• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2007

A new characterization method using a porous plug model was proposed to determine the degree of sulfonation (DS) of ionomer binder with respect to the membrane used in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and to analyze the fraction of proton pathways through ionomer-catalyst combined electrodes in MEAs for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) was prepared to use a polymeric electrolyte and laboratory-made SPEEK solution (5wt.%, DMAc based) was added to catalyst slurry to form catalyst layers. In case of the SPEEK-based MEAs in this study, DS of ionomer binder for catalyst layers should be the same or higher than that of the SPEEK membrane used in the MEAs. The porous plug model suggested that most of protons were via the ionomer binder (${\sim}92.5%$) bridging the catalyst surface to the polymeric electrolyte, compared with the pathways through the alternative between the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer binder or catalyst and the ionomer binder (${\sim}7.3%$) and through only the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer or catalyst (${\sim}0.2%$) in the electrode of the MEA comprising of the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane and the 5wt.% SPEEK ionomer binder. As a result, it was believed that the majority of proton at both electrodeds moves through ionomer binder until reaching to electrolyte membrane. The porous plug model of the electrodes of MEAs reemphasized the importance of well-optimized structure of ionomer binder and catalyst for fuel cells.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1365-1375
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• 2000

Two phase flows have been numerically calculated to analyze plume characteristics and liquid circulation in gas injection through a porous plug. The Eulerian approach has been for formulation of both the continuous and dispersed phases. The turbulence in the liquid phase has been modeled using the standard $textsc{k}$-$\varepsilon$ turbulence model. The interphase friction coefficient has been calculated using correlations available in the literature. The turbulent dispersion of the phase has been modeled by the "dispersion Prand시 number". The predicted mean flows is compared well with the experimental data. The plume region area and the axial velocities are increased with the gas flow rate and with the decrease in the inlet area. The turbulent intensity also shows the same trend. Also, the space-averaged turbulent kinetic energy for various gas flow rates and inlet areas has been obtained. The results are of interest in the design and operation of a wide variety of materials and chemical processing operations.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2006

Transport mechanisms of nickel ion through a continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) were investigated in terms of electric properties of ion exchange textile (IET). The porous plug model and extended Nernst-Plank (N-P) equation were applied for the description of transport mechanism of nickel ion. The model revealed that the CEDI performance was mainly due to the induced current not accelerated mobility by IET. This study also suggested that optimal operating conditions are attained with minimized electroregeneration region.