• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2005

A new burner configuration for a compact fuel-cell reformer with a high-temperature air combustion concept was numerically studied. The burner was designed for a 40 $Nm^3/hr$ hydrogen-generated reformer using natural gas-steam reforming method. In order to satisfy the primary requirements for designing a reformer burner (uniform distribution of temperature along the fuel processor walls and minimum heat losses from the reformer), the features of the present burner configuration included 1) a self-regenerative burner for an exhaust-gas-recirculation to apply for the high-temperature air combustion concept, and 2) an annular-type shield for protecting direct contact of flame with the processor walls. For the injection velocities of the recirculated gas of 0.6-2.4 m/s, the recirculated gas temperature of 1000 K, and the recirculated oxygen mole fraction of 4%, the temperature distributions along the processor walls were found uniform within 100 K variation. Thus, the present burner configuration satisfied the requirement for reducing temperature gradients along the processor walls, and consequently demonstrated that the high-temperature air combustion concept could be applied to the practical fuel reformers for use of fuel cells. The uniformity of temperature distribution is enhanced as the amount of the recirculated gas increases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.439-444
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• 2007

Using the anaerobic digester gas as a fuel, fuel cells have the potential to provide significant environmental and economic benefits. A molten carbonate fuel cell power plant was installed in the municipal sewage works of Tancheon in Seoul. The fuel cell unit operates on anaerobic digester gas and provides power and heat for the sewage works. This is the first project of its kind in Korea. This article outlines the experiences of gas purification process with planning, installation and operation. The engineering and installation phase is described regarding to the special features of digester gas, for example impurities in gas composition. Such impurities would be harmful to fuel cells. Operational results from the field test with a gas purification process plant are presented in this paper.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.367-372
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• 2001

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device tint converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and heat for hot water and heating room A fuel cell provides a DC voltage tint can be used to power motors, lights or any number if electrical appliances. There are several different types if fuel cells, each using a different chemistry. Some types if fuel cells show promise for use in DC (distributed generation) because fuel cell is very clean and efficient energy device. CETI (Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.) is developing PEMFC and DMFC for residential power generation, portable and battery. It is anticipated tint RPG is advantageous over current power generation by utility In terms if economics assuming the lifetime of major components is at least five years.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2013

Polymer exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have multifunctional properties, and bipolar plates are one of the key components in these fuel cells. Generally, a bipolar plate has a gas flow path for hydrogen and oxygen liberated at the anode and cathode, respectively. In this study, the influence of iodine applied to a bipolar plate was investigated. Accordingly, we compared bipolar plates with and without iodine coating, and the performances of these plates were evaluated under operating conditions of $75^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity. The membrane and platinum-carbon layer were affected by the iodine-coated bipolar plate. Bipolar plates coated with iodine and a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) were investigated by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Polarization curves showed that the performance of a coated bipolar plate is approximately 19% higher than that of a plate without coating. Moreover, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis revealed that charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance decreased with the influence of the iodine charge transfer complex for fuel cells on the performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2016

Methanol fuel cells having advantages of relatively favorable reaction kinetics and higher energy density have attracted increasing interests as best alternative to hydrogen fuel cell because of H2 production, storage and distribution issues. While there have been extensive research works on developing key components such as electrocatalysts as well as their physicochemical properties in practical formic acid fuel cells, there have also been urgent requests for investigating which fuel sources will be more suitable for direct liquid fuel cells in future. In this mini-review, we highlight the overall interest and outlook of formic acid fuel cells in terms of electrocatalysts, fuel supply and crossover, water management, fuel cell efficiency and system integration in comparison with methanol fuel cells.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2024

The electrochemically active site of mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) as a cathode material is restricted to the triple phase boundary in protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) due to the insufficient of proton-conducting properties of MIEC. This study primarily focused on expanding the electrochemically active site by La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ(LSCF6428)-BaZr_0.4Ce_0.4Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (BZCYYb4411) composite cathode. The electrochemical properties of the composite cathode were evaluated using anode-supported PCFC single cells. In comparison to the LSCF6428 cathode, the peak power density of the LSCF6428-BZCYYb4411 composite cathode is much enhanced by the reduction in both ohmic and non-ohmic resistance, possibly due to the increased electrochemically active site.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.58-63
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• 2005

As fuel cells approach commercialization, hydrogen production becomes a critical step in the overall energy conversion pathway. Reforming is a process that produces a hydrogen-rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming (ATR) is particularly attractive for applications that demand a quick start-up and response time in a compact size. However, further research is required to optimize the performance of autothermal reformers and accurate models of reactor performance must be developed and validated. The design includes the requirement of accommodating a wide range of experimental set ups. Factors considered in the design of the reformer are capability to use multiple fuels, ability to vary stoichiometry, precise temperature and pressure control, implementation of enhancement methods, capability to implement variable catalyst positions and catalyst arrangement, ability to monitor and change reactant mixing, and proper implementation of data acquisition. A model of the system was first developed in order to calculate flowrates, heating, space velocity, and other important parameters needed to select the hardware that comprises the reformer. Predicted performance will be compared to actual data once the reformer construction is completed. This comparison will quantify the accuracy of the model and should point to areas where further model development is required. The end result will be a research tool that allows engineers to optimize hydrogen production via autothermal reformation.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.864-873
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• 2006

As fuel cells approach commercialization, hydrogen production becomes a critical step in the overall energy conversion pathway. Reforming is a process that produces a hydrogen-rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming (ATR) is particularly attractive for applications that demand a quick start-up and response time in a compact size. However, further research is required to optimize the performance of autothermal reformers and accurate models of reactor performance must be developed and validated. The design includes the requirement of accommodating a wide range of experimental set ups. Factors considered in the design of the reformer are capability to use multiple fuels, ability to vary stoichiometry, precise temperature and pressure control, implementation of enhancement methods, capability to implement variable catalyst positions and catalyst arrangement, ability to monitor and change reactant mixing, and proper implementation of data acquisition. A model of the system was first developed in order to calculate flowrates, heating, space velocity, and other important parameters needed to select the hardware that comprises the reformer. Predicted performance will be compared to actual data once the reformer construction is completed. This comparison will quantify the accuracy of the model and should point to areas where further model development is required. The end result will be a research tool that allows engineers to optimize hydrogen production via autothermal reformation.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2021

Fuel cell systems for medium duty truck require high power demands under driving. Since high power demands results in significant heat generation, thermal management is crucial for the performance and durability of medium duty truck. Therefore, various configurations of dual stacks with cooling systems are investigated to understand appropriate thermal management conditions. The simulation model consists of a dynamic fuel cell stack model, a cooling system model equipped with a controller, and the mounted controller applies a feedback controller to control the operating temperature. Also, In order to minimize parasitic power, the comparison of the cooling systems involved in the arrangement was divided into three case. As a result, this study compares the reaction of fuel cells to the placement of the cooling system under a variety of load conditions to find the best placement method.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.19-22
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated operating characteristics of natural gas fuel processor for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The fuel processor consists of a natural gas reformer, a water-gas shift reactor, a heat-exchanger and a burner, in which the overall integrated volume is exactly(exceptionally) small, namely, about 10L except outer insulation. The producted hydrogen is $1Nm^3/hr$ and the maximum thermal efficiency is ${\sim}76%$(low heating value) at full operating load. A compact and highly efficient $1Nm^3/hr$ class natural gas fuel processor was developed at UNISON is an advantage for application in residential PEMFCs co-generation systems.