• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.29-32
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• 2008

Testing was conducted to determine the performance of a residential fuel cell system when subjected to DSS and WSS operation, especially for start-up and shut-down characteristics. In terms of start-up time, it took about 70min to start output power generation and stably to reach 1kW at cold start. Measurement of the characteristics of heat and power generation were carried out at start-up and shut-down time. Fuel gas is used for heating both reformer and stack from start-up to the beginning of power generation. In terms of start-up and shut-down characteristics, it was important to control the reformer temperature precisely. The average output water temperature during the rated output operation(960W) was $63.2^{\circ}C$ constantly. The results of the investigation are being used to develop a new test protocols for residential fuel cell system.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.460-466
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• 2008

In this study, a computer modeling work has been performed for the power generation system using polymer electrolyte fuel cell with Aspen Plus general purpose chemical process simulator. Stoichiometric reactor module was used for the modeling of reformer for the production of hydrogen. For the modeling of the electrochemical reaction, Gibbs reactor module built-in Aspen Plus was utilized. SRK equation of state model was selected for the proper simulation of the overall fuel cell system.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2003

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells(PEFC) have been considered to be a suitable candidate for residential, portable and mobile applications, due to their high efficiency and power density, even at low operating temperature. KIER developed a 5kW class PEFC system for residential application and operated the system for over 1,000 hours. To develop a 5kW PEFC system, performance of a cell was improved through successive tests of single cell of small and large area. Fabrication of three 2,5 kW class stacks, design and fabrication of natural gas reformer, design of auxiliary equipments such as DC/DC converter, DC/AC inverter and humidifying units were carried out along with integration of components, operation and evaluation of total system. During the development period from 1999 to 2001, MEA(membrane electrode assembly) fabrication technologies, design and fabrication technologies for separators, stacking technologies and so on were developed, thereby providing basis for developing stacks of higher efficiency and power density in the future. Experience of development of natural gas reformer opened possibilities to use various kinds of fuels. Main results obtained from the development of a 5kW class PEFC system for residential application are summarized.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.357-362
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• 2011

Complete mixture preparation of reactants prior to catalytic reforming is an enormously important step for successful operation of a fuel reformer. Incomplete mixing between fuel and reforming agents such as air and steam can cause temperature overshoot and deposit formation which can lead the failure of operation. For that purpose it is required to apply computational models describing coupled kinetics and transport phenomena in the mixing region, which are computationally expensive. Therefore, it is advantageous to analyze the gas-phase reaction kinetics prior to application of the coupled model. This study suggests one of the important design constraints, the required residence time in the mixing chamber to avoid substantial gas-phase reactions which can lead serious deposit formation on the downstream catalyst. The reactivity of various gaseous and liquid fuels were compared, then liquid fuels are far more reactive than gaseous fuels. n-Octane was used as a surrogate among the various hydrocarbons, which is one of the traditional liquid fuel surrogates. The conversion was slighted effected by reactants composition described by O/C and S/C. Finally, threshold residence times in the mixing region of a hydrocarbon reformer were studied and the mixing chamber is required to be designed to make complete mixture of reactants by tens of milliseconds at the temperature lower than $400^{\circ}C$.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

In this study, characteristics of reforming process of automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel using plasma reactor are investigated. Because plasma reformer technology has advantages of a fast start-up and wide fuel/oxidizer ratio of operation, and reactor size is smaller and more simple compared to typical combustor and catalytic reactor, plasma reforming is suitable to the on-board vehicle reformer. To evaluate the characteristics of the reforming process, parametric effect of $O_2/C$ ratios, reactant flow rate and metal form on the process were investigated. In the test of varying $O_2/C$ ratio from partial oxidation to stoichiometry combustion, conversion of LPG was increased but selectivity of $H_2$ decreased. The optimum condition of $O_2/C$ ratio for the highest $H_2$ yield was determined to be around 1.0 for 20~50 lpm, and 1.35 for 100 lpm. Specific energy density (SED) was major factor in reforming process and higher SED leads to higher $H_2$ yield. And metal form in the reformer increased $H_2$ yield of about 34 % as compared to the case of no metal form. The result can be a guide to map optimal condition of reforming process.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.864-873
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• 2006

As fuel cells approach commercialization, hydrogen production becomes a critical step in the overall energy conversion pathway. Reforming is a process that produces a hydrogen-rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming (ATR) is particularly attractive for applications that demand a quick start-up and response time in a compact size. However, further research is required to optimize the performance of autothermal reformers and accurate models of reactor performance must be developed and validated. The design includes the requirement of accommodating a wide range of experimental set ups. Factors considered in the design of the reformer are capability to use multiple fuels, ability to vary stoichiometry, precise temperature and pressure control, implementation of enhancement methods, capability to implement variable catalyst positions and catalyst arrangement, ability to monitor and change reactant mixing, and proper implementation of data acquisition. A model of the system was first developed in order to calculate flowrates, heating, space velocity, and other important parameters needed to select the hardware that comprises the reformer. Predicted performance will be compared to actual data once the reformer construction is completed. This comparison will quantify the accuracy of the model and should point to areas where further model development is required. The end result will be a research tool that allows engineers to optimize hydrogen production via autothermal reformation.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.303-307
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• 2008

The studies on integrated operation of fuel cell with fuel processor are very essential prior to its commercialization. In this study, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was operated with a fuel processor, which is mainly composed of two parts, methanol steam reforming reaction and preferential oxidation (PROX). In fuel processor, ICI 33-5 (CuO 50%, ZnO 33%, $Al_2O_3$ 8%, BET surface area: $66\;m^2g^{-1}$) catalyst and CuO-$CeO_2$ catalyst were used for methanol steam reforming, preferential oxidation (PROX) respectively. PEMFC was operated by hydrogen fuel generated from fuel processor. The resulting gas from PROX reactor is used to operate PEMFC equipped with our prepared anode and cathode catalyst. PtRu/C catalyst gives more tolerance to CO.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

The study is to analyze the chemical and heat-flow reactions in the hydrogen generation unit(autothermal reformer), using computational numerical tools. Autothermal reformer(ATR) is involved in complex chemical reaction, mass and heat transfer due to exothermic and endothermic reactions. Therefore it is necessary to reveal the effects of various operation parameters and geometries on the ATR performance by using numerical analysis. Numerical analysis needs to dominant chemical reactions that includes Full Combustion(FC) reaction, Steam Reforming(SR) reaction, Water-Gas Shift(WGS) reaction and Direct Steam Reforming(DSR) reaction. The objective of the study is to improve theoretically the reformer design capability for the goal of high hydrogen production in the autothermal reformer using methane. Hydrogen production reached maximum in a certain value of Oxygen to Carbon Ratio(OCR) or Steam to Carbon Ratio(SCR). When the longitudinal distance to dimeter ratio(L/D) is increased, hydrogen production increases.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.350-355
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• 2005

소형 PEMFC(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)는 전기를 만들기 위해서 고순도의 수소를 필요로 한다. 각각의 마이크로 성형된 금속박판(스테인레스 스틸, 알루미늄)을 진공 브레이징법으로 접합하여 수소공급용 소형 개질기를 제작하였다. 마이크로 채널의 내부는 졸-겔법(스테인레스 스틸)과 양극산화법(알루미늄)으로 촉매를 지지하기 위한 다공성 $Al_2O_3$ 층을 형성시켰다. 스테인레스 스틸 박판은 에칭과 브레이징에 유리하였으나, 표면산화층 코팅을 균일하게 하여 안정적인 촉매반응을 유도하기 위한 균일한 표면 산화층 형성이 힘들었다. 반면 알루미늄 박판은 표면 산화층 형성이 상대적으로 용이했으며, 촉매를 상하지 않는 낮은 온도에서의 적층이 가능했다.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.615-622
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• 2004

Recently, the hybrid system combining fuel cell and gas turbine has drawn much attention owing to its high efficiency and ultra low emission. It is now on the verge of world wide development and various system configurations have been proposed. A national project funded by Korean government has also been initiated to develop a pressurized hybrid system. This work aims at presenting design performance analysis for various possible system configurations as an initial step for the system development. Study focuses are given to major design options including the power ratio between gas turbine and fuel cell, reforming method (internal or external), reforming heat source (reforming burner, cathode hot air, fuel cell heat release) and steam supply method for reformer (anode gas recirculation, external steam generator). A wide variation in performance among different configurations has been predicted.