• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.466-474
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• 2018

The high theoretical energy density ($2600Wh\;kg^{-1}$) of Lithium-sulfur batteries and the high theoretical capacity of elemental sulfur ($1672mAh\;g^{-1}$) attract significant research attention. However, the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and the polysulfide shuttle effect are chronic problems resulting in low sulfur utilization and poor cycling stability. In this study, we address these problems by coating a polyethylene separator with a layer of activated carbon powder. A lithium-sulfur cell containing the activated carbon powder-coated separator exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of $1400mAh\;g^{-1}$ at 0.1 C, and retains 63% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 C, whereas the equivalent cell with a bare separator exhibits a $1200mAh\;g^{-1}$ initial specific discharge capacity, and 50% capacity retention under the same conditions. The activated carbon powder-coated separator also enhances the rate capability. These results indicate that the microstructure of the activated carbon powder layer provides space for the sulfur redox reaction and facilitates fast electron transport. Concurrently, the activated carbon powder layer traps and reutilizes any polysulfides dissolved in the electrolyte. The approach presented here provides insights for overcoming the problems associated with lithium-sulfur batteries and promoting their practical use.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.327-332
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• 2021

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a main energy storage device in various applications, such as portable appliances, renewable energy facilities, and electric vehicles. However, the poor thermal stability of LIBs may cause explosion or fire. The thermal runaway is the result of a failure of the separator inside LIB. Damages like tearing, piercing, and collapsing of the separator were simulated in a mechanical, an electrical, and a thermal way, and small discharge pulses of a few mV were detected at the time of separator damages. From the experimental results, this paper provided a method that can identify the separator failure before thermal runaway in the aspect of a potential explosion and fire prevention measures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the grit removal efficiency of tornado block-type vortex grit separator. Vortex grit separator was manufactured for this study, and it was characterized by the impeller and tornado block installed in separator. Impeller was installed to increase water velocity in the separator and tornado block was installed to increase the grit lifting efficiency. Pilot study was also conducted in A sewage treatment plant (STP) in Gyeonggi province from November 2003 to May 2004 (64 days). Major findings are as follows. 1. Impeller was proven to increase water velocity in the grit separator, especially in low flow rate. This influence will increase separation ratio of organics from grits, preventing those organics from sedimentation. 2. Sand (with 0.2~0.3mm size) removal efficiency was over 98 % and 96 %, at the flow rate of $500m^3/day$ and $750m^3/day$ under the condition that impeller rotation velocity kept at 15 rpm. Originally that grit separator was designed to have the capacity of $500m^3/day$. $750m^3/day$ was tried to investigate the performance of this type of grit separator under overload condition. Stable grit removal was still available to the extent of 150% of designed capacity. 3. It took less than 3 minutes for the grit separator to completely lift out 3 kgs of 0.2-0.3 mm sized, settled sand at the bottom to 2,060 mm high above water surface. But it showed the tendency to spend a little more time on lifting the grit as the grit size and the vertical height of the lift increased. 4. During experimental duration in A STP, it was found that the average amount of inlet grit was about 981 g/day (160~1,685 g/day) under $500m^3/day$ of operation condition, but it varied so severely during the experimental duration. After classification of discharged grit according to its size, grit with 0.3-0.42 mm size was found as largest part of output.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.638-646
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• 2023

Recently, active research has been conducted to enhance the power characteristics and thermal stability of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) by modifying separators using a ceramic coating method. However, since the thermal properties and surface features of the separator vary depending on the characteristics of the ceramic powders applied to the separator, it is crucial to manufacture ceramic powders optimized for the separator's performance. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of three types of α-alumina (A-1, A-2, and A-3) produced with varying dispersant contents and milling times, in addition to commercial α-alumina (AES-11). Subsequently, the optimized powders (A-3) were coated onto the separator using an aqueous binder for comparison with the characteristics of an AES-11 coated separator and an uncoated PE separator. The A-3 coated separator improved electrolyte wettability with a low contact angle (44.69°) and increased puncture strength (538 gf). Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a shrinkage value of 5.64% when exposed to 140℃ for 1 hour, compared to the AES11 coated separator (6.09%) and the bare PE separator (69.64%).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2017

Herein, we have fabricated an ultrathin aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) coated PP separator by using a RF sputter deposition process. Approximately 20 nm thickness coating layer on the bare PP separator was formed at the power of 55 W for 2 minutes without thermal damage. Whereas only permeability of the coated separator was degraded slightly, other properties such as thermal stability, uptake amount of liquid electrolyte, and ionic conductivity were improved comparing to the bare PP separator. As a result, an only 20-nm-thick $Al_2O_3$ coating layer could improve the rate capability compared with a bare PP separator under a high current density.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.470-475
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• 2017

Since the intake air of gas turbine engine of marine purpose contains water particles, inertial separator for separating the air and water particles are provided. Saw type and wave type separator are now used to separate inflow water particle from the gas. In this paper, the design parameters of saw type separator are studied by numerical simulations. Using the commercial CFD program, Star-CCM+, Lagrangian-Eulerian method was used to perform the analysis of two phase flow of the mist in the air. This method solves Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations in Eulerian framework for the continuous phase, while solves equation of motion for individual particles in Lagrangian framework. Lagrangian multiphase method was applied to monitor the particles of different sizes and shapes and to verify collision between particles by chasing particles. Water particles were injected through injectors located at the inlet of the separator and escape mode was used which assumes that the particles attached on the surface of inertial separator were removed from the simulation, effectively escaping the solution domain. Through the numerical computations with the inlet condition of constant water particle size in the wetness fraction of 85%, efficiency of eliminating the water particle and the pressure drop between the inlet and outlet were examined.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 2009

As a basic research of developing two-interconnected fluidized beds system for selective solid circulation, a solid separator was developed to separate fine and coarse particles by means of particle size difference with particle size separation system equipped with metal screen. The effects of gas velocity, height of solid separator, and separation area on the solid separation rate were investigated as well. The solid separation rate increased as the gas velocity, height of solid separator, and separation area increased. As the gas velocity and height of the solid separator increased, the variation of the solid separation rate was consistent with that of bubble size. Consequently, coarse($212{\sim}300{\mu}m$) and fine($63{\sim}106{\mu}m$) particles were separated using the solid separator and the solid separation rate was ranged from 4.4 to 127 g/min. We also proposed two interconnenced fluidized beds system for sorption enhanced water-gas shift process equipped with the developed solid separator.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the corrosion resistance at the anode side separator for molten carbonate fuel cell, STS316 and SACC-STS316 (chromium and aluminum were simultaneously deposited by diffusion into STS316 authentic stainless steel substrate by pack-cementation process) were applied as the separator material. In case of STS316, corrosion proceeded via three steps ; a formation step of corrosion product until stable corrosion product, a protection step against corrosion until breakaway occurs, a advance step of corrosion after breakaway. Especially, STS316 would be impossible to use the separator without suitable surface modification because of rapid corrosion rate after formation of corrosion product, occurs the severe problem on stability of cell during long-time operation. Whereas, SACC-STS316 was showed more effective corrosion resistance than the present separator, STS316 due to the intermetallic compound layer such as NiAl, Ni3Al formed on the surface of STS316 specimen. And it is anticipated that, in order to use SACC-STS316 alternative separator at the anode side, coating process, which can lead to dense coating layer, has to be developed, and by suitable pre-treatment before using it, very effective corrosion resistance will be achieved.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.22-28
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• 2008

A closed type crankcase ventilation system has been adopted to engines to prevent emission of blow-by gas to atmosphere. In the early closed type crankcase ventilation system, blow-by gas which contains engine lubricating oil is re-circulated into the intake system. The blow-by gas containing oil mist leads to increased harmful emissions and engine problems. To reduce loss of the engine oil, a highly-efficient oil separation device is required. Principle of a cyclone oil separator is to utilize centrifugal force in the separator and, therefore, oil separator designs depend on rotational flow which causes the centrifugal force. In this paper, flow characteristics and oil separation performances for cyclone type designs are calculated with CFD methodology. In the CFD model, oil particle was injected on a inlet surface with Rosin-Rammler distribution and uniform distribution. The major design parameters considered in the analysis model are inlet area, cone length and outlet depth of the oil separator. As results, reducing inlet area and increasing cone length increase oil separation performance. Changes in outlet depth could avoid interference between rotational flow and outlet flow in the cyclone oil separator.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

We develop a ceramic composite separator prepared by coating $ZrO_2$ nanoparticles with a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) copolymer on a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) mechanical support prepared by electrospinning technique to improve thermal properties. The gurley number of the ceramic composite separator shows much lower value than that of a PE separator even though it possesses the polymeric coating layer with ceramic nanoparticles. In addition, the proposed sample shows higher electrolyte uptake than PE separator, leading to enhancing the ionic conductivity of the proposed sample and, by extension, the rate discharge properties of lithium ion batteries. Thermal stability of the ceramic composite separator is dramatically improved without any degradation in electrochemical performance compared to the performance of conventional PE separators.