The electroconvection generated on the surface of an ion exchange membrane (IEM) is closely related to the electrical/ chemical characteristics or topology of the IEM. In particular, when non-conductive regions are mixed on the surface of the IEM, it can have a great influence on the transfer of ions and the formation of nonlinear electroconvective vortices, so more theoretical and experimental studies are necessary. Here, we present a novel method for creating microscale non-conductive patterns on the IEM surface by laser ablation, and successfully visualize microscale vortices on the surface modified IEM. Microscale (~300 μm) patterns were fabricated by applying UV nanosecond laser processing to the non-conductive film, and were transferred to the surface of the IEM. In addition, UV nanosecond laser process parameters were investigated for obvious micro-pattern production, and operating conditions were optimized, such as minimizing the heat-affected zone. Through this study, we found that non-conductive patterns on the IEM surface could affect the generation and growth of electroconvective vortices. The experimental results provided in our study are expected to be a good reference for research related to the surface modification of IEMs, and are expected to be helpful for new engineering applications of electroconvective vortices using a non-conductive patterned IEM.

The electromembrane process, which has advantages such as scalability, sustainability, and eco-friendliness, is used in renewable energy fields such as fuel cells and reverse electrodialysis power generation. Most of the research to visualize the internal flow in the electromembrane process has mainly been conducted on heterogeneous ion exchange membranes, because of the non-uniform swelling characteristics of the homogeneous membrane. In this study, we successfully visualize the electroconvective vortices near the Nafion homogeneous membrane in PDMS-based microfluidic devices. To reinforce the mechanical rigidity and minimize the non-uniform swelling characteristics of the homogeneous membrane, a newly developed swelling supporter was additionally adapted to the Nafion membrane. Thus, a clear image of electroconvective vortices near the Nafion membrane could be obtained and visualized. As a result, we observed that the heterogeneous membrane has relatively stronger electroconvective vortices compared to the Nafion homogeneous membranes. Regarding electrical response, the Nafion membrane has a higher limiting current and less overlimiting current compared to the heterogeneous membrane. Based on our visualization, it is assumed that the heterogeneous membrane has more activated electroconvective vortices, which lower electrical resistance in the overlimiting current regime. We anticipate that this work can contribute to the fundamental understanding of the ion transport characteristics depending on the homogeneity of ion exchange membranes.

대한민국은 산악지형이 많으며 사면붕괴로 인한 도로구조물 및 인명피해가 종종 발생한다. 이러한 사면붕괴로 인한 피해를 줄이기 위해서 낙석방지시설이 필요하다. 국내의 낙석방지울타리는 50kJ의 낙석 충돌 에너지에 저항할 수 있도록 설계되었다. 하지만, 낙석 에너지의 크기는 사면의 형태 및 조건에 따라 편차가 크며 약 100kJ에 이르기도 한다. 따라서 효율적인 낙석방지울타리의 설계 및 설치를 위해서 여러 종류의 낙석에너지에 맞는 표준화된 낙석방지울타리가 필요한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 다양한 낙석에너지에 따른 낙석방지울타리의 표준 단면을 유한요소해석을 통하여 제안하였다. 최종적으로 기존 50kJ 낙석방호울타리 외에 30kJ 및 100kJ급 낙석방지울타리를 제안하였다.

도심형 양식시스템을 바이오플락 양식기술과 아쿠아포 닉스 배양대로 구성하여 사육수를 교체하지 않고 메기를(사육조 3.3톤 2개) 양성한 결과 151일의 사육 후 2.8 g의 종묘가 평균 무게 171.3 g (총중량 56.53 kg)과 235.5 g (총 중량 71.1 kg)로 성장하였다. 입식에서 수확까지의 누적 생존율은 65% 보였고, 성장 구간별로 입식에서 1차 성장 후 분조 이전까지 77.7%, 분조 이후 생존율은 수조에 따라 차이를 보여 각각 92.9%와 78.0%로 나타났다. 초기 바이오플 락 사육수가 만들어지는 과정에서 일부 폐사가 발생하였고, 수질이 안정된 이후에는 폐사가 감소하였다. 메기의 혈액분석결과 사육초기 BFT 사육수가 안정화 이전인 4월에 간 손상 지표인 AST의 농도가 유의적으로 높은 값을 보였으며 ALT, triglyceride는 전 사육기간 내에 차이가 없었 다. Glucose, cholesterol, total protein은 7월에 유의적으로 높은 값을 보이고 다른 기간에는 차이가 없었다. 메기 사육수를 이용한 아쿠아포닉스 가동 시 생산된 식물은 상추, 바질, 적근대, 적치커리 등이 원활한 성장을 보여 5개월간 총 148.85 kg의 식물을 수확하였다. 또한 아쿠아포닉스 시스템에서 식물재배에 따른 사육수 내의 질산 제거능력과, 질산이 제거된 사육수는 메기 사육수로 재사용이 가능한 것으로 확인되었다. 결론적으로, 본 연구에서는 도심형 양식시스템으로 물을 교환하지 않고 어류를 양식할 때 사육 수에 축적된 질산을 제거하고 재사용이 가능한가를 아쿠아포닉스 기술을 결합하여 연구하였으며, 양식생물 (메기) 수용량에 따른 적정 식물량을 유지하면 농수산 복합양식이 가능하다는 것을 보여주었다.

In the present work, a new synthesis method has been reported for preparing high-quality NaA zeolite membrane. The present method involves pressure-driven hydrothermal gel coating method(HGCM) on seeded α-alumina support surface having pores of 0.1 and 0.7μm diameter before the secondary growth process. The experimental data revealed that the high-pressure injection of hydrothermal gel solution on α-alumina support surface helped in the pore filling and thin layer coating of gel particles, which promoted the formation of uniform, defect free, and dense zeolite layer. Pervaporative dehydration experiments were conducted for 50 wt.% ethanol-water mixture at 343K. The NaA zeolite membrane, which was prepared by HGCM process on the 0.7μm support, showed that the high total flux was 4.7 kg m-2h-1 and separation factor was more than >1000.

OTEC(Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) system using the temperature difference between cooler deep and surface ocean waters is one of the renewable energy. But in Korea, OTEC system can not apply except in winter because surface sea water temperature is not enough. C-OTEC(Combined OTEC) system is that utilizes temperature difference between sea water and the condenser of power plants via working fluid. It can be a good alternative in the warm surface sea water for Mid-latitudes region like Korea. In this study, a marine survey using multi-beam echo sounder, single-beam echo sounder and sparker seismic wave is performed and sea water intake pipe line is proposed for the 10kW C-OTEC Pilot Plant.