• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2007

The residential fuel cell system was modeled as a box-shaped chamber with vent openings, filled with various components such as reformer, desulfurizer, fuel cell stack and humidifier. When the vent openings are 1% of the total surface and hydrogen leakage 1%, hydrogen concentration is around 0.1% higher than the other regions from leak points in the chamber at 30 seconds and hydrogen concentration is increased from 0.3% to 0.7% in the upper region of the system after 200 seconds. When the vent openings are 1% of the total surface and hydrogen leakage 1%, 3%, 5%, the steady state result of CFD, 5% of hydrogen leakage is reached the lowest ignition limit in the system. When the vent openings are 2% of the total surface and hydrogen leakage 1%, hydrogen concentration is increased in the bottom of the system for 60 seconds. After 250 seconds, hydrogen concentration is reached the steady state in the system. As the vent opening of the total surface increased from 1% to 2%, averaged hydrogen mole fraction is under 1% in the system, however, upper regions of the system from the hydrogen leakage points are shown over 1% of hydrogen mole fraction.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.427-441
• /
• 2022

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) serving as a separator that can prevent the permeation of unreacted fuels as well as an electrolyte that selectively transports protons from the anode to the cathode has been considered a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs, represented by Nafion®, have been commercialized in PEMFC systems due to their high proton conductivity and chemical stability. Nevertheless, these PEMs have several inherent drawbacks including high manufacturing costs by the complex synthetic processes and environmental problems caused by producing the toxic gases. Although numerous studies are underway to address these drawbacks including the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer-based PEMs (SHP-PEMs), which can easily control the polymer structures, further improvement of PEM performances and durability is necessary for practical PEMFC applications. Therefore, this study focused on the various strategies for the development of SHP-PEMs with outstanding performance and durability by 1) introducing cross-linked structures, 2) incorporating organic/inorganic composites, and 3) fabricating reinforced-composite membranes using porous substrates.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.754-760
• /
• 1999

The properties of the catalyst for a direct internal reforming type molten carbonate fuel cell were examined by ICP, BET, CHN, EDS, and $H_2$ chemisorption. Potassium and lithium, the components of carbonate electrolyte, were transported to the catalyst during the operation of fuel cell, and the amounts of the deposited alkali elements were reduced in the order of inlet, outlet, and the middle. From the direct correlation between the amount of alkali and the physical properties such as BET surface area and Ni dispersion, and from the observation of the lump of the alkali species on the poisoned catalyst, it was confirmed that the physical blocking of the catalyst by alkali deposition was the main reason for the deactivation. Although the amount of alkali species was greater at the inlet than at the oulet, the catalyst sampled from the outlet had lower activity. This was caused by the chemical interaction between the alkali species and the catalyst at the outlet where temperature was highest in the cell body, which was detected by FT-IR analyses.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.170-180
• /
• 2007

This paper deals with the economy of scale for domestic on-site hydrogen stations fueled with natural gas and naptha. We evaluate the economic feasibility of on-site hydrogen stations with hydrogen production capacities of $30Nm^3/hr,\;100Nm^3/hr\;and\;300Nm^3/hr$. We build a classical economic feasibility model and we make some sensitivity analyses by changing the values of input factors such as the hydrogen sale price and the discount rate. The estimated hydrogen prices of steam methane reforming stations with production capacities of $30\;Nm^3/hr,\;100\;Nm^3/hr\;and\;300\;Nm^3/hr$ are 18,472 won/kg, 10,689 won/kg and 7,758 won/kg, respectively. Also, the hydrogen prices are about the same if we use naptha as a raw material for hydrogen energy instead of natural gas. It turns out that small and medium size domestic on-site hydrogen stations will not be economical in the near future. This indicates that we need to construct large scale on-site hydrogen fueling stations even for the initial phase of the hydrogen economy.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2021

As declarations of carbon neutrality are spreading throughout the world, much research is being conducted on biodegradable polymers. In this study, nanocellulose, which comprises the largest amount of natural polymer currently available in the world, was proposed as a substitute for non-biodegradable polymers. We chose to modify the surface functional group of crystalline nanocellulose using glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), which is a silane coupling agent, and the product was then used to form a film with low density polyethylene (LDPE). We then conducted measurements using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) in addition to measuring hydrophilic/lipophilicity of the surface functional group modification of crystalline nitrocellulose as well as that of a polymer composite using the hybrid nanocellulose (H-NC). For compatibility with petroleum-based polymers, the best tensile strength and transparency was found when the H-NC was reacted at pH 14 and 1 wt% compared with LDPE. From the test results, we found that it is possible to modify the surface functional groups of nanocellulose using a silane coupling agent. In addition, the high compatibility of nanocellulose with petroleum-based polymers is expected to help in reaching carbon neutrality by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2014

Through the study of the basic characteristics of cow manure and the characteristics of carbonization residue, carbonization degree, conversion rate, kinetic reactions, and activation energy for cow manure were examined. Since the heating value of cow manure was very low, it was converted to carbonization residue as a fuel with heating value of 4,300 kcal/kg by carbonization processes. Conversion rate was increased rapidly up to 10 minutes of the initial reaction stage and was increased with increasing temperature. The carbonization of cow manure could be described by the 1st order reaction. Frequency factor(A) of reaction rate for cow manure was evaluated to be $1.34{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$, the activation energy was estimated to be 5,196.4 cal/mol. As carbonization temperature increased from $250^{\circ}C$ to $400^{\circ}C$, the kinetic reaction was increased from $0.2107min^{-1}$ to $0.0679min^{-1}$. From the result of the carbonization for cow manure, it can be determined that the optimal conditions of the carbonization process were 20 minutes in carbonization time and $350^{\circ}C$ for carbonization temperature.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.218-226
• /
• 2022

Hydrogen, a carrier of large-capacity chemical and clean energy, is an important industrial gas widely used in the petrochemical industry and fuel cells. In particular, hydrogen is mainly produced from fossil fuels through steam reforming and gasification, and carbon dioxide is generated as a by-product. Therefore, in order to obtain high-purity hydrogen, carbon dioxide should be removed. This review focused on free-standing polymeric membranes and mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) that separate hydrogen from carbon dioxide reported in units of Barrer [1 Barrer = 10^-10 cm³ (STP) × cm / (cm² × s × cmHg)]. By analyzing various recently reported papers, the structure, morphology, interaction, and preparation method of the membranes are discussed, and the structure-property relationship is understood to help find better membrane materials in the future. Robeson's upper bound limits for hydrogen/carbon dioxide separation were presented through reviewing the performance and characteristics of various separation membranes, and various MMMs that improve separation properties using technologies such as crosslinking, blending and heat treatment were discussed.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.352-361
• /
• 2023

Steam methane reforming is currently the most widely used technology for producing hydrogen, a clean fuel. Hydrogen produced by steam methane reforming contains impurities such as carbon monoxide, and it is essential to undergo an appropriate post-purification step for commercial usage, such as fuel cells. Recently, membrane separation technology has been gaining great attention as an effective purification method; in this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using commercial polysulfone membranes for biogas upgrading to separate and recover hydrogen from a hydrogen/carbon monoxide gas mixture. Initially, we examined the physicochemical properties of the commercial membrane used. We then conducted performance evaluations of the commercial membrane module under various conditions using mixed gas, considering factors such as stage-cut and operating pressure. Finally, based on the evaluation results, we carried out simulations for process design. The maximum H₂ permeability and H₂/CO separation factor for the commercial membrane process were recorded at 361 GPU and 20.6, respectively. Additionally, the CO removal efficiency reached up to 94%, and the produced hydrogen concentration achieved a maximum of 99.1%.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.11a
• /
• pp.153.2-153.2
• /
• 2010

화력발전 분야에서 $CO_2$ 분리는 크게 연소전 탈탄소화(pre-combustion capture)와 연소후 포획(post-combustion capture)으로 나누어진다, 연소후 포획은 연료를 연소한 후 발생하는 $CO_2$와 $N_2$가스에서 $CO_2$를 분리하는 기술로 흡수나, 흡착, 막분리 등을 주로 이용한다, 연소전 탈탄소화는 연소 전에 $CO_2$가 발생되지 않도록 하는 기술로써, 부분 산화나 개질 및 수성가스 변위반응 등이 포함되며 생성된 $H_2$와 $CO_2$를 분리하여 수소를 생산하는 기술($CO_2/H_2$분리가 핵심)이다. 우리나라는 대부분 연소후 포획 위주로 많은 연구가 진행되어 왔다, 하지만 최근 고유가 시장이 형성되면서 석탄화력 발전 및 복합가스발전(IGCC)에 필요한 연소전 탈탄소화($H_2/CO_2$ 가스로부터 $CO_2$ 회수) 연구에 산업적 관심이 급상승되고 있다. 특히, 연소전 탈탄소화 과정에서는 높은 자체압력(약 2.5 - 5.0MPa)과 비교적 높은 농도의 $CO_2$(약 40%의)가 발생되기 때문에, 연소전 탈탄소화는 가스하이드레이트 형성/분해 원리가 가장 잘 적용될 수 있는 기술이라 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 가스 하이드레이트 형성원리를 이용하여 정온 정압 조건에서 $CO_2/H_2$ 하이드레이트를 제조하였으며 특히, 하이드레이트 형성 촉진제인 THF(Tetrahydrofuran)와 TBAB(Tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide)를 첨가하여 각각 0.5, 1, 3mol% 농도에 따른 상평형 및 속도론 실험을 수행 하였다. 또한 라만 분석을 통하여 $CO_2$ 회수 분리에 대한 연구도 병행하였다. 이러한 연구는 연소전 탈탄소화 기술에서의 $CO_2$ 회수 분리에 대한 핵심 연구임과 동시에 탄소배출권 규제에 실질적인 기여를 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2020

Recently, a fuel reforming plant for supplying high purity hydrogen has been studied to increase the operation time of underwater weapon systems. Since steam reforming is an endothermic reaction, it is necessary to continuously supply heat to the reactor. A fuel reforming plant needs a methanol-O₂ catalytic burner to obtain heat and supply heat to the reformer. In this study, two types of designs of a catalytic burner are presented and the results are analyzed through the experiments. The design of the catalytic burner is divided into that the O₂ supply direction is perpendicular to the methanol flow direction (Design 1) and the same as the methanol flow direction (Design 2). In case of Design 1, backfire and flame combustion occurred in the mixing space in front of the catalyst, and in the absence of the mixing space, combustion reaction occurred only in a part of the catalyst. For above reasons, Design 1 could not increase the exhaust gas temperature to 750℃. In Design 2, no flashback and flame combustion were observed, the exhaust gas could be maintained up to 750℃. However, the O₂ distributor was exposed to high temperatures, resulting in thermal damage.