Jongrok Kim

X-ray tomography of morphological changes after freeze/thaw in gas diffusion layers.

Liquid water produced in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell experiences a freeze/thaw cycle when the cell is switched off and on while operating at ambient temperatures below freezing. This freeze/thaw cycle permanently deforms the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell capillary structures and reduces both the cell life and its ability to generate electric power. The X-ray tomography facility at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory was used to observe the freeze/thaw effects on the gas diffusion layer (GDL), which is the thickest capillary layer in the cell. Morphological changes in the GDL under a water freeze/thaw cycle were observed. A scenario in which freeze/thaw cycles affect fuel cell performance is suggested based on images from X-ray tomography.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES FOR WATER DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS IN PEMFC USING NEUTRON IMAGING TECHNIQUE AT CONRAD, HMI

In this investigation, we prepared a 1 and 3-parallel serpentine single PEMFC, which has an active area of 100 cm² and a flow channel cross section of 1x1mm. Distribution and transport of water in a non-operating PEMFC were observed by varying flow types and the flow rates (250, 400, and 850 cc/min). This investigation was performed at the neutron imaging facility at the COld Neutron RAdiography facility CONRAD), HMI, Germany of which the collimation ratio and neutron fluence rate are 250, 1 10 6 n/s/cm², respectively. The neutron image was continuously recorded by a scintillator and lens- CCD coupled detector system every 10 seconds. It has been observed that although the distilled water was supplied into the cathode channel only, the neutron image showed a water movement from the cathode to the anode channel. The water at the cathode channel was completely discharged as soon as the pressurized air was supplied. But the water at the anode channel was not easily removed by the pressurized air except for the 3-parallel serpentine type with 850 cc/min of air flow rate. Moreover, the water at the MEA wasn’t removed for any of the cases.

Code assessment of ATLAS integral effect test simulating main steam-line break accident of an advanced pressurized water reactor

ABSTRACT KAERI has been operating an integral effect test facility, Advanced Thermal–Hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation (ATLAS), for accident simulations of advanced pressurized water reactors. As an integral effect test database for major design basis accidents has been accumulated, a domestic standard problem (DSP) exercise using ATLAS was proposed in order to transfer the database to domestic nuclear industries and to contribute to improving the safety analysis technology for pressurized water reactors (PWRs). As the third DSP exercise, a double-ended guillotine break of the main steam-line at an 8% power without loss of off-site power was decided as a target scenario. Seventeen domestic organizations joined this DSP exercise. They include universities, government, and nuclear industries. The participants of DSP-03 were classified into three groups and each group has focused on the specific subject related to the enhancement of the code assessment; (1) scaling capability of the ATLAS test data by comparing with the code analysis for a prototype, (2) multi-dimensional thermal–hydraulic phenomena anticipated during the steam-line break transient, (3) effect of various models in the one-dimensional safety analysis codes.

Measurement of the Void Fraction of Slug and Bubbly Flows Using Three-Ring Impedance Meters

Real slug and bubbly flows were measured using a three-ring impedance meter that can efficiently measure the void fraction of two-phase flows in a tube. First, the fitting curves between the signal from the impedance meters and the void fraction were found. The impedance meter had different fitting curves for slug and bubbly flows that had the same void fraction. An impedance meter should choose one of the two fitting curves according to the flow pattern, and the flow patterns can be recognized using the measured void fraction. The velocities and sizes of the bubbles were calculated using the void fraction curves measured by two impedance meters.

Visualization of Water Distribution in Cathode Side of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Neutron Radiography

In this study, the water distribution in the cathode side of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is visualized using a neutron imaging technique at the Neutron Radiography Facility (NRF), KAERI. It is difficult to quantify the water content in the cathode side because of gas. A compared open circuit voltage (OCV) image, relative , and water distribution can be visualized by the neutron imaging technique. This means that the neutron imaging technique is useful for the optimization of the flow field design and the establishment of water management, and, in turn, for the improvement of the cell performance.

Experimental Study of Freeze and Thaw Effect on Gas Diffusion Layer Using XRay Tomography

We used X-ray tomography to carry out an experimental study to visualize the effect of freeze and thaw cycles on the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A PEMFC has freeze and thaw cycles if the fuel cell is operating at a below-freezing ambient temperature. The cycle permanently deforms the fuel-cell capillary structures and reduces the ability of the cell to generate electric power and also reduces its service life. The GDL is the thickest capillary layer in the fuel cell, so it experiences the most deformation. The X-ray tomography facility at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory was used to observe the structural changes in GDLs induced by a freeze and thaw cycle. We discuss the effects of these structural changes on the power production and service life of PEMFCs.

Experimental Study of Characteristics of Three-Ring Impedance Meter and Dependence of Characteristics on Electric Conductivity of Fluids

Key Words: 2-Phase Flow(2상유동), Void Fraction(기공률), Impedance Meter(임피던스미터), Temperature(온도), Electric Conductivity(전도도)초록: 2상유동(기체-액체) 현상은 전자기발전, 원자력발전, 철강산업 등 유체 시스템에 자주 나타나는 현상으로, 2상유동을 파악하는 것은 유체 시스템의 안정성 및 성능을 위해 중요하다. 2상유동 특성 중 기공률은 압력강하와 열전달 성능을 결정하는 주요 인자로서 이를 측정하는 기술이 특히 중요하다. 유동의 임피던스를 측정하여 기공률을 산정하는 임피던스법은 전기적 특성을 이용하기 때문에 반응속도가 빨라 실시간 측정이 가능하며, 유동관 벽에 전극을 설치할 경우 유동 교란없이 측정할 수 있는 장점이 있다. Coney는 원형관에 적용할 수 있는 ring 임피던스미터를 이론적 연구하였다. 본 연구에서는 Coney가 이론적으로 제안하고 실험적으로 검증하지 못한 3-ring 임피던스미터의 유체 전기전도도에 대한 독립성을 실험적으로 검증하였다. Abstract: A two-phase (gas-liquid) flow is a common phenomenon in fluidic systems, e.g., fluidic systems in the electro-magnetic or nuclear power generation industry and in the steel industry. The measurement of a two-phase flow is important for guaranteeing the safety of the system and for achieving the desired performance. The measurement of the void fraction, which is one of the parameters of the two-phase flow that determines the pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient, is very important. The time resolution achieved by employing the impedance method that can be used to calculate the void fraction from the impedance of the fluid is high because the electric characteristics are taken into account. Therefore, this method can be employed to accurately measure the void fraction without distortion of flow in real time by placing electrodes on the walls of the tubes. Coney analytically studied a ring-type impedance meter, which can be employed in a circular tube. The aim of this study is to experimentally verify the robustness of a three-ring impedance meter to variations in the electric conductivity of the fluid; this robustness was suggested by Coney but was not experimentally verified.

Visualization of water on through‐plane direction of GDL using X‐ray radiography

In this investigation, we visualized water distribution and behavior of water on through plane direction of GDL (Gas Diffusion Layer), which is one of components of PEMFC, using X‐ray radiography. In order to investigate water distribution and behavior at GDL of PEMFC, the facilities was set up at the 7B2 beam line in Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. The phenomena of cathode side GDL is more important because the cathode side GDL has more water than the anode side. For this reason, the cathode side GDL was targeted and test section (Figure 1) was made to make similar boundary condition with a cathode side GDL of operating PEMFC. GDL faced two single channels. One is air channel as cathode gas channel of PEMFC and the other is liquid channel as cathode catalyst layer. Water is produced in cathode catalyst layer and almost of this water transport through cathode GDL. Because of this, liquid channel was adopted as catalyst layer. Images of water distribution were recorded per 4 second under various liquid pressure conditions. Water content was calculated from these images using mathematic process.

Visualization of water distribution in operating PEMFC using x-ray microscopy

In this investigation, X-ray microscopy (7B2) in Pohang Accelerator Laboratory was employed to visualize the water distribution in operating PEMFC which had 2cm × 2cm active area. This X-ray microscopy has 1μm spatial resolution with 1.5mm × 1.2mm view area. Each image spent about 1.3 second, 0.65 second for exposure and about 0.6 second for data read out. The resistance of the electric loader was changed and electric current and voltage was measured during images were recorded. The water distribution in PEMFC was analyzed with this I-V curve. Water distribution was depend on current density and aggregated on interfaces of layers (GDL, MPL, MEA).Copyright