• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.1533-1540
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• 2023

Self-Powered Neutron Detectors(SPNDs) are used to calculate core power distributions, an essential factor in the safe operation of nuclear power plants. Some detectors may fail during normal operation, and signals from failed detectors are isolated from intact signals. The calculated detailed power distribution accuracy depends on the number of available detector signals. Failed detectors decrease the operating margin by enlarging the power distribution measurement error. Therefore, a thorough reconstruction of the failed detector signals is critical. This note suggests a compressive sensing based methodology that rationally reconstructs the readings of failed detectors. The methodology significantly improves reconstruction accuracy by sorting signals and removing high-frequency components from conventional compressive sensing methodology.

• 한국생산제조학회지
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.619-624
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• 2015

Owing to miniaturization and low-power electronics, mobile, implanted, and wearable devices have become the main trends of electronics during the past decade. There has been much research regarding energy harvesting to achieve battery-free or self-powered devices. The optimal design problems of a double-pendulum kinetic-energy harvester from human motion are studied in this paper. For the given form factor, the weight of the harvester, and the known human excitation, the optimal design problem is solved using a dynamic non-linear double-pendulum model and an electric generator. The average electrical power was selected as the performance index for the given time period. A double-pendulum harvester was proven to be more efficient than a single-pendulum harvester when the appropriate parameters were used.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.139-152
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• 2009

Globally, civil infrastructures are deteriorating at an alarming rate caused by overuse, overloading, aging, damage or failure due to natural or man-made hazards. With such a vast network of deteriorating infrastructure, there is a growing interest in continuous monitoring technologies. In order to provide a true distributed sensor and control system for civil structures, we are developing a Structural Nervous System that mimics key attributes of a human nervous system. This nervous system is made up of building blocks that are designed based on mechanoreceptors as a fundamentally new approach for the development of a structural health monitoring and diagnostic system that utilizes the recently developed piezo-fibers capable of sensing and actuation. In particular, our research has been focused on producing a sensory nervous system for civil structures by using piezo-fibers as sensory receptors, nerve fibers, neuronal pools, and spinocervical tract to the nodal and central processing units. This paper presents up to date results of our research, including the design and analysis of the structural nervous system.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.271-282
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• 2021

The internet of things (IoT) technology is a key component for the advent of 4^th industrial revolution, which is the network of home appliances, infrastructures, and vehicles to remotely investigate these systems. For the operation of compact IoT devices, batteries are widely used as electric power, and the limited lifetime of batteries inevitably leads to periodic replacement. Magneto-mechano-electric (MME) generators may be alternatives to batteries inside the IoT devices by converting stray magnetic field into electric energy, since we are always surrounded by ambient alternating current (AC) magnetic fields induced from electric power transmission lines everywhere. This article reviews the recent domestic research progress in high-performance MME generators and their application field for IoT and electronic devices.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.16-22
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• 2024

Composite-based piezoelectric devices are extensively studied to develop sustainable power supply and self-powered devices owing to their excellent mechanical durability and output performance. In this study, we design a lead-free piezoelectric nanocomposite utilizing (Ba_0.85 Ca_0.15)(Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ (BCTZ) nanomaterials for realizing highly flexible energy harvesters. To improve the output performance of the devices, we incorporate porous BCTZ nanowires (NWs) into the nanoparticle (NP)-based piezoelectric nanocomposite. BCTZ NPs and NWs are synthesized through the solid-state reaction and sol-gel-based electrospinning, respectively; subsequently, they are dispersed inside a polyimide matrix. The output performance of the energy harvesters is measured using an optimized measurement system during repetitive mechanical deformation by varying the composition of the NPs and NWs. A nanocomposite-based energy harvester with 4:1 weight ratio generates the maximum open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of 0.83 V and 0.28 ㎂, respectively. In this study, self-powered devices are constructed with enhanced output performance by using piezoelectric energy harvesting for application in flexible and wearable devices.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.1305-1317
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• 2015

Distributed generation systems (DGSs) have been getting more and more attention in terms of renewable energy use and new generation technologies in the past decades. The self-excited induction generator (SEIG) occupies an important role in the area of energy conversion due to its low cost, robustness and simple control. Unlike synchronous generators, the SEIG has to absorb capacitive reactive power from the outer device aiming to stabilize the terminal voltage at load changes. This paper presents a novel static VAR compensator (SVC) called a magnetic energy recovery switch (MERS) to serve as a voltage controller in SEIG powered DGSs. In addition, many small scale SEIGs, instead of a single large one, are applied and devoted to promote the generation efficiency. To begin with, an expandable mathematic model based on a d-q equivalent circuit is created for parallel SEIGs. The control method of the MERS is further improved with the objective of broadening its operating range and restraining current harmonics by parameter optimization. A hybrid control strategy is developed by taking both of the stand-alone and grid-connected modes into consideration. Then simulation and experiments are carried out in the case of single and double SEIG(s) generation. Finally, the measurement results verify that the proposed DGS with SVC-MERS achieves a better stability and higher feasibility. The major advantages of the mentioned variable reactive power supplier, when compared to the STATCOM, include the adoption of a small DC capacitor, line frequency switching, simple control and less loss.

• 센서학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.34-39
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• 2024

Energy harvesting technology that converts the wasted energy resources into electrical energy is emerging as a semipermanent power source for self-powered electronics and wireless low-power sensor systems. Among the various energy conversion techniques, flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (f-PEHs), using materials with piezoelectric effects, have attracted significant interest because they can harvest a small mechanical energy into electrical signals without constraints of time and space in various environments. In this study, we used a flexible piezoelectric composite film fabricated by dispersing BaHf_xTi_(1-x)O₃ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1) piezoelectric powders inside a polymeric matrix to facilitate f-PEHs. The fabricated f-PEH with optimal Hf contents (x = 0.05) generated a maximum output voltage of 0.95 V and current signal of 130 nA with stable electrical/mechanical disabilities under periodically bending deformations. In addition, we demonstrated a cantilever-type f-PEH and investigated its potential as a sensor by characterizing the output performance under mechanical vibrations at various frequencies. This study provides the breakthrough for realizing self-powered energy harvesting and sensing systems by adopting the lead-free piezoelectric composites under vibrational environments.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2012

In this paper, a new energy harvesting technology using stray electric field of an electric power line is presented. It is found that energy can be harvested and stored in the storage capacitor that is connected to a cylindrical aluminum foil wrapped around a commercial insulated 220 V power line. The average current flowing into 47 ${\mu}F$ storage capacitor is about 4.53 ${\mu}A$ with 60 cm long cylindrical aluminum foil, and it is possible to operate wireless sensor node to transmit RF data every 42 seconds. The harvested average power is about 47 ${\mu}W$ in this case. Since the energy can be harvested without removing insulating sheath, it is believed that the proposed harvesting technology can be applied to power the sensor nodes in wireless ubiquitous sensor network and smart grid system.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.371-377
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• 2019

A flexible piezoelectric energy harvester(f-PEH) that converts tiny mechanical and vibrational energy resources into electric signals without any restraints is drawing attention as a self-powered source to operate flexible electronic systems. In particular, the nanocomposites-based f-PEHs fabricated by a simple and low-cost spin-coating method show a mechanically stable and high output performance compared to only piezoelectric polymers or perovskite thin films. Here, the non-piezoelectric polymer matrix of the nanocomposite-based f-PEH is replaced by a P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric polymer to improve the output performance generated from the f-PEH. The piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposite is produced by distributing the perovskite PZT nanoparticles inside the piezoelectric elastomer; subsequently, the piezoelectric hybrid material is spin-coated onto a thin metal substrate to achieve a nanocomposite-based f-PEH. A fabricated energy device after a two-step poling process shows a maximum output voltage of 9.4 V and a current of 160 nA under repeated mechanical bending. Finite element analysis(FEA) simulation results support the experimental results.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2018

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of a ZnO nanorod array structure as an efficient photoelectrode for hydrogen production from sunlight-driven water splitting. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were grown on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which was formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized ZnO nanorods were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated ZnO nanorod photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.65mA/cm^2$ at 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl in a 1 mM $Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which made the device self-powered.