A composite material was prepared for the bipolar plates of phosphoric acid fuel cells(PAFC) by hot pressing a flake type natural graphite powder as a filler material and a fluorine resin as a binder. Average particle sizes of the powders were 610.3, 401.6, 99.5, and 37.7 μm. The density of the composite increased from 2.25 to 2.72 g/cm3 as the graphite size increased from 37.7 to 610.3 μm. The anisotropy ratio of the composite increased from 1.8 to 490.9 as the graphite size increased. The flexural strength of the composite decreased from 15.60 to 8.94MPa as the graphite size increased. The porosity and the resistivity of the composite showed the same tendencies, and decreased as the graphite size increased. The lowest resistivity and porosity of the composite were 1.99 × 10−3 Ωcm and 2.02 %, respectively, when the graphite size was 401.6 μm. The flexural strength of the composite was 10.3MPa when the graphite size was 401.6 μm. The lowest resistance to electron mobility was well correlated with the composite with lowest porosity. It was possible the flaky large graphite particles survive after the hot pressing process.

A CNT-TiO2 nano composite was prepared from titanium chloride (TiCl4) via sol-gel process using multi walled carbon nano tube (MWCNT) followed by calcination at 450℃. Spectral analysis revealed that the formed TiO2 resided on the carbon in anatase form. The effect of adsorption was investigated using aqueous solution of methylene blue and procion blue dye. The photochemical reaction of CNT-TiO2 composite in aqueous suspensions was studied under UV illumination in batch process. The reaction was investigated by monitoring the discoloration of the dyes employing UV-Visible spectro-photometeric technique as a function of irradiation time. The catalyst composites were found to be efficient for the photodegradation of the dye.

The effect of cobalt precursor on the structure of Co supported multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). MWCNTs were treated with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids and decorated with cobalt and/or cobalt oxides via aqueous impregnation solutions of cobalt nitrate or cobalt acetate followed by reduction in hydrogen. XPS was mainly used to investigate the phase of cobalt on MWCNTs after reduction with H2 flow at 400℃ for 2 h. Higher cobalt-nanoparticle dispersion was found in the MWCNTS prepared via cobalt nitrate decomposition. A typical XPS spectrum of Co 2p showed the peaks at binding energy (BE) values equal to 781 and 797 eV, respectively. It is found that cobalt nitrate supported MWCNTs is more dispersive and have catalytic activity than that of cobalt acetate supported MWCNTs at same preparation condition such as concentration of precursor solution and reduction environment.

Bipolar plates require some specific properties such as electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, chemical stability, and low permeability for the fuel cell application. This study investigated the effects of carbon nanotube (CNT) contents and process conditions of hot press molding on the electrical and physical properties using CNT 3~7 wt% added graphite nano-composites in the curing temperatures range of 140~200℃ and pressure of 200~300 kg/cm2. Bulk density, hardness and flexural strength increased with increasing CNT contents, curing pressure and temperature. With the 7 wt% CNT added noncomposite, the electrical resistance improved by 30% and the flexural strength increased by 25% as compared to that without CNT at the temperature of 160℃ and pressure of 300 kg/cm2. These properties were close to the DOE reference criteria as bulk resistance of 13 mΩcm and tensile strength of 515 kg/cm2.

As the Photovoltaic system market increases, various technologies are emerging to improve system operation efficiency. Such additional systems of the power generation system are generally referred to as ‘Balance of System’, for example a panel cooling, a panel cleaning and a panel angle adjusting apparatus. In this paper, we discuss an algorithm to calculate the target temperature of cooling in response to changes in the installation environment conditions of the power generation system so that the efficiency improvement rate target set by the user can be achieved with respect to the control method of the cooling water injection system among various panel cooling apparatuses. In order to calculate the target temperature of cooling, the output enhancement coefficient is calculated experimentally based on the temperature change according to the solar radiation condition of the PV panel, and the required reduction temperature of each irradiation condition is calculated considering the efficiency improvement rate. In addition, the efficiency improvement ratio is calculated considering the installation condition of the general power generation system without a separate control group. The thermal performance coefficient of the PV panel test body for calculating the expected temperature of the PV panel is calculated experimentally. The target temperature of cooling is calculated as the sum of the expected temperature of the PV panel and the required reduction temperature, and the injection system that tracks the target temperature by cooling water injection is constructed and compared with the power generation improvement rate and the user setting efficiency improvement rate.

In reinforced concrete structure, rebar connection method should be considered because of its structural role to resist the tensile stress and its structural load transmission with concrete in the concrete structure. Lapped splice and mechanical sleeve type connector have been traditionally used to connect rebar in the concrete structures. In this study, to examine the mechanical and failure behaviors of rebar bar connected by taper type coupler in the concrete member depending on connection type and condition, tensile tests of steel rebar with taper type coupler and flexible loading tests of concrete beams were conducted. Its tensile strength and flexible strength of the rebar connected by taper type coupler were compared and evaluated by mechanical behaviors of rebar. From this study, steel rebar connected by taper type coupler showed it has similar mechanical performance comparing with unconnected rebar, thus taper type coupler can be used in the rebar fabrication of reinforced concrete structure.