• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.160-166
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• 2019

Cerium oxide ($CeO_2$, often called as Ceria) is one of the valuable rare earth oxide materials, which has been widely used for high temperature applications such as solid oxide fuel cells, automotive three-way catalysts and oxygen storage capacity. Considering those application, it is important to improve high redox and thermal stability with high surface morphology because the high surface area of $CeO_2$ could improve the catalytic reactivity at high temperature conditions. Herein we successfully fabricated hierarchical flower-like $CeO_2$ deposited via controlling pathway of precipitation reaction to supply carbonate ion lead to the flower-like morphology. The hexagonal lattice system of precipitated precursor shows better thermal stability then orthorhombic one during thermal cycling condition.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.685-690
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• 2012

Decalcomania is a new method for SOFCs (solid oxide fuel cells) unit cell fabrication. A tight and dense $5{\mu}m$ Yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) electrolyte layer on anode substrate was fabricated by the decalcomania method. After 8YSZ as the electrolyte starting material was calcined at $1200^{\circ}C$, the particle size was controlled by the attrition mill. The median particle size (D50) of each 8YSZ was $39.6{\mu}m$, $9.30{\mu}m$, $6.35{\mu}m$, and $3.16{\mu}m$, respectively. The anode substrate was coated with decalcomania papers which were made by using 8YSZ with different median particle sizes. In order to investigate the effect of median particle sizes and sintering conditions on the electrolyte density, each sample was sintered for 2, 5 and 10 h, respectively. 8YSZ with a median particle size of $3.16{\mu}m$ which was sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ for 10 had the highest density. With this 8YSZ, a SOFCs unit cell was manufactured with a $5{\mu}m$ layer by the decalcomania method. Then the unit cell was run at $800^{\circ}C$. The Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) and Maximum power density (MPD) was 1.12 V and $650mW/cm^2$, respectively.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.161-165
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• 2021

In general, SOFCs mainly use Ni-YSZ cermet, a mixture of Ni and YSZ, as an anode material, which is stable in a high-temperature reducing atmosphere. However, when SOFCs have operated at a high temperature for a long time, the structural change of Ni occurs and it results in the problem of reducing durability and efficiency. Accordingly, a development of a new anode material that can replace existing nickel and exhibits similar performance is in progress. In this study, SrTiO₃, which is a perovskite-based mixed conductor and one of the candidate materials, was used. In order to increase the electrical conduction properties, Y_0.08Sr_0.92Fe_0.3Ti_0.7O₃, doped with 0.08 mol of Y³⁺ in Sr-site and 0.03 mol of transition metal Fe³⁺ in Ti-site, was synthesized and its chemical diffusion coefficient and reaction constant were measured. Its electrical conductivity changes were also observed while changing the oxygen partial pressure at a constant temperature. The performance as a candidate electrode material was verified by predicting the defect area through the electrical conductivity pattern according to the oxygen partial pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.41-47
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• 2020

This study aims to develop eco-friendly propellant that reduce the generation of harmful gases such as HCl gas and increase the emmision of nitrogen gas emissions. For this purpose, GUDN(N-Guanylurea dinitramide) and BTATz(3,6-bis(1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-ylamino)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine), which are low carbon high nitrogen materials, were used instead of AP(Ammonium Perchlorate) and Al(Aluminium), which are gernerally used in solid propellant. The prepared propellants were analyzed for mechanical properties and combustion characteristics, performance and AGARD smoke classification. Compared with AP/Al propellant, GUDN/BTATz propellant tended to decrease mechanical and combustion rate. Also, as a result of the static test after the production of the 4-inch motor, the performance of combustion of the GUDN/BTATz propellant decreased, but it was confirmed that the secondary smoke was improved by reducing harmful gases such as HCl gas.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2022

This work examined the effect of mixing transition metal-based additives [FeCl₃, Fe-containing paper mill sludge (PMS), CoCl₂·H₂O, ZrO₂, and α-Fe₂O₃] on the thermochemical conversion of coffee waste (CW) in carbon dioxide-assisted pyrolysis process. Compared to the generation amounts of syngas (0.7 mole% H₂ & 3.0 mole% CO) at 700℃ from single pyrolysis of CW, co-pyrolysis in the presence of Fe- or Zr-based additives resulted in the enhanced production of syngas, with the measured concentrations of H₂ and CO ranging 1.1-3.4 mole% and 4.6-13.2 mole% at the same temperature, respectively. In addition, α-Fe₂O₃ biochar possessed the adsorption capacity of As(V) (19.3 mg g^-1) comparable to that of ZrO₂-biochar (21.2 mg g^-1). In conclusion, solid-type Fe-based additive can be highly considered as an efficient catalyst to simultaneously produce syngas (H₂ & CO) as fuel energy resource and metal-biochar as sorbent.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.603-610
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• 2021

The major drawback of zirconia-based materials, in view of their applications as targets for minor actinide transmutation, is their poor thermal conductivity. The addition of MgO, which has high thermal conductivity, to zirconia-based materials is expected to improve their thermal conductivity. On these grounds, the present study aims at phase characterization and thermophysical property evaluation of neodymium-substituted zirconia (Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9; using Nd₂O₃ as a surrogate for Am₂O₃) and its composites with MgO. The composite was prepared by a solid-state reaction of Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9 (synthesized by gel combustion) and commercial MgO powders at 1773 K. Phase characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction and the microstructural investigation was performed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9 increases upon composite formation with MgO, which is attributed to a higher thermal expansivity of MgO. Similarly, specific heat also increases with the addition of MgO to Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9. Thermal conductivity was calculated from measured thermal diffusivity, temperature-dependent density and specific heat values. Thermal conductivity of Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9-MgO (50 wt%) composite is more than that of typical UO₂ fuel, supporting the potential of Zr_0.8Nd_0.2O_1.9-MgO composites as target materials for minor actinides transmutation.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2010

Effect of interconnect structure on the cell performance in anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been investigated in this study, employing the Fluent CFD solver. For the robust and reliable theoretical analysis corroborating experimental results, it is of great importance to elucidate the role of interconnect which is electrically connected with electrodes on the cell characteristics. From the fact that the thin interconnect provides the enhanced cell performance, it is revealed that the interconnect thickness is a key parameter that is able to effectively control the ohmic resistance. Under the constant thickness condition, the cell performance does not considerably change with the variation of interconnect width. This is because the current passage along with circumferential direction is not effectively altered by the change of interconnect width in tubular SOFC system.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

A large amount of carbon monoxide (CO) is generated in circulating fluidized bed combustion, the process whereby a hot cyclone separates unburned fuel. However, calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), when combined with a high CO content, can cause fouling on the surface of the steam tube installed inside the integrated recycle heat exchangers (INTREX). In this study, CaSO₄ decomposition was investigated using 0.2-3.2 vol.% CO and 1-3 vol.% oxygen (O₂) at 850℃ for 20 min in a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor. The results show that CaSO₄ decomposes into CaS and CaO when CO gas is supplied, and SO₂ emissions increase from 135 ppm to 1021 ppm with increasing CO concentration. However, the O₂ supply delayed SO₂ emissions because the reaction between CO and O₂ is faster than that of CaSO₄; nevertheless, when supplied with CaCO₃, the intermediate product, SO₂ was significantly released, regardless of the CO and O₂ supply. In addition, agglomerated solids and yellow sulfur power were observed after solid recovery, and the reactor distributor was corroded. Consequently, a sufficient O₂ supply is important and can prevent fouling formation on the INTREX surface by suppressing CaSO₄ degradation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2023

Urbanization and industrialization have significantly increased the amount of solid waste produced in recent decades, posing considerable disposal problems and environmental burdens. The practice of waste utilization in concrete has gained popularity among construction practitioners and researchers for the efficient use of resources and the transition to the circular economy in construction. This study employed Lytag aggregate, an environmentally friendly pulverized fuel ash-based lightweight aggregate, as a substitute for natural coarse aggregate. At the same time, fly ash, an industrial by-product, was used as a partial substitute for cement. Concrete mix M20 was experimented with using fly ash and Lytag lightweight aggregate. The percentages of fly ash that make up the replacements were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. The Compressive Strength (CS), Split Tensile Strength (STS), and deflection were discovered at these percentages after 56 days of testing. The concrete cube, cylinder, and beam specimens were examined in the explorations, as mentioned earlier. The results indicate that a 10% substitution of cement with fly ash and a replacement of coarse aggregate with Lytag lightweight aggregate produced concrete that performed well in terms of mechanical properties and deflection. The cementitious composites have varying characteristics as the environment changes. Therefore, understanding their mechanical properties are crucial for safety reasons. CS, STS, and deflection are the essential property of concrete. Machine learning (ML) approaches have been necessary to predict the CS of concrete. The Artificial Fish Swarm Optimization (AFSO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Harmony Search (HS) algorithms were investigated for the prediction of outcomes. This work deftly explains the tremendous AFSO technique, which achieves the precise ideal values of the weights in the model to crown the mathematical modeling technique. This has been proved by the minimum, maximum, and sample median, and the first and third quartiles were used as the basis for a boxplot through the standardized method of showing the dataset. It graphically displays the quantitative value distribution of a field. The correlation matrix and confidence interval were represented graphically using the corrupt method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.147-159
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• 2024

Plutonium-238 has always been considered as the one of the promising radioisotopes for space nuclear power supply, which has long half-life, low radiation protection level, high power density, and stable fuel form at high temperatures. The industrial-scale production of ²³⁸Pu mainly depends on irradiating solid ²³⁷NpO₂ target in high flux reactors, however the production process faces problems such as large fission loss and high requirements for product quality control. In this paper, a conceptual design study of producing ²³⁸Pu in a multi-purpose high flux reactor was evaluated and analyzed, which includes a sensitivity analysis on ²³⁸Pu production and a further study on the irradiation scheme. It demonstrated that the target structure and its location in the reactor, as well as the operation scheme has an impact on ²³⁸Pu amount and product quality. Furthermore, the production efficiency could be improved by optimizing target material concentration, target locations in the core and reflector. This work provides technical support for irradiation production of ²³⁸Pu in high flux reactors.