• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2011

Biomass gasification is a promising technology in terms of clean energy and flexible options for end use such as heat, steam, electricity, gaseous or liquid fuels. In a gasification process, reduction of tar is very important because it can cause any mechanical problems and small tar implies high energy efficiency. However, generation and conversion mechanisms of tar have not been fully understood due to its complex nature. In this study, characteristics of tar generated from different gasification stages were investigated. Korean pine woodchip was used as feedstock and tar was sampled in a separate way during devolatilization and char gasification stage, investigated. As a result. more various kinds of hydro carbon compounds were identified in the devolatilization stage than char gasification stage because primary tar compounds are released mostly from pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. When the reaction temperature increased up to $900^{\circ}C$, tar composition becomes simplified into about 10 aromatic compounds mostly with 1-4 rings without substitution up to phenanthrene. The sampled tar in the char gasification stage mostly contains 5-7 simple aromatic compounds.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.34-45
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• 2016

Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2012

Pyrolysis/gasification technology utilizes an energy conversion technique from various waste resources, such as biomass, solid waste, sewage sludge, and etc. to generating a syngas (synthesis gas). However, one of the major problems for the pyrolysis gasification is the presence of tar in the product gas. The tar produced might cause damages and operating problems on the facility. In this study, a gliding arc plasma reformer was developed to solve the previously acknowledged issues. An experiment was conducted using surrogate benzene and naphthalene, which are generated during the pyrolysis and/or gasification, as the representative tar substance. To identify the characteristics of the influential parameters of tar decomposition, tests were performed on the steam feed amount (steam/carbon ratio), input discharge power (specific energy input, SEI), total feed gas amount and the input tar concentration. In benzene, the optimal operating conditions of the gliding arc plasma 2 in steam to carbon (S/C) ratio, 0.98 $kWh/m^3$ in SEI, 14 L/min in total gas feed rate and 3.6% in benzene concentration. In naphthalene, 2.5 in S/C ratio, 1 $kWh/m^3$ in SEI, 18.4 L/min in total gas feed rate and 1% in naphthalene concentration. The benzene decomposition efficiency was 95%, and the energy efficiency was 120 g/kWh. The naphthalene decomposition efficiency was 79%, and the energy yield was 68 g/kWh.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.712-718
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• 2019

A combustible producer gas composed of H₂, CO and CH₄ could be obtained by the thermal-chemical conversion of biomass. However, a large amount of particulate matters including tar generated causes the mal-function of turbines and engines or the fouling of pipelines. In this study, a wet scrubber using the soybean oil and bag filter were installed, and the removal efficiency was investigated. Hydrate limestone and wood char base activated carbon were pre-coated on the filter medium to prevent clogging of open pores. The removal efficiencies by the bag filter were 86 and 80% for the hydrated limestone and activated carbon coating, respectively. Overall, the collection when using a series of oil scrubbers and bag filters were 88%, while 83% for the filter coating material.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.352-358
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• 2001

Because algal cells are so efficient at absorbing incoming light energy, providing more light energy to photobioreactors would simply decrease energy conversion efficiency. Furthermore, the algal biomass productivity in photobioreactor is always proportional to the total photosynthetic rate. In order to optimize the productivity of algal photobioreactors (PBRs), the oxygen production rate should be estimated. Based on a simple model of light penetration depth and algal photosynthesis, the oxygen production rate in high-density microalgal cultures could be calculated. The estimated values and profiles of oxygen production rate by this model were found to be in accordance with the experimental data. Optimal parameters for PBR operations were also calculated using the model.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.804-815
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• 2019

Due to the depletion and environmental problems of fossil fuel, biomass has arisen as an alternative energy source. Biomass is a renewable and carbon-neutral source. However, it is moister and has lower energy density. Therefore, biomass needs thermal chemical conversion processes like gasification, and it does not only produce a flammable gas, called 'syngas', which consists of CO, H2, and CH4, but also some unwanted byproducts such as tars and some particulates. These contaminants are condensed and foul in pipelines, combustion chamber and turbine, causing a deterioration in efficiency. Thus this work attempted to find a method to remove tars and particles from syngas with a filter which adopts a pre-coating technology for preventing blockage of the filter medium. Hydrated limestone powder and activated carbon(wood char) powder were used as the pre-coat materials. The removal efficiency of the tars was 86 % and 80 % with activated carbon(wood char) coating and hydrated limestone coating, respectively.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

To understand the utilization property of light energy, Synechococcus sp. MA19, a poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) producer, was cultivated at the different incident light intensities of 15.3, 50.0 and 78.2 W/$m^2$ using media with and without phosphate. From the results of metabolic flux analysis, it was found that the cell yield based on ATP synthesis was estimated as $3.5{\times}10^{-3}$ kg-biomass/mol-ATP in these cultures. Under the examined conditions, there were no significant differences in the efficiency of light energy conversion to chemical energies estimated as ATP synthesis and reducing potential (NADH + NADPH) formation whether the PHB synthesis took place or not. The energy converted from light to ATP was kept relatively high around the energy absorbed by the cells of $2.5-3.0{\times}10^{6} J\;h^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$, whereas the energy of reducing potential was hardly changed in the examined range of the energy absorbed by the cells.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.583-588
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• 2004

This research examined the treatment efficiency and methane production rate in treating slurry-type swine waste using UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor. The UASB reactor was operated at an organics volumetric loading rate (VLR) of $2.6-15.7kgCOD/m^3/day$. A stepwise increase of the VLR resulted in a temporary deterioration in the COD removal rate in UASB reactor but recovered quickly. The COD removal rate were 65-70% for VLR up to $5 kgCOD/m^3/day$. When organics VLR was $10kgCOD/m^3/day$, the COD removal rate decreased sharply and there was loss of 17.537g of the seeding biomass due to sludge washout. This result indicated that the UASB system cannot be adapted to more than $10kgCOD/m^3/day$ of VLR. As the organic load increased from 2.6 to $15.7kgCOD/m^3/d$, the biogas production rate varied from 3.2 to 10.8 L/d and the methane conversion rate of the organic matter varied from 0.30 to $0.23m^3CH_4/kg\;COD_{removed}$. The methane content showed the range of 70.1-81.5% during the experimental period. The volatile solids (VS) removal efficiency was similar at the low VLR (< $5 kgCOD/m^3/day$), but it decreased sharply at the high VLR (> $5 kgCOD/m^3/day$). The VS reduction rate was, moreover, large those of COD. The result shows that hydraulic retention time above 2 days is essential in case of treating wastewater containing 1% of solids.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2017

The increase of greenhouse gases and the concern of global warming instigate the development and spread of renewable energy and hydrogen is considered one of the clean energy sources. Hydrogen is one of the most elements in the earth and exist in the form of fossil fuel, biomass and water. In order to use hydrogen for a clean energy source, the hydrogen production method should be eco-friendly and economic as well. There are two different hydrogen production methods: conventional thermal method using fossil fuel and renewable method using biomass and water. Steam reforming, autothermal reforming, partial oxidation, and gasification (using solid fuel) have been considered for hydrogen production from fossil fuel. When using fossil fuel, carbon dioxide should be separated from hydrogen and captured to be accepted as a clean energy. The amount of hydrogen from biomass is insignificant. In order to occupy noticeable portion in hydrogen industries, biomass conversion, especially, biological method should be sufficiently improved in a process efficiency and a microorganism cultivation. Electrolysis is a mature technology and hydrogen from water is considered the most eco-friendly method in terms of clean energy when the electric power is from renewable sources such as photovoltaic cell, solar heat, and wind power etc.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 2010

In this study, characteristics of wood pellet gasification was studied using a Two Stage Gasifier which is consisted of pyrolysis reactor and ultra high temperature reformer. The average yields of $H_2$, $CH_4$, CO, $CO_2$ were 16.7, 11.3, 37.2, 26.6 L/mim, conversion rate from biomass to gas was 65% in pyrolysis reactor and gas yields in reformer were 55.4, 0.8, 120.8, 56.8 L/mim, respectively. The hydrogen flow rate from reformer is obtained 360.1 L/hr. The most of $CH_4$ was decomposed from 12.3 to 0.3 vol.% while $H_2$ is from 18.2 to 23.7 vol.% in reformer by methane dry reforming, Boudouard reaction, oxidation and/or steam reforming. The amount of $H_2O$ generated by hydration reaction from reformer was 1111.8 g, its accelerated conversion of $CH_4$ to other products. The conversion rate from $CH_4$ to other Compounds was 97.2%. Cold gas efficiency was 53.2%.