• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2013

The gas motion inside the engine cylinder plays a very important role in determining the thermal efficiency of an internal combustion engine. A precise information of in-cylinder three dimensional complex gas motion is crucial in optimizing engine design. Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is a combustion concept, which is a hybrid between Otto and Diesel engine. The turbulent diffusion leads to increased rates of momentum, heat and mass transfer. The in-cylinder turbulence flow was found to affect the present HCCI combustion mainly through its influence on the wall heat transfer. This study investigates the effect of piston geometry shape on the turbulent flow characteristics of in-cylinder from the numerical analysis using the LES model and the results obtained can offer guidelines of the combustion geometries for better combustion process and engine performance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.324-330
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• 2015

The electrolyte flow rates of vanadium redox flow battery play very important role in terms of ion transfer to electrolyte, kinetics and pump efficiency in system. In this paper a vanadium redox flow battery single cell was tested to suggest the optimization criteria of electrolyte flow rates on the efficiencies. The compared electrolyte circulation flow rates in this experimental work were 15, 30 and 45 mL/min. The charge/discharge characteristics of the flow rate of 30 mL/min was the best out of all flow rates in terms of charging and discharging time. The current efficiencies, voltage efficiencies and energy efficiencies at the flow rate of 30 mL/min were the best. The IR losses obtained at thd current density of $40mA/cm^2$, at the flow rates of 15, 30 and 45 mL/min were 0.085 V, 0.042 V and 0.115 V, respectively. The charge efficiencies at the current density of $40mA/cm^2$ were 96.42%, 96.45% and 96.29% for the electrolyte flow rates of 15, 30 and 45 mL/min, respectively. The voltge efficiencies at the current density of $40mA/cm^2$ were 77.34%, 80.62% and 76.10% for the electrolyte flow rates of 15, 30 and 45 mL/min, respectively. Finally, the energy efficiencies at the current density of $40mA/cm^2$ were 74.57%, 77.76% and 73.27% for the electrolyte flow rates of 15, 30 and 45 mL/min, respectively. The optimum flow rates of electrolytes were 20 mL/min in most of operating variables of vanadium redox flow battery.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.202-207
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• 2024

In this study, we undertook detailed experiments to increase hydrogen production efficiency by optimizing the thickness of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films. TiO₂ films were deposited on p-type silicon (Si) wafers using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. The main goal was to identify the optimal thickness of TiO₂ film that would maximize hydrogen production efficiency while maintaining stable operating conditions. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the TiO₂ films of different thicknesses were evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis. These techniques play a pivotal role in evaluating the electrochemical behavior and photoactivity of semiconductor materials in PEC systems. Our results showed photovoltage tended to improve with increasing thickness of TiO₂ deposition. However, this improvement was observed to plateau and eventually decline when the thickness exceeded 1.5 nm, showing a correlation between charge transfer efficiency and tunneling. On the other hand, LSV analysis showed bare Si had the greatest efficiency, and that the deposition of TiO₂ caused a positive change in the formation of photovoltage, but was not optimal. We show that oxide tunneling-capable TiO₂ film thicknesses of 1~2 nm have the potential to improve the efficiency of PEC hydrogen production systems. This study not only reveals the complex relationship between film thickness and PEC performance, but also enabled greater efficiency and set a benchmark for future research aimed at developing sustainable hydrogen production technologies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.272-272
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• 2013

The attractive features of photosynthetic reaction center proteins for energy application make them useful in solar energy conversion to hydrogen fuel or electrical energy. Almost unity charge separation quantum yield and its rapid speed of ~1ns, absorbance region in visible light (480~740 nm) and high proportion of photosynthetically active solar energy of 48.5% allowed photosystem1 to exploited as a bio-material for photo-energy devices. Directionality of photosystem1 in electron transfer can solve main problem in two-step water splitting process where back reaction deteriorates the overall efficiency. In the study, photosystem1 was extracted from spinach and the photo-induced excited electron in the reaction center was utilized in various field of light energy application. First, hydrogen evolving system realized by photodeposition of platinum at the end of the electron transfer chain, with combining specific semiconductor to oxidize water in the first step of Z-scheme. The evaluation by gas-chromatography demonstrated hydrogen evolution through the system. For the further application of photoelectrical material on electrode, photosystem1 have been controlled by copper ion, which is expected to assemble photosystem in specific orientation followed by maximized photoelectrical ability of film. The research proposed concrete methods for combining natural protein and artificial materials in one system and suggested possibility of designing interface between biological and inorganic materials.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.400-405
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• 2016

Ferric oxide (${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$, hematite) is an n-type semiconductor; due to its narrow band gap ($E_g=2.1eV$), it is a highly attractive and desirable material for use in solar hydrogenation by water oxidation. However, the actual conversion efficiency achieved with $Fe_2O_3$ is considerably lower than the theoretical values because the considerably short diffusion length (2-4 nm) of holes in $Fe_2O_3$ induces excessive charge recombination and low absorption. This is a significant hurdle that must be overcome in order to obtain high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. In consideration of this, it is thought that elemental doping, which may make it possible to enhance the charge transfer at the interface, will have a marked effect in terms of improving the photoactivities of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ photoanodes. Herein, we report on the synthesis by pulsed electrodeposition of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$-based anodes; we also report on the resulting photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. We attempted Ti-doping to enhance the PEC properties of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ anodes. It is revealed that the photocurrent density of a bare ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ anode can be dramatically changed by controlling the condition of the electrodeposition and the concentration of $TiCl_3$. Under optimum conditions, a modified ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ anode exhibits a maximum photocurrent density of $0.4mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under 1.5 G simulated sunlight illumination; this photocurrent density value is about 3 times greater than that of unmodified ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ anodes.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.119.2-119.2
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are currently attracting wide spread academic and commercial interest for the conversion of sunlight into electricity because of their easy manufacturing process and high efficiency. The solar energy conversion efficiencies of DSSC are strongly dependent on dye molecules adsorbed on the TiO2 surface which used for photosensitization of sun light, since an excited state of dye could inject an electron into the conduction band of semiconductor. We have developed novel organic dyes which have phenothiazine moieties as an electron donor in their charge-transfer chromophore for application of DSSCs. We had synthesized a series of phenothiazine derivatives which have different wave length absorbing chromophore in the molecule with high molar extinction coefficient. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC composed of organic chromophores with broad wavelength absorption property were measured and evaluated by comparison with that of pristine ruthenium dye.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.492-495
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• 2008

Efficient top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated using copper iodide (CuI) doped NPB as a p-doped hole injection layer to improve hole injection from a silver bottom electrode. The enhanced hole injection is originated from the formation of the charge transfer complex between CuI and NPB. The devices result in high efficiency of 69 cd/A with almost Lambertian emission pattern.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2017

The formation mechanism and photocatalytic properties of a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/$TiO_2$-based nanotube (TNTs) composite are investigated. The CNT/TNT composite is synthesized via a solution chemical route. It is confirmed that this 1-D nanotube composite has a core-shell nanotubular structure, where the TNT surrounds the CNT core. The photocatalytic activity investigated based on the methylene blue degradation test is superior to that of with pure TNT. The CNTs play two important roles in enhancing the photocatalytic activity. One is to act as a template to form the core-shell structure while titanate nanosheets are converted into nanotubes. The other is to act as an electron reservoir that facilitates charge separation and electron transfer from the TNT, thus decreasing the electron-hole recombination efficiency.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1037-1047
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• 2017

The Differential Power Processing (DPP) converter is a promising multi-module photovoltaic inverter architecture recently proposed for photovoltaic systems. In this paper, a DPP converter architecture, in which each PV-panel has its own DPP converter in shunt, performs distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) control. It maintains a high energy conversion efficiency, even under partial shading conditions. The system architecture only deals with the power differences among the PV panels, which reduces the power capacity of the converters. Therefore, the DPP systems can easily overcome the conventional disadvantages of PCS such as centralized, string, and module integrated converter (MIC) topologies. Among the various types of the DPP systems, the feed-forward method has been selected for both its voltage balancing and power transfer to a modified H-bridge inverter that needs charge balancing of the input capacitors. The modified H-bridge multi-level inverter had some advantages such as a low part count and cost competitiveness when compared to conventional multi-level inverters. Therefore, it is frequently used in photovoltaic (PV) power conditioning system (PCS). However, its simplified switching network draws input current asymmetrically. Therefore, input capacitors in series suffer from a problem due to a charge imbalance. This paper validates the operating principle and feasibility of the proposed topology through the simulation and experimental results. They show that the input-capacitor voltages maintain the voltage balance with the PV MPPT control operating with a 140-W hardware prototype.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2018

The traditional silicon heterojunction solar cells consist of intrinsic amorphous silicon to prevent recombination of the silicon surface and doped amorphous silicon to transport the photo-generated electrons and holes to the electrode. Back contact solar cells with silicon heterojunction exhibit very high open-circuit voltages, but the complexity of the process due to form the emitter and base at the backside must be addressed. In order to solve this problem, the structure, manufacturing method, and new materials enabling the carrier selective contact (CSC) solar cell capable of achieving high efficiency without using a complicated structure have recently been actively developed. CSC solar cells minimize carrier recombination on metal contacts and effectively transfer charge. The CSC structure allows very low levels of recombination current (eg, Jo < 9fA/cm2), thereby achieves high open-circuit voltage and high efficiency. This paper summarizes the core technology of CSC solar cell, which has been spotlighted as the next generation technology, and is aiming to speed up the research and development in this field.