• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.155-155
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• 2011

용융탄산염 연료전지(MCFC)는 $650^{\circ}C$에서 작동하는 고온형 연료전지 시스템이다. 이 시스템은 천연가스 등을 개질하여 생산된 수소를 바로 전기로 생산할 수 있는 시스템으로 열효율이 높으며, 현재 대체 발전시스템으로 각광을 받고 있다. MCFC는 개질방식에 따라 내부개질 방식과 외부개질 방식이 있다. 내부개질 방식은 수소를 생산하는 개질기가 스택내부에 장착된 형식으로 천연가스를 스택내부에서 개질하여 바로 전기를 생산하는 방식이다. 이 내부개질반응에 사용되는 촉매로는 알루미나에 고함량 (약 50 wt.%)으로 담지된 니켈(Ni) 계열촉매이 주로 쓰이고 있다. 이 고함량으로 담지된 촉매는 대부분 높은 활성을 보인다. 비교적 낮은 온도 운전조건 (약 $580{\sim}620^{\circ}C$)을 가지는 MCFC 내부개질에 적용하기 위해서는 활성점인 니켈을 최대한 담지체에 고르게 분산 시켜야한다. 이를 위해서 MgO를 이용하여 촉매의 활성점을 높게 분산시키는 연구를 진행 하였다. 촉매를 제조하는 방법으로 요소(urea)를 이용한 균일용액침전법을 이용하였다. 니켈함량은 50 wt.%로 고정을 한 다음, MgO 양과 $Al_2O_3$ 양을 각각 0 ~ 45 wt.%와 5 ~ 50 wt.%로 조절하면서 촉매를 제조하여 그 특성들을 분석하였다. 물성을 비교하기 위해서, X-선 회절분석 (XRD) 및 TPR, 물리화학흡착 실험을 하였다. 촉매의 활성을 살펴보기 위해서, fresh 상태 및 피독 상태에서 메탄수증기 개질활성 실험을 실시하였다. MgO 함량이 없거나 적은 촉매에서는 높은 BET surface area와 작은 NiO, metallic Ni 결정 크기가 나타났다. 반면 MgO 함량이 높은 촉매에서 낮은 BET surface area와 비교적 큰 NiO, metallic Ni 결정 크기가 나타났다. 또한 XRD 분석에서 MgO 함량이 증가할 수 록 MgO 결정 피크가 명확히 나타났으며, $MgAl_2O_4$ 피크는 나타나지 않았다. TPR 분석에서 촉매들의 환원 피크를 측정한 결과, 저함량의 MgO를 포함한 촉매는 $700^{\circ}C$ 부근에 환원 피크가 관찰되었고 MgO가 고함량인 촉매는 환원 피크가 $400^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 관찰되었다. 촉매의 초기 fresh 상태에서의 활성은 고함량 MgO를 포함한 Ni-90M10A 샘플을 제외하고 모든 촉매가 거의 비슷하게 나타났다. 그러나 $K_2CO_3$ 피독 상태에서는 MgO 함량이 증가할 수 록 활성이 좋지 않았음을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 MgO가 소량 포함된 촉매의 경우 fresh 상태에서는 우수한 물성과 활성을 보이지만, 피독상태에서는 MgO가 포함되지 않은 Ni-$Al_2O_3$ 촉매가 우수한 활성을 보였다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal condition of the SynGas production by reforming of propane using plasmatron. Plasma was generated by air and arc discharge. The effects of applied steam, $CO_2$ or Ni-catalyst on propane conversion, yield of hydrogen and $H_2/CO$ ratio as well as correlation of syngas were studied. When the variations of $O_2/C_3H_8$ flow ratio, $H_2O/C_3H_8$ flow ratio and $CO_2/C_3H_8$ flow ratio were $0.94{\sim}1.48,\;4.3{\sim}10\;and\;0.8{\sim}3.05$ respectively, Under the condition mentioned above, result of $H_2O/C_3H_8$ flow ratio was maximum $H_2$ concentration, or $28.2{\sim}31.6%$, and result of $H_2O/C_3H_8$ flow ratio with catalyst was minimum CO concentration or $6.6{\sim}7.1%$ and the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide($H_2/CO$) were $3.89{\sim}4.86$.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2016

This is a numerical study on the curved channel type of hydrogen reformer using the commercial code of fluid dynamics. We numerically compared the numerical model in a previous study model and the modelling of a tube type curved channel. In the result of numerical analysis on 4 types of curved channel reformers, the methanol conversion efficiency of type 1~4 were 45.0%, 45.3%, 45.6%, 45.6% respectively, and there was hardly any difference by ${\pm}0.6%$. In light of flow characteristics, the rectangle type tube and the type 2 with $45^{\circ}$ turn showed most uniform flow characteristics and concentration distribution of methanol, and the circular type tube and the type 3 with $90^{\circ}$ turn had most un-uniform flow characteristics and concentration distribution of methanol. We concluded that the design for curved channel reformer has to have rectangle type tube with curve of almost $45^{\circ}$ as in the type of curved pipe with $45^{\circ}$ turn.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2007

The reforming catalyst and the electrodes in fuel cells can be poisoned by the organic sulfur compound which is added as an odorant for checking out the leakage of natural gas, and that makes a big problem of system degradation. In this study, various adsorbents, such as silica, ${\gamma}$-alumina, activated carbon, HZSM-5, Ultra-stable Y zeolite (USY), and beta zeolite (BEA), were utilized to remove tetra-hydrothiophene (THT) and tert-butylmercaptan (TBM), and to confirm the performance in the adsorption of those odorants by using a continuous adsorptive bed. The effects of Si/Al ratio of zeolites, adsorption temperature and the type of balance gas (methane or He) on the adsorption performance in the packed bed have been investigated. In addition, the competitive adsorption between TBM and THT on the adsorbents was also estimated. The result shows that H-type BEA zeolite exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for TBM and THT odorant, and the higher amount of THT was removed adsorptively on the same adsorbent than TBM. The physical and chemical adsorption of those compounds on acid sites of zeolite were confirmed by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared spectrum (IR) analyses.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2017

The increase of greenhouse gases and the concern of global warming instigate the development and spread of renewable energy and hydrogen is considered one of the clean energy sources. Hydrogen is one of the most elements in the earth and exist in the form of fossil fuel, biomass and water. In order to use hydrogen for a clean energy source, the hydrogen production method should be eco-friendly and economic as well. There are two different hydrogen production methods: conventional thermal method using fossil fuel and renewable method using biomass and water. Steam reforming, autothermal reforming, partial oxidation, and gasification (using solid fuel) have been considered for hydrogen production from fossil fuel. When using fossil fuel, carbon dioxide should be separated from hydrogen and captured to be accepted as a clean energy. The amount of hydrogen from biomass is insignificant. In order to occupy noticeable portion in hydrogen industries, biomass conversion, especially, biological method should be sufficiently improved in a process efficiency and a microorganism cultivation. Electrolysis is a mature technology and hydrogen from water is considered the most eco-friendly method in terms of clean energy when the electric power is from renewable sources such as photovoltaic cell, solar heat, and wind power etc.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.12 s.295
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• pp.812-822
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• 2006

This study amis to investigate the functional analysis of anode and cathode materials in Anode supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The concentration polarization of single cell was investigated with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method for the case of the different morphology by using four types of unit cell and discussed to reduce the concentration polarization. The concentration polarization at anode side effected the voltage loss in Anode supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and increased contact areas between fuel gas and anode side could reduce the concentration polarization. For intermediate temperature operation, Anode-supported single cells with thin electrolyte layer of YSZ (Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia) were fabricated and short stacks were built and evaluated. We also developed diesel and methane autothermal reforming (ATR) reactors in order to provide fuels to SOFC stacks. Influences of the $H_2O/C$ (steam to carbon ratio), $O_2/C$ (oxygen to carbon ratio) and GHSV (Gas Hourly Space Velocity) on performances of stacks have been investigated. Performance of the stack operated with a diesel reformer was lower than with using hydrogen as a fuel due to lower Nernst voltage and carbon formation at anode side. The stack operated with a natural gas reformer showed similar performances as with using hydrogen. Effects of various reformer parameters such as $H_2O/C$ and $O_2/C$ were carefully investigated. It is found that $O_2/C$ is a sensitive parameter to control stack performance.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2017

This study quantitatively assessed the environmental impacts of fuel cell (FC) systems by performing life cycle assessment (LCA) and analyzed their energy efficiencies based on energy return on investment (EROI) and electrical energy stored on investment (ESOI). Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system were selected as the fuel cell systems. Five different paths to produce hydrogen ($H_2$) as fuel such as natural gas steam reforming (NGSR), centralized naptha SR (NSR(C)), NSR station (NSR(S)), liquified petroleum gas SR (LPGSR), water electrolysis (WE) were each applied to the FCs. The environmental impacts and the energy efficiencies of the FCs were compared with rechargeable batteries such as $LiFePO_4$ (LFP) and Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH). The LCA results show that MCFC_NSR(C) and PEMFC_NSR(C) have the lowest global warming potential (GWP) with 6.23E-02 kg $CO_2$ eq./MJ electricity and 6.84E-02 kg $CO_2$ eq./MJ electricity, respectively. For the impact category of abiotic resource depletion potential (ADP), MCFC_NGSR(S) and PEMFC_NGSR(S) show the lowest impacts of 7.42E-01 g Sb eq./MJ electricity and 7.19E-01 g Sb eq./MJ electricity, respectively. And, the energy efficiencies of the FCs are higher than those of the rechargeable batteries except for the case of hydrogen produced by WE.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.231-234
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• 2005

수소 기반의 에너지 사회는 중소규모 분산 발전과 연료 전지 자동차에서 시작될 거라는 예측이 지배적이다. 가정용 고분자 연료전지 시스템은 상업화에 가장 가까운 소규모 분산 발전 시스템중의 하나이며, 에너지기술연구위원에서는 가정용 고분자 연료전지에 수소를 공급하기 위한 천연가스 수증기 개질시스템의 개발을 진행해 왔다. 효율 향상과 제작의 용이성, 그리고 소형화에 초점을 맞추어 개발된 prototype-I은 $2.0Nm^3/hr$의 순수 수소 생산 용량을 가지고 있으며, 수증기 개질기와 수성가스 전이 반응기 수중기 생성 장치, 그리고 반응열 공급에 필요한 버너 등을 이중 동심원관에 통합한 형태이다. 수중기 개질과 수성가스 전이 반응을 거쳐 나오는 개질 가스의 조성은 $72.3\%\;H_2,\;4.8\%\;CH_4,\;0.7\%\;CO,\;22.2\%\;CO_2$이며, 이때 S/C 비율은 2.5였다. 고분자 연료 전지 공급 시 요구되는 CO 농도가 10ppm 이하이기 때문에, 본 시스템에는 선택적 산화 반응기를 2단으로 설치하여 CO. 농도를 10ppm 이하로 낮추어주었다. 전체 시스템의 열효율은 LHV 기준으로 $68\%$. Prototype-I의 운전을 통해 설계 개선안을 도출하였으며, 이를 적용해 제작한 prototype-II가 시험 운전 중이다,. 통합된 개질 시스템에서는 각 단위 반응기사이의 열교환을 최적화하여 단위 반응들이 적정 온도 범위에서 일어나도록 유도하는 것이 중요하다. Prototype-II는 수증기 개질 반응기와 WGS 반응기, 수증기 생성 장치 사이의 열교환율을 향상시켜 농도를 $2.5\%$로 감소시키면서 CO의 농도는 $1\%$이하로 유지하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 얻어진 메탄 전환율은 $87\%$이고, 열효율은 LHV 기준으로 $75\%$이다. 아울러 개선점을 적용한 선택적 산화 반응기를 제작하였다. 개질 가스와 산소의 혼합을 유도하고, 반응기 온도의 제어를 통해 선택적 산화 반응의 속도와 선택성을 향상시키고자 한다. 시스템의 운전을 통해 메탄 전환율과 열효율의 개선을 진행할 예정이다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.323-327
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• 2009

To extract hydrogen for stack, fuels such as LPG and LNG were reformed in the fuel processor, which is comprised of desulfurizer, reformer, shift converter, CO remover and steam generator. All elements of fuel processor are integrated in a single package. Highly active catalysts (desulfurizing adsorbent, reforming catalyst, CO shift catalyst, CO removal catalyst) and the various burners were developed and evaluated in this study. The performance of the developed catalysts and the commercial ones was similar. 1 kW, 5 kW class fuel processor systems using the developed catalyst and burner showed efficiency of 75 %(LHV, for LNG). The start-up time of the 1 kW class fuel processor was less than 50 minutes and its volume including insulation was about 30 l. The start-up time of 3 kW and 5 kW class fuel processors with the volume of 90 l and 150 l, respectively, was about 60 minutes. In the case of LPG fuel, efficiency, volume and start-up time of 1kW class fuel processor showed 73 %(LHV), < 60 l and < 60 min, respectively. Advanced fuel processor showed more highly efficiency and shorter start-up time due to the improvement of heat exchanger and operating method. 1 kW and 3 kW class fuel processors have been evaluated for reliability and durability including with on/off test of developed catalysts and burner.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2003

Synthesis gas is commercially produced by a steam reforming process. However, the process is highly endothermic and energy-consuming. Thus, this study was conducted to produce synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of methane to decrease the energy cost. Supported Ni catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. To examine the activity of the catalysts, a differential fixed bed reactor was used, and the reaction was carried out at $750{\sim}850^{\circ}C$ and 1 atm. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, TGA and AAS. The highest catalytic activity was obtained with the 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst, with which methane conversion was 81%, and $H_2$ and CO selectivities were 94% and 93%, respectively. 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst showed the best $MgNiO_2$ solid solution state, which can explain the highest catalytic activity of the 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst.