• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-170
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• 2012

Fuel cells have been considered as alternative power generation system in the twenty-first century because of eco-friendly system, high power density and efficiency compare with petroleum engine system. Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are the key components in fuel cell system. Currently, Nafion has been used in fuel cell system. However, Nafion has disadvantages such as low conductivity at high temperature and high cost. The researchers have focused to reach the high properties such as high proton conductivity, low permeability to fuel, good chemical/thermal stability, good mechanical properties and low manufacturing cost. Various methods have been developed for preparation of proton exchange membrane with high performance and commercialization of fuel cell system. The hybrid organic/inorganic membrane has the potentials to provide a unique combination of organic and inorganic properties with improved proton conductivity and mechanical property at high temperatures. So, this paper presents an overview of research trend for the composite membranes prepared by organic/inorganic system using various inorganic materials.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.108-123
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• 2004

Imaging of surfaces and structures by near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) has matured and is routinely used for studies ranging from biology to materials science. Of interest in this review paper is a versatility of modified or multi-functional NSOM (mf-NSOM) to enable high resolution imaging in several modes: (1) Concurrent fluorescence and Topographical Imaging (gases) (2) Microspectroscopy (gases) (3) Concurrent Scanning Electrochemical and Topographical Imaging (SECM) (liquids) (4) Concurrent Photoelectrochemical and Topographical Imaging (PEM) (liquids) The present study will summarize some of the recent advances in mf-NSOM work confirmed and supported by the results from several other imaging techniques of optical, fluorescence, electron and electrochemical microscopy. The studies are directed at providing local information on pitting precursor sites and vulnerable areas on metal and semiconductor surfaces, and at reactive sites on heterogeneous, catalytic substrates, especially on Al 2024 alloy and polycrystalline Ti. In addition, we will introduce some results related to the laser-induced nanometal (Ag) synthesis using mf-NSOM.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.279-282
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• 2007

When reformer for fuel cell is used, CO in hydrogen gas leads to a seriously decreased membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance by catalyst poisoning. The effect of CO on performance of modified MEA by sputtering method is studied in this paper. The experimental results show that sputtered Pt and Ru thin film improve a single cell performance of MEA and sputtered metal thin film has a CO tolerance. The air injection process on anode show improved CO tolerance test result. Moreover, Pt, Ru and PtRu thin film by sputtering had influence on the CO tolerance with air injection process.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.649-655
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• 2011

Methane direct cracking can be utilized to produce $CO_x$ and $NO_x$-free hydrogen for PEM fuel cells, oil refineries, ammonia and methanol production. We present the results of a systematic study of methane direct cracking using a mixed conducting oxide, Y-doped $BaZrO_3$ ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$), membrane. In this paper, dense $BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane with disk shape was successfully sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ with a relative density of more 93% via addition of 1 wt% ZnO. The ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$) membrane is covered with Pd as catalyst for methane decomposition with an DC magnetron sputtering method. Reaction temperature was $800^{\circ}C$ and high purity methane as reactant was employed to membrane side with 1.5 bar pressure. The $H_2$ produced by the reaction was transported through mixed conducting oxide membrane to the outer side. In addition, it was observed that the carbon, by-product, after methane direct cracking was deposited on the Pd/ZnO-$BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane. The produced carbon has a shape of sphere and nanosheet, and a particle size of 80 to 100 nm.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.446-454
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to analyze two-phase flows of the hydrogen recirculation system. Two-phase flow modeling is one of the great challenges in the classical sciences. As with most problems in engineering, the interest in two-phase flow is due to its extreme importance in various industrial applications. In hydrogen recirculation systems of fuel cell, the changes in pressure and temperature affect the phase change of mixture. Therefore, two-phase flow analysis of the hydrogen recirculation system is very important. Two-phase computation fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations, using a commercial CFD package FLUENT 6.2, were employed to calculate the gas-liquid flow. A two-phase flow calculation was conducted to solve continuity, momentum, energy equation for each phase. Then, the mass transfer between water vapor and liquid water was calculated. Through an experiment to measure production of liquid water with change of pressure, the analysis model was verified. The predictions of rate of condensed liquid water with change of pressure were within an average error of about 5%. A comparison of experimental and computed data was found to be in good agreement. The variations of performance, properties, mass fraction and two-phase flow characteristic of mixture with resepct to the fuel cell power were investigated.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.567-571
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• 2008

PEM Fuel Cell operation mode can be classified into dead-end mode or open mode by whether the outlet port is blocked or not. Generally, dead-end type fuel cell has some merits on the pressure drop and system efficiency because it can generate more power than the open type fuel cell due to high operating pressure condition. However, the periodic purging process should be done for removing water which is formed as product of a reaction in the gas diffusion layer. In this study, cathode side dead-end type operation has been conducted. Moreover, pulsating flow generator at the outlet of cathode side has been suggested for increasing the period to purge the formed water because the pulsating flow can make formed water scattered uniformly over the whole channel. As a result, the purging period with pulsation increased by 1.5-2 times longer than that without pulsating.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.212-212
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• 1999

Ar-O2 분위기의 Plasma 표면 처리된 OPP 의 polymer 위에 약 400$\AA$ 정도로 sputter 코팅된 Al의 부착력에 관하여 연구를 하였다. 금속과 polymer와 같이 성질이 서로 다른 물질이 서로 결합할 때 접착력은 제품의 성능과 신뢰도를 결정하는데 매우 중요한 인자이다. 최근 고분자재료의 표면을 플라즈마 처리 (plasma surface treatment)에 의해 고분자와 금속도포(coating) 층간의 접착력향상에 따라, 증착필름 및 인쇄용 필름 등의 기능도 향상시킬 수 있다. 저온 plasma를 이용한 표면처리는 plastic 재료가 가지고 있는 기본적인 특성을 저해하지 않고, 그 표면 층만을 개량하는 plasma 또는 sputter etching 갚은 electrical discharge 방법은 진공 증착 방식에서 많이 사용되고 있다. 7$\mu\textrm{m}$의 두께 OPP polymer를 10m/min의 속도로 OPP의 표면을 연속 plasma pretreatment를 하였다. 5$\times$10-2torr에서, PEM(Plasma Emission Monitor)를 이용하여 plasma intensity에 따른 Ar/O2비를 변화시키면서 test를 하였다. AFM과 XPS를 이용하여 OPP의 표면분석을 하였다. 이 plasma처리는 기존의 D.C plasma 처리 방식과는 달리 Midium frequency AC voltage hollow cathod 방식으로 plasma를 발생된 high energy plasma 분위기를 만들 수 있다. 이러한 방식은 -cycle일 때 plasma로부터 발생된 전자가 polymer 표면을 bombard 하게 되고, +cycle 일 때 polymer 표면이 cathod 가 되어 active ion에 의해 sputtering 이 된다. 이때 plasma 처리기의 polymer 기판 후면에 magnet를 설치하여 높은 ionization을 발생시켜 처리 효과를 한층 높여 주었다. 이 plasma 처리는 표면 청정화, 표면 etching 이 동시에 행하는 것과 함께 장시간 처리에 의해 표면에서는 미세한 과, C=C기, -C-O-의 극성기의 도입에 의한 표면 개량이 된다는 것을 관찰할 수 있다. OPP polymer 표면을 Ar 100%로 plasma 처리한 경우 C-O, C=O 등의 carbonyl가 발생됨을 알 수 있었다. C-O, C=O 등의 carbynyl polor group이 도입됨에 따라 sputter된 Al의 접착력이 향상됨을 알 수 있으며, TEM 관찰 결과 grain size도 상당히 작아짐을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 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.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.556-566
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• 2019

Recently, as the supply of residential polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) increases, the durability and lifetime of the PEMFC system are becoming important. The related studies have been mainly focused on the durability and lifetime of materials while the research on the durability and maintenance of the system level is insufficient. In this paper, a model-based fault detection method is developed considering an air supply system that is dominant to the system performance and efficiency. A commercial 1 kW residential fuel cell system is built, and experiments are conducted under various operation loads and states (normal, 6 faults). From the experimental data, nominal models and residuals are generated. With the residual pattern obtained from real-time data, the detection and classification of various faults can be possible. The technical importance of this paper is to minimize extra sensor installation by using the empirical model rather than a complex mathematical model, and to decrease the number of models by using the applicable model at three loads. Finally, the model-based fault detection method for the air supply system of a PEMFC is established and is expected to be applicable to other subsystems.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.41-48
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• 2008

This paper proposes a three-phase Z-source dynamic voltage restorer (Z-DVR) to mitigate the voltage sag for the critical loads. The proposed system is composed of passive filter and Z-source topology inverter. As an ESS(Energy Storage System) of the proposed system is employed the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). To calculate and control the harmonics and compensation voltage, $i_{d}-i_{q}$ theory in dq rotating reference frame and PI controller are used. In case that three-phase voltage sags occurred, a PSIM simulation was done for the performance comparison of the conventional method employed battery stacks and proposed method. As a result, considering the voltage compensation performance, each method was nearly similar. Also, the compensation performance and the %THD(%Total Harmonic Distortion) result under the various source voltage conditions (sag or swell) were presented and discussed to show the performance of the proposed system.