Experimental influence of operating variables on the performances of MCFCs under SO₂ poisoning

Di Giulio, N.,Audasso, E.,Bosio, B.,Han, J.,McPhail, S.J. Elsevier 2015 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.40 No.19

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells have reached the status of commercialization and are now ready for the challenge of market penetration. Nevertheless, new innovative applications such as the use of non-conventional fuels and their possible implementation in a Carbon Capture and Storage system, have given new importance to research activities. In particular, the gas feedings used in these applications contain impurities that can damage MCFCs and, of these, sulphur compounds seem to be the most harmful, even at low concentrations.</P> <P>The aim of this work is to test the effect of SO<SUB>2</SUB> on the role of the operating variables governing the electrochemical kinetics of MCFCs, investigate the relationships and advance additional data necessary for the reading of the complex interaction phenomena taking place in these conditions. The current work is therefore not intended to probe into the fundamental electrochemical mechanisms, but more to validate the window of viable operating conditions that can be expected in real applications. In particular, an experimental campaign was performed, feeding 2 ppm of SO<SUB>2</SUB> to the cathode of MCFC single-cells at different operating temperature and gas partial pressures (H<SUB>2</SUB>, CO<SUB>2</SUB>, O<SUB>2</SUB>), taking into account possible chemical, electrochemical and physical poisoning mechanisms.</P> <P>The experimental tests were performed at the Fuel Cell Research Centre laboratories of KIST (South Korea) and a preliminary theoretical analysis was also proposed to suggest operating strategies.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Low temperatures favour the SO<SUB>2</SUB> poisoning effect, especially under 640 °C. </LI> <LI> Optimal range for hydrogen composition is between 40% and 60%. </LI> <LI> The Oxygen concentration does not influence SO<SUB>2</SUB> poisoning for CO<SUB>2</SUB>/O<SUB>2</SUB> < 0.9. </LI> <LI> CO<SUB>2</SUB> compositions under 6% strongly amplify the impact of SO<SUB>2</SUB> poisoning. </LI> </UL> </P>

Experimental analysis of SO₂ effects on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

Di Giulio, N.,Bosio, B.,Han, J.,McPhail, S.J. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2014 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.39 No.23

The aim of this work is to investigate how SO<SUB>2</SUB> can affect MCFC performance and to discover the possible mechanisms involved in cathode sulphur poisoning, specifically considering the possible use of MCFCs in CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) application. The different contributions of cathodic, anodic and electrolyte reactions have been considered to get a complete picture of the evolution of performance degradation. Experimental tests have been performed at the Fuel Cell Centre laboratories of Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) thanks to 100 cm<SUP>2</SUP> single cell facilities and comparing results using both an optimized gas for laboratory conditions and a gas composition that simulates MCFCs when running in a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plant. Polarisation curves, endurance tests, impedance measurements and gas analyses have been carried out to support the investigation.

An effective semi-empiric model for MCFC kinetics: Theoretical development and experimental parameters identification

Bosio, B.,Di Giulio, N.,Nam, S.W.,Moreno, A. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2014 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.39 No.23

The aim of this work is to develop a semi-empirical model of the kinetics of MCFCs for laboratory and industrial simulation. The rigorous theoretical approach takes into account the polarisation due to chemical as well as physical phenomena, but the number of parameters to be identified in the kinetic formulation has been reduced to the minimum in order to obtain an effective and accurate but, nevertheless, simplified instrument. Validation has been performed thanks to experimental tests carried out at the Fuel Cell Centre laboratories of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) using 100 cm<SUP>2</SUP> single cell facilities. I-V curves, EIS and gas analyses have furthermore been carried out to support the investigation. A method for the parameter identification has been proposed on the basis of temperature, partial pressures and current density effects on performance. Both experimental and theoretical results will be discussed in detail, presenting the resulting simulation tool as an effective instrument for the design, optimisation of operating conditions, diagnosis and control of MCFC devices.

Comparison of Intralesional Hyaluronic Acid vs. Verapamil for the Treatment of Acute Phase Peyronie's Disease: A Prospective, Open-Label Non-Randomized Clinical Study

Cocci Andrea,Di Maida Fabrizio,Cito Gianmartin,Verrienti Pierangelo,Laruccia Nicola,Campi Riccardo,Mari Andrea,Di Mauro Marina,Falcone Marco,Cacciamani Giovanni E.,Garaffa Giulio,Minervini Andrea,Russ 대한남성과학회 2021 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.39 No.2

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional hyaluronic acid (HA) as compared with verapamil injection in patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, men in PD acute phase were prospectively recruited. This open-label, prospective study included 2 different protocols. Group A: 8-week cycle of weekly intraplaque injections with HA; Group B: 8-week cycle of weekly intraplaque injections with verapamil. Penile curvature, plaque size, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Two-hundred forty-four patients were enrolled. Of these, 125 received intralesional HA (Group A), 119 received intralesional verapamil (Group B). At enrollment, median age was 56.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]=47.0–63.0 years), median curvature 35.0° (IQR=25.0°–45.0°), median IIEF-15 score 19.0 (IQR=16.0–23.0), median VAS 4.0 (IQR=4.0–5.0). Median difference for IIEF-15 was 1.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12–1.94) in Group A and 0.0 (95% CI=-0.04–0.14) in Group B (p<0.05) and median difference for VAS score was -4.0 (95% CI=-4.11–-3.65) in Group A and -1.0 (95% CI=-0.50–2.01) in Group B (p<0.05). Plaque size decreased by -1.50 mm (IQR=1.60–2.10 mm) in Group A and -1.20 in Group B (p=0.10), while penile curvature decreased by -9.50° (IQR=4.50°–13.00°) in group A and -4.50 (IQR=2.50–7.50) in Group B (p<0.01). Conclusions: Intralesional HA injections could represent a reliable treatment option for the conservative management of patients with acute phase of PD.

An Analytic Framework to Assess Organizational Resilience

Riccardo Patriarca,Giulio Di Gravio,Francesco Costantino,Andrea Falegnami,Federico Bilotta 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2018 Safety and health at work Vol.9 No.3

Background: Resilience engineering is a paradigm for safety management that focuses on coping with complexity to achieve success, even considering several conflicting goals. Modern sociotechnical systems have to be resilient to comply with the variability of everyday activities, the tight-coupled and underspecified nature of work, and the nonlinear interactions among agents. At organizational level, resilience can be described as a combination of four cornerstones: monitoring, responding, learning, and anticipating. Methods: Starting from these four categories, this article aims at defining a semiquantitative analytic framework to measure organizational resilience in complex sociotechnical systems, combining the resilience analysis grid and the analytic hierarchy process. Results: This article presents an approach for defining resilience abilities of an organization, creating a structured domain-dependent framework to define a resilience profile at different levels of abstraction, and identifying weaknesses and strengths of the system and potential actions to increase system’s adaptive capacity. An illustrative example in an anesthesia department clarifies the outcomes of the approach. Conclusion: The outcome of the resilience analysis grid, i.e., a weighed set of probing questions, can be used in different domains, as a support tool in a wider Safety-II oriented managerial action to bring safety management into the core business of the organization.

An Analytic Framework to Assess Organizational Resilience

Patriarca, Riccardo,Di Gravio, Giulio,Costantino, Francesco,Falegnami, Andrea,Bilotta, Federico Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2018 Safety and health at work Vol.9 No.3

Background: Resilience engineering is a paradigm for safety management that focuses on coping with complexity to achieve success, even considering several conflicting goals. Modern sociotechnical systems have to be resilient to comply with the variability of everyday activities, the tight-coupled and under-specified nature of work, and the nonlinear interactions among agents. At organizational level, resilience can be described as a combination of four cornerstones: monitoring, responding, learning, and anticipating. Methods: Starting from these four categories, this article aims at defining a semiquantitative analytic framework to measure organizational resilience in complex sociotechnical systems, combining the resilience analysis grid and the analytic hierarchy process. Results: This article presents an approach for defining resilience abilities of an organization, creating a structured domain-dependent framework to define a resilience profile at different levels of abstraction, and identifying weaknesses and strengths of the system and potential actions to increase system's adaptive capacity. An illustrative example in an anesthesia department clarifies the outcomes of the approach. Conclusion: The outcome of the resilience analysis grid, i.e., a weighed set of probing questions, can be used in different domains, as a support tool in a wider Safety-II oriented managerial action to bring safety management into the core business of the organization.

Outcome of Colorectal Surgery in Elderly Populations

Mostafa Shalaby,Nicola Di Lorenzo,Luana Franceschilli,Federico Perrone,Giulio P. Angelucci,Silvia Quareisma,Achille L. Gaspari,Pierpaolo Sileri 대한대장항문학회 2016 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.32 No.4

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of age on short-term outcomes after colorectal surgery in terms of the 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Methods: The subjects for the study were patients who had undergone colorectal surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age; groups A and B patients were ≥80 and <80 years old of age, respectively. Both groups were manually matched for body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Charlson Comorbidity Index and procedure performed. Results: A total of 200 patients, 91 men (45.5%) and 109 women (54.5%), were included in this retrospective study. These patients were equally divided into 2 groups. The mean ages were 85 years in group A (range, 80 to 104 years) and 55.3 years in group B (range, 13 to 79 years). The overall 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 1% of total 200 patients; both of these 2 patients were in group A. However, this observation had no statistical significance. No intraoperative complications were encountered in either group. The overall 30-day postoperative morbidity rate was 27% (54 of 200) for both groups. The 30-day postoperative morbidity rates in groups A and B were 28% (28 of 100) and 26% (26 of 100), respectively. However, these differences between the groups had no statistical significance importance. Conclusion: Age alone should not be considered to be more of a contraindication or a worse predictor than other factors for the outcome after colorectal surgery on elderly patients.

Fabrication and effect of different temperatures on the supported thin Anode for molten carbonate fuel cell

박동녘(Park, Dongnyeok),서동호(Seo, Dongho),Giulio, Nicola Di,윤성필(Yoon, Sungpil),설용건(Shul, Yonggun),한종희(Han, Jonghee) 한국신재생에너지학회 2010 한국신재생에너지학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2010 No.11

Recently, Molten carbonate fuel cells(MCFCs) have been developing to get a good durability and economic feasibility for commercialization. To achieve these objectives, the cost of nickel based electrodes should be reduced. Regular anode thickness used in MCFCs is normally 0.7mm. Thus, in our study, the purpose was to reduce anode thickness up to 0.3 mm keeping MCFC performance on standard levels. In-situ sintering has been used, with 2 different fabrication methods (method A and B) and 2 different supports (support 1 and 2). Voltage losses at different temperature (600,620,640,650?C) and after 1000 hours showed the higher performance that can be obtained using method B and support 2. After single cell test, an open-circuit voltage(OCV) of 1.075 V and a closed-circuit voltage(CCV) of 0.829V were obtained, at current density of 150mV/cm². Also the voltage loss ratio at different cell temperature was lower in the case of method B and support 2. According to these results, the cost of anode fabrication can be reduced in the future, contributing for the economical feasibility of MCFCs.