• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.781-785
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• 2011

In this work, a nano-sized samaria-doped ceria(SDC) was prepared by a urea-based hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, FESEM and TEM. It was observed that the increase in synthesis time and temperature gave rise to crystallity and particles size. Moreover, the synthesised powders had a excellent ion-conductivity(0.1 S/cm at 600~$800^{\circ}C$) which is suitable for electrolyte of intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cell(IT-SOFC). Subsequently for use as electrolyte for anode-supported IT-SOFC, we tried to deposit the SDC powder on a porous NiO-SDC substrate by electrophoretic deposition(EPD) method. From the FESEM observation, a compact

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.3049-3052
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• 2008

MCFC(molten carbonate fuel cell) power generation system is prime candidate for the utilization of fossil based fuels to generate ultra clean power with a high efficiency. In the MCFC power plant system, a combustor performs a role to supply high temperature mixture gases for cathode and heat for reformer by using the stack off-gas of the anode which includes a high concentration of $H_2O$ and $CO_2$. Since a combustor needs to be operated in a very lean condition and to avoid excessive local heating, catalytic combustor is usually used. The catalytic combustion is accomplished by the catalytic chemical reaction between fuel and oxidizer at catalyst surface, different from conventional combustion. In this study, a mathematical model for the prediction of internal flow and catalytic combustion characteristics in the catalytic combustor adopted in the MCFC power plant system is suggested by using the numerical methods. The numerical simulation models are then implemented into the commercial CFD code. After verifying result by comparing with the experimental data and calibrated kinetic parameters of catalytic combustion reaction, a numerical simulation is performed to investigate the variation of flow and combustion characteristics by changing such various parameters as inlet configuration and inlet temperature. The result show that the catalytic combustion can be effectively improved for most of the case by using the perforated plate and subsequent stable catalytic combustion is expected.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.299-303
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• 2015

The electrolyte is an important component in determining the performance of Fuel Cells. Especially, investigation of the conduction properties of electrolytes plays a key role in determining the performance of the electrolyte. The electrochemical properties of Yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) were measured to allow the use of this material as an electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in the temperature range of $700-1000^{\circ}C$ and in $0.21{\leq}pO_2/atm{\leq}10^{-23}$. A Hebb-Wagner polarization experimental cell was optimally manufactured; here we discuss typical problems associated with making cells. The partial conductivities due to electrons and holes for 8YSZ, which is known as a superior oxygen conductor, were obtained using I-V characteristics based on the Hebb-Wagner polarization method. Activation energies for holes and electrons are $3.99{\pm}0.17eV$ and $1.70{\pm}0.06eV$ respectively. Further, we calculated the oxygen ion conductivity with electron, hole, and total conductivity, which was obtained by DC four probe conductivity measurements. The oxygen ion conductivity was dependent on the temperature; the activation energy was $0.80{\pm}0.10eV$. The electrolyte domain was determined from the top limit, bottom limit, and boundary (p=n) of the oxygen partial pressure. As a result, the electrolyte domain was widely presented in an extensive range of oxygen partial pressures and temperatures.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2023

As the development of alternative energy is required due to the depletion of fossil fuels, interest in the use of hydrogen energy is increasing. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source with high energy density and can lead to the application of environmentally friendly technologies. However, due to difficulties in production, storage, and transportation that prevent the application of hydrogen-based eco-friendly technology, research on reforming reactions using dimethyl ether (DME) is being conducted. Unlike other hydrocarbons, DME is attracting attention as a hydrogen carrier because it has excellent storage stability and transportability, and there is no C-C bond in the molecule. The reaction between DME and steam is one of the reforming processes with the highest hydrogen yield in theory at a temperature lower than that of other hydrocarbons. In this study, a hydrogen reforming device using DME was developed and a catalyst prepared by supporting Cu in alumina was put into a reactor to find optimal hydrogen production conditions for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells while changing reaction temperature (300-500℃), pressure (5-10 bar), and steam/carbon ratio (3:1 to 5:1).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 1999

Composite cathodes of $50/50\;vol\%$ LSM-YSZ $(La_{-x}Sr_xMnO_3-yttria\;stabilized\;zirconia)$ were deposited onto dense YSZ electrolytes by colloidal deposition technique. The cathode characteristics were then examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and studied by ac-impedance spectroscopy (IS). The conditioning effects on LSM-YSZ cathodes were seen and remedies for these effects were noted in order to improve the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The effects of temperature on impedance, surface contamination on cathode bonding to YSZ electrolyte, changing Pt paste, aerosol spray technique applied to curved surface on microstructure and cell to cell variability were solved by testing at $900^{\circ}C$, sanding the YSZ surface, using only one batch of Pt paste, using flat YSZ plates and using consistent procedures and techniques, respectively. And then, reproducible impedance spectra were confirmed by using the improved cell and the typical spectra measured for an (air)LSM-YSZ/YSZ/LSM-YSZ(air) cell at $900^{\circ}C$ were composed of two depressed arcs. Impedance characteristics of the LSM-YSZ cathodes were also affected by experimental conditions such as catalytic interlayer, composite cathode compositions and applied current.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

In response to the recent increase in demand for hydrogen stations, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has enacted and promulgated special notifications to enable the installation of hydrogen stations in the form of the combined complex in existing automotive fuel supply facilities such as LPG, CNG, and gas stations. Hydrogen multi energy filling stations haven't been operated yet in Korea till the establishment of special standards, so it is necessary create special standards by considering all Korean environmental characteristics such as four seasons and daily crossings. In this study, we collected and analyzed the charging data of Ulsan LPG-Hydrogen Multi Fueling Station installed for the first time in Korea. The data are hourly temperature and pressure data from compressors, storage vessels and dispensers. We used the data collected for a year, including the highest temperature and the lowest temperature in Ulsan to compare seasonal characteristics. As a result, it was found that the change of the outside temperature affects the initial temperature of the vehicle's container of the hydrogen car, which finally affects the charging time and the charging speed of the vehicle. There was no effect on vehicle containers because the limit temperature suggested by the Korean Hydrogen Station Standard(KGS FP217) and the US Filling Protocol(SAE J2601) was not exceeded.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2007

The performance characteristics of the polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCS) were investigated under various humidification conditions at steady-state and transient conditions. The PEFC studied in this study was characterized by I-V curves in the potentiostatic mode and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The I-V curves representing steady-state performance were obtained from OCV to 0.25 V, and the dynamic performance responses were obtained at some voltages. The effects of anodic external humidification were measured by varying relative humidity of hydrogen from 20% to 100% while dry air was supplied in the cathode. At the high voltage region, the performance became higher with the increase of the temperature, while at the low voltage region, the performance decreased with the increase of temperature. The EIS showed that ohmic losses were larger at the dry condition of membrane and the effects of mass transport losses increased remarkably when the external and self-humidification were high. The dynamic responses were also monitored by changing the voltage of the PEFC instantly. As the temperature increased, the current reached steady-state earlier. The self-humidification with the generated water delayed the stabilization of the current except for low voltage conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.208-214
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• 2024

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 ℃ is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2010

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are commonly composed of ceramic compartments, and it is known that the physical properties of the ceramic materials can be changed according to the operating temperature. Thus, the physical properties of the ceramic materials have to be properly predicted to develop a highly reliable simulation model. In this study, several physical properties that can affect the performance of SOFCs were selected, and simulation models for those physical properties were developed using our own code. The Gibbs free energy for the open circuit voltage, exchange current densities for the activation polarization, and electrical conductivity for the electrolyte were calculated. In addition, the diffusion coefficient-including the binary and Knudsen diffusion mechanisms-was calculated for mass transport analysis at the porous electrode. The physical property and electrochemical reaction models were then simulated simultaneously. The numerical results were compared with the experimental results and previous works studied by Chan et al. for code validation.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.75.2-75.2
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• 2010

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have received a lot of attention as a power source for both stationary and mobile applications due to their attractive feature. In general, the performance of PEFCs is highly affected by the property of the electrodes. A PEFC electrode essentially consists of a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer. The gas difusion layer is highly porous and hydrophobicized with PTFE polymer. The catalyst layer usually contains electrocatalyst, proton conducting polymer, even PTFE as additive. Particularly, the proton conducting ionomer helps to increase the catalytic activity at three-phase boundary and catalyst utilization. Futhermore, it helps to retain moisture, resulting in preventing the electrodes from membrane dehydration. The most widely used proton conducting ionomer is perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer, namely, Nafion from DuPont due to its high proton conductivity and good mechanical property. However, there are great demands for alternative ionomers based on non-fluorinated materials in terms of high temperature availability, environmental adaptability and production cost. In this study, the electrodes with the various content of the sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) ionomer in the catalyst layer were prepared. In addition, we evaluated electrochemical properties of the prepared electrodes containing the various amount of the ionomers by using the cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy to find an optimal ionomer composition in the catalyst layer.