Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences (한국항공우주학회지)

The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences (한국항공우주학회)
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Performance Evaluation of Hydrogen Generation System using NaBH4 Hydrolysis for 200 W Fuel Cell Powered UAV

200 W급 연료전지 무인기를 위한 NaBH4 가수분해용 수소발생시스템의 성능평가

  • Oh, Taek-Hyun (Division of Aerospace Engineering, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Systems Engineering, KAIST) ;
  • Kwon, Sejin (Division of Aerospace Engineering, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Systems Engineering, KAIST)
  • Received : 2014.10.13
  • Accepted : 2015.03.05
  • Published : 2015.04.01
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Abstract

The concentration of solute in a $NaBH_4$ solution is limited due to the low solubility of $NaBO_2$. The performance of a hydrogen generation system was evaluated using various concentrations of $NaBH_4$ solution. First, a self-hydrolysis test and a hydrogen generation test for 30 min were performed. The composition of $NaBH_4$ solution was selected to be 1 wt% NaOH + 25 wt% $NaBH_4$+74wt% $H_2O$ by considering the amount of hydrogen loss, stability of hydrogen generation, $NaBO_2$ precipitation, conversion efficiency, and the purpose of its application. A hydrogen generation system for a 200 W fuel cell was evaluated for 3 h. Although hydrogen generation rate decreased with time due to $NaBO_2$ precipitation, hydrogen was produced for 3 h (conversion efficiency: 87.4%). The energy density of the 200 W fuel cell system was 263 Wh/kg. A small unmanned aerial vehicle with this fuel cell system can achieve 1.5 times longer flight time than one flying on batteries.

무인기 운용 환경을 고려하여 다양한 조성의 $NaBH_4$ 용액을 사용해 수소발생시스템의 성능 평가를 수행하였다. 먼저, 자발가수분해와 30분의 수소발생실험을 수행하였다. 수소의 손실, 안정한 수소 발생, $NaBO_2$의 석출, 전환 효율과 무인기의 운용을 고려하여 $NaBH_4$ 용액의 조성을 1 wt% NaOH + 25 wt% $NaBH_4$+74wt% $H_2O$로 결정하였다. 200 W급 연료전지 시스템을 위해 장시간 수소발생실험도 수행되었다. 비록 $NaBO_2$의 석출로 인해서 수소 발생률이 감소하였지만, 200 W 연료전지를 위한 수소를 3시간동안 발생(전환 효율: 87.4%)시켰다. 600 Wh의 에너지를 갖는 200 W급 연료전지 시스템의 에너지 밀도는 263 Wh/kg이었다. 기존 배터리 무인기에 비해 약 1.5배 이상의 체공 시간을 달성할 수 있다.

Keywords

References

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