• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2016

The hydrogen has been recognized as a clean, nonpolluting and unlimited energy source that can solve fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution problems at the same time. Water electrolysis has been the most attractive technology in a way to produce hydrogen because it does not emit any pollutants compared to other method such as natural gas steam reforming and coal gasification etc. In order to improve efficiency and durability of the water electrolysis, comprehensive studies for highly active and stable electrocatalysts have been performed. The platinum group metal (PGM; Pt, Ru, Pd, Rh, etc.) electrocatalysts indicated a higher activity and stability compared with other transition metals in harsh condition such as acid solution. It is necessary to develop inexpensive non-noble metal catalysts such as transition metal oxides because the PGM catalysts is expensive materials with insufficient it's reserves. The optimization of operating parameter and the components is also important factor to develop an efficient water electrolysis cell. In this study, we optimized the operating parameter and components such as the type of AEM and density of gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the temperature/concentration of the electrolyte solution for the anion exchange membrane water electrolysis cell (AEMWEC) with the transition metal oxide alloy anode and cathode electrocatalysts. The maximum current density was $345.8mA/cm^2$ with parameter and component optimization.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.17-20
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• 2006

한국에너지기술연구원에서는 가정용 고분자연료전지 열병합 발전시스템을 위한 통합형 천연가스 연료처리 시스템을 개발해 왔다. 가정용 시스템으로서 필수적인 소형화와 고효율을 현실화하기 위해, 연료처리 시스템의 각 단위 공정 즉 수증기 개질, 수성가스 전이, 선택적 산화 공정 등을 이중 동 심관형 반응기에 통합하여 상호 열교환이 용이하도록 반응기를 설계하였다. 현재 시험 운전 중인 Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 1kW급 고분자 연료전지 열병합 발전 시스템에 개질 가스를 공급하기 위해 설계되었으며, 기초 성능은 정격 부하 운전시 열효율 78% (HHV 기준), 메탄 전환율 91%이다. 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도는 고분자 연료전지 전극의 피독을 피하기 위해 10ppm 이하로 유지되어야 하며, Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 백금과 루테늄 촉매를 적용한 선택적 산화 반응기를 통해 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도를 10ppm 이하로 제거하였다. 일반 가정에서는 고분자 연료전지 시스템의 부하 변동이 예상되기 때문에 연료 처리 시스템의 부하 변동 운전 특성도 살펴보았다 정격 부하에서 80%, 60%, 40%로 부하를 변동하며 운전하였고, 각 부하에서 안정한 메탄 전환율과 10ppm이하의 일산화탄소 농도를 보였다. 80%까지는 열효율이 77%로 큰 변화를 보이지 않았으며, 60%에서는 76%, 40%에서는 72%로 열효율이 감소하는 현상을 보였다 연료 처리 시스템의 일일 시동-정지 운전시 내구성을 테스트 중이다. 현재까지 50여회의 일일-시동 정지를 시도하였다 시동 후 약 세 시간가량의 정력 부하 운전을 실시한 후 부하 변동을 실시하였고, 총 운전 시간 8시간 정도 운전한 후 시스템을 정지하였다 메탄 전환율과 일산화 탄소 농도, 열효율을 모니터링 하고 있으며, 현재까지 초기 성능을 그대로 유지하고 있다. 앞으로 일일시동-정지 운전 시험을 지속하면서 초기 시동 특성 및 부하 변동에 따른 응답 특성 개선, 그리고 연료전지와의 연계 운전을 실시할 예정이다

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.515-524
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• 2022

In this study, the on-site hydrogen production process for refueling stations that were not energy-optimized was improved through exergy analysis and heat exchange network synthesis. Furthermore, the process was scaled up from 30 Nm3/h to 150 Nm3/h to improve hydrogen production capacity. Exergy analysis results show that exergy destruction in the SMR reactor and the heat exchanger accounts for 58.1 and 19.8%, respectively. Thus, the process is improved by modifying the heat exchange network to reduce the exergy loss in these units. As a result of the process simulation analysis, thermal and exergy efficiency is improved from 75.7 to 78.6% and 68.1 to 70.4%, respectively. In conclusion, it is expected to improve the process efficiency when installing on-site hydrogen refueling stations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.961-972
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• 2008

In 2004, total emissions of Greenhouse Gases(GHGs) in Korea was estimated to be about 590 million metric tons, which is the world's 10th largest emissions. Considering the much amount of nation's GHG emissions and growing nation's position in the world, GHG emissions in Korea should be reduced in near future. The CO$_2$ emissions from two sub-sections of energy sector in Korea, such as thermal power plant and industry section(including manufacturing and construction industries), was about 300 million metric tons in 2004 and this is 53.3% of total GHG emissions in Korea. So, the mitigation of CO$_2$ emissions in these two section is more important and more effective to reduce the nation's total GHGs than any other fields. In addition, these two section have high potential to qualitatively and effectively apply the CCS(Carbon Capture and Storage) technologies due to the nature of their process. There are several CCS technologies applied to these two section. In short term, the chemical absorption technology using amine as a absorbent could be the most effectively used. In middle or long term, pre-combustion technology equipped with ATR(Autothermal reforming), or MSR-$H_2$(Methane steam reformer with hydrogen separation membrane reactor) unit and oxyfuel combustion such as SOFC+GT(Solid oxide fuel cell-Gas turbine) process would be the promising technologies to reduce the CO$_2$ emissions in two areas. It is expected that these advanced CCS technologies can reduce the CO$_2$ avoidance cost to $US 8.5-43.5/tCO$_2$. Using the CCS technologies, if the CO$_2$ emissions from two sub-sections of energy sector could be reduced to even 10% of total emissions, the amount of 30 million metric tons of CO$_2$ could be mitigated.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2007

Fuel reformer using plasma and shift reactor for CO oxidation were designed and manufactured as $H_2$ supply device to operate a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). $H_2$ selectivity was increased by non-thermal plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge with Ni catalyst simultaneously. Shift reactor was consisted of steam generator, low temperature shifter, high temperature shifter and preferential oxidation reactor. Parametric screening studies of fuel reformer were conducted, in which there were the variations of the catalyst temperature, gas component ratio, total gas ratio and input power. and parametric screening studies of shift reactor were conducted, in which there were the variations of the air flow rate, stema flow rate and temperature. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.64, total gas flow rate was 14.2 l/min, catalytic reactor temperature was $672^{\circ}C$ and input power 1.1 kJ/L, the production of $H_2$ was maximized 41.1%. And $CH_4$ conversion rate, $H_2$ yield and reformer energy density were 88.7%, 54% and 35.2% respectively. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.3 in the PrOx reactor, steam flow ratio was 2.8 in the HTS, and temperature were 475, 314, 260, $235^{\circ}C$ in the HTS, LTS, PrOx, the conversion of CO was optimized conditions of shift reactor using simulated reformate gas. Preheat time of the reactor using plasma was 30 min, component of reformed gas from shift reactor were $H_2$ 38%, CO<10 ppm, $N_2$ 36%, $CO_2$ 21% and $CH_4$ 4%.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

This study deals with a process for the recovery of hydrogen isotopes from methane ($CQ_4$) and water ($Q_2O$) containing tritium in the nuclear fusion exhaust gas (Q is Hydrogen, Deuterium, Tritium). Steam Methane Reforming and Water Gas Shift reactions are used to convert $CQ_4$ and $Q_2O$ to $Q_2$ and the produced $Q_2$ is recovered by the subsequent Pd membrane. In this study, one circulation loop consisting of catalytic reactor, Pd membrane, and circulation pump was applied to recover H components from $CH_4$ and $H_2O$, one of $CQ_4$ and $Q_2O$. The conversion of $CH_4$ and $H_2O$ was measured by varying the catalytic reaction temperature and the circulating flow rate. $CH_4$ conversion was 99% or more at the catalytic reaction temperature of $650^{\circ}C$ and the circulating flow rate of 2.0 L/min. $H_2O$ conversion was 96% or more at the catalytic reaction temperature of $375^{\circ}C$ and the circulating flow rate of 1.8 L/min. In addition, the amount of $CQ_4$ generated by Korean Demonstration Fusion Power Plant (K-DEMO) in the future was predicted. Then, the treatment process for the $CQ_4$ was proposed and HAZOP (hazard and operability) analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors and operation problems of the process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.195-199
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• 2010

The reversible chemical absorption using MEA (monoethanolamine), one of alkanolamine, is generally used as a conventionally method for $CO_{2}$ capture. Even MEA absorbent has excellent reactivity with $CO_{2}$, it has been known to have the decrease of absorption capacity caused by $CO_{2}$, $O_{2}$ or other acid gases in flue gas, corrosion and thermal degradation. In this study, MEA solutions degraded in the steam reforming process of refinery used and the absorption performance were compared for the used of conventional MEA solution. In case of 30 wt% MEA and mixture of 20 wt% thermal degraded absorbent (DP) and 10 wt% PZ, the absorption capacities were $0.5365mol-CO_{2}$/mol-absorbent and $0.5939mol-CO_{2}$/mol-absorbent respectively. PZ added thermally degraded absorbent showed the enhanced absorption capacity. On the contrary, the absorption rates were $1.1610kg_{f}/cm^2{\cdot}min$ for 30 wt% MEA, $0.5310kg_{f}/cm^2{\cdot}min$ for mixture of 20 wt% thermal degraded absorbent (DP) and 10 wt% PZ and $0.3525kg_{f}/cm^2{\cdot}min$ for 30 wt% thermally degraded absorbent only. The absorption rates of PZ added thermally degraded absorbent was higher than that of thermally degraded absorbent only. Therefore, it can be confirmed that thermally degraded absorbent can be reused as an absorbent for $CO_{2}$ by the addition of suitable additives.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Methods of producing hydrogen include steam reforming, electrochemical decomposition of water, and the SI process. Among these methods, the Sulfur iodine process is one of the most promising processes for hydrogen production. The thermochemical sulfur-iodine (SI) process uses heat from a high-temperature-gas nuclear reactor to produce $H_2$ gas; this process is known for its production of clean energy as it does not emit $CO_2$ from water. But the SI-process takes place in an extremely corrosive environment for the materials. To endure SI environments, the materials for the SI environment will have to have strong corrosion resistance. This work studies the corrosion resistances of the Fe-Si, Ni-Ti and Ni Alloys, which are tested in SI-process environments. Among the SI-process environments, the conditions of boiling sulfuric acid and decomposed sulfuric acid are selected in this study. Before testing in boiling sulfuric acid environments, the specimens of Fe-4.5Si, Fe-6Si, Ni-4.5Si, Ni-Ti-Si-Nb and Ni-Ti-Si-Nb-B are previously given heat treatment at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 48 hrs. The reason for this heat treatment is that those specimens have a passive film on the surface. The specimens are immersed for 3~14 days in 98wt% boiling sulfuric acid. Corrosion rates are measured by using the weight change after immersion. The corrosion rates of the Fe-6Si and Ni-Ti-Si-Nb-B are found to decrease as the time passes. The corrosion rates of Fe-6si and Ni-Ti-Si-Nb-B are measured at 0.056 mm/yr and 0.16 mm/yr, respectively. Hastelloy-X, Alloy 617, Alloy 800H and Haynes 230 are tested in the decomposed sulfuric acid for one day. Alloy 800H was found to show the best corrosion resistance among the materials. The corrosion rate of Alloy 800H is measured at -0.35 mm/yr. In these results, the corrosion resistance of materials depends on the stability of the oxide film formed on the surface. After testing in boiling sulfuric acid and in decomposed sulfuric acid environments, the surfaces and compositions of specimens are analyzed by SEM and EDX.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.543-549
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• 1997

The direct reaction of carbon dioxide($CO_2$) with butane($C_4H_{10}$) to obtain synthesis gas and hydrocarbon compounds have been studied on nickel loaded catalysts. In the reaction of $CO_2$ with $C_4H_{10}$, Ni loaded catalysts showed similar activity with Pt catalyst and Coke deposition on the catalyst was severe by dehydrogenation of butane. The main products were carbon monoxide and hydrogen, when alumina and Y type zeolite were used as a support. Instead, a great deal of aromatic hydrocarbons were obtained on the Ni loaded ZSM-5 catalyst. The conversion of $CO_2$ increased with the increasing molar ratio of $CO_2$/$C_4H_{10}$ on Ni/ZSM-5, Ni/NaY and Ni/alumina catalyst, but the conversion decreased again from the ratio of 2. The value of $CO_2$ conversion was the highest at the 5wt% of Ni loading on ZSM-5 catalyst. A part of cokes deposited on the catalysts diminished when only $CO_2$ gas or water steam flowed into the reactor. The coke deposited on the catalysts was very reactive and it may be an important intermediate for the carbon dioxide reforming reaction.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2017

The performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) could be deteriorated when fuel contains contaminants such as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$). Generally, $H_2S$ is introduced in hydrogen by steam reforming of hydrocarbon which has mercaptan as odorant. $H_2S$ poisoning effect on PEMFC performance was examined on this study. Pure hydrogen injection, voltage cycling and water circulation methods were compared as performance recovery methods. The PEMFC performance was analyzed using electrochemical methods such as polarization curve, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Pure hydrogen injection and voltage cycling methods showed low recovery ratio, however, water circulation method showed high recovery ratio over 95%. Because anode was directly poisoned by $H_2S$, anode water circulation showed higher recovery ratio compared to the other methods. Water circulation method was developed to recover PEMFC performance from $H_2S$ poisoning. This method could contribute to PEMFC durability and commercialization.