• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2019

Much research has been made for finding new and eco-friendly alternative sources of energy to solve the problems related with the pollution caused by emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide as the use of fossil fuels increases worldwide. Among them, fuel cells draws particular interests as an eco-friendly energy generator because only water is obtained as a by-product. Anion exchange membrane-based alkaline fuel cell (AEMFC) that uses anion exchange membrane as an electrolyte is of increased interest recently because of its advantages in using low-cost metal catalyst unlike the PEMFC (potton exchange membrane fuel cell) due to the high-catalyst activity in alkaline conditions. The main properties required as an anion exchange membrane are high hydroxide conductivity and chemical stability at high pH. Recently we reported a chemically crosslinked poly(2-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) by reacting PPO with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine as novel anion exchange membranes. In the current work, we further developed the same crosslinked polymer but having enhanced physicochemical properties, including higher conductivity, increased mechanical and dimensional stabilities by using the PPO with a higher molecular weight and also by increasing the crosslinking density. The obtained polymer membrane also showed a good cell performance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.359-366
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• 2013

This work is investigated for the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen iodide (HI). Platinum was used as active material by loading on $ZrO_2-SiO_2$ mixed oxide in HI decomposition reaction. To obtain high and stable conversion of hydrogen iodide in severe condition, it was required to improve catalytic activity. For this reason, a method increasing dispersion of platinum was proposed in this study. In order to get high dispersion of platinum, zirconia was incorporated in silica by sol-gel synthesis. Incorporating zirconia influence increasing platinum dispersion and BET surface area as well as decreasing deactivation of catalysts. It should be able to stably product hydrogen for a long time because of inhibitive deactivation. HI decomposition reaction was carried out under the condition of $450^{\circ}C$ and 1 atm in a fixed bed reactor. Catalysts analysis methods such as $N_2$ adsorption/desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, ICP-AES and CO gas chemisorption were used to measurement of their physico-chemical properties.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.336-345
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• 2020

Nickel-doped lanthanum cobalt oxide (LaCo_1-xNi_xO_3-δ, LCN) was investigated as an alternative anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. To improve its catalytic activity for steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction, Ni²⁺ was substituted into Co³⁺ lattice in LaCoO₃. LCN anode, synthesized using the Pechini method, reacts with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte at high temperatures to form an electrochemically inactive phase such as La₂Zr₂O₇. To minimize the interlayer by-products, the LCN was coated via a double-tape casting method on the Ni/YSZ anode as a catalytic functional layer. By increasing the Ni doping amount, oxygen vacancies in the LCN increased and the cell performance improved. CH₄ fuel decomposed to H₂ and CO via SMR reaction in the LCN functional layer. Hence, the LCN-coated Ni/YSZ anode exhibited better cell performance than the Ni/YSZ anode under H₂ and CH₄ fuels. LCN with 12 mol% of Ni (LCN12)-modified Ni/YSZ anode showed excellent long-term stability under H₂ and CH₄ conditions.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2010

Direct Carbon Fuel Cell(DCFC), unlike gas turbines or engines, is a kind of fuel cell which directly generates electricity by electrochemical reaction from a carbon fuel. The advantages of DCFC are higher efficiency and lower emission in comparison with existing power generation facilities. In this study, the effects of CO and $CO_2$ on theoretical potential are examined using the thermodynamic equilibrium method, and the dependence of product on operating temperature is examined via two dimensional CFD method. As a result, when the reaction of CO production (Boudouard reaction) considered, theoretical potential is higher than that in only $CO_2$ reactions, and its value increases as temperature increases. Two dimensional results of computational fluid dynamics(CFD) confirm that the Boudouard reaction becomes more important to be considered as temperature increases and inert gas affects the equilibrium composition of the Boudouard reaction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the corrosion resistance at the anode side separator for molten carbonate fuel cell, STS316 and SACC-STS316 (chromium and aluminum were simultaneously deposited by diffusion into STS316 authentic stainless steel substrate by pack-cementation process) were applied as the separator material. In case of STS316, corrosion proceeded via three steps ; a formation step of corrosion product until stable corrosion product, a protection step against corrosion until breakaway occurs, a advance step of corrosion after breakaway. Especially, STS316 would be impossible to use the separator without suitable surface modification because of rapid corrosion rate after formation of corrosion product, occurs the severe problem on stability of cell during long-time operation. Whereas, SACC-STS316 was showed more effective corrosion resistance than the present separator, STS316 due to the intermetallic compound layer such as NiAl, Ni3Al formed on the surface of STS316 specimen. And it is anticipated that, in order to use SACC-STS316 alternative separator at the anode side, coating process, which can lead to dense coating layer, has to be developed, and by suitable pre-treatment before using it, very effective corrosion resistance will be achieved.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.149-158
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• 2007

Of all components of MCFC(molten carbonate fuel cell), corrosion of separator is one of the most decisive factor for commercializing of MCFC. In order to provide better understanding of corrosion behavior and morphology for gas channel of separator plate, post-analysis after cell operation for 1200 hours at $650^{\circ}C$ was performed by optical microscope, SEM and EPMA. Intergranular corrosion was observed on gas channel of separator plate. Corrosion product layer was identified as Fe-oxide, Cr-oxide and Ni-oxide by EPMA, and oxide thickness was measured with a $60{\mu}m-150{\mu}m$. Also, gas channel of separator was damaged by severe intergrannular attack with post analysis in consistent with immersion test. Moreover, pitting on the channel plate was observed with a depth of $18{\sim}24{\mu}m$. The results of immersion method are well agreement with post analysis measurements.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.493-499
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• 2010

Steam reforming (SR) of glycerol, a main by-product of manufacturing process of bio-diesel, for the production of hydrogen was investigated over the Ni-based catalysts. The Ni-based catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method, and characterized by $N_2$ physisorption, CO chemisorption, XRD and TEM techniques. It was found that the Ni/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst showed higher conversion and catalytic stability for the carbon formation than the other catalysts in the steam reforming of glycerol under the tested conditions. The results suggest that the steam reforming of glycerol over modified Ni/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst minimized carbon formation can be applied in hydrogen station for fuel-cell powered vehicles and fuel processor for stationary and portable fuel cells.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.175-181
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• 2019

A failed spent fuel rod with 53,000 MWd/tU from a nuclear power plant was characterized, and the fission products and oxygen layer in the pellet-clad mechanical interaction region were observed using an EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer). A sound fuel rod burned under similar conditions was used to compare and analyze, the results of the failed fuel rod. In the failed fuel rod, the oxide layer represented $10{\mu}m$ of the boundary of the cladding, and $35{\mu}m$ of the region outside the cladding. By comparison, in the sound fuel rod, the oxide layer was $8{\mu}m$, observed in the cladding boundary region. The cladding inner surface corrosion and the resulting fuel-cladding bonding were investigated using an EPMA. Zirconium existed in the bonding layer of the (U, Zr)O compound beyond the pellet cladding interaction gap of $20{\mu}m$, and composition of UZr2O3 was observed in the failed fuel rod. This paper presents the results of the EPMA examination of a spent fuel specimen, and a technique to analyze fission products in the pellet-clad mechanical interaction region.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

For developing high performance fuel cell, peripheral devices and key components have to be studied in priority. In this study, centrifugal pump was studied for heat recovery. For PEM fuel cell system, a four-impeller centrifugal pump was designed, tested and compared with result of commercial product (IWAKI). In addition, effects of number of impeller were analyzed by CFD. The experiment and analysis were progressed in the same conditions. The results showed the quantitative difference under 30% between the numerical and the experimental pressure difference and mass flow rate.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2014

Performance degradation of a battery in 20 kWh energy storage system (ESS) under various operating conditions was studied. And energy saving of the ESS was also monitored by connecting with 20 kW photovoltaic (PV). PV-connected ESS saved 5~7% of energy consumption in 2013 compared to that without such system in 2012. As charge-discharge cycle increased, capacity decreased and the performance degradation was glaringly obvious after 40 cycles. And as charge and discharge rate increased, the performance degradation was more serious. After 50 charge-discharge cycles, a lot of degraded product was deposited on the surface of anode and cathode electrodes, and the cathode side was more contaminated. Therefore, in order to maintain the cell performance, it was more important to protect the degradation of the cathode side.