• Solar Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 1997

Because grain boundaries in polycrystalline silicon act as potential barriers and recombination centers for the photo-generated charge carriers, these defects degrade conversion effiency of solar cell. To reduce these effects of grain boundaries, we investigated various influencing factors such as thermal treatment, various grid pattern, selective wet etching for grain boundaries, buried contact metallization along grain boundaries, grid on metallic thin film. Pretreatment above $900^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ atmosphere, gettering by $POCl_3$ and Al treatment for back surface field contributed to obtain a high quality poly-Si. To prevent carrier losses at the grain boundaries, we carried out surface treatment using Schimmel etchant. This etchant delineated grain boundaries of $10{\mu}m$ depth as well as surface texturing effect. A metal AI diffusion into grain boundaries on rear side reduced back surface recombination effects at grain boundaries. A combination of fine grid with finger spacing of 0.4mm and buried electrode along grain boundaries improved short circuit current density of solar cell. A ultra-thin Chromium layer of 20nm with transmittance of 80% reduced series resistance. This paper focused on the grain boundary effect for terrestrial applications of solar cells with low cost, large area, and high efficiency.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.7-16
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• 2007

In this paper, we introduce a new design environment for efficient multiprocessor system-on-chip design space exploration. The design environment takes a process network model as input system specification. The process network model has been widely used for modeling signal processing applications because of its excellent modeling power. However, it has limitation in predictability, which could cause severe problem for real time systems. This paper proposes a new approach that enables static analysis of a process network model by converting it to a hierarchical synchronous dataflow model. For efficient design space exploration in the early design step, mapping application to target architectures has been a crucial part for finding better solution. In this paper, we propose an efficient mapping algorithm. Our mapping algorithm supports both single bus architecture and multiple bus architecture. In the experiments, we show that the automatic conversion approach of the process network model for static analysis is performed successfully for several signal processing applications, and show the effectiveness of our mapping algorithm by comparing it with previous approaches.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.678-699
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• 2015

Although the harsh space environment imposes many severe challenges to space pioneers, space exploration is a realistic and profitable goal for long-term humanity survival. One of the viable and promising options to overcome the harsh environment of space is nuclear propulsion. Particularly, the Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) is a leading candidate for nearterm human missions to Mars and beyond due to its relatively high thrust and efficiency. Traditional NTR designs use typically high power reactors with fast or epithermal neutron spectrums to simplify core design and to maximize thrust. In parallel there are a series of new NTR designs with lower thrust and higher efficiency, designed to enhance mission versatility and safety through the use of redundant engines (when used in a clustered engine arrangement) for future commercialization. This paper proposes a new NTR design of the second design philosophy, Korea Advanced NUclear Thermal Engine Rocket (KANUTER), for future space applications. The KANUTER consists of an Extremely High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (EHTGR) utilizing hydrogen propellant, a propulsion system, and an optional electricity generation system to provide propulsion as well as electricity generation. The innovatively small engine has the characteristics of high efficiency, being compact and lightweight, and bimodal capability. The notable characteristics result from the moderated EHTGR design, uniquely utilizing the integrated fuel element with an ultra heat-resistant carbide fuel, an efficient metal hydride moderator, protectively cooling channels and an individual pressure tube in an all-in-one package. The EHTGR can be bimodally operated in a propulsion mode of $100MW_{th}$ and an electricity generation mode of $100MW_{th}$, equipped with a dynamic energy conversion system. To investigate the design features of the new reactor and to estimate referential engine performance, a preliminary design study in terms of neutronics and thermohydraulics was carried out. The result indicates that the innovative design has great potential for high propellant efficiency and thrust-to-weight of engine ratio, compared with the existing NTR designs. However, the build-up of fission products in fuel has a significant impact on the bimodal operation of the moderated reactor such as xenon-induced dead time. This issue can be overcome by building in excess reactivity and control margin for the reactor design.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.1887-1891
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• 2010

전자파표면유속계를 이용한 홍수유속측정에 있어서 수심평균유속환산계수로 0.85를 표면유속에 일률적으로 적용하도록 제시하고 있다. 그 동안 이의 적절성 여부에 대한 논의가 꾸준히 지속되어져 왔다. 이에 전자파 표면유속계를 개발하고 상품화하여 보급시킨 개발 주체의 입장에서 이에 대한 검증을 시도하였다. 이의 검증을 위해서 가장 중요한 것은 정해진 측정지점의 유량측정시각의 정확한 유량을 파악해야 함은 필수조건이다. 하지만 유량측정지점의 유량의 참값은 알기는 참으로 어려운 일이다. 이에 지금까지는 댐의 방류량을 참값이라고 가정을 하고 여러 가지 기기를 이용한 유량측정을 실시하여 각 기기의 측정오차를 비교하는 기준유량으로 댐방류량을 이용하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 방류량의 정확성 파악에 의하여 수심평균유속환산계수의 적정성 여부를 검토하고자 하였다. 또한 이에 대한 이론적인 접근의 방법으로서 유속분포곡선식으로부터 수심평균유속환산계수를 산정하여 이를 기존에 표면유속을 평균유속으로 환산하기 위해서 적용하였던 계수와 비교를 하였다. 기존의 수심평균유속환산계수로 이용한 0.85에 대한 이론적인 검증을 위해서 Power law형의 유속분포식으로부터 수심평균유속환산계수를 유도한 결과 하상의 재료에 따라 0.833 (거친 하상)~0.875 (부드러운 하상)의 범위에 분포하였다. 이는 환산계수로 이용하고 있는 0.85는 유속분포가 크게 변동하지 않은 경우에 수심 평균유속을 환산하는데 이용함에 무리가 없음을 보여준다. 기존의 대청댐 방류량을 이용한 수심평균유속환산 계수를 산정한 결과를 분석한 결과 환산계수가 0.828~0.868의 범위에 분포하고 있다. 즉 기존의 수심평균유속환산계수로 이용을 하고 있는 0.85와 비교했을때 ${\pm}3%$의 오차를 보이고 있음을 알 수 있다. 대청댐 방류량에 대한 검증을 위해서 여러 가지 기기를 이용한 동시 유량 측정을 실시하였고, 전자파표면유속계로 측정한 표면유속에 기존의 수심평균유속환산계수 0.85를 적용했을때의 유량산정 결과를 다른 방법에 의한 측정 결과 및 방류량과 비교를 실시하였다. ADCP 측정은 유량조사사업단과 한국수자원공사 충청지역본부의 도움을 받아 실시하였는데, 유량조사사업단은 9회 측정하여 평균한 유량이 242.0 cms, 충청지역본부에서는 6회 측정하여 평균한 결과가 234.6 cms이었고, 전자파표면유속계로 측정한 표면유속을 이용하여 산정한 유량이 249.0 cms이었으며, 동시유량 측정당시 방류량은 242 cms이었다. ADCP를 이용한 유량측정에 있어서, 각 측정시의 유량측정 오차가 최대 20% 까지 나타나고 있다. 반면 대청댐의 발전 방류량은 거의 일정한 수준을 유지했던 것을 감안할 경우 유량측정 기간에 하류의 조정지댐으로 인한 배수효과의 영향으로 ADCP를 이용한 유량측정값에 변동이 발생한 것으로 추측된다. 전반적으로 부자를 제외하고는 사용된 유량측정 방법들이 거의 동일한 값을 보임을 알 수 있다. 또한 표면유속에 기존의 환산계수를 적용하여도 유량산정이 다른 방법과 유사하게 산정됨을 알 수 있다.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

The spheric sintered body with $6{\pm}2mm$ diameter was manufactured in a rotary kiln at $1125^{\circ}C$/15 min using green body formed by pelletizing the batch powder composing of coal bottom ash produced from power plant and dredged soil by 70:30, wt%. And the physical properties of sintered body (BD) were analyzed to confirm the possibility for applying to an absorbent to restore a contaminated soil. The sintered body had a giant pore above 100 ${\mu}m$ and a fine pore below 10 ${\mu}m$, and bulk density was 1.4. Also its specific surface area, porosity and void proportion were $12.0m^2/g$, 30.1% and 38.2% respectively. The crushed body (BD-C), produced by crushing a BD specimen into an irregular shape with a aspect ratio of about 2, was similar to BD specimen at bulk density and pore size distribution. But it had superior values of specific surface area, porosity and void proportion compared with BD specimen owing to a decreased apparent volume due to conversion of closed pore existed at interior of BD to open pore during a crushing process. The IEP of sintered body occurred at about pH=5, so the optimum pH condition of reacting aqueous solution could be known before bonding a microbe to the sintered body. Hence, the optimum void proportion and porosity of an absorbent can be obtained by appropriate mixing a BD with BD-C from the base data calculated in this study.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.694-701
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• 2013

A new copolymer named T-TI24T (poly((5,5-(2-butyl-5,6-bisdecyloxy-4,7-di-thiophen-2-yl-isoindole-1,3-dione))- alt-(2,5-thiophene))) based on phthalimide derivative and thiophene is synthesized by the Stille-coupling reaction. The polymer shows relatively high number average molecular weight of 86500 g/mol with good solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and toluene and is thermally stable up to $380^{\circ}C$. Besides, it possesses a relatively low highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of -5.33 eV, promising the high open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) for photovoltaic applications. Active layer solution of polymer T-TI24T-as a donor and (6)-1-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)- {5}-1-phenyl[5,6]-fullerene (PCBM)-as an acceptor in different weight ratios is applied to fabricate the polymer solar cell devices. The ratio of polymer/PCBM affects the solar cell efficiency and the best performance exhibits in the device with polymer/PCBM = 1:3 (w/w), which shows a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.199% and a $V_{oc}$ of 0.99 V, respectively. Even though the device shows the very low PCE, the $V_{oc}$ is higher than that of well known bulk heterojunction type solar cell based on P3HT:PC61BM (c.a. 0.5 V).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the state-of-the-art technology among electrochemical energy storage and conversion cells, and are still considered the most attractive class of battery in the future due to their high specific energy density, high efficiency, and long cycle life. Rapid development of power-hungry commercial electronics and large-scale energy storage applications (e.g. off-peak electrical energy storage), however, requires novel anode materials that have higher energy densities to replace conventional graphite electrodes. Germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) are thought to be ideal prospect candidates for next generation LIB anodes due to their extremely high theoretical energy capacities. For instance, Ge offers relatively lower volume change during cycling, better Li insertion/extraction kinetics, and higher electronic conductivity than Si. In this focused review, we briefly describe the basic concepts of LIBs and then look at the characteristics of ideal anode materials that can provide greatly improved electrochemical performance, including high capacity, better cycling behavior, and rate capability. We then discuss how, in the future, Ge anode materials (Ge and Ge oxides, Ge-carbon composites, and other Ge-based composites) could increase the capacity of today's Li batteries. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to fulfill the requirements of excellent anode materials, especially using these materials at the nanoscale. This article shall serve as a handy reference, as well as starting point, for future research related to high capacity LIB anodes, especially based on semiconductor Ge and Si.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1006-1011
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• 2018

This paper proposes a three level buck converter utilizing multi-bit flying capacitor voltage control. The conventional three-level buck converter can not control the flying capacitor voltage, so that the operation is unstable or the circuit for controlling the flying capacitor voltage can not be applied to the PWM mode. Also when the load current is increased, an error occurs in the inductor voltage. The proposed structure can control the flying capacitor voltage in PWM mode by using differential difference amplifier and common mode feedback circuit. In addition, this paper proposes a 3bit flying capacitor voltage control circuit to optimize the operation of the three level buck converter depending on the load current, and a triangular wave generation circuit using the schmitt trigger circuit. The proposed 3-level buck converter is designed in $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process and has an input voltage range of 2.7V~3.6V and an output voltage range of 0.7V~2.4V. The operating frequency is 2MHz, the load current range is 30mA to 500mA, and the output voltage ripple is measured up to 32.5mV. The measurement results show a maximum power conversion efficiency of 85% at a load current of 130 mA.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2021

Vegetable oils, such as palm oil and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), are used as major raw materials for bio-diesel in transportation and bio-heavy oil in power generation in South Korea. However, due to the high unsaturation degree caused by hydrocarbon double bonds and a high content of oxygen originating from the presence of carboxylic acid, the range of applications as fuel oil is limited. In this study, hydrotreating to saturate unsaturated hydrocarbons and remove oxygen in mixed bio-oil containing 1/1 v/v% palm oil and CNSL on monometallic catalysts (Ni and Cu) and bimetallic catalysts (Ni-Zn, Ni-Fe, Ni-Cu Ni-Co, Ni-Pd, and Ni-Pt) was perform under mild conditions (T = 250 ~ 400 ℃, P = 5 ~ 80 bar and LHSV = 1 h-1). The addition of noble metals and transition metals to Ni showed synergistic effects to improve both hydrogenation (HYD) and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) activities. The most promising catalyst was Ni-Cu/��-Al2O3, and in the wide range of the Ni/Cu atomic ratio of 9/1~1/4, the conversion for HYD and HDO reactions of the catalysts were 90-93% and 95-99%, respectively. The tendency to exhibit almost constant reaction activity in these catalysts of different Ni/Cu atomic ratios implies a typical structure-insensitive reaction. The refined bio-oil produced by hydrotreating (HDY and HDO) had significantly lower iodine value, acid value, and kinetic viscosity than the raw bio-oil and the higher heating value (HHV) was increased by about 10%.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-87
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• 2020

This article not only theoretically explores the necessity and effect of constructive minilateralism and subregionalism in Northeast Asia, but also delves into a series of practical solutions from viewpoint of seeking common ground while reserving differences in this region. The main contents are as follows: First, the various obstacles that hinder the formation of regionalism, subregionalism and minilateralism in the Northeast Asia are discussed. That is to say, geopolitical realism, My Country First ideology, exclusive nationalism in the socio-historical context, and North Korea's latest provocations, etc. Second, this article explores the philosophy and basic principles of realizing Northeast Asia regionalism and minilateralism. Third, in the 21st century, Northeast Asia becomes the center of the world. It examines the core points, controversial focus and platform for building sub regionalism in the region. Finally, based on the institutional platform such as minilateralism and sub regionalism, the various ideas and practical plans of cross-border cooperation among major countries in Northeast Asia were discussed. Because there are a lot of obstacles, so first of all it is more appropriate to promote economic or functional minilateralism or sub regionalism than multilateral cooperation. In order to promote the formation of regionalism and minilateralism in Northeast Asia, the issues to be considered are as follows: First, for the sake of leading regional solidarity and minilateral economic cooperation, it is advisable for China, as a regional economic power, to implement a stable and responsible diplomacy. Secondly, regional solidarity based on credible politics and security should be promoted for a long time beyond the level of economic cooperation. Third, the primary prerequisite for the realization of Northeast Asian regionalism is that in the process of denuclearization of North Korea, the stability and peace mechanism of the Korean Peninsula should be established. Fourth, with the continued hegemonic competition between the United States and China in Northeast Asia, under the circumstance that countries in the region are pushed into so-called "East Asian Paradox", it is profoundly important for them to consider transition from the hostile relationship as the "Thucydides trap" to the order of "coexistence" in which competition and cooperation run side by side, and the two countries should explore a conversion plan for the foreign policy line. This mutual cooperation and peaceful coexistence of the US-China relationship will create a friendly atmosphere for the formation of regionalism in Northeast Asia. In the future, the cooperation of minilateralism in Northeast Asia will break the existing conflict between the maritime forces and the continental forces in order to promote peace. And along with the philosophy that "peace is economy", recent policies of common prosperity as the framework, such as China's "Belt and Road Initiative", North Korea's "Special Zone and Development Zone Policy", Russia's "New Eastern Policy", Japan's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and South Korea's The "Korean Peninsula New Economy Map" are organically linked and it should promote the so-called "networked regionalism".