• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.232-239
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• 2021

In order to develop a novel system named "thermal medium and gas circulation type pyrolysis system," this study was conducted to obtain basic data for process simulation before performing the pyrolysis experiment. Polypropylene (PP) was chosen as model material in the basic pyrolysis experiment instead of waste plastic and fluidized sand (hereinafter referred to as "sand"), and it was used as a heat transfer material in the "thermal medium and gas circulation type pyrolysis system." Ni was impregnated as an active catalyst on the sand to promote catalytic pyrolysis. The basic physical properties of PP were analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer, and pyrolysis was performed at 600 ℃ in an N₂ atmosphere to produce liquid oil. The distribution of the carbon number of the liquid oil generated through the catalytic pyrolysis reaction was analyzed using GC/MS. We investigated the effects of varying the pyrolysis space velocity and catalyst amount on the yield of liquid oil and the carbon number distribution of the liquid oil. Using Ni/sand, the yield of liquid oil was increased except with the pyrolysis condition of 10 wt% Ni/sand at a space velocity of 30,000 h^-1, and the composition of C₆ ~ C₁₂ hydrocarbons increased. With increases in the space velocity, higher yields of liquid oil were obtained, but the composition of C₆ ~ C₁₂ hydrocarbons was reduced. With 1 wt% Ni/sand, the oil yield obtained was greater than that obtained with 10 wt% Ni/sand. In summary, when 1 wt% Ni/sand was used at a space velocity of 10,000 h^-1, the oil yield was 60.99 wt% and the composition of C₆ ~ C₁₂ hydrocarbons was highest at 42.06 area%.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2024

Zeolite template carbon (ZTC) was synthesized as an adsorbent to remove low-concentration CH₄ from the atmosphere. The synthesis of ZTC was performed using CH₄ and C₂H₂ as carbon precursors and their impact on adsorption was investigated. ZTC was also synthesized using Y zeolite ion-exchanged with CaCl₂ and LiCl as templates to investigate the effect of using metals in ion exchange. The comparison of the carbon precursors revealed that C₂H₂ had a higher carbon yield than CH₄. The synthesized ZTC exhibited developed micropores due to carbon deposition deep inside the micropores of the zeolite template. The kinetic diameter of C₂H₂ (0.33 nm) is smaller than that of CH₄ (0.38 nm), which allowed for its deposition. The study compared metal precursors used for ion exchange and confirmed that the CaCl₂-based ZTC developed more micropores compared to the LiCl-based ZTC. The ion-exchanged Ca inhibited pore blocking by the carbon precursor, allowing it to enter the pores. The ability of synthesized ZTC to adsorb N₂ and CH₄ at 298 K was investigated. The results showed that CH₄ had a higher overall adsorption amount than N₂. The sample synthesized using C₂H₂ and CaY exhibited the highest N₂ and CH₄ adsorption capacity. However, the sample synthesized with CH₄ had the highest CH₄/N₂ gas uptake ratio, which is a crucial factor in designing an adsorption process. The observed difference was likely caused by the underdevelopment of ultrafine pores that are associated with N₂ adsorption. This resulted in a reduction of N₂ adsorption, leading to an increase in CH₄/N₂ separation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.247-257
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• 2019

Objectives: The Korea Ministry of Environment regulates concentrations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) through Atmosphere Environmental Standards to protect public health from HAPs. However, simply determining the exceedance of HAP concentrations has several limitations and more comprehensive assessment is required. In addition, integrated risk assessment is needed considering exposure in all microenvironments, including outdoor as well as indoor environments. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in risk by sub-population groups according to time-activity patterns and reported concentrations, as well as the lifetime risk for Koreans. Methods: In this study, we calculated time-weighted average exposure concentrations for benzene and $PM_{10}$ among preschool-age children, students, housewifes, workers, and the elderly using residential time and concentrations for indoor (house, school or workplace, other), outdoor, and transport by the meta-analysis method. The risk assessments were conducted by excess cancer risk and disease death risk using 1,000,000 Monte-Carlo simulations for probabilistic analysis. Results: Preschool-age children, students, housewifes, workers, and the elderly spent 91.9, 86.0, 79.8, 82.2, and 77.3% of their day in their house, workplace, or school, respectively. The more than 99% excess cancer risk for benzene exceed 1.0E-06 in all sub-populations and lifetime. The acute disease death risk for $PM_{10}$ for housewifes and workers for lifetime were 3.35E-04 and 3.18E-04, and chronic disease death risks were 2.84E-03 and 2.70E-03, respectively. Conclusions: The risk of benzene and $PM_{10}$ by sub-population group and for the lifetime of housewifes and workers were assessed. Benzene showed risky results for this study. All disease death risks of $PM_{10}$ were higher than 1.0E-04 and showed different risks by sub-population. This study can be used as a basis for lifetime exposure and risk assessment to benzene and $PM_{10}$.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.113-141
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• 2021

The impacts of ice clouds on the energy budget of the Earth and their representation in climate models have been identified as important and unsolved problems. Ice clouds consist almost exclusively of non-spherical ice crystals with various shapes and sizes. To determine the influences of ice clouds on solar and infrared radiation as required for remote sensing retrievals and numerical models, knowledge of scattering and microphysical properties of ice crystals is required. A conventional method for representing the radiative properties of ice clouds in satellite retrieval algorithms and numerical models is to combine measured microphysical properties of ice crystals from field campaigns and pre-calculated single-scattering libraries of different shapes and sizes of ice crystals, which depend heavily on microphysical and scattering properties of ice crystals. However, large discrepancies between theoretical calculations and observations of the radiative properties of ice clouds have been reported. Electron microscopy images of ice crystals grown in laboratories and captured by balloons show varying degrees of complex morphologies in sub-micron (e.g., surface roughness) and super-micron (e.g., inhomogeneous internal and external structures) scales that may cause these discrepancies. In this study, the current idealized models representing morphologies of ice crystals and the corresponding numerical methods (e.g., geometric optics, discrete dipole approximation, T-matrix, etc.) to calculate the single-scattering properties of ice crystals are reviewed. Current problems and difficulties in the calculations of the single-scattering properties of atmospheric ice crystals are addressed in terms of cloud microphysics. Future directions to develop physically consistent ice-crystal models are also discussed.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2019

Lattice towers and tubular steel poles have been commonly used for electrical power transmission in Korea. They are durable, structurally stable, simple and can easily be constructed in limited spaces. However, residents are opposed to construct transmission lattice towers in their areas because they are not visually attractive, and electrical field occur at the transmission lines. Underground transmissions have been used instead of the traditional towers to resolve these problems, however they are not cost effective to construct and run. Therefore, we have developed eco-friendly towers that are more attractive, well blending into the surrounding environment, and much more economical than underground transmissions. There are four categories of the eco-friendly electric transmission towers about design aspects. Firstly, there is decoration type such as tree tower and ensemble tower. Tree tower looks like actual trees with leaves and branches so it blends into surroundings. Ensemble towers were designed after pair of crane birds. Those towers have decoration features and art works. Structural examination and manufacturing this type would be very similar to the conventional transmission towers. Secondly, there is arm design type such as traditional tower. Design features are added to the existing towers. As partial design can be adoptable on these types, it can easily meet height regulations and attach to conventional lattice towers and tubular steel poles. Also, these towers are more economical than others. Third category is multipurpose type such as Sail Tower. These towers have simple pole or tubular structure with features which can be used as information message board, public relations and much more. This type will face greater wind pressure because of the area of the board, also visibility must take into consideration. Lastly, there is moulding type such as arc pylon. It is different shape to the conventional towers - lattice towers and tubular steel poles. Dramatic design changes have been adapted - from a hard and static tower to a soft and curved tower. These towers will well stand out in the field. However, structural examination and manufacturing this type would be difficult and costly. Also certain towers of this type would require scaffolding or false work to construct, which will result in limitations of the construction area. This paper shows KEPCO 154 kV Sail tower in detail. KEPCO 154 kV Sail tower that is included in fabrication of sample tower and tower testing has developed and the results are presented in this paper. We hope that sail tower is also considered as a solution to have public acceptance or to create a familiar atmosphere among towers and people in coastal area.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.272-281
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• 2023

Ecosystem observatories are burgeoning globally in an endeavour to detect national and global scale trends in the state of biodiversity and ecosystems in an era of rapid environmental change. In this paper we highlight the additional importance of regional scale outcomes of such infrastructure, through an introduction to the Great Western Woodlands TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) SuperSite, and key findings from three gradient plot networks that are part of this infrastructure. The SuperSite was established in 2012 in the 160,000 km² Great Western Woodlands region, in a collaboration involving 12 organisations. This region is globally significant for its largely intact, diverse landscapes, including the world's largest Mediterranean-climate woodlands and highly diverse sandplain shrublands. The dominant woodland eucalypts are fire-sensitive, requiring hundreds of years to regrow after fire. Old-growth woodlands are highly valued by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and managing impacts of climate change and the increasing extent of intense fires are key regional management challenges. Like other TERN SuperSites, the Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite includes a core eddy-covariance flux tower measuring exchanges of carbon, water and energy between the vegetation and atmosphere, along with additional environmental and biodiversity monitoring around the tower. The broader SuperSite incorporates three gradient plot networks. Two of these represent aridity gradients, in sandplains and woodlands, informing regional climate adaptation and biodiversity management by characterising biodiversity turnover along spatial climate gradients and acting as sentinels for ecosystem change over time. For example, the sandplains transect has demonstrated extremely high spatial turnover rates in plant species, that challenge traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation. The third gradient plot network represents a 400-year fire-age gradient in Eucalyptus salubris woodlands. It has enabled characterisation of post-fire recovery of vegetation, birds and invertebrates over multi-century timeframes, and provided tools that are directly informing management to reduce stand-replacing fires in eucalypt woodlands. By building regional partnerships and applying globally or nationally consistent methodologies to regional scale questions, ecological observatories have the power not only to detect national and global scale trends in biodiversity and ecosystems, but to directly inform environmental decisions that are critical at regional scales.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2023

Given that toxic substances are diffused by the various movements of the atmosphere, it is very important to evaluate the risks associated with this phenomenon. When analyzing the behavioral characteristics of these atmospheric diffusion models, the main input data are the wind speed and wind direction among the meteorological data. In particular, it is known that a certain wind direction occurs in summer and winter in Korea under the influence of westerlies and monsoons. In this study, synoptic meteorological observation data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration were analyzed from January 1, 2012 to the end of August of 2022 to understand the regional wind characteristics of nuclear power plants and surrounding areas. The selected target areas consisted of 16 weather stations around the Hanbit, Kori, Wolsong, Hanul, and Saeul nuclear power plants that are currently in operation. The analysis was based on the temperature, wind direction, and wind speed data at those locations. Average, maximum, minimum, median, and mode values were analyzed using long-term annual temperature, wind speed, and wind direction data. Correlation coefficient values were also analyzed to determine the linear relationships among the temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. Among the 16 districts, Uljin had the highest wind speed. The median wind speed values for each region were lower than the average wind speed values. For regions where the average wind speed exceeds the median wind speed, Yeongju, Gochang, Gyeongju, Yeonggwang, and Gimhae were calculated as 0.69 m s^-1, 0.54m s^-1, 0.45m s^-1, 0.4m s^-1, and 0.36m s^-1, respectively. The average temperature in the 16 regions was 13.52 degrees Celsius; the median temperature was 14.31 degrees and the mode temperature was 20.69 degrees. The average regional temperature standard deviation was calculated and found to be 9.83 degrees. The maximum summer temperatures were 39.7, 39.5, and 39.3 in Yeongdeok, Pohang, and Yeongcheon, respectively. The wind directions and speeds in the 16 regions were plotted as a wind rose graph, and the characteristics of the wind direction and speed of each region were investigated. It was found that there is a dominant wind direction correlated with the topographical characteristics in each region. However, the linear relationship between the wind speed and direction by region varied from 0.53 to 0.07. Through this study, by evaluating meteorological observation data on a long-term synoptic scale of ten years, regional characteristics were found.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2007

We fabricated the in-situ $MgB_2$ wires using the powder-in-tube method and investigated the effects of sintering temperature and SiC contents on the microstructure and superconducting properties. Pure $MgB_2$ wires and 5, 10, 20 wt.% SiC doped $MgB_2$ wires were sintered at $600-1000^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes in Ar atmosphere. We found that $MgB_2$ phase was mostly formed at the sintering temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ and above, and the critical temperature ($T_c$) increased with increasing sintering temperature. For the $MgB_2$ sintered at $850^{\circ}C$, the highest critical current density ($J_c$) was obtained to be $3.7{\times}10^5\;A/cm^2$ at 5 K and 1.6 T by a magnetic properties measurement system (MPMS). The addition of SiC to the $MgB_2$ wires changed microstructure and critical properties. SEM observation showed that the $MgB_2$ core had considerable micro-cracks in undoped wire and the density of micro-cracks decreased with increasing SiC contents. The critical temperature decreased as the SiC contents increased, on the other hand, the critical current density of SiC doped $MgB_2$ wires in high magnetic field was enhanced compared to that of undoped $MgB_2$ wires.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_2
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• pp.1261-1272
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• 2018

It is important to measure the Arctic surface air temperature because it plays a key-role in the exchange of energy between the ocean, sea ice, and the atmosphere. Although in-situ observations provide accurate measurements of air temperature, they are spatially limited to show the distribution of Arctic surface air temperature. In this study, we proposed machine learning-based models to estimate the Arctic surface air temperature in summer based on buoy data and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2)satellite data. Two machine learning approaches-random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM)-were used to estimate the air temperature twice a day according to AMSR2 observation time. Both RF and SVM showed $R^2$ of 0.84-0.88 and RMSE of $1.31-1.53^{\circ}C$. The results were compared to the surface air temperature and spatial distribution of the ERA-Interim reanalysis data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). They tended to underestimate the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea, and the Baffin Bay region where no IABP buoy observations exist. This study showed both possibility and limitations of the empirical estimation of Arctic surface temperature using AMSR2 data.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.282-290
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• 2013

Biophysical and biochemical processes through which crops interact with the atmosphere have been simulated using land surface models and crop growth models. The Noah Multi Physics (MP) model and the CERES-Rice model, which are a land surface model, and a crop growth model, respectively, were used to simulate and compare rice growth and evapotranspiration (ET) in the areas near Haenam flux tower in Korea. Simulations using these models were performed from 2003 to 2012 during which flux measurements were obtained at the Haenam site. The Noah MP model failed to simulate the pattern of temporal change in leaf area index (LAI) after heading. The simulated aboveground biomass with the Noah MP model was underestimated by about 10% of the actual biomass. The ET simulated with the Noah MP model was as low as 21% of those with the CERES-Rice model. In comparison with actual ET measured at Haenam flux site, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the Noah MP model was 1.8 times larger than that of the CERES-Rice model. The Noah MP model seems to show less reliable simulation of crop growth and ET due to simplified phenology processes and assimilates partitioning compared with the CERES-Rice model. When ET was adjusted by the ratio between leaf biomass simulated using CERES-Rice model and Noah MP model, however, the RMSE of ET was reduced by 30%. This suggests that an improvement of the Noah MP model in representing rice growth in paddy fields would allow more reliable simulation of matter and energy fluxes.