• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.175-181
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• 2019

In the case of a conventional single stage decompression regulator used for large depressurization in the hydrogen fuel cell system of a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), problems can arise, such as pulsation, slow response, hydrogen brittleness, leakage, high weight, and high cost due to high decompression. Most of these problems can be overcome easily using two decompression mechanisms (two-stage structures). In addition, a wide outlet-pressure control range can be secured if an electronic solenoid is applied to the second decompression. Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the precision of the outlet pressure of a two-stage pressure-reducing regulator and develop techniques, such as leakage prevention, durability, light weight, and price reduction. Therefore, to improve the outlet pressure accuracy and prevent leakage, the structural part before and after decompression to improve the air tightness were divided and the analysis was carried out assuming that the valve part was closed (open ratio: 0%) after each initial internal pressure application.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.30-36
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• 2022

In commercial transactions of energy sources using hydrogen charging stations, high-accuracy flow meters are needed to prevent accidents such as overcharging due to inaccurate measurements and to ensure transparency in hydrogen commercial transactions through accurate measurements. This research developed a Corioli-type flowmeter prototype and conducted a risk assessment to prevent accidents during a process change comparison experiment for existing charging stations to verify the measurement performance. A process change section was defined for the installation of measurement facilities for empirical experiments and HAZOP was conducted. In addition, JSA was also conducted to secure the safety of experimenters, such as preventing valve mis-opening during empirical experiments. Measures were established to improve the risk factors derived through HAZOP, and work procedures were established to minimize human errors and ensure the safety of workers through JSA. The design change and system manufacturing for the installation of the metering system were completed by reflecting the risk assessment results, and safety could be confirmed through the performance comparison test of the developed meter prototype. The developed prototype flow meter showed a total of 30 flow measurements under the operating conditions of 70 MPa, and the average error was -1.58% to 3.96%. Such a metering error was analyzed to have the same performance as a flow meter installed and operated for commercial use.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2023

This research evaluates the sustainability of gasifying livestock manure to produce fuel gas from an economic and carbon emission perspective. The entire process, including gasification, fuel gas purification, and pipeline installation to transport the produced fuel gas to the demanding industrial complex, is analyzed for realistic feasibility. The study is conducted using an ASPEN PLUS simulation with experimental data. The results of the economic and CO₂ life cycle assessments confirm that the fuel gas produced from livestock manure is competitive with natural gas despite having a lower calorific value. When used as a fuel with a high hydrogen content, the fuel gas emits less CO₂ per calorific value, making it more environmentally friendly. A scenario analysis is also performed to determine the expected economics, with price competitiveness being influenced by several factors. Although a significant decrease in natural gas prices could reduce the price competitiveness of the proposed process, it can still be supported by government policies. The cash flow analysis also confirms the economic viability of the process.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.409-414
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• 2011

To promote the industry of PEMFC, the commercialization of its parts especially bipolar plate is needed. The bipolar plate is one of key parts for PEMFC, which occupies cost portion of 5~8% in the system. To replace the bipolar plate of machined graphite highly costly, the stamped thin matal or the molded carbon composite has been developed. According to the merits and demerits of each material and its forming process, the stamped metallic plate has been considered to the bipolar plate of PEMFC for automotive, and on the other hand, the molded composite plate has been considered to one for building applications. Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. has developed the carbon composite material and the manufacturing process for the bipolar plates. The developed bipolar plates were proved to be fully applicable to PEMFC of building applications in characteristics and performance, and so government strategic project to develop the mass-production technology for bipolar plates was started and is being conducted by the company. Through the government project for obtaining both the commercialization technology and production capacity for the bipolar plates, the price and the performance of domestic PEMFCs are expected to become competitive in international market.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

The investigation of clean and environment-friendly coal utilization technology is actively progressed due to high oil price and serious climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, the plasma gasification was performed using a 6kW microwave plasma unit under various reaction conditions: the particle sizes of coal ($45{\mu}m-150{\mu}m$), $O_2$/fuel ratio (0 - 1.3), and steam/fuel ratio (0 - 1.5). The $H_2$ composition decreases with decreasing coal particle size. With increasing $O_2$/fuel ratio, the $H_2$ composition in the syngas decreased while the $CO_2$ composition increased. As the steam/fuel ratio increased from 0 to 1.5, the $H_2$ composition in the syngas increased while the $CO_2$ composition decreased. From the results, it was proven that the variation of syngas composition greatly affected by $O_2$/fuel ratio than steam/fuel ratio. The $H_2$ composition in the syngas, carbon conversion, and cold gas efficiency increased with increasing plasma power.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.598-603
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• 2012

Despite the high efficiency and eco-friendly of Household Fuel Cell System it has hardly obtained popularity mainly due to its high prices. In order to encourage use of the system prices and operational expenses need to become economical. In this study, optimization through simulation was conducted to find out the optimal operational condition. As a result of simulation the system is operated with DSS operation from 5 O'clock to 19 O'clock for 14 hours at the constant output of 0.4kW to maximize reduction of energy rate. this DSS operation condition can reduce 200,000 won of energy rates in 35 pyoung apartment for a year. And, we can know that starting time of DSS operation don't effect to energy rates through the simulation. Furthermore, the household fuel cell system with the rated output of 1kW should be reduced to 0.4 - 0.6kW which can promote installation of household Fuel Cell System. Now, the household fuel cell system don't have been used widely due to economical efficiency. but, in the near future, Fuel Cell will be used to household by decrease of LNG price caused by development of shale gas.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.339-356
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• 2018

Although fuel cell systems have advantages in terms of electric efficiency and environmental impact compared with conventional power systems, fuel cell systems have not been deployed widely due to their low reliability and high price. In order to guarantee the lifetime of 10 years, which is the commercialization goal of Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), it is necessary to improve durability and reliability through optimized operation and maintenance technologies. Due to the complexity of components and their degradation phenomena, it's not easy to develop and apply the diagnose and prognostic methodologies for PEFCs. The purpose of the paper is to show the current state on PEFC prognostic technology for condition based maintenance. For the prognostic of PEFCs, the model driven method, the data-driven, and the hybrid method can be applied. The methods reviewed in this paper can contribute to the development of technologies to reduce the life cycle cost of fuel cells and increase the reliability through prognostics-based health management system.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.252-272
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• 2017

Fuel cell systems have to satisfy acceptable operating reliability, sufficient lifetime and price to enter the market in competition with existing products. Fuel cells are made up of complex element technologies and various problems related to the failure of the components can affect the reliability and safety of the system. This problem can be overcome by introducing a monitoring and supervisory control system in addition to automatic control to detect the failure of the fuel cell quickly and properly diagnose the performance degradation. For the fault detection and diagnosis of polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the model based method using the theoretical superposition value and the non-model based method of checking the signal tendency or the converted signal characteristic can be applied. The methods analyzed in this paper can contribute to the development of integrated monitoring and control technology for the whole system as well as the stack.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.118-127
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• 2011

An IGCC was evaluated as one of the next generation technologies that would be able to substitute for coal-fired power plants. According to "The 4th Basic Plan of Long-term Electricity Supply & Demand" which is developed by the Electricity Business Acts, the first IGCC will be operated at 2015. Like other new and renewable energy such as solar PV, Fuel cell, The IGCC is considered as non-competitive generation technology because it is not maturity technology. Before the commercial operation of an IGCC in our electricity market, its economic feasibility under the Korean electricity market, which is cost-based trading system, is studied to find out institutional support system. The results of feasibility summarized that under the current electricity trading system, if the IGCC is considered like a conventional plant such as nuclear or coal-fired power plants, it will not be expected that its investment will be recouped within life-time. The reason is that the availability of an IGCC will plummet since 2016 when several nuclear and coal-fired power plants will be constructed additionally. To ensure the reasonable return on investment (NPV>0 IRR>Discount rate), the availability of IGCC should be higher than 77%. To do so, the current electricity trading system is amended that the IGCC generator must be considered as renewable generators to set up Price Setting Schedule and it should be considered as pick load generators, not Genco's coal fired-generators, in the Settlement Payment.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

Various studies about metallic bipolar plates have been conducted to improve fuel cell performance through flow field design optimization. These research works have been mainly focused on fuel cells for vehicle, but not fuel cells for building. In order to reduce the price and volume of fuel cell stacks for building, it is necessary to apply a metallic flow field, In this study, for a metallic flow field applied to a fuel cell for building, the effect of a change in the flow field shape on the performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was confirmed using a model and experiments with a down-sizing single cell. As a result, the flow field using a metal foam outperforms the channel type flow field because it has higher internal differential pressure and higher reactants velocity in gas diffusion layer, resulting in higher water removal and higher oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer than the channel type flow field. This study is expected to contribute to providing basic data for selecting the optimal flow field for the full stack of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells for buildings.