• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.559-571
• /
• 2012

Dimethyl ether (DME) is a new clean fuel as an environmentally-benign energy resource. DME can be manufactured from various energy sources including natural gas, coal, and biomass. In addition to its environmentally friendly properties, DME has similar characteristics to those of LPG. The aim of this article is to represent the development of new DME process with KOGAS's own technologies. KOGAS has investigated and developed new innovative DME synthesis process from synthesis gas in gaseous phase fixed bed reactor. DME has been traditionally produced by the dehydration of methanol which is produced from syngas, a product of natural gas reforming. This traditional process is thus called the two-step method of preparing DME. However, DME can also be manufactured directly from syngas (single-step). The single-step method needs only one reactor for the synthesis of DME, instead of two for the two-step process. It can also alleviate the thermodynamic limitations associated with the synthesis of methanol, by converting the produced methanol into DME, thereby potentially enhancing the overall conversion of syngas into DME. KOGAS had launched the 10 ton/day DME demonstration plant project in 2004 at Incheon KOGAS LNG terminal. In the mid of 2008, KOGAS had finished the construction of this plant and has successively finished the demonstration plant operation. And since 2008, we have established the basic design of commercial plant which can produce 3,000 ton/day DME.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2020

There is a growing interest in hydrogen energy utilization since an alternative energy development has been demanded due to the depletion of fossil fuels. Hydrogen is produced by the reforming reaction of natural gas and biogas, and the electrolysis of water. An solid oxide electrolyte cell (SOEC) is reversible system that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing the superheated steam or producing the electricity from a fuel cell by hydrogen. If the water can be converted into steam by waste heat from other processes it is more efficient for high-temperature electrolysis to convert steam directly. The reasons are based upon the more favorable thermodynamic and electrochemical kinetic conditions for the reaction. In the present study, steam at over 180℃ and 3.4 bars generated from a boiler were converted into superheated steam at over 700℃ and 3 bars using a cylindrical steam superheater as well as the waste heat of the exhaust gas at 900℃ from a solid refuse fuel combustor. Superheated steam at over 700℃ was then supplied to a high-temperature SOEC to increase the hydrogen production efficiency of water electrolysis. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted on the effects of the number of 90° elbow connector for piping, insulation types and insulation layers of pipe on the exit temperature using a commercial Fluent simulator. For two pre-heater injection method of steam inlet and ceramic wool insulation of 100 mm thickness, the highest inlet temperature of SOEC was 744℃ at 5.9 bar.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.17-20
• /
• 2006

한국에너지기술연구원에서는 가정용 고분자연료전지 열병합 발전시스템을 위한 통합형 천연가스 연료처리 시스템을 개발해 왔다. 가정용 시스템으로서 필수적인 소형화와 고효율을 현실화하기 위해, 연료처리 시스템의 각 단위 공정 즉 수증기 개질, 수성가스 전이, 선택적 산화 공정 등을 이중 동 심관형 반응기에 통합하여 상호 열교환이 용이하도록 반응기를 설계하였다. 현재 시험 운전 중인 Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 1kW급 고분자 연료전지 열병합 발전 시스템에 개질 가스를 공급하기 위해 설계되었으며, 기초 성능은 정격 부하 운전시 열효율 78% (HHV 기준), 메탄 전환율 91%이다. 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도는 고분자 연료전지 전극의 피독을 피하기 위해 10ppm 이하로 유지되어야 하며, Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 백금과 루테늄 촉매를 적용한 선택적 산화 반응기를 통해 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도를 10ppm 이하로 제거하였다. 일반 가정에서는 고분자 연료전지 시스템의 부하 변동이 예상되기 때문에 연료 처리 시스템의 부하 변동 운전 특성도 살펴보았다 정격 부하에서 80%, 60%, 40%로 부하를 변동하며 운전하였고, 각 부하에서 안정한 메탄 전환율과 10ppm이하의 일산화탄소 농도를 보였다. 80%까지는 열효율이 77%로 큰 변화를 보이지 않았으며, 60%에서는 76%, 40%에서는 72%로 열효율이 감소하는 현상을 보였다 연료 처리 시스템의 일일 시동-정지 운전시 내구성을 테스트 중이다. 현재까지 50여회의 일일-시동 정지를 시도하였다 시동 후 약 세 시간가량의 정력 부하 운전을 실시한 후 부하 변동을 실시하였고, 총 운전 시간 8시간 정도 운전한 후 시스템을 정지하였다 메탄 전환율과 일산화 탄소 농도, 열효율을 모니터링 하고 있으며, 현재까지 초기 성능을 그대로 유지하고 있다. 앞으로 일일시동-정지 운전 시험을 지속하면서 초기 시동 특성 및 부하 변동에 따른 응답 특성 개선, 그리고 연료전지와의 연계 운전을 실시할 예정이다

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.11a
• /
• pp.91.2-91.2
• /
• 2010

SOFC는 높은 반응온도($600{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$)에서 작동되어 발전효율이 높고 다양한 연료를 사용할 수 있는 것이 장점이다. 하지만 고온에서의 운전은 구성요소의 열변형과 온도구배에 의한 전극촉매의 열화 그리고 밀봉재의 수명에 영향을 주어 결국 스택의 내구성을 감소시킨다. 특히 스택의 온도구배가 심화되면 국부적인 Hot spot를 형성하여 셀에 심각한 손상을 주게 된다. 본 과제에서는 SOFC 스택의 온도구배를 완화시키기 위한 내부개질기의 개발 및 고온용 분리판 소재의 정밀성형기술을 확보하고자 한다. 열/유동해석을 통하여 반응가스의 농도, 유속, 구조변경 등 내부개질기 온도구배에 대한 주요인자를 확인하였고, 장기 운전평가를 통하여 개질 촉매의 고온 활성 및 내구성에 대한 성능평가를 진행 중이다. 분리판의 경우, 고온용 소재(페라이트계 스테인레스)에 대한 기초실험을 실시하여 성형품질의 주요 인자를 파악하였으며 Proto-type 금형 설계 및 개발을 통하여 성형 기초기술을 확보하였다. 그리고 스택 내부온도를 구현할 수 있는 시뮬레이터를 설계 중에 있으며 이를 이용하여 개발된 내부개질기 및 분리판을 스택 운전환경에서 평가할 예정이다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.140-148
• /
• 2005

The molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is endowed with the high potential especially in future electric power generation industry by its own outstanding characteristics. KEPCO (KEPRI) started a 100 kW MCFC system development program in 1993 and has been executed 100kW system develpilot plant successfully completed first phaseopment by 2005 on the basis of successful results of 25kW system development. In this program, the components and mechanical structure for 100 kW stack and system construction were completed on last year and now system pre - commissioning was being executed. A 100 kW MCFC power plant was constructed at the site of Boryeong Thermal Power Plant. A 100 kW MCFC system has characterized as a high pressure operation mode, CO2 recycle, and externally reforming power generation system. The 100 kW MCFC system consisted with stacks which was made by two 50 kW sub-stacks, 90 cells with 6,000 cm2 active area and BOP including a reformer, a recycle blower, a catalytic burner, an inverter, and etc. The system has been operated from 13th of September on this year and produced 50 kW AC under atmospheric pressure condition and expected to operate by the end of this year.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2007.05a
• /
• pp.187-190
• /
• 2007

A combined hydrogen generator of plasma and catalytic reformers has been developed, and has been applied to stabilize unstable flame of 200,000 Kcal/hr LPG combustor. The role of the plasma reformer is to generate hydrogen in a short period and to heat-up the catalytic reformer during the start-up time. After the start-up period, the catalytic reformer generates hydrogen through steam reforming with oxygen (SRO) reactions. The maximum capacity of the hydrogen generator is 100 lpm that is sufficient to be used to stabilize the flame of the present combustor. In order to reduce NOx and CO emissions simultaneously, 1) FGR (Flue Gas Recirculation) technique has been adopted and 2) the hydrogen has been added into the fuel supplied to the combustor. Test results shows that 25 % addition of hydrogen and 30 % FGR rate lead to simultaneous decrease of CO and NOx emissions. The technique proposed in the present study shows good potential to replace $NH_3$ SCR technique, especially in the case of small-scale combustor applications.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.618-626
• /
• 2017

Conventional high temperature reformers are not suitable for hybrid fuel cell systems that use waste heat as a heat source. So, development of a low temperature type reformer is needed. However, the analysis was conducted in two ways to increase the thermal efficiency, because of low reforming rate due to the low heat source. First, it is a way to ger thermal gain from the outside through partial insulation. In the case of one heat source tube and several heat source tubes, we analyzed the effect of partial heat insulation in some cases. Second, we found the most efficient arrangement of the heat source tubes by changing the location of the heat source tubes. The interpretation was carred out using the COMSOL Mutiphysics program.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 2009

A microwave plasma torch at the atmospheric pressure by making use of magnetrons operated at the 2.45 GHz and used in a home microwave oven has been developed. This electrodeless torch can be used to various areas, including industrial, environmental and military applications. Although the microwave plasma torch has many applications, we in the present work focused on the microwave plasma torch operated in pure steam and several applications, which may be used in future and right now. For example, a high-temperature steam microwave plasma torch may have a potential application of the hydrocarbon fuel reforming at one atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the radicals including hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide molecules are abundantly available in the steam torch, dramatically enhancing the reaction speed. Also, the microwave plasma torch can be used as a high-temperature, large-volume plasma burner by injecting hydrocarbon fuels in gas, liquid, and solid into the plasma flame. Finally, we briefly report treatment of soils contaminated with oils, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, etc., which is an underway research in our group.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.893-905
• /
• 2016

Numerous advanced reactor concepts have been proposed to replace light water reactors ever since their establishment as the dominant technology for nuclear energy production. While most designs seek to improve cost competitiveness and safety, the implausibility of doing so with affordable materials or existing nuclear fuel infrastructure reduces the possibility of near-term deployment, especially in developing countries. The organic nuclear concept, first explored in the 1950s, offers an attractive alternative to advanced reactor designs being considered. The advent of high temperature fluids, along with advances in hydrocracking and reforming technologies driven by the oil and gas industries, make the organic concept even more viable today. We present a simple, cost-effective, and safe small modular nuclear reactor for offshore underwater deployment. The core is moderated by graphite, zirconium hydride, and organic fluid while cooled by the organic fluid. The organic coolant enables operation near atmospheric pressure and use of plain carbon steel for the reactor tank and primary coolant piping system. The core is designed to mitigate the coolant degradation seen in early organic reactors. Overall, the design provides a power density of 40 kW/L, while reducing the reactor hull size by 40% compared with a pressurized water reactor while significantly reducing capital plant costs.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2014

In Dimethyl Ether (DME) indirect production processes, DME have a reforming process to separate Methanol. DME has a high cetane number and Methanol has a high octane number. Each fuel has a different combustion characteristics and reactivity. So, this paper was investigated on the combustion characterisitics of DME and Methanol. Basically, Methanol has a effect of retarding ignition. However, Within 10% of total carbon mole number in DME, Methanol slightly changed the onset timing of Low Temperature Reaction (LTR) with increasing thermal-ignition preparation range. It means that controlling combustion phasing of DME can be possible without eliminated LTR. In case of IMEP, the ranges.