• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.39-46
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• 2006

The fuel cell is one of promising environment-friendly energy sources for the next generation. The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, which takes a large portion of stack cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity To achieve desired electrical properties, specimens made with different mixing ratio, processing pressure and temperature were tested. To increase mechanical strength, one or two layers of woven carbon fabric were added to the graphite and resin composite. Thus, the composite material was consisted of three phases: graphite particles, carbon fabric, and epoxy resin. By increasing mixing ratio of graphite, fabricated pressure and process temperature, the electric conductivity of the composite was improved. The results of tensile test showed that the tensile strength of the two-phase graphite composite was about 4MPa, and that of three-phase composite was increased to 57MPa. As surface properties, contact an91e and surface roughness were tested. Graphite composites showed contact angles higher than $90^{\circ}$, which mean low surface energy. The average surface roughness of the composite specimens was $0.96{\mu}m$.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.105-108
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• 2006

The fuel cell is one of the promising environment-friendly energy sources for the next generation. The fuel cell provides good energy efficiency above 40% without pollution or noise. Different fuel cell types are usually distinguished by the kind of electrolyte. Among these, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has advantages of high power density. low operating temperature, relatively quick start-up, and rapid response to varying loads. The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, and it takes a large portion of stack volume, weight and cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding and by machining. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity. Flow channels were fabricated by compression molding with design of experiments (DOE) to evaluate moldability. The cost for compression molding of graphite-composite bipolar plate was compared with machining cost to make the same bipolar plate.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.859-870
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• 2013

The paper summarizes the irradiation test and post-irradiation examination (PIE) data for the U-Mo low-enriched fuel that was irradiated in the MIR reactor under the RERTR Program. The PIE data were analyzed for both full-size fuel rods and mini-rods with atomized powder dispersed in Al matrix as well as with additions of 2%, 5% and 13% of silicon in the matrix and ZrN protective coating on the fuel particles. The full-size fuel rods were irradiated up to an average burnup of ${\sim}60%^{235}U$; the mini-rods were irradiated to an average burnup of ${\sim}85%^{235}U$. The presented data show a significant increase of the void fraction in the U-Mo alloy as the U-235 burnup rises from ~ 40% up to ~ 85%. The effect of irradiation test conditions and U-235 burnup were analyzed with regard to the formation of an interaction layer between the matrix and fuel particles as well as generation of porosity in the U-Mo alloy. Shown here are changes in distribution of U fission products as the U-235 burnup increases from ~ 40% up to ~ 85%.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.326-334
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• 2007

In this study, graphite composites were fabricated by warm press molding method to realize commercialization of PEM fuel cells. Graphite composites have been considered as alternative economic materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells. Graphite powder that enables to provide electrical conductivity was selected as the main substance. The graphite powder was mixed with phenolic resin and the mixture was pressed using a warm press method. First of all, the graphite powder was pulverized with a ball mill for the dense packing of composite. As the ball milling time increases, the average size of particles decreases and the size distribution becomes narrow. This allows for improvement of the uniformity of graphite composite. However, the surface electrical resistivity of graphite composite increases as the ball milling time increases. It is due to that graphite particles with amorphous phase are generated on the surface due to the friction and collision of particles during pulverizing. We found that the contact electrical resistivity of graphite particles increases as the particle size decreases. The contact electrical resistivity of graphite powders was reduced due to high molding pressure by warm press molding. This leads to improvement of the mechanical properties of graphite composite. Hydrogen gas impermeability was measured with the graphite composite, showing a possibility of the application for bipolar plate in fuel cell. And, I-V curves of the graphite composite bipolar plate exhibit a similar performance to the graphite bipolar plate.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.361-370
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• 2009

Ni-PTFE composite plated on graphite (C/Ni-PTFE) and PTFE (PTFE/Ni-PTFE) particles were prepared uniformly by electroless composite plating. The conductivity of C/Ni-PTFE particles was 280 S/m higher than 95 S/m of PTFE/Ni-PTFE particles at same composite plating condition (Ni:35~36 wt%, PTFE:8 wt%). The C/Ni-PTFE particles were formed into the C/Ni-PTFE plate using heat treatment at $350^{\circ}C$ under 10~$1000\;kg/cm^2$. The C/Ni-PTFE plate showed 1) high conductivity of $5.7\;{\times}\;10^4\;S/m$ due to the existence of graphite as conducting aid and the formation of 3-dimensional Ni network 2) good gas diffusion caused by various pore volumes (0.01~$100\;{\mu}m$) in the plate. The plate could be useful for an electrode in an alkaline fuel cell (AFC). The current density of C/Ni-PTFE electrode indicated $84\;mA/cm^2$ at 0.3V and it was 3.0 times higher than that of PTFE/Ni-PTFE electrode.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2009

Ni-plated polytetrafluoroethylene(Ni-PTFE) particles($25{\mu}m$, $500{\mu}m$) were prepared by using nickel electroless plating. The Ni content in Ni-PTFE particles increased with increasing the amount of reduction agent. At about 53 wt% Ni content, $25{\mu}m$ Ni-PTFE particles showed conductivity of 320S/m. The Ni-PTFE particles were formed into the Ni-PTFE plate using heat treatment at $350^{\circ}C$ under $10{\sim}1000kg/cm^2$. The Ni-PTFE plate displayed the high conductivity of 5100S/m due to the formation of 3-dimentional Ni network. The plate was used as an electrode in an alkaline fuel cell(AFC). In terms of the current density, the Ni-PTFE electrode having higher Ni content(53 wt%) showed improved performance.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.554-557
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• 2005

The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, which takes a large portion of stack cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity. To achieve desired electric properties, specimens made with different mixing ratio, processing pressure and temperature were tested. To increase mechanical strength, one or two layer of woven carbon fabric were added to the original graphite and resin composite. Thus, the composite material is consisted of the three phases: graphite particles, epoxy resin, and carbon fabric. By increasing mixing ratio, fabricated pressure and process temperature, electric conductivity was improved. The results of tensile test showed that the tensile strength of two-phase graphite composite was about 5MPa, and that of three-phase composite was increased to 54MPa.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1998.05b
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• pp.273-278
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• 1998

The phase stability of atomized U-10wt. ％Mo powder and the thermal compatibility of dispersed fuel meats at 40$0^{\circ}C$ and 50$0^{\circ}C$ have been characterized. Atomized U-10Mo powder has a good \ulcorner-U phase stability, and excellent thermal compatibility with aluminum matrix in a dispersion fuel. It is thought that the good phase stability is related to th large supersaturation of Mo atoms in the atomized particles. The reasons for the excellent thermal compatibility have been considered to be as follows. Before thermal decomposition of ${\gamma}$-U in particle, supersaturated Mo atoms at ${\gamma}$-U grain boundaries inhibit the diffusion of Al atoms. After thermal decomposition of ${\gamma}$-U into ${\gamma}$-U and U$_2$Mo, the intermetallic compound of U$_2$Mo seems to retard the penetration of Al atoms. The penetration mechanisms of aluminum atoms in the atomized particles are assumed be classified as (a) diffusion through the reacted layer between fuel particles and Al matrix leaving a kernel-like unreacted island and (b) diffusion along grain boundaries showing several unreacted islands and more reacted regions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1222-1233
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• 1990

The formation and oxidation processes of soot particles in a diesel flame were investigated with a rapid compression machine. A cloud of soot particles was successfully visualized by means of the instantaneous laser shadow photographs technique and the equivalence ratio of the soot formation zone was estimated from a measured fuel concentration distribution in a nonevaporating spray. The temporal and spatial variation of soot concentration in the flame was also correlated with the rate of heat release. Soot particles appears first in a region near the flame tip when diffusion combustion period starts, and its concentration is a maximum at about the end of injection, then decreases due to oxidation. The reason for soot being formed in a fuel lean region near the flame tip is the evaporated fuel requires time to be pyrolized as it travels through the burning fuel rich zone towards the flame tip.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.745-749
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• 2011

Two-dimemsional liquid-solid multiphase fluid dynamics was used to analyze the suspension and mix of liquid fuel and solid particles in fuel tank installed mixing impeller. In this paper, the multiphase flow was modeled using Eulerian Grandular Multiphase model. Experimental measurements of the axial distribution of solids concentration in stirred tanks under 12vol% solid loading were used for comparison with the CFD simulation. Four cases for the impeller location and flow pumping direction also were reviewed under 10.5% solids loading and 700rpm in fuel mix tank. The result of quality of suspension was compared with each cases and the impeller location and operation of mixing fuel tank was established.