• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2020

This study presents an initial design for a novel system consisting in a coupled nuclear reactor and a phase change material-based thermal energy storage (TES) component, which acts as a buffer and regulator of heat transfer between the primary and secondary loops. The goal of this concept is to enhance the capacity factor of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the case of high integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid. Hence, this system could support in elevating the economics of NPPs in current competitive markets, especially with subsidized solar and wind energy sources, and relatively low oil and gas prices. Furthermore, utilizing a prismatic-core advanced high temperature reactor (PAHTR) cooled by a molten salt with a high melting point, have the potential in increasing the system efficiency due to its high operating temperature, and providing the baseline requirements for coupling other process heat applications. The present research studies the neutronics and thermal hydraulics (TH) of the PAHTR as well as TH calculations for the TES which consists of 300 blocks with a total heat storage capacity of 150 MWd. SERPENT Monte Carlo and MCNP5 codes carried out the neutronics analysis of the PAHTR which is sized to have a 5-year refueling cycle and rated power of 300 MW_th. The PAHTR has 10 metric tons of heavy metal with 19.75 wt% enriched UO₂ TRISO fuel, a hot clean excess reactivity and shutdown margin of $33.70 and -$115.68; respectively, negative temperature feedback coefficients, and an axial flux peaking factor of 1.68. Star-CCM + code predicted the correct convective heat transfer coefficient variations for both the reactor and the storage. TH analysis results show that the flow in the primary loop (in the reactor and TES) remains in the developing mixed convection regime while it reaches a fully developed flow in the secondary loop.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

China's rapid economic growth has resulted in significant environmental side effects. Therefore, China has been interested in reducing her dependence on foreign oil and gas by developing technologies needed for hydrogen, in addition to her increasing energy mix of nuclear and renewable energy form, such as solar and wind power. There are three isotopes of hydrogen, i.e. protium (P or H), deuterium (D), and tritium (T). Both deuterium and tritium are important materials in nuclear fuel cycle industry. Tritium is one of the critical radioactive nuclides. Planning for and implementing contamination control as a part of normal operation and maintenance activities is an important function in any hydrogen facility, especially tritium facility. The development of hydrogen isotopes analysis is the key issues in this area. Mass spectrometry (MS) with medium (about 600) and high resolution (> 1,400) is commercially available; however, the routine analysis of hydrogen isotopes is done with low-resolution MS (< 200) in China. This paper summarizes the progress of MS measurement technology for hydrogen isotope abundance in China, focusing on our lab's research program and technical status. An analyzing method has been introduced for accurate measurement of tritium abundance in the H.D.T system by low resolution MAT-253 MS. The quotient of compression ratio coefficient is determined by building up equipment for laboratory-scale preparation of secondary standard gases and by considering the difference in sensitivity between hydrogen isotopes. The results show that the measured value is reproducible within the relative error range of 0.8% for gas samples of different tritium abundance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.118-127
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• 2011

An IGCC was evaluated as one of the next generation technologies that would be able to substitute for coal-fired power plants. According to "The 4th Basic Plan of Long-term Electricity Supply & Demand" which is developed by the Electricity Business Acts, the first IGCC will be operated at 2015. Like other new and renewable energy such as solar PV, Fuel cell, The IGCC is considered as non-competitive generation technology because it is not maturity technology. Before the commercial operation of an IGCC in our electricity market, its economic feasibility under the Korean electricity market, which is cost-based trading system, is studied to find out institutional support system. The results of feasibility summarized that under the current electricity trading system, if the IGCC is considered like a conventional plant such as nuclear or coal-fired power plants, it will not be expected that its investment will be recouped within life-time. The reason is that the availability of an IGCC will plummet since 2016 when several nuclear and coal-fired power plants will be constructed additionally. To ensure the reasonable return on investment (NPV>0 IRR>Discount rate), the availability of IGCC should be higher than 77%. To do so, the current electricity trading system is amended that the IGCC generator must be considered as renewable generators to set up Price Setting Schedule and it should be considered as pick load generators, not Genco's coal fired-generators, in the Settlement Payment.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2011

Photoelectrochemical performances of ZnO electrodes are enhanced by coupling with cobalt-based catalyst (CoPi) in phosphate electrolyte (pH 7). For this study, hexagonal pillar-shaped ZnO nanorods are grown on ZnO electrodes through a chemical bath deposition, onto which CoPi is deposited with different photodeposition times (10-30 min). A scanning electron microscopic study indicates that CoPi deposition does not induce any change of ZnO morphology and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis shows that inorganic phosphate ions (Pi) exist on ZnO surface. Bare ZnO electrodes generate the current of ca. $0.36mA/cm^2$ at a bias potential of 0.5 V vs. SCE, whereas ZnO/CoPi (deposited for 10 min) has ca. 50%-enhanced current ($0.54mW/cm^2$) under irradiation of AM 1.5G-light ($400mW/cm^2$). The excess loading of CoPi on ZnO results in decrease of photocurrents as compared to bare ZnO likely due to limited electrolyte access to ZnO and/or CoPi-mediated recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The primary role of CoPi is speculated to trap the photogenerated holes and thereby oxidize water into molecular oxygen via an intervalency cycle among Co(II), Co(III), and Co(IV).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2006

Ionospheric scintillation induces a rapid change in the amplitude and phase of radio wave signals. This is due to irregularities of electron density in the F-region of the ionosphere. It reduces the accuracy of both pseudorange and carrier phase measurements in GPS/satellite based Augmentation system (SBAS) receivers, and can cause loss of lock on the satellite signal. Scintillation is not as strong at mid-latitude regions such that positioning is not affected as much. Severe effects of scintillation occur mainly in a band approximately 20 degrees on either side of the magnetic equator and sometimes in the polar and auroral regions. Most scintillation occurs for a few hours after sunset during the peak years of the solar cycle. This paper focuses on estimation of the effects of ionospheric scintillation on GPS and SBAS signals using a software receiver. Software receivers have the advantage of flexibility over conventional receivers in examining performance. PC based receivers are especially effective in studying errors such as multipath and ionospheric scintillation. This is because it is possible to analyze IF signal data stored in host PC by the various processing algorithms. A L1 C/A software GPS receiver was developed consisting of a RF front-end module and a signal processing program on the PC. The RF front-end module consists of a down converter and a general purpose device for acquiring data. The signal processing program written in MATLAB implements signal acquisition, tracking, and pseudorange measurements. The receiver achieves standalone positioning with accuracy between 5 and 10 meters in 2drms. Typical phase locked loop (PLL) designs of GPS/SBAS receivers enable them to handle moderate amounts of scintillation. So the effects of ionospheric scintillation was estimated on the performance of GPS L1 C/A and SBAS receivers in terms of degradation of PLL accuracy considering the effect of various noise sources such as thermal noise jitter, ionospheric phase jitter and dynamic stress error.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2019

Since 1985, the Dobson Spectrophotometer has been operated at Yonsei University, and this instrument has monitored the daily representative total ozone in Seoul. Climatological value for total ozone in Seoul is updated by using the daily representative observation data from 1985 to 2017. After updating the daily representative total ozone data, seasonal and inter-annual variation of total ozone in Seoul is also estimated after calculating inter-comparison between ground (Dobson Spectrophotometer) and satellite [Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)] observations. The global average of total ozone measured by satellite is 297 DU, and its recent amount is about 3.5% lower than the global amount in 1980s. In Seoul, daily representative total ozone is ranged from 225 DU to 518 DU with longterm mean value of 324.3 DU. In addition, monthly mean total ozone is estimated from 290 DU (October) to 362 DU (March), and yearly average of total ozone have been continuously increased since 1985. For the long-term trend of total ozone in Seoul, this study is considered the seasonal variation, Solar Cycle, and Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. In addition to the natural oscillation effect, this study also considered to the long-term variation of sudden increase of total ozone due to the secondary ozone peak. By considering these natural effects, the long-term total ozone trends from 1985 to 2017 are estimated to be 1.11~1.46%/decade.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.60-68
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• 2019

High-voltage operation of the lithium ion battery is one of the advantageous approaches to obtain high energy capacity without changing the conventional cell components and structure. However, operating at harsh condition inevitably results in severe side reactions at the electrode surface and structural disintegration of active material particles. Herein we coated layers composed of $Al_2O_3$ and ZnO on the electrode based on NCM using atomic layer deposition (ALD). Thicker layers of novel Al-doped ZnO (AZO) coating compared to conventional ALD coated layers are prepared. Cathode based on NCM with the varying AZO coating thickness are fabricated and used for coin cell assembly. Effect of ALD coating thickness on the charge-discharge cycle behavior obtained at high-voltage operation was investigated.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.333-345
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• 2020

Background and objective: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on trees that can be used for planting design and construction for permanently shaded areas by grasping the growth status of trees according to the daylight conditions of the outdoor spaces of apartment complexes. Methods: On the recently completed apartment complexes, daylight conditions were analyzed by using daylight simulations utilizing Solar Access Analysis of Ecotect Analysis. With a criteria for assessment of tree condition, the defect rate of trees planted in permanently shaded areas and green spaces with good daylight conditions was analyzed to suggest trees applicable to permanently shaded areas. The first tree survey was conducted from November 18, 2019 to February 15, 2020, focusing on trees planted in permanently shaded areas, and the second tree survey of all the trees planted on the study sites including permanently shaded areas was conducted from March 16 to March 30, 2020. Results: Evergreen trees which are classified as shade intolerant trees including Pinus densiflora, Thuja occidentalis, and Abies holophylla showed a higher defect rate of trees among the trees planted in permanently shaded areas. Taxus cuspidata, Zelkova serrata, Cornus kousa, Chionanthus retusus and Acer palmatum which are classified as shade tolerant trees and shade moderate tolerance trees seemed to be able to be used in the plant design of permanently shaded areas in apartment complexes because the trees showed good growth and a low tree defect rate. In addition, although it was excluded from the analysis due to a small number of samples, Sorbus commixta and Prunus cerasifera var. atropurpurea also can be used for planting in permanently shaded areas. Conclusion: The daylight simulation technique used to analyze permanent shaded areas in this study can be used as an analysis tool considering the daylight environment at the stages of design and construction, and additional research will be required to analyze tree growth according to daylight conditions through data accumulation and monitoring by managing records throughout the entire life cycle of trees in the process of planting and maintenance.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.253-260
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• 2024

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is an efficient method for utilizing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar powers to produce green hydrogen. For PEMWE powered by renewable energy sources, its durability is a crucial factor in its performance since irregular and fluctuating characteristics of renewable energy sources, especially for wind power, can deteriorate the stability of PEMWE. Triangular voltage cycle is well able to simulate fluctuating wind power, but its effect on the durability has not been investigated extensively. In this study, the performance degradation of the PEMWE cell operated with the triangular voltage cycling was investigated at different ramping rates. The measured current responses during the cycling gradually decreased for both ramping rates, and I-V curve measurements before and after the cycling confirmed the degradation of the performances of PEMWE. For both measurements, the degradation rate was larger for 300 mV s^-1 than 30 mV s^-1, and they were determined as 0.36 and 1.26 mV h^-1 (at the current density of 2 A cm^-2) at the ramping rates of 30 and 300 mV s^-1, respectively. The comparison with other studies on triangular voltage cycling also indicate that an increase in the ramping rate accelerates the deterioration of the PEMWE performance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the Ir catalyst was oxidized and did not dissolve during the voltage cycling. This study suggests that the ramping rate of the triangular voltage cycling is an important factor for the evaluation of the durability of PEMWE cells.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.380-394
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• 2015

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2014. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of heat and mass transfer, cooling and heating, and air-conditioning, the flow inside building rooms, and smoke control on fire. Research issues dealing with duct and pipe were reduced, but flows inside building rooms, and smoke controls were newly added in thermal and fluid engineering research area. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for thermal contact resistance measurement of metal interface, a fan coil with an oval-type heat exchanger, fouling characteristics of plate heat exchangers, effect of rib pitch in a two wall divergent channel, semi-empirical analysis in vertical mesoscale tubes, an integrated drying machine, microscale surface wrinkles, brazed plate heat exchangers, numerical analysis in printed circuit heat exchanger. In the area of pool boiling and condensing, non-uniform air flow, PCM applied thermal storage wall system, a new wavy cylindrical shape capsule, and HFC32/HFC152a mixtures on enhanced tubes, were actively studied. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on solar water storage tank, effective design on the inserting part of refrigerator door gasket, impact of different boundary conditions in generating g-function, various construction of SCW type ground heat exchanger and a heat pump for closed cooling water heat recovery were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were carried out in the categories of refrigeration cycle, alternative refrigeration and modelling and controls including energy recoveries from industrial boilers and vehicles, improvement of dehumidification systems, novel defrost systems, fault diagnosis and optimum controls for heat pump systems. It is particularly notable that a substantial number of studies were dedicated for the development of air-conditioning and power recovery systems for electric vehicles in this year. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, seventeen studies were reported for achieving effective design of the mechanical systems, and also for maximizing the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included energy performance, HVAC system, ventilation, and renewable energies, piping in the buildings. Proposed designs, performance performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which can improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment was mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment were related to the evaluation of work noise in tunnel construction and the simulation and development of a light-shelf system. The subjects of building energy were worked on the energy saving of office building applied with window blind and phase change material(PCM), a method of existing building energy simulation using energy audit data, the estimation of thermal consumption unit of apartment building and its case studies, dynamic window performance, a writing method of energy consumption report and energy estimation of apartment building using district heating system. The remained studies were related to the improvement of architectural engineering education system for plant engineering industry, estimating cooling and heating degree days for variable base temperature, a prediction method of underground temperature, the comfort control algorithm of car air conditioner, the smoke control performance evaluation of high-rise building, evaluation of thermal energy systems of bio safety laboratory and a development of measuring device of solar heat gain coefficient of fenestration system.