NEWS


2024

Professor Young soo Yoon, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Energy Materials Lab., develops original technology to make ‘Gachon-tube’, a multi-layered nuclear fuel cladding tube, a proper name

 

▲Department of Materials Science and Engineering, master's graduate Jo Jeonghye, Ph.D. course Ji-hyeok Choi, and professor Young Soo Yoon (from the left in the photo)


Researcher Jo Jeonghye, a master's graduate student at Professor Young Soo Yoon's laboratory in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Gachon University, Ph.D. Course Ji-hyeok Choi, and Professor Young Soo Yoon, recently developed the original technology for the 'Gachon-tube', a multi-layered nuclear fuel cladding tube with high oxidation resistance. ‘Gachon-Tube’ is an important new material technology for next-generation nuclear power plants and is the first technology name to include our university’s name.


This study was published under the title ‘Inner‐Side‐Protected Cladding with Meter Scale for’ in the ‘International Journal of Energy Research (Nuclear Energy Field, ranked 1st)’, an international academic journal that boasts the highest authority in the nuclear field. High-temperature oxidation resistance via swaging-drawing process (metric-scale internal side protective cladding with improved high-temperature oxidation resistance via drawing-piping process)


The results of the research were provided to Auburn University in the United States as a research staff for 6 months through the “GCU (Gachon University)-AU (Auburn University) Energy Volunteer International Cooperation Human Resources Development Program (Support Agency: Korea Energy Technology Association)” in the nuclear field. By conducting international joint research, we achieve results with justification through presentations at various academic societies such as MRS and ACS based on perfect research results.


The core of the research is the development of accident-resistant nuclear fuel technology to suppress hydrogen production and explosion due to reaction with water vapor in Zr-alloy nuclear fuel cladding tubes, which were suggested to be the cause of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.


▲Causes of the Fukushima power plant accident and background of accident-resistant nuclear fuel cladding technology


'Gachon-tube' is a higher version of Gachon University's unique technology, “Multilayer nuclear fuel cladding tube and manufacturing method of multilayer nuclear fuel cladding tube (registered patent: 1019416730000, SMART 'A')”, and is an external resemblance to a Zr-alloy-based nuclear fuel cladding tube. It was manufactured through a shaft-drawing process that allows simultaneous internal and external coating by applying a coating method.


The nuclear fuel cladding tube that is the result of this study was named ‘Gachon-tube, G-tube’ because it is a unique technology of Gachon University. It can greatly improve the accident resistance of nuclear power plants by providing greater durability and safety than existing cladding tubes.


▲Schematic diagram of the nuclear fuel cladding tube drawing-axial tube process (original technology from the laboratory of Professor Young Soo Yoon, Department of Materials Science and Engineering)


Professor Young Soo Yoon's group (Energy Materials Lab) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has transferred anode technology for all-solid-state batteries to IL Science Co., Ltd., a KOSDAQ-listed company. The technology transfer contract was confirmed with an initial payment of KRW 300 million and a running royalty of 3% of sales. Additionally, for ongoing research and development in this field, IL Science has decided to award an additional research grant of 150 million won to Professor Young Soo Yoon's research group. Through this agreement, it has been decided to transfer the university's core technology patents, including the manufacturing method for all-solid-state thin-film batteries, the manufacturing method for anodes, and the patents for anodes manufactured using the same, to IL Science.


Professor Young Soo Yoon said, “As a result of this research, the new material source technology can be applied not only to currently operating nuclear power plants but also to next-generation nuclear power plants.” He added, “We are improving the safety of the domestic nuclear industry through a novel production method using a non-vacuum method as opposed to an overseas vacuum method.” “By strengthening and improving the economic feasibility of nuclear power plants, we expect to continue to develop innovative technologies in various application fields in the future.”




 

Professor Young Soo Yoon's Energy Materials Lab Presents Direction for Development of New Bipolar Plates Materials for Electricity and Hydrogen Production

 

▲Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D. course  Ji-hyeok Choi, and Ha Eun Kang (from the left in the photo)

Researchers Ji-hyeok Choi and Ha Eun Kang, Ph.D. course in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Gachon University, presented the direction of development of surface modification technology for metal bipolar plates for power and hydrogen production based on existing leading technology research.


The results of the research were published in the world-renowned academic journal Chemical Engineering Journal (Impact Factor 15.1, Ranking 3.5%) under the title ‘A Comprehensive Review of Stainless-Steel Bipolar Plate Coatings and Their Role in Mitigating Corrosion in Aggressive Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Environments’.


After completing their research assignment at Auburn University in Alabama, USA, Ji-hyeok Choi and Ha Eun Kang returned to Korea and published a total of five SCI academic journals with an IF (Impact Factor) of 10 or higher over the course of two years.


▲Schematic diagram

This study suggests the direction of development of separator technology with current collector function that can be applied not only to existing hydrogen fuel cells but also to solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC). In other words, it is a research result that shows that it can be applied equally as a core material for power generation and high-efficiency hydrogen production.


Professor Young Soo Yoon said, “This research result suggests the expansion of methods for obtaining two types of energy, power and hydrogen, and its direction, and it is expected to have a large ripple effect on the future hydrogen economy.”