$ perovskites, because of their good electrical conductivity and thermal stability in oxidizing and/or reducing environments, are used in high temperature solid oxide fuel cells as a gas-tight and electrically conductive interconnection layer. In this study, perovskite $(La_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})(Cr_{0.9}Co_{0.1})O_3$ (LCCC) coatings manufactured by atmospheric plasma spraying followed by heat treatment at $1200^{\circ}C$ have been investigated in terms of microstructural defects, gas tightness and electrical conductivity. The plasma-sprayed LCCC coating formed an inhomogeneous layered structure after the successive deposition of fully-melted liquid droplets and/or partially-melted droplets. Micro-sized defects including unfilled pores, intersplat pores and micro-cracks in the plasma-sprayed LCCC coating were connected together and allowed substantial amounts gas to pass through the coating. Subsequent heat treatment at $1200^{\circ}C$ formed a homogeneous granule microstructure with a small number of isolated pores, providing a substantial improvement in the gas-tightness of the LCCC coating. The electrical conductivity of the LCCC coating was consequently enhanced due to the complete elimination of inter-splat pores and micro-cracks, and reached 53 S/cm at $900^{\circ}C$.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.481-491
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• 2017

In this study, we developed 300 W lightweight DMFC system for charging secondary battery in small unit military operation. In order to reduce the volumetric shape and weight of the system considering the environment of the individual soldier's, the arranging of system components has been optimized. A metal bipolar plates made of STS-470FC have been implemented to the DMFC stack to meet the weight demand of the system. As a result of the performance test of the stack, the target value was satisfied by outputting 561 W exceeding 24% of the stack output 450 W required to output 300 W required for the entire system. Moreover, 2,655 hours exceeding 1,000 hours also has been satisfied. To ensure good robustness of the metallic bipolar plate based DMFC stack, finite element method based simulations are conducted using a commercial ANSYS Fluent software.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.604-612
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• 2009

Water management has been recognized as a crucial factor for achieving better performance and stability in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Proper water management should provide favorable water conditions, including the local humidity, membrane water content, and liquid water saturation in PEMFCs, thereby leading to more uniform electrochemical reaction and current generation. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted to investigate the effects of the cathode relative humidity (RH) on the performance of a 3 by $3\;cm^2$ PEMFC with serpentine flow fields. The CFD results showed that the best performance of the PEMFC was obtained for the cathode RH of 80%, but the performance variation was small for the cathode RH range of $60{\sim}100%$. However, the loss of the PEMFC performance was significant when the cathode RH was reduced below 40%. The reason for such performance variation was investigated through the detailed inspection of ohmic loss, activation and concentration overpotential, and water and current distributions.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.989-994
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• 2011

Samples with compositions of 80 wt% Mg-14 wt% Ni-6 wt% $Fe_2O_3$ (named $Mg-Ni-Fe_2O_3$), and 78 wt% Mg-14 wt% Ni-6 wt% $Fe_2O_3-2$ wt% CNT (named $Mg-Ni-Fe_2O_3-CNT$ ) were prepared by reactive mechanical grinding. Hydriding and dehydriding properties and effects of CNT addition on the hydriding and dehydriding rates of $Mg-Ni-Fe_2O_3$ were then investigated. Activation of the $Mg-14Ni-6Fe_2O_3$ sample was completed after three hydriding (under 12 bar $H_2$)-dehydriding (under 1.0 bar $H_2$) cycles at 573 K. The addition of CNT to the $Mg-14Ni-6Fe_2O_3$ sample made the activation process unnecessary, with a small decrease in the hydrogen-storage capacity.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.605-612
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• 2017

One of the biggest environmental issues that our world has been facing is climate change. In order to cope with such environmental issues, the world is putting a great deal of effort into energy conservation. The building sector, in particular, consumes 36% of the energy consumed worldwide and emits considerable amount of greenhouse gases. Therefore, introduction of renewable energies in the building sector is highly recommended. Renewable energy sources that can be utilized in the building sector include sunlight, solar heat, geothermal heat, fuel cells and wind power. The wind power generation system which converts wind energy into electrical energy has advantages in that wind is an unlimited and pollution-free resource. It is suitable to be connected to existing buildings because many years of operational experience and the enhanced stability of the system have made it possible to downsize the electrical generator. In case of existing buildings, it is necessary to consider the live loads of the buildings to connect the wind power generation system. This paper, through the connection of the wind power generation with existing buildings, promotes reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy independence by reducing energy consumption in the building sector. In order to connect the wind power generation system with an exciting building, the live load of the building and the area of the rooftop should be considered. The installable model is selected by comparing the live load of the building and the load of the wind power generation system. The maximum number of the wind turbines that can be installed is obtained by considering the separation distance between the wind turbines within the area of the rooftop. Installations are divided into single installations and multiple installations of two different types of wind turbines. After determining the maximum installable number, the optimal model that can achieve the maximum annual power generation will be selected by comparing the respective total annual amount of the power generation of different models.