• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance degrades when hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) is present in the fuel hydrogen gas; this is referred to as $H_2S$ poisoning. This paper reveals $H_2S$ poisoning on PEMFC by measuring electrical performance of single cell FC under various operating conditions. The severity of $H_2S$ poisoning depended on $H_2S$ concentration under best operating conditions($65^{\circ}C$ of cell temperature and 100% of anode humidification). $H_2S$ adsorption occured on the surface of catalyst layer on MEA, but not on the gas diffusion layer(GDL) by analyzing SEM/EDX data. In addition, MEA poisoning by $H_2S$ was cumulative but reversible. After poisoning for less than 150 min, performance of PEMFC was recovered up to 80% by just inert nitrogen gas purging.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.687-693
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• 2019

As the hydrogen fuel cell market is expanded starting from hydrogen electric vehicle and power generation field, the demand for fuel cells and hydrogen increases recently. Therefore, research works on fuel cell durability and fuel efficiency are required in order to activate the fuel cell market and commercialization. A dead-ended anode system was used in this study to optimize the fuel cell performance and fuel efficiency. The effect of purge condition according to the applied current and hydrogen supply pressure on the fuel cell performance were evaluated. In addition, the influence of water back diffusion on the different electrolyte membrane thickness was analyzed. The accumulated water was purged with a solenoid valve in the case of 3% voltage decrease in the dead-ended anode system. The experiment was performed with the hydrogen supply pressure of 0.1~0.5 bar and purge duration of 0.1~1 second. A maximum fuel efficiency of 98.9% was achieved under the purge duration of 0.1 s and hydrogen supply pressure of 0.1 bar with a NR 211 (25.4 um) membrane. However, the fuel cell performance decreased in a long-term operation due to some frequent flooding. The fuel efficiency and purge interval increased due to decreased back diffusion rates of the water and nitrogen with a NR 212 (50.8 um) membrane.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2005

Optimal design and proper operation are important to get aimed output power of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack. An air cooling fuel cell stack is widely used in sub kW PEMFC systems. The purpose of this study is to analyze operating conditions affecting the performance of the air cooling PEMFC which is designed for portable application. In portable applications, air cooling stack is difficult to maintain well balanced operating conditions. The importart parameters are the relative humidity, the temperature of the stack, the utilization of reactant gas and so on. in this study, a 500W air cooling PEMFC was fabricated and tested to evaluate the design performance and to determine optimal operating conditions. Moreover, basic modeling also is carried out. These results can be used 3s design criteria and optimal operating conditions for portable PEMFCs

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2006

Neutron imaging technique was used to investigate the water distribution and movement in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at HANARO, KAERI. The Feasibility tests were performed in the first and second exposure rooms at the neutron radiography facility (NRF) at HANARO in order to check the ability of each exposure room, respectively. The feasibility test apparatus was composed of water and pressurized air before making up the actual test apparatus. Due to the low neutron intensity in the second exposure room, the exposure time was too long to investigate the transient phenomena of PEMFC. Although the exposure time was improved to 0.1 sec in the first exposure room, it was difficult to discriminate detail water movement at the channel due to the high noise level. Therefore, the experimental setup must be optimized according to the test conditions. Water discharge characteristics were investigated under different flow field geometries by using feasibility test apparatus and the neutron imaging technique. The water discharge characteristics of a 3-parallel serpentine are superior to those of a 1-parallel serpentine, but water at Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) was not removed, regardless of the flow field type.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.618-623
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• 2022

The bipolar plate is a key component of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that transfers reactants and electrons, discharges water and heat as by-products, and serves as a mechanical support for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Therefore, the flow field structure of the bipolar plate plays an important role in improving fuel cell performance. In this study, PEMFC performance was investigated with copper foams with different compressibility ratios applied to cathode bipolar plates using a 25 cm² unit cell. The total resistance decreased as the compressibility ratio of the metal foams increased, and, in particular, the charge transfer and mass transfer resistance were significantly improved compared to the serpentine flow field, lowering voltage loss in medium and high current density region. In the case of pressurized air reactant flow with serpentine structure, fuel cell performance was similar to that of a compressed metal foam flow field (S3) up to the medium current density region, but low performance appeared in the high current density region due to flow field structure limitations.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.143.2-143.2
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• 2010

Therefore, with this development assignment we'd like to develop the hybrid system combining 800W DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) and 1.6kW of Lithium secondary battery pack which can be applied to the most common small cart. a scooter, to secure the development capability of hundreds of Watts DMFC, the high-capacity Lithium secondary battery pack, the technology of BMS (Battery Management System) and the development technology of hybrid system. DMFC, in fact, has lower energy efficiency than PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell); however, it has several advantages in terms of fuel storage and use. It is pretty easy to be stored and used without any additional colling and heating devices because of its insensitive liquid methanol to temperature. In conclusion, DMFC system is the most suitable device for small mobile vehicles.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2589-2593
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• 2008

In a fuel cell vehicle using polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC), hydrogen is over-supplied to gain higher stack efficiency. So it is needed considering fuel efficiency to re-circulate hydrogen which is not reacted in stack. And to re-circulate hydrogen, a blower or an ejector is used. Ejector re-circulation system has several merits compared with blower system, for example no parasite energy, simple structure and no lubrication system. But the secondary flow of an ejector in fuel cell vehicle, has high humidity because of crossover problem in stack. Therefore in this paper, ejector is designed by 1-D modeling and CFD with the primary and secondary flow of hydrogen. And the ejector which has the primary and secondary flow of air, is designed to have the same Reynolds number and Mach number at the nozzle exit as the hydrogen ejector's. And this air ejector is tested while the humidity of the secondary flow is varied.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.357-359
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• 2005

In this paper, a new SEPIC-Flyback converter with a single transformer has been proposed, which is suitable for a fuel cell based power generation system. The proposed converter is superposition of sepic and flyback converter mode. It has outstanding high boosting output voltage, component utilization and high efficiency characteristics under the inherently severe low output voltage of the fuel cell generator. The proposed converter for a full cell generator is described and verified by simulation and experimental result that make used of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC) Generator.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.849-855
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• 2008

The paper addresses modeling and analysis of the part load performance of a hybrid fuel cell system integrating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) and a gas turbine(GT). The system is a pressurized one where the working pressure of the PEMFC is higher than the ambient pressure. In addition to the two major components, the system also includes auxiliary parts such as a steam reformer, a humidifier, and afterburner and so on. Based on design analysis, component off-design models are incorporated in the analysis program and part load operation is simulated. The mode for the part load operation of the PEMFC/GT hybrid system is a variable rotational speed operation. The operating characteristics and variations in the system efficiency and component performance parameters at part load are analyzed.