• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.296-301
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• 2012

Purpose: Combustion and fuel qualities of the animal-fats biodiesel as a heating fuel for agricultural hot air heater were studied. Methods: Biodiesel (BD) was made from animal-fats by reacting with methanol and potassium hydroxide in the laboratory. The biodiesel made in the laboratory was tested for fuel and combustion qualities. Results: The kinematic viscosity and the calorific values of the biodiesels were measured. Kerosene based biodiesel, BD20 (K) showed 18 cSt at $-20^{\circ}C$. It seemed that BD100 was not suitable for a heating fuel under some temperature. As BD content increased, the calorific value decreased up to 40,000 J/g for BD100, while the calorific value of light oil was 45,567 J/g showing difference of 5,567 J/g, about 12% difference. Several different fuels including BD20 (biodiesel 20% + light oil 80%), BD50 (biodiesel 50% + light oil 50%), BD100 (biodiesel 100%), and light oil were tested for fuel combustion qualities for agricultural hot air heater, and their combustion performances were compared and analyzed. Flame dimensions of biodiesels and light oils were almost the same shape at the same combustion condition. Generally, the $CO_2$ amounts of BDs were greater than light oil. However, in this study the differences were minor, so there was no significant difference existed between the BDs combustion and light oil. Conclusions: It seemed that quality was good for heating oil for agricultural hot air heater because of showing no barriers for continuous combustion and proper exhaust gas temperature and $CO_2$ amount discharged. But, for fuel fluidity for higher BD content fuel could be a detrimental problem in situations where the outdoor temperature is lowered. As BD content increased, calorific value decreased up to 40,000 J/g for BD100. Calorific value difference between BD20 and light oil was about 1,360 J/g.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.70-77
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• 2017

As the quality of live gets better, the frequency of using air conditioner is along drastically increasing. On that matter, setting up measures of preventing increasing fire cases has been required. 43,413 fire cases occurred in last 2016, the cases occurred by electricity account for about 20%(8,655 cases). Among the electricity cases, the amount of cases occurred with air conditioner issues covers 1.5%; causes of the fire incidents vary, including incomplete contacts, short circuits, tracking, and such. In this study, we intend to investigate the case of ignition at the connection point where the power cord connected to the outdoor unit is arbitrarily connected during the air conditioner installation process, and to propose preventive measures against the cause in order to reduce the damage of life as well as the property from electric fire incidents.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.103-110
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• 2023

People who spend most of their day indoors are continuously exposed to internally and externally generated indoor pollutants. According to a 2022 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is the cause of more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide, emphasizing the seriousness of indoor air pollutants. Air pollutants include nitrogen oxides (NOx), formaldehyde (HCHO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have serious effects on the human body. Photocatalyst is a material that can remove these indoor air pollutants. Photocatalysts not only have the ability to remove dust precursors, but also have antibacterial, sterilizing, and deodorizing functions, making them effective in improving indoor air quality. This study suggests areas and methods in which photocatalysts can be applied to buildings. Fields of application include interior and exterior construction materials such as concrete, as well as organic paints and ventilation devices. If appropriate utilization plans are developed, it may be possible to improve the built environment through reduced indoor and outdoor pollutant levels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the ventilation rate of residential homes in Korea through tracer gas methods using indoor and outdoor concentrations of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and $CO_2$ generation rates from breathing. Methods: In this study, we calculated the number of occupants in a home by time through data on the average number of people per household from the Korean National Statistical Office and also measured the amount of $CO_2$ generation by breathing to estimate the indoor $CO_2$ generation rate. To estimate the ventilation rate, several factors such as the $CO_2$ generation rate and average volume of residential house provided by the Korean National Statistical Office, indoor $CO_2$ concentrations measured by sensors, and outdoor $CO_2$ concentrations provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, were applied to a mass balance model for residential indoor environments. Results: The average number of people were 2.53 per household and Koreans spend 61.0% of their day at home. The $CO_2$ generation rate from breathing was $13.9{\pm}5.3L/h$ during sleep and $15.1{\pm}5.7L/h$ in a sedentary state. Indoor and outdoor $CO_2$ concentrations were 849 ppm and 407 ppm, respectively. The ventilation rate in Korean residential houses calculated by the mass balance model were $42.1m^3/h$ and 0.71 air change per hour. Conclusions: The estimated ventilation rate tended to increase with an increase in the number of occupants. Since sensor devices were used to collect data, sustainable data could be collected to estimate the ventilation rate of Korean residential homes, which enables further studies such as on changes in the ventilation rate by season resulting from the activities of occupants. The results of this study could be used as a basis for exposure and risk assessment modeling.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-67
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• 2006

This study was performed to deduct the extension possibility of the standards establishment for $NO_2$, $O_3$, Asbestos, Radon, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) excluded in the indoor air part of Industrial Safety Acts in Korea. The air pollutants were sampled for 30 office buildings from August to September, 2005 in the metropolitan area. The airborne concentrations of $NO_2$, $O_3$, Radon and TVOC were 0.0092 ppm, 0.0035 ppm, 0.57 pCi/L and $423{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The management plan and reduction methods is required in the aspect of indoor air quality(IAQ) because the emission sources of those also exist in indoor as well as outdoor even though those were not exceeded the standards of the Ministry of Environment in Korea. The standard for TVOC in the new and remodeling office has to be established based on the risk assessment when hazard index exceeded "1" in the worst case scenario. In the state of art, the management of each volatile organic compounds has a difficulty due to not enough data for toxicological reference. Therefore, it is suggested that first of all, the standard for TVOC be established and then expanded to each materials for decision-making of improvement of IAQ in office.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1691-1710
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• 2020

We measured PM2.5 and PM10 (particulate matter less than 2.5 ㎛ and 10 ㎛ in diameter, respectively) simultaneously at 16 locations around an elementary school and classrooms in Busan and Pyeongtaek, South Korea. In this study, we compared the results of this field intensive with those in the literature (144 cases of 30 studies), focusing on I/O (Indoor/Outdoor) ratios. We also reviewed the results of previous studies, categorizing them into related sub-categories for indoor-activities, seasons, building-uses, and the surrounding environment. We conclude that indoor PM10 is affected more by indoor-sources (e.g., physical activities) than PM2.5 in the absence of combustion sources like smoking and cooking. Additionally, PM10 and PM2.5 likely have different indoor-outdoor infiltration efficiencies. Conclusively, PM10 in classrooms can be more sensitively affected by both indoor activities and ambient concentrations, and mechanical ventilation can be more efficient in reducing PM concentrations than natural ventilation.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2010

This study examined the concentration level of the major air pollutants in public transportation. The study was conducted between February 2009 and March 2008 at Suwon-Yeosu line in Korea. $PM_{10}$ concentration level was $100{\mu}g/m^3$ on average. The $PM_{2.5}$ to PM10 ratio in transport is 0.37, which was lower than the results published by other researches. The result also demonstrated that outdoor $PM_{10}$ concentration was about 56~60% level compared to that of the cabin. $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin was 1,359ppm, which does not exceed 2,000ppm, which is the guideline concentration level according to the Ministry of Environment. $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin was $CO_2=23.4{\times}N+460.2$, and about 23.4ppm in $CO_2$ concentration level increased every time one passenger was added on. The experiment conducted on the train demonstrated that the average $PM_{10}$ concentration level was $100{\mu}g/m^3$ in case of the reference cabin while average $PM_{10}$ concentration level of the modified vehicle was $68{\mu}g/m^3$. Likewise, effect of the particle reduction device for the reduction of $PM_{10}$ concentration level was approximately 21%. Meanwhile there was almost no difference in the concentration level between reference and modified cabin in case of $PM_{2.5}$. Using zeolite as an adsorbent was made to reduce the $CO_2$ concentration level in the cabin. Number of passengers was factored in, to calculate the effect of the adsorption device, which demonstrated that about 36% of $CO_2$ concentration level was reduced in the modified cabin effect of the $CO_2$ reduction device. This research analyzed the current status concerning the quality of air in the public transportation and technologies were developed that reduces major air pollutants.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.483-490
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• 2019

Assessing the effect of forest fires and measuring the gas concentration around a fire has received little attention. Therefore, the concentrations of various gases in areas surrounding a fire need to be measured by the development of a suitable device. Unlike conventional portable devices, the AQS (Air Quality System) proposed in this paper is a portable instrument that measures five types of gases simultaneously, including CO, CO2, NOx, VOCs, and NH3, and has high durability through sensor protection algorithms. A PC-based program with an AQS connection was developed to monitor the real-time changes in the gas concentration. The reliability of the developed device was proven through a comparison of the results with other commercial gas analyzers. Measurements of the concentration due to indoor and outdoor fires were performed around a fire area to review the applicability and the predicted results were obtained.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2014

Objective: Based on the fact that fine particles are more likely to produce negative influences on the health of occupants as well as the quality of indoor air compared to coarse particles, it is critical to determine concentrations of aerosol particles with different sizes. Thus, this study focused on the size distribution and concentrations of aerosol particles in university buildings. Method: Aerosol particles in indoor air were collected from four areas: corridors in buildings(In-CO), lecture rooms(In-RO), laboratories(In-LR), and a cafeteria(In-RE). Samples were also collected from outside for comparison between the concentrations of indoor and outdoor particles. For the collection of the samples, an eight stage non-viable cascade impactor was used. Result: The average concentration of $PM_{10}$ in the samples collected from indoor areas was $34.65-91.08{\mu}g/m^3$,and the average for $PM_{2.5}$ was $22.65-60.40{\mu}g/m^3$. The concentrations of the aerosol particles in the corridors, lecture rooms, and laboratories were relatively higher than the concentrations collected from other areas. Furthermore, in terms of mass median aerodynamic diameter(MMAD), the corridors and lecture rooms had higher numbers due to their characteristics, showing $2.36{\mu}m$ and $2.11{\mu}m$, respectively. Laboratories running an electrolysis experiment showed $1.58{\mu}m$, and the cafeteria with regular maintenance and ventilation had $1.96{\mu}m$. Conclusion: The results showed that the $PM_{10}$ concentrations of all samples did not exceed indoor air quality standards. However, the $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was over the standard and, in particular, the concentration of fine particles collected from the laboratories was relatively higher, which could be an issue for the occupants. Therefore, it is important to improve the quality of the indoor air in university buildings.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.646-657
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to suggest methods to investigate continuous monitoring of concentration levels and assess the exposure of individuals considering the actual time activity of residents for formaldehyde and particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) in the indoor and outdoor air of a house, assess the health risks of children and adults based on the results of the exposure assessment, and provide basic data on studies for assessing exposure and health risks in Korea in the future. Methods: The concentration levels of formaldehyde and particulate matter were measured in a family home in Gyeonggi-do Province from April 25 to July 31, 2019, using electrochemical sensors (formaldehyde) and light scattering sensors (PM₁₀, PM_2.5). Risk assessment by the duration of exposure by time activity was performed by dividing between weekdays and weekends, and indoors and outdoors. Results: The greatest level of carcinogenic risk from inhaling formaldehyde was indoors during the weekdays for both children and adults. For children, the risk was at 7.5 per approximately 10,000 people, and for adults, the risk was at 4.1 per approximately 10,000 people. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 also showed the greatest values indoors during the weekdays, with children at 1.7 people and 1.4 per approximately 100 people, respectively, and adults at 8.2 per approximately 1,000 and 1.8 per approximately 100 people, respectively. Conclusions: The risks of formaldehyde, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were shown to be high indoors. Therefore, consideration of exposure assesment for each indoor pollutant and management of indoor air quality is necessary.