• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2010

The electrorefining process, one of main processes which are composed of pyroprocess to recover the useful elements from spent fuel, and the domestic development of electrorefiner have been reviewed. The electrorefiner is composed of an anode basket containing reduced spent fuel such as uranium, transuranic and rare earth elements, and a solid cathode, which are in LiCl-KCl eutectic electrolyte. Oxidation (dissolution) reaction occurs on the anode and a pure uranium is electrochemically reduced (deposited) on the solid cathode. By application of graphite cathode, which has a self-scrapping characteristics for the uranium deposits, and a recovery of the fallen deposits by a screw conveyer, a high-throughput continuous electrorefiner with a capacity of 20 kgU/day has been developed.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.56.1-56.1
• /
• 2009

The intermediate operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) have achieved considerable importance in the area of power fabrication. This is because to improve materials compatibility, their long-term stability and cost saving potential. However, to conserve rational cell performance at reduced-temperature regime, cathode performance should be obtained without negotiating the internal resistance and the electrode kinetics of the cell. Recently, double perovskite structure cathodes have been studied with great attention as a potential material for IT-SOFCs. In this study, double-perovskite structured cathodes of $GdBaCoCuO_{5+\delta}$, $GdBaCo_{2/3}Cu_{2/3}Fe_{2/3}O_{5+\delta}$ compositions and $(1-x)GdBaCo_2O_{5+\delta}+xCe_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{1.95}$ (x = 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.%) composites were evaluated as the cathode for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells(IT-SOFCs). Electrical conductivity of the cathodes were measured by DC 4-probe method, and the thermal expansion coefficient of each sample was measured up to $900^{\circ}C$ by a dilatometer study. Area specific resistances(ASR) of the $GdBaCo_{2/3}Cu_{2/3}Fe_{2/3}O_{5+\delta}$ cathode and 70 wt.% $GdBaCo_2O5+\delta$ + 30wt.% Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 composite cathode on CGO electrolyte substrate were analyzed using AC 3-probe impedance study. The obtained results demonstrate that double perovskite-based compositions are promising cathode materials for IT-SOFCs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2006

Hydrogen as new energy sources is highly efficient and have very low environmental emissions. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an emerging technology that can meet these demands. Therefore, the preparation of stable polymeric membranes with good proton conductivity and durability are very important for hydrogen production via water electrolysis with PEM at medium temperature above $80^{\circ}C$. Currently Nafion of Dupont and Aciflex of Asahi, etc., solid polymer electrolytes of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, are the best performing commercially available polymer electrolytes. However, these membrane have several flaws including its high cost, and its limited operational temperature above $80^{\circ}C$. Because of this, significant research efforts have been devoted to the development of newer and cheaper membranes. In order to make up for the weak points and to improve the mechanical characteristics with cross -linking, acid-base complexes were prepared by the combination PSf-co-PPSS-$NH_2$ with PEEK-$SO_3H$. The results showed that the proton conductivity decreased in 17.6% and 40% but tensile strength increased in 78% and 98%, about $20.65\;{\times}\;10^6N/m^2$, in comparison with SBPSf/HPA and SPEEK/HPA complex membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2020

There is a growing interest in hydrogen energy utilization since an alternative energy development has been demanded due to the depletion of fossil fuels. Hydrogen is produced by the reforming reaction of natural gas and biogas, and the electrolysis of water. An solid oxide electrolyte cell (SOEC) is reversible system that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing the superheated steam or producing the electricity from a fuel cell by hydrogen. If the water can be converted into steam by waste heat from other processes it is more efficient for high-temperature electrolysis to convert steam directly. The reasons are based upon the more favorable thermodynamic and electrochemical kinetic conditions for the reaction. In the present study, steam at over 180℃ and 3.4 bars generated from a boiler were converted into superheated steam at over 700℃ and 3 bars using a cylindrical steam superheater as well as the waste heat of the exhaust gas at 900℃ from a solid refuse fuel combustor. Superheated steam at over 700℃ was then supplied to a high-temperature SOEC to increase the hydrogen production efficiency of water electrolysis. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted on the effects of the number of 90° elbow connector for piping, insulation types and insulation layers of pipe on the exit temperature using a commercial Fluent simulator. For two pre-heater injection method of steam inlet and ceramic wool insulation of 100 mm thickness, the highest inlet temperature of SOEC was 744℃ at 5.9 bar.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.44-49
• /
• 1999

In this study, microstructure and electrical conductivity of {(G $d_2$ $O_3$)$_{0.75}$( $Y_2$ $O_3$)$_{0.25}$}$_{x}$ (Ce $O_2$)$_{1-x}$ (0.01$\leq$x$\leq$0.25) was investigated as a function of composition x. GYO addition(x) increased the bulk density and G $d_2$ $O_3$ was found to be monoclinic at x>0.15. From the change of the lattice parameter with the addition(x), GYO solution limit for ceria was exceeded in the range of x=0.05 to 0.09. Thermal expansion coefficient(15~17$\times$10$^{-6}$ $^{\circ}C$) of GYC samples at x=0.01 to 0.07 was higher in value than that of 8YSZ(10.8$\times$10$^{-6}$ $^{\circ}C$). The electrical conductivity of GYC samples at x=0.05 showed the maximum(0.01S/cm) in value at 1073K which was 2 times higher than that of 8YSZ. The activation energy for the electrical conduction was determined to be 0.60eV in the temperature range of 1073K.3K..3K.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.479-484
• /
• 2011

In this paper, investigations of thick film $La_{0.75}Sr_{0.25}Ga_{0.8}Mg_{0.16}Fe_{0.04}O_{3-{\delta}}$ (LSGMF) cells fabricated via spin coating on either NiO-YSZ anode or $La_{0.7}Sr_{0.3}Ga_{0.6}Fe_{0.4}O_3$ (LSGF) cathode substrates are presented. A La-doped $CeO_2$ (LDC) layer is inserted between NiO-YSZ and LSGMF in order to prevent reactions from occurring during co-firing. For the LSGF cathode-supported cell, no interlayer was required because the components of the cathode are the same as those of LSGMF with the exception of Mg. An LSGMF electrolyte slurry was deposited homogeneously on the porous supports via spin coating. The current-voltage characteristics of the anode and cathode supported LSGMF cells at temperatures between $700^{\circ}C$ and $850^{\circ}C$ are described. The LSGF cathode supported cell demonstrates a theoretical OCV and a power density of ~420 mW $cm^2$ at $800^{\circ}C$, whereas the NiO-YSZ anode supported cell with the LDC interlayer demonstrates a maximum power density of ~350 mW $cm^2$ at $800^{\circ}C$, which decreased more rapidly than the cathode supported cell despite the presence of the LDC interlayer. Potential causes of the degradation at temperatures over $700^{\circ}C$ are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.568-573
• /
• 2016

We explore the crystalline structure and phase transition of lithium thiophosphate ($Li_7P_3S_{11}$) solid electrolyte using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The glass-like $Li_7P_3S_{11}$ powder is prepared by the high-energy mechanical milling process. According to the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and selected area diffraction (SAD) analysis, the glass powder shows chemical homogeneity without noticeable contrast variation at any specific spot in the specimen and amorphous SAD ring patterns. Upon heating up to $260^{\circ}C$ the glass $Li_7P_3S_{11}$ powder becomes crystallized, clearly representing crystal plane diffraction contrast in the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy image. We further confirm that each diffraction spot precisely corresponds to the diffraction from a particular $Li_7P_3S_{11}$ crystallographic structure, which is also in good agreement with the previous X-ray diffraction results. We expect that the microscopic analysis with EDS and SAD patterns would permit a new approach to study in the atomic scale of other lithium ion conducting sulfides.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.138-143
• /
• 2005

Laboratory batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the Fenton degradation rates of phenanthrene. Fenton reactions for the degradation of phenanthrene were carried out with aqueous and slurry phase, to investigate the effects of sorption of phenanthrene onto solid phase. Various types of surfactants and electrolyte solutions were used to evaluate the effects on the phenanthrene degradation rates by Fenton's reaction. A maximum 90% removal of phenanthrene was achieved in aqueous phase with 0.9% of $H_2O_2$ and 300 mg/L of $Fe^{2+}$ at pH 3. In aqueous phase reaction, inhibitory effects of synthetic surfactants on the removal of phenanthrene were observed, implying that surfactant molecules acted as strong scavenger of hydroxyl radicals. However, use of $carboxymethyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ (CMCD), natural surfactant, showed a slight enhancement in the degradation of phenanthrene. It was considered that reactive radicals formed at ternary complex were located in close proximity to phenanthrene partitioned into CMCD cavities. It was also show that Fenton degradation of phenanthrene were greatly enhanced by addition of NaCl, indicating that potent radical ion ($OCI^-$) played an important role in the phenanthrene degradation, although chloride ion might be acted as scavenger of radicals at low concentrations. Phenanthrene in slurry phase was resistant to Fenton degradation. It might be due to the fact that free radicals were mostly reacting with dissolved species rather than with sorbed phenanthrene. Even though synthetic surfactants were added to increase the phenanthrene concentration in dissolved phase, low degradation efficiency was obtained because of the scavenging of radicals by surfactants molecules. However, use of CMCD in slurry phase, showed a slight enhancement in the phenanthrene degradation. As an alternative, use of Fenton reaction with CMCD could be considered to increase the degradation rates of phenanthrene desorbed from solid phase.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.866-870
• /
• 2014

In solid oxide fuel cell system, yttria-stabilized zirconia is generally adopted as the electrolyte, which has high strength and superior oxygen ion conductivity, and the air electrode and the fuel electrode are attached to this. Recently, new structure of 'layered planar SOFC module' was suggested to solve the reliability problem due to the high temperature stability of a sealing agent and a binding material. In this study to materialize the air electrode in a layered planar SOFC module, the LSM ink was coated to form homogeneous electrode in the channel after the ink preparation. As the porosity control agent, PMMA or active carbon powder was adopted with use of a commercial dispersant in ethanol. The optimal amounts of both the porosity control agents and the dispersant were determined. Four (4) vol% of the dispersant for the LSM-PMMA case and 15 vol% for LSM-carbon powder showed the lowest viscosities respectively to indicate the best dispersed states of the slurries. With PMMA and carbon powder, sintered LSM ink shows the relatively homogeneous distributions of pores and with increases of the agents, the porosities increased in both cases. From this, it can be thought that the amount of the PMMA or carbon powder could be used to control the porosity of the LSM ink.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.179-182
• /
• 2006

The effect of electron beam irradiation on dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been studied to examine degradation of DSSC. The high-energy electron beam irradiation affects on the materials and performance of dye sensitized solar cells. We have checked the effects of electron beam irradiation of $TiO_2$ substrate with and without dye adsorption on the photovoltaic performances of resulting DSSCS and also studied the structural and electrical properties of polymers after irradiation. All solar cells materials were irradiated by electron beams with an energy source of 2MeV at different dose rates of 60 kGy, 120 kGy 240 kGy and 900 kGy and then their photoelectrical parameters were measured at 1 sun $(100 mW/cm^2)$. It was shown that the efficiency of DSSC was decreased as increasing the dose of e-beam irradiation due to lowering in $TiO_2$ crystallinity, decomposition of dye and oxidation of FTO glasses. On the other hand, the performance of solid-state DSSC with polyethylene oxide based electrolyte was improved after irradiation of e-beam due to enhancement of its conductivity and breakage of crosslinking.