• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2013

Electrowinning process in pyroprocessing recovers U (uranium) and TRU (Trans Uranium) elements simultaneously from spent fuels using a liquid cadmium cathode (LCC). When the solubility limit of U deposits over 2.35wt% in Cd, U dendrites were formed on the LCC surface during the electrodeposition at $500^{\circ}C$. Due to the high surface area of dendritic U, the deposits were not submerged into the liquid cadmium pool but grow out of the LCC crucible. Since the U dendrites act as a solid cathode, it prevents the co-deposition of U and TRUs. In this study, the electrodeposition of U onto a LCC was carried out at 440 and $500^{\circ}C$ to compare the morphology and component of U deposits. The U deposits at $440^{\circ}C$ have a specific shape and were stacked regularly at the center of the LCC pool, while the U dendrites (i.e., ${\alpha}$-phase) at $500^{\circ}C$ were grow out of the LCC crucible. Through the microscopic observation and XRD analysis, the electrodeposits at $440^{\circ}C$, which have a round shape, were identified as an intermetallic compound such as $UCd_{11}$. It can be concluded that the LCC electrowinning operation at $440^{\circ}C$ achieves the co-recovery of U and TRU without the formation of U dendrites.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.274-283
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• 2024

Climate change is currently one of the most pressing environmental issues, primarily caused by carbon emissions from fossil fuel usage. As a result, alternative fuels that effectively reduce carbon emissions are garnering more attention. Among these alternatives, hydrogen has numerous advantages, such as its ability for large-scale storage and transport. However, it is crucial to prioritize safety measures, particularly in facilities that handle hydrogen, due to its highly flammable and fast-spreading nature. This study aims to compare and analyze the placement of supply and exhaust vents to efficiently release hydrogen in the event of a leak in an enclosed space. The experiments involved six different scenarios, each with various combinations of supply and exhaust vents. To ensure the experimental process's safety, helium, which shares similar physical properties with hydrogen, was used to analyze the internal oxygen concentration during ventilation system operations. The results revealed that among the six scenarios, Case 2, which employed a lower side supply vent and an upper side exhaust vent, exhibited the shortest ventilation time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Additionally, the decrease rate in oxygen concentration was examined in the upper, middle, and lower areas. Ventilation utilizing an upper surface supply vent and two exhaust vents on the upper surface and upper side (Case 6), showed lower oxygen concentration values in the upper area, while Case 2 yielded lower values in the middle and lower areas. Therefore, it is crucial to select an appropriate supply and exhaust vent configuration considering the space's characteristics and usage environment.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2013

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a power generation system to convert chemical energy of fuels and oxidants to electricity directly by electrochemical reactions. As a catalyst support for PEMFCs, carbon black has been generally used due to its large surface area and high electrical conductivity. However, under certain circumstances (start up/shut down, fuel starvation, ice formation etc.), carbon supports are subjected to serve corrosion in the presence of water. Therefore, it would be desirable to switch carbon supports to corrosion-resistive support materials such as metal oxide. $TiO_2$ has been attractive as a support with its stability in fuel cell operation atmosphere, low cost, commercial availability, and the ease to control size and structure. However, low electrical conductivity of $TiO_2$ still inhibits its application to catalyst support for PEMFCs. In this paper, to explore feasibility of $TiO_2$ as a catalyst support for PEMFCs, $TiO_2$ nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning and calcinated at 600, 700, 800 and $900^{\circ}C$. Effects of calcination temperature on crystal structure and electrical conductivity of electrospun $TiO_2$ nanofibers were examined. Electrical conductivity of $TiO_2$ nanofibers increased significantly with increasing calcination temperature from $600^{\circ}C$ to $700^{\circ}C$ and then increased gradually with increasing the calcination temperature from $700^{\circ}C$ to $900^{\circ}C$. It was revealed that the remarkable increase in electrical conductivity could be attributed to phase transition of $TiO_2$ nanofibers from anatase to rutile at the temperature range from $600^{\circ}C$ to $700^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.539-547
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• 2019

Recently, the international community signed a climate change agreement to prevent global warming. Yet currently, the fossil fuels have been widely used in to supply building energy for cooling and heating. The Green Building certification (G-SEED), an energy efficiency rating for new or existing buildings requires that buildings meet certain conditions. Insulation is used as a building material to reduce the energy supply to buildings and to improve the thermal insulation, and it accounts for more than 90% of the total heat resistance provided by the building surface components that meet the energy-saving design standards of new buildings. In this investigation, a performance evaluation study was conducted through an experimental study by directly extracting the foam polystyrene insulation on-site during the remodeling of a building that was in the range of 22~38 years old. Through tests, it was found that the thermal conductivity of the extrusion method insulation (XPS) was reduced by 48% and the compressive strength of XPS decreased by 36% compared to KS M 3808, which is the initial quality standard. For bead method insulation (EPS) with a thickness of 50mm, the thermal conductivity, the compressive strength, and flexural failure load were similar to the initial quality standard. Therefore, in the calculation of the primary energy requirement per unit area per year, the performance of bead method insulation can be estimated simply by considering the thickness of the insulation, while a correction factor that considers its performance deterioration should be applied when extrusion method insulation is used.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.192-192
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• 2011

교토의정서에서 지구온난화의 원인이 되는 온실가스로 $CO_2$, $CH_4$, $N_2O$, HFCs, PFCs, $SF_6$를 규제하고 있다. 규제하는 6대 온실가스 가운데 $CO_2$가 가장 대표적이며, 우리나라의 연료연소에 의한 $CO_2$ 배출량은 세계 10위로 기후변화 진행속도는 세계 평균속도보다 빠르게 진행되고 있다. 이러한 기후변화에 대응하기 위하여는 온실가스 배출로 인한 DB구축 연구가 선행되어야 하며, 산림부분에 있어서는 연료의 열적특성 구명 연구가 극도로 미진한 국내현실에서 기초 data 확보를 위한 연구가 시급한 실정이다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 산불발생 시 온실가스 배출량의 DB를 구축하기 위하여 산불발생 시 배출되는 탄소배출량을 예측하고자 산림 가연물의 연소실험을 수행 하였다. 연소실험은 산림 연료 가운데 지표연료 10가지(소나무낙엽, 굴참나무낙엽, 소나무솔방울, 밤나무밤송이껍질, 방아풀, 주름조개풀, 칡, 엉겅퀴, 김의털, 고비)를 대상으로 콘칼로리미터 장비를 이용하여 이산화탄소와 일산화탄소 배출량을 분석하였다. 탄소배출량 실험에 앞서 지표연료들의 함수율을 측정한 결과, 10가지 지표연료 가운데 고사한 연료(낙엽, 솔방울, 밤송이)는 9~24% 정도, 생연료인 초본류 6가지는 181~484% 정도인 것으로 나타났으며, 솔방울과 밤송이의 경우 9~10%로 가장 수분을 적게 함유하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 탄소배출량 분석 결과, 50g 중량에 대한 10가지 지표연료들의 이산화탄소 총배출량은 28~98g 정도, 일산화탄소 총배출량은 0.76~4.08g 정도 배출하는 것으로 나타나 연료별 차이를 보였으며, 특히, 고사한 연료와 생연료의 탄소배출량 차이는 큰 것으로 나타났다. 일산화탄소 총배출량은 고사한 연료(소나무낙엽, 굴참나무 낙엽, 소나무 솔방울, 밤나무 밤송이)는 3.24~4.08g 정도, 생연료 초본류 6가지(방아풀, 주름조개풀, 칡, 엉겅퀴, 김의털, 고비)는 0.76~2.73g 정도 배출하는 것으로 나타났다. 이산화탄소 총배출량은 함수율이 현저히 낮은 4가지 연료(소나무 낙엽, 굴참나무 낙엽, 소나무 솔방울, 밤나무 밤송이 껍질)들은 52~98g 정도, 함수율이 높은 6가지 초본류는 28~48g 정도의 이산화탄소를 배출하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서, 고사한 연료인 소나무 낙엽, 굴참나무 낙엽, 소나무 솔방울, 밤나무 밤송이는 초본류 보다 상대적으로 이산화탄소와 일산화탄소 배출량이 많은 것으로 나타났으며, 특히, 소나무 솔방울은 가장 많은 이산화탄소와 일산화탄소를 배출하는 것으로 나타났다. 상대적으로 방아풀과 주름조개풀은 각각 28g과 35g으로 이산화탄소 배출량이 작은 것으로 나타났다. 따라서, 산불발생 시, 소나무의 솔방울은 10가지 지표연료 가운데 상대적으로 많은 이산화탄소와 일산화탄소를 배출할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2009

In the pyroprocessing of spent nuclear fuels, fuel materials are recovered by electrochemical reactions on the surface of electrodes as well as stirring the electrolyte in electrolytic cells such as electrorefiner, electroreducer and electrowinner. The system with this equipment should first be scaled-up in order to commercialize the pyroprocessing. So in this study, the scale-up for those electrolytic cells was studied to design a large-scale system which can be employed in a commercial process in the future. Basically the dimensions of both electrolytic cells and electrodes should be enlarged on the basis of the geometrical similarity. Then the criterion of constant power input per unit volume, characterizing the fluid behavior in the cells, was introduced in this study and a calculation process based on trial-and-error methode was derived, which makes it possible to seek a proper speed of agitation in the electrolytic cells. Consequently examples of scale-up for an arbitrary small scale system were shown when the criterion of constant power input per unit volume and another criterion of constant impeller tip speed were respectively applied.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.840-846
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• 2012

Global climate changes caused by $CO_2$ emissions are currently debated around the world; green sources of energy are being sought as alternatives to replace fossil fuels. The sustainable use of biogas for energy production does not contribute to $CO_2$ emission and has therefore a high potential to reduce them. Catalytic steam reforming of a model biogas ($CH_4:CO_2$ = 60%:40%) is investigated to produce $H_2$-rich synthesis gas. The biogas utilized 3D-IR matrix burner in which the surface combustion is applied. The ruthenium catalyst was used inside a reformer. Parametric screening studies were achieved as Steam/Carbon ratio, biogas component ratio, Space velocity and Reformer temperature. When the condition of Steam/Carbon ratio, $CH_4/CO_2$ ratio, Space velocity and Refomer temperature were 3.25, 60% : 40%, $14.7L/g{\cdot}hr$ and $550^{\circ}C$ respectively, the hydrogen concentration and methane conversion rate were showed maximum values. Under the condition mentioned above, $H_2$ yield, $H_2$/CO ratio, CO selectivity and energy efficiency were 0.65, 2.14, 0.59, 51.29%.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.286-297
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• 2020

This research studied human health risk assessment of PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in road dust sediments collected from 6 sites in four different cities in Korea. PAHs are well known to be human carcinogens and toxic compounds that are commonly generated from incomplete combustion of fuels and energy products. Such compounds which is absorbed by atmospheric suspended dust can be emitted into air in gaseous form and often deposited on road dust sediments. The PAHs which is deposited on sediment particles can also be re-dispersed by vehicles or winds on the road surface. It can be harmful for humans when exposed via breathing, ingestion and dermal contact. This study examined human health risk assessment of PAHs in deposited road dust sediments. Results showed that the excess cancer risk estimates were above 1.0×10-6 at main traffic roads and resident area in Ulsan city. According to the result of deterministic risk assessment, dermal-contact was the major pathway, while the contribution of the risk from inhalation was less than 1%. The probabilistic risk assessment showed similar levels of cancer risk derived from the deterministic risk assessment. The result of sensitivity analysis reveal that exposure time is the most contributing factor (69%). Since the values of carcinogenic risk assessment were higher than 1.0 × 10^-6, further detailed monitoring and refined risk assessment for PAHs may be required to identify more reliable and potential cancer risks for those who live in the study locations in Ulsan city.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2002

Modified polymer electrolyte membranes were fabricated by the applying dc magnetron sputter-deposited Pd thin layers on the surface of the $Nafion^{TM}$ membranes in argon atmosphere. The Pd thin films were characterized by investigating its morphology, methanol permeability, and protonic conductivity. The performance of a direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC) with the modifed polymer electrolyte membrane was also tested by the measurement of its currents and voltages under flowing methanol. The Pd thin film could be a barrier layer to methanol crossover, but the protonic conductivity of the modified polymer membrane was reduced. By using the modified polymer eletrolyte membranes, both the methanol permeability and the protonic conductivity were decreased with increasing the thickness of Pd thin film. However, the performances of DMFC were almost independent on the thickness of Pd thim films. The efffcts of methanol concentration in a feeding fuels on the protonic conductivity and the cell performance were also investigated.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.763-771
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• 2014

As a preliminary study on the spray behavior characteristics of emulsified fuel, the fuel properties (viscosity, surface tension, and density) and evaporation characteristics of a fuel droplet were investigated. The emulsified fuel was made by mixing diesel and $H_2O_2$. In addition, the macroscopic spray behavior characteristics such as the spray penetrations and spray angles of the emulsified and diesel fuels were compared. The stirring condition of the emulsified fuel was a 9:1 mixture of the diesel fuel and the surfactant span 80. The mixing ratios for the hydrogen peroxide were set at EF2, EF12, EF22, EF32, EF42, EF52, EF62, EF72, EF82, and EF92. The injection pressures were set at 400, 600, 800, and 1000 bar. We found that as the mixing ratio of the hydrogen peroxide was increased from EF2 to EF52, the viscosity of the emulsified fuel increased. However, afterward, the viscosity of the emulsified fuel gradually decreased and approached the viscosity value of the diesel fuel. Therefore, generally oil-in-water emulsions were used for the hydrogen peroxide mixing ratios up to 52 (EF52), and water-in-oil emulsions were used for the hydrogen peroxide mixing ratios above 52. Finally, the spray behavior characteristics (spray penetration and spray angle) of the emulsified fuel were found to be almost independent of the mixing ratio.