• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1357-1372
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• 2022

Heavy reliance on fossil fuels has been associated with increased climate disasters. As an alternative, microalgae have been proposed as an effective agent for biomass production. Several advantages of microalgae include faster growth, usage of non-arable land, recovery of nutrients from wastewater, efficient CO₂ capture, and high amount of biomolecules that are valuable for humans. Microalgae Chlorella spp. are a large group of eukaryotic, photosynthetic, unicellular microorganisms with high adaptability to environmental variations. Over the past decades, Chlorella has been used for the large-scale production of biomass. In addition, Chlorella has been actively used in various food industries for improving human health because of its antioxidant, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory functions. However, the major restrictions in microalgal biofuel technology are the cost-consuming cultivation, processing, and lipid extraction processes. Therefore, various trials have been performed to enhance the biomass productivity and the lipid contents of Chlorella cells. This study provides a comprehensive review of lipid enhancement strategies mainly published in the last five years and aimed at regulating carbon sources, nutrients, stresses, and expression of exogenous genes to improve biomass production and lipid synthesis.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2022

Hydrogen embrittlement in metals has been a serious issue with regard to structural safety. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the aggregation of hydrogen atoms at the crack tips suppresses the dislocation emission and thus results in cleavage fracture. A series of molecular dynamics simulations were performed considering factors such as the concentration of hydrogen atoms, loading rate, and diffusion coefficient. We investigated the conditions that minimize hydrogen embrittlement. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental results and used to quantify hydrogen embrittlement.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.203-211
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• 2022

The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of commercial fuel cell (rated capacity 1000W) with the help of resistive load and output power variation with change in H₂ flow rate and calculate the maximum power point (MPP) of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) while changing AC and DC load respectively. The factors influencing the output power of a fuel cell are hydrogen flow rate, cell temperature, and membrane water content. The results show that when the H₂ flow rate is changed from 11, 13, and 15 Lpm, MPP is increased from lower to higher flow rate. The power of the fuel cell is increased at the rate of 29% by increasing the flow rate from 11 to 15 lpm. This study will allow small-scale industries and residential buildings (in remote or inaccessible areas) to characterize the performance of PEMFC. Furthermore, fuel cell helps in reducing emission in the environment compared to fossil fuels. Also, fuel cells are ecofriendly as well as cost effective and can be the best alternative way to convert energy.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2023

Recently, interest in renewable energy such as solar and wind power has increased as an alternative to fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources such as large wind farms require long-distance power transmission because they are located inland or offshore, far from the city where power is required. High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) power cables have more than 5 times the transmission capacity and less than one-tenth the transmission loss compared to the existing cables of the same size, enabling large-capacity transmission at low voltage. For commercialization of HTS power cables, unmanned operation and long-distance cooling technology of several kilometers is essential, and pressure drop characteristic is important. The cryostat's spiral corrugation tube is easier to bend, but unlike the round tube, the pressure drop cannot be calculated using the Moody chart. In addition, it is more difficult to predict the pressure drop characteristics due to the irregular surface roughness of the binder wound around the cable core. In this paper, a CFD model of a spiral corrugation tube with a core was designed by referring to the water experiments from previous studies. In the four cases geometry, when the surface roughness of the core was 10mm, most errors were 15% and the maximum errors were 23%. These results will be used as a reference for the design of long-distance HTS power cables.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.162-163
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• 2022

Maritime transportation is going to transfer to alternative fuels as a result of the worldwide demands toward decarbonization and tougher maritime emissions regulations. Methanol is considered as a potential marine fuel, which has the ability to reduce SOx and CO₂ emissions, reduce climate change effects, and achieve the objective of green shipping. This work proposes and combines the innovative combination system of direct methanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), gas turbines (GT), and organic Rankine cycles (ORC) for maritime vessels. The system's primary power source is the SOFC, while the GT and PEMFC use the waste heat from the SOFC to generate useful power and improve the system's ability to use waste heat. Each component's thermodynamics model and the combined system's model are established and examined. The multigeneration system's energy and exergy efficiency are 76.2% and 30.3%, respectively. When compared to a SOFC stand-alone system, the energy efficiency of the GT and PEMFC system is increased by 19.2%. The use of PEMFC linked SOFC has significant efficiency when a ship is being started or maneuvered and a quick response from the power and propulsion plant is required.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 2024

Modern society is making numerous efforts to reduce reliance on carbon-based energy systems. A notable solution in this transition is the adoption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as potent energy sources, owing to their high energy and power densities. Driven by growing environmental challenges, the application scope of LIBs has expanded from their initial prevalence in portable electronic devices to include electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESSs). Accordingly, LIBs must exhibit long-lasting cyclability and high energy storage capacities to facilitate prolonged device usage, thereby offering a potential alternative to conventional sources like fossil fuels. Enhancing the durability of LIBs hinges on a comprehensive understanding of the reasons behind their performance decline. Therefore, comprehending the degradation mechanism, which includes detrimental chemical and mechanical phenomena in the components of LIBs, is an essential step in resolving cycle life issues. The LIB systems presently being commercialized and developed predominantly employ graphite anode and layered oxide cathode materials. A significant portion of the degradation process in LIB systems takes place during the electrochemical reactions involving these electrodes. In this review, we explore and organize the aging mechanisms of LIBs, especially those with graphite anodes and layered oxide cathodes.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been expected to be able to provide considerable performance improvements and introduce innovative functions across diverse industries. However, representative methods for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces include etching the substrate or attaching nanosized particles, but they have been limited by problems such as applicability to only a few materials or low adhesion between particles and substrates, resulting in a short lifetime of superhydrophobic properties. In this work, we report a novel coating technique that can achieve superhydrophobicity by electrophoretic deposition of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanopowders and their self-bonding to form a surface structure without the use of binder resins through a hydrolysis reaction. Furthermore, by using a water-soluble adhesive as a temporary shield for the electrophoretic deposited AlN powders, hierarchical aluminum hydroxide structures can be strongly adhered to a variety of electrically conductive substrates. This binder-free technique for creating hierarchical structures that exhibit strong adhesion to a variety of substrates significantly expands the practical applicability of superhydrophobic surfaces.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.71-77
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• 2024

Hydrogen has emerged as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the utilization of hydrogen requires high-pressure compression, storage, and transportation, which poses challenges to the durability of compressor components, particularly the diaphragm. This study aims to improve the durability of 304 stainless steel diaphragms in hydrogen compressors by optimizing their surface roughness and corrosion resistance through wet etching. The specimens were prepared by immersing 304 stainless steel in a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, followed by etching in hydrochloric acid for various durations. The surface morphology, roughness, and wettability of the etched specimens were characterized using optical microscopy, surface profilometry, and water contact angle measurements. The friction and wear characteristics were evaluated using reciprocating sliding tests. The results showed that increasing the etching time led to the development of micro/nanostructures on the surface, thereby increasing surface roughness and hydrophilicity. The friction coefficient initially decreased with increasing surface roughness owing to the reduced contact area but increased during long-term wear owing to the destruction and delamination of surface protrusions. HCl-30M exhibited the lowest average friction coefficient and a balance between the surface roughness and oxide film formation, resulting in improved wear resistance. These findings highlight the importance of controlling the surface roughness and oxide film formation through etching optimization to obtain a uniform and wear-resistant surface for the enhanced durability of 304 stainless steel diaphragms in hydrogen compressors.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.78-83
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• 2024

The development of eco-friendly alternative energy sources has become a global priority owing to the depletion of fossil fuels and an increase in environmental concerns. Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising clean energy source, and hydrogen compressors play a crucial role in the storage and distribution of compressed hydrogen. However, harsh operating conditions lead to the rapid deterioration of conventional lubricants in hydrogen compressors, thereby necessitating the development of advanced lubrication technologies. This study introduces micrometer-sized silicone rubber powders as lubricant additives to enhance the lubrication performance of hydraulic oils in hydrogen compressors. We prepare silicone rubber powders by varying the ratio of the silicone rubber base to the curing agent and investigate their effects on interfacial properties, friction behavior, and wear characteristics. The findings reveal that the incorporation of silicone rubber powders positively influences the surface affinity, wettability, friction reduction, and wear resistance of the lubricants on the 304SS substrate. Moreover, we identify the optimal lubricant formulations, with a 15:1 ratio demonstrating the most effective friction reduction and a 5:1 ratio exhibiting the highest wear resistance. The controlled surface modification by the silicone rubber powder and the enhanced interfacial characteristics of the powder-containing lubricants synergistically contribute to the improved lubrication performance. These results indicate the potential of silicone rubber powder additives for the development of long-life lubrication solutions for hydrogen compressors and related applications, ultimately contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies.