• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.889-892
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• 2009

A microwave plasma torch at the atmospheric pressure by making use of magnetrons operated at the 2.45 GHz and used in a home microwave oven has been developed. This electrodeless torch can be used to various areas, including industrial, environmental and military applications. Although the microwave plasma torch has many applications, we in the present work focused on the microwave plasma torch operated in pure steam and several applications, which may be used in future and right now. For example, a high-temperature steam microwave plasma torch may have a potential application of the hydrocarbon fuel reforming at one atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the radicals including hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide molecules are abundantly available in the steam torch, dramatically enhancing the reaction speed. Also, the microwave plasma torch can be used as a high-temperature, large-volume plasma burner by injecting hydrocarbon fuels in gas, liquid, and solid into the plasma flame. Lastly, we briefly report an underway research, which is remediation of soils contaminated with oils, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, etc.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.267-267
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• 2012

$TiO_2$-Ni inverse catalysts were prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process and catalytic $CO_2$ reforming of methane (CRM) reaction over catalysts (either bare Ni or $TiO_2$ coated-Ni particles) were performed using a continuous flow reactor at $800^{\circ}C$. $TiO_2$-Ni inverse catalyst showed higher catalytic reactivity at initial stage of CRM reactions at $800^{\circ}C$ comparing to bare Ni catalysts. Moreover, catalytic activity of $TiO_2$/Ni catalyst was kept high during 13 hrs of the CRM reactions at $800^{\circ}C$, whereas deactivation of bare Ni surface was started within 1hr under same conditions. The results of surface analysis using SEM, XPS, and Raman showed that deposition of graphitic carbon was effectively suppressed in a presence of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles on Ni surface, thereby improving catalytic reactivity and stability of $TiO_2$/Ni catalytic systems. We suggest that utilizing decoration effect of metal catalyst with oxide nanoaprticles is of great potential to develop metal-based catalysts with high stability and reactivity.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2009

A microwave plasma torch at the atmospheric pressure by making use of magnetrons operated at the 2.45 GHz and used in a home microwave oven has been developed. This electrodeless torch can be used to various areas, including industrial, environmental and military applications. Although the microwave plasma torch has many applications, we in the present work focused on the microwave plasma torch operated in pure steam and several applications, which may be used in future and right now. For example, a high-temperature steam microwave plasma torch may have a potential application of the hydrocarbon fuel reforming at one atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the radicals including hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide molecules are abundantly available in the steam torch, dramatically enhancing the reaction speed. Also, the microwave plasma torch can be used as a high-temperature, large-volume plasma burner by injecting hydrocarbon fuels in gas, liquid, and solid into the plasma flame. Finally, we briefly report treatment of soils contaminated with oils, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, etc., which is an underway research in our group.

• Ceramist
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.70-81
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• 2019

Breath analysis is rapidly evolving as a non-invasive disease recognition and diagnosis method. Metal oxide gas sensors are one of the most ideal platforms for realizing portable, hand-held breath analysis devices in the near future. This paper reviewed the recent developments in metal oxide gas sensors detecting exhaled biomarker gases such as nitric oxides, acetone, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrocarbons. Emphasis was placed on strategies to tailor sensing materials/films capable of highly selective and sensitive detection of biomarker gases with negligible cross-response to ethanol, the major interfering breath gas. Specific examples were given to highlight the validity of the strategies, which include optimization of sensing temperature, doping additives, utilizing acid-base interaction, loading catalysts, and controlling gas reforming reaction. In addition, we briefly discussed the design and optimization method of gas sensor arrays for implementing the simultaneous assessment of multiple diseases. Breath analysis using high-performance metal oxide gas sensors/arrays will open new roads for point-of-care diagnosis of diseases such as asthma, diabetes, kidney dysfunction, halitosis, and lung cancer.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2018

Hydrogen can be produced by reforming reaction of natural gas (NG) and biogas, or by water electrolysis. In this study, hydrogen production through water-electrolysis needs superheated steam above $700^{\circ}C$ for high efficiency. The production method of hydrogen like this was recommended for the 4-type processes for superheated steam ($700^{\circ}C$, 3 atm) by Bio-SRF combustion furnace. The 4-type processes to produce superheated steam at $700^{\circ}C$ from the heat source of SRF combustion furnace was simulated using PRO II. The optimum process was selected through exergy analysis. The difference of process 1 and 2 is to the order of depressure and heating process to change $180^{\circ}C$ and 7 atm to $700^{\circ}C$ and 3 atm. Process 3 and 4 is to utilize 25% of steam to generate superheated steam and remaining to use for the power generation by steam generator.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.485-489
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• 2019

Hydrogen is known to be a clean fuel which does not generate a green house gas during the combustion. However, about 8 kg of carbon dioxide is generated during the course of producing 1 kg of hydrogen through reforming, water gas shift reaction and pressure swing adsorption in order to obtain a high purity hydrogen over 99.999% by volume. In this work, carbon dioxide generation is estimated according to four kinds of natural gas compositions supplied by Korea Gas Corporation and regarding natural gas as pure methane. For the simulation of the modeling, PRO/II with PROVISION V10.2 at AVEVA was utilized and Peng-Robinson equation of state with Twu's alpha function was selected.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1999

Pd-ceramic composite membranes and catalytic membrane reactors(CMR) have been studied for hydrogen and its isotopes (deuterium and tritium) purification and recovery in the fusion reactor fuel cycle. Particularly a closed-loop process has been studied for recovering tritium from tritiated water by means of a CMR in which the water gas shift reaction takes place. The development of the techniques for coating micro-porous ceramic tubes with Pd and Pd/Ag thin layers is described : P composite membranes have been produced by electroless deposition (Pd/Ag film of 10-20 $\mu$m) and rolling of thin metal sheets (Pd and Pd/Ag membranes of 50-70 $\mu$m). Experimental results of the electroless membranes have shown a not complete hydrogen selectivity because of the presence of some defects(micro-holes) in the metallic thin layer. Conversely the rolled thin Pd and Pd/ag membranes have separated hydrogen from the other gases with a complete selectivity giving rise to a slightly larger (about a factor 1.7) mass transfer resistance with respect to the electroless membranes. Experimental tests have confirmed the good performances of the rolled membranes in terms of chemical stability over several weeks of operation. Therefore these rolled membranes and CMR are adequate for applications in the fusion reactor fuel cycle as well as in the industrial processes where high pure hydrogen is required (i.e. hydrocarbon reforming for fuel cell)

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.159.1-159.1
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• 2011

Partial oxidation reformer was fabricated and operated using commercial transportation fuels. Fuel injector and heating coil were used for fuel atomization and startup, respectively. The reformer was designed to produce syngas for $150{\sim}200W_e$ class solid oxide fuel cell. The reformer was operated in the $O_2$/C range between 0.6 and 0.8 while the capacity was fixed at $150W_e$. The temperature range in catalyst bed was between $500^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$. Only 83% fuel was converted to $H_2$, CO, $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ at the operating conditions. The lowest temperature increase to $700^{\circ}C$ when the reformer was operated at $200W_e$, Although the temperature profiles was improved, fuel conversion was 88%. On the other hand, fuel was completely converted when micro-reactor operated at the same condition. This difference maybe due to aromatic compounds formation at homogeneous region. In addition, a significant amount of coke deposition was observed at vent line. Homogeneous reaction depends on the degree of mixing. For this purpose, two fluid nozzle and Ultra sonic injector were compared to investigate the effect of atomization. Sauter mean diameter(SMD) of Ultra sonic injector was lower than two-fluid nozzle at test condition. However, conversion efficiency and fuel conversion were not improved by using two-fluid nozzle. these results imply that the temperature of homogeneous reaction region should be controlled to prevent coke formation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.336-345
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• 2020

Nickel-doped lanthanum cobalt oxide (LaCo_1-xNi_xO_3-δ, LCN) was investigated as an alternative anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. To improve its catalytic activity for steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction, Ni²⁺ was substituted into Co³⁺ lattice in LaCoO₃. LCN anode, synthesized using the Pechini method, reacts with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte at high temperatures to form an electrochemically inactive phase such as La₂Zr₂O₇. To minimize the interlayer by-products, the LCN was coated via a double-tape casting method on the Ni/YSZ anode as a catalytic functional layer. By increasing the Ni doping amount, oxygen vacancies in the LCN increased and the cell performance improved. CH₄ fuel decomposed to H₂ and CO via SMR reaction in the LCN functional layer. Hence, the LCN-coated Ni/YSZ anode exhibited better cell performance than the Ni/YSZ anode under H₂ and CH₄ fuels. LCN with 12 mol% of Ni (LCN12)-modified Ni/YSZ anode showed excellent long-term stability under H₂ and CH₄ conditions.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 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.