• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.8-14
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• 2013

In this study, characteristics of the geometric design changes of plasma reformer for LPG fuelled vehicles were studied. To improve the yield of hydrogen, reformer 1st, and 2nd were designed. Secondary reformer compared to the primary reformer to increase the volume of the rear part of reformed gas having passed through the plasma and increased reaction time. To compare reforming results of two reformers, various experimental conditions such as, from partial oxidation to total oxidation conditions $O_2/C$ ratios, and total flow rate of 20, 30, 40, 50 lpm conditions, were varied. Results showed that with increasing $O_2/C$ ratios, LPG conversion rate increased, decreased hydrogen selectivity and hydrogen yield optimal point existed and secondary reformer 4.5 times larger than the primary reformer at the same flow rate to 4~14% increase in the yield of hydrogen.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.497-502
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• 2014

The conversion reaction of methane and carbon dioxide at an atmospheric pressure plasma reactor filled with Ni-$Al_2O_3$ and Ni-$MgAl_2O_4$ catalyst was performed. Effects of various process parameters such as the applied electric power, reaction gas flow rate, reactor temperature, mixing ratio of reactants and the presence of the catalyst on the reaction between methane and carbon dioxide were analyzed. From the analysis of the contribution of the catalyst in the reaction step, even if the temperature raised to $400^{\circ}C$, there was no spontaneous catalytic conversion of methane and carbon dioxide without plasma discharges. When the catalysts for the conversion of methane and carbon dioxide would be adopted to the plasma reactor, the careful selection of suitable catalysts and process parameters should be essential.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1268-1272
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• 2008

Low temperature plasma applied with partial oxidation is a technique to produce synthesis gas from methane. Low temperature plasma reformer has superior miniaturization and start-up characteristics to reformers using steam reforming or CO$_2$ reforming. In this research, a low temperature plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge was proposed. Reforming characteristics for each of the following variables were studied: gas components ratio (O$_2$/CH$_4$), the amount of steam, comparison of reaction on nickle and iron catalysts and the amount of CO$_2$. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production from methane was found. The maximum Hydrogen concentration of 41.1% was obtained under the following in this condition: O$_2$/C ratio of 0.64, total gas flow of 14.2 L/min, catalyst reactor temperature of 672$^{\circ}C$, the amount of steam was 0.8, reformer energy density of 1.1 kJ/L with Ni catalyst in the catalyst reactor. At this point, the methane conversion rate, hydrogen selectivity and reformer thermal efficiency were 66%, 93% and 35.2%, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.362-370
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the reforming characteristics and optimum operating condition of the plasmatron assisted $CH_4$ reforming reaction for the hydrogen-rich gas production. Also, in order to increase the hydrogen production and the methane conversion rate, parametric screening studies were conducted, in which there were the variations of the $CH_4$ flow ratio, $CO_2$ flow ratio, vapor flow ratio, mixing flow ratio and catalyst addition in reactor. High temperature plasma flame was generated by air and arc discharge. The air flow rate and input electric power were fixed 5.1 l/min and 6.4 kW, respectively. When the $CH_4$ flow ratio was 38.5%, the production of hydrogen was maximized and optimal methane conversion rate was 99.2%. Under these optimal conditions, the following synthesis gas concentrations were determined: $H_2$, 45.4%; CO, 6.9%; $CO_2$, 1.5%; and $C_2H_2$, 1.1%. The $H_2/CO$ ratio was 6.6, hydrogen yield was 78.8% and energy conversion rate was 63.6%.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2009

A microwave plasma torch at the atmospheric pressure by making use of magnetrons operated at the 2.45 GHz and used in a home microwave oven has been developed. This electrodeless torch can be used to various areas, including industrial, environmental and military applications. Although the microwave plasma torch has many applications, we in the present work focused on the microwave plasma torch operated in pure steam and several applications, which may be used in future and right now. For example, a high-temperature steam microwave plasma torch may have a potential application of the hydrocarbon fuel reforming at one atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the radicals including hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide molecules are abundantly available in the steam torch, dramatically enhancing the reaction speed. Also, the microwave plasma torch can be used as a high-temperature, large-volume plasma burner by injecting hydrocarbon fuels in gas, liquid, and solid into the plasma flame. Finally, we briefly report treatment of soils contaminated with oils, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, etc., which is an underway research in our group.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.889-892
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• 2009

A microwave plasma torch at the atmospheric pressure by making use of magnetrons operated at the 2.45 GHz and used in a home microwave oven has been developed. This electrodeless torch can be used to various areas, including industrial, environmental and military applications. Although the microwave plasma torch has many applications, we in the present work focused on the microwave plasma torch operated in pure steam and several applications, which may be used in future and right now. For example, a high-temperature steam microwave plasma torch may have a potential application of the hydrocarbon fuel reforming at one atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the radicals including hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide molecules are abundantly available in the steam torch, dramatically enhancing the reaction speed. Also, the microwave plasma torch can be used as a high-temperature, large-volume plasma burner by injecting hydrocarbon fuels in gas, liquid, and solid into the plasma flame. Lastly, we briefly report an underway research, which is remediation of soils contaminated with oils, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, etc.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the reforming characteristics and optimum operating condition of the GlidArc-assisted $C_3H_8$ reforming reaction for the synthesis gas(SynGas) production without formation of carbon black from propane using GildArc plasma reforming. Also, in order to increase the hydrogen production and the propane conversion rate, 13 wt % nickel catalyst was filled into the catalytic reactor and parametric screening studies were conducted, in which there were the variations of vapor mole ratio$(H_2O/C_3H_8),\;CO_2$ mole ratio($CO_2/C_3H_8$), input power and injection flow rate. When the variations of vapor mole ratio, $CO_2$ mole ratio, input power and injection flow rate were 1.86, 0.48, 1.37 kW and 14 L/min, respectively, the conversion rate of the propane reached its most optimal condition, or 62.6%. Under the condition mentioned above, the dry basic concentrations of the SynGas were $H_2\;44.4%,\;CO\;18.2%,\;CH_4\;11.2%,\;C_2H_2\;2.0%,\;C_3H_6\;1.6%,\;C_2H_4\;0.6%\;and\;C_3H_4$ 0.4%. The conversion rate of carbon dioxide was 29.2% and the concentration ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide($H_2/CO$) in the SynGas was 2.4.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.394-401
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• 2005

A nonthermal plasma-assisted fuel reformer was developed and the effects of operating variables on the performance of this reformer were studied. The $H_2$-rich reformed gas from the reformer was injected into a diesel engine under an idle condition and the effects of the amount of injected gas on the NO and soot reduction were investigated. It was found that with increasing electric power consumption, the degree of facility of ignition of the reforming reaction in the reformer could be enhanced. The performance of the reformer including $H_2$ concentration, $H_2$ recovery, and energy conversion was affected only by the O/C mole ratio. This was because the equilibrium reaction temperature was governed by the O/C mole ratio. With increasing O/C mole ratio, the $H_2$ recovery and energy conversion passed through the maximum values of 33.4% and 66%, respectively, at an O/C mole ratio between 1.2 and 1.5. The reason why the $H_2$ recovery and energy conversion increased with increasing O/C mole ratio when the O/C mole ratio was lower than $1.2{\sim}1.5$ appeared to be that the complete oxidation reaction occurred more enough with increasing O/C mole ratio in this low O/C mole ratio range and accordingly the reaction temperature increased. Whereas the reason why the $H_2$ recovery and energy conversion decreased with increasing O/C mole ratio when the O/C mole ratio was higher than $1.2{\sim}1.5$ appeared to be that the complete oxidation reaction was further advanced and the $H_2$ recovery and energy conversion decreased. As the weight ratio of reformed diesel to total diesel which entered the diesel engine was increased to $18.2{\sim}23.5%$, NO and soot reduction efficiencies increased and reached as values high as 68.5% and 23.5%, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.372-381
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• 2015

The effect of preparation method on the catalytic activities of the $Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalysts on steam reforming of ethylene glycol was investigated. The catalysts were prepared with various preparation methods such as an incipient wetness impregnation, wet impregnation, and coprecipitation method. In the case of coprecipitation method, various precipitants such as KOH, $K_2CO_3$, and $NH_4OH$ were compared. The prepared catalysts were characterized by using $N_2$ physisorption, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, temperatureprogrammed reduction, pulsed $H_2$ chemisorption, temperature-programmed oxidation, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Among the catalysts reduced at 773 K, the $Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalyst prepared by a coprecipitation with KOH or $K_2CO_3$ as precipitants showed the best catalytic performance. The preparation method affected the particle size of Ni, reducibility of nickel oxides, catalytic performance (activity and stability), and types of coke formed during the reaction. The $Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalyst prepared by a coprecipitation with KOH showed the increasing catalytic activity with an increase in the reduction temperature from 773 to 1173 K because of an increase in the reduction degree of Ni oxide species even though the particle size of Ni increased with increasing reduction temperature.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2007

Fuel reformer using plasma and shift reactor for CO oxidation were designed and manufactured as $H_2$ supply device to operate a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). $H_2$ selectivity was increased by non-thermal plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge with Ni catalyst simultaneously. Shift reactor was consisted of steam generator, low temperature shifter, high temperature shifter and preferential oxidation reactor. Parametric screening studies of fuel reformer were conducted, in which there were the variations of the catalyst temperature, gas component ratio, total gas ratio and input power. and parametric screening studies of shift reactor were conducted, in which there were the variations of the air flow rate, stema flow rate and temperature. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.64, total gas flow rate was 14.2 l/min, catalytic reactor temperature was $672^{\circ}C$ and input power 1.1 kJ/L, the production of $H_2$ was maximized 41.1%. And $CH_4$ conversion rate, $H_2$ yield and reformer energy density were 88.7%, 54% and 35.2% respectively. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.3 in the PrOx reactor, steam flow ratio was 2.8 in the HTS, and temperature were 475, 314, 260, $235^{\circ}C$ in the HTS, LTS, PrOx, the conversion of CO was optimized conditions of shift reactor using simulated reformate gas. Preheat time of the reactor using plasma was 30 min, component of reformed gas from shift reactor were $H_2$ 38%, CO<10 ppm, $N_2$ 36%, $CO_2$ 21% and $CH_4$ 4%.