Abstract: A heat pump has an internal heat-absorbing section that receives heat and an internal heat-releasing section that releases heat. Heat is transferred between the internal heat-absorbing section and the internal heat-releasing section using a magnetic particle dispersion circulating between the internal heat-absorbing section and the internal heat-releasing section. The heat pump may include: an external heat-absorbing section in which a secondary working fluid receives heat from a heat-giving fluid; an external heat-releasing section in which the secondary working fluid releases heat to a heat-receiving fluid; and a circulation channel that allows the secondary working fluid to circulate.

Abstract: Provided is a novel process and a novel apparatus for urea production capable of performing heat recovery from a relatively low-temperature fluid. A process for urea production includes a synthesis step, a high-pressure decomposition step and a condensation step and includes a) a step of heat-exchanging steam condensate whose temperature is higher than 90° C. with another fluid to cool this steam condensate to 90° C. or less, b) a step of, by heat-exchanging the steam condensate obtained from the step a with a further fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the low-pressure steam, heating the steam condensate obtained from the step a, and c) a step of supplying the steam condensate obtained from the step b to the condensation step as the steam condensate for generating the low-pressure steam. An apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: Heat pump 10 has heat-absorbing section 12 that receives heat from an outside and heat-releasing section 13 that releases heat to the outside, for transferring heat between heat-absorbing section 12 and heat-releasing sectioning 13 by reinforcing and reducing a magnetic field applied to a primary working fluid circulating between heat-absorbing section 12 and heat-releasing section 13, wherein the primary working fluid is magnetic particle dispersion 11 containing magnetic particles 11 dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: Clamping device 20 is a clamping device for clamping and fixing core 10, whose interior is divided into multiple flow channels F1, F2 by plates 11 that are stacked, of stacked heat exchanger 1 in stacking direction Z of plates 11, including: two end plates 21, 22 placed on both sides of core 10 in stacking direction Z; connecting member 23 connecting two end plates 21, 22 to keep two end plates 21, 22 apart by a distance greater than a length of core 10 in stacking direction Z; and bolts 24 inserted respectively into thread through-holes 21a, 22a formed on each of end plates 21, 22 for pressing core 10 in stacking direction Z.

Abstract: A chute tube for facilitating particle transfer and distribution. The chute tube for transferring particles has a charging chute tube with a charge inlet of particles, a discharging chute tube and an intermediate chute tube slantingly connected between the charging chute tube and the discharging chute tube. The intermediate chute tube includes a groove without steps formed by a combination of a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and the groove is of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to two adjacent sides of a triangle.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a product gas and product LNG having pressure P1 close to the atmospheric pressure from lean LNG, includes: a) branching the lean LNG to obtain a first flow and a second flow; b) cooling the second flow by using a refrigerant; c) branching a liquid flow derived from the cooled second flow to obtain refrigerant LNG and remaining LNG; d) subjecting the remaining LNG to pressure reduction and gas-liquid separation to obtain a gas phase flow and a liquid phase flow (product LNG) having pressure P1; e) subjecting the refrigerant LNG to pressure reduction; f) using a flow from the step e as the refrigerant; g) joining, before or after the step f, the gas phase flow having pressure P1 to a flow from the step e; h) liquefying a flow resulting from the steps f and g by pressure increase and cooling (through heat exchange with the first flow); i) increasing the first flow in pressure before the step h; j) obtaining the product gas by regasifying the first flow after the steps h and i; and k) joi

Abstract: Redox flow battery 1 include cell frame 20 having recess 21, 22, at least one sheet-like electrode 11, 13 received in recess 21, 22, membrane 15 stacked on cell frame 20 to cover recess 21, 22, and bipolar current collecting member 40 penetrating cell frame 20 at recess 21, 22 and electrically connected to at least one electrode 11, 13, wherein cell frame 20 has flow channels 31-38 communicating with recess 21, 22 so as to allow a fluid containing an active material to flow through recess 21, 22 parallel to membrane 15, and wherein at least one electrode 11, 13 is disposed in recess 21, 22 at an angle where at least one electrode 11, 13 intersects membrane 15.

Abstract: There is provided a process and an apparatus for urea production in which preheating of raw material ammonia or heating in a medium-pressure decomposition step can be performed at a relatively low pressure while preventing decrease in an overall heat transfer coefficient. A process for urea production includes: a synthesis step of generating a urea synthesis solution; a high-pressure decomposition step of heating the urea synthesis solution to separate a gaseous mixture containing ammonia and carbon dioxide from the urea synthesis solution; a condensation step of condensing the gaseous mixture; a medium-low-pressure steam generation step of reducing a pressure of medium-pressure steam condensate obtained in the high-pressure decomposition step to a medium-low pressure to generate medium-low-pressure steam and medium-low-pressure steam condensate; and one or both of a medium-pressure decomposition step and an ammonia preheating step.

Abstract: Diabatic distillation column 1 includes first and second cooling devices 11, 12 configured to indirectly cool fluid in rectifying section 2 with a circulating working fluid, first and second heating devices 21, 22 configured to indirectly heat fluid in stripping section 3 with the circulating working fluid, first compressor 31 configured to compress the working fluid from first cooling device 11 on first circulation path P11-P14 between first cooling device 11 and first heating device 21, second compressor 32 configured to compress the working fluid from second cooling device 12 on second circulation path P21-P24 between second cooling device 12 and second heating device 22, first expansion device 41 configured to expand the working fluid from first heating device 21 on first circulation path P11-P14, and second expansion device 42 configured to expand the working fluid from second heating device 22 on second circulation path P21-P24.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides a method and an apparatus for separating hydrocarbons, wherein the method and the apparatus are used for separating a hydrocarbon having 3 or more carbon atoms including at least propane (hereinafter sometimes called “C3+ NGL”. NGL: Natural Gas Liquid) from liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Abstract: Redox flow battery includes cell frame 20 including frame body 21 and bipolar plate 23, frame body 21 having rectangular opening 22 divided into a plurality of small openings 22a-22c along first direction X parallel to a longitudinal direction of opening 22, bipolar plate 23 divided into a plurality of regions 23a-23c, each of regions 23a-23c disposed within each of small openings 22a-22c to form a plurality of recesses, and electrode 11 divided into a plurality of regions 11a-11c, each of regions 11a-11c received in each of the recesses, wherein each of small openings 22a-22c has a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to first direction X.

Abstract: In a urea synthesis process, temperature distribution in a submerged condenser is reduced. The process includes: synthesizing urea from NH3 and CO2 to generate a urea synthesis solution; by heating the solution, decomposing ammonium carbamate and separating a gaseous mixture containing NH3 and CO2 from the solution to obtain a solution higher in urea concentration than the solution obtained in the synthesizing; with use of a submerged condenser including a shell and tube heat exchange structure including a U-tube, absorbing and condensing at least a part of the gaseous mixture in an absorption medium on a shell side, and generating steam on a tube side with use of heat generated during the condensation; and recycling at least a part of liquid, obtained from the shell side, to the synthesizing, wherein water is supplied to the tube side of the condenser at a mass flow rate that is three times or more of the steam generation rate.

Abstract: Provided is a novel process and a novel apparatus for urea production capable of performing heat recovery from a relatively low-temperature fluid. A process for urea production includes a synthesis step, a high-pressure decomposition step and a condensation step and includes a) a step of heat-exchanging steam condensate whose temperature is higher than 90° C. with another fluid to cool this steam condensate to 90° C. or less, b) a step of, by heat-exchanging the steam condensate obtained from the step a with a further fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the low-pressure steam, heating the steam condensate obtained from the step a, and c) a step of supplying the steam condensate obtained from the step b to the condensation step as the steam condensate for generating the low-pressure steam. An apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for separation and recovery of propane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG. The apparatus has, from the upstream side toward the downstream side of LNG supply, first column (3) equipped with first column overhead condenser (2), first column bottom reboiler (4) and side reboiler (5), and second column (14) equipped with second column overhead condenser (11) and second column bottom reboiler (15). The first column (3) separates methane and a part of ethane as an overhead vapor and separates remaining ethane and C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid. The second column (14) separates ethane as an overhead vapor and separates C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid.

Abstract: Cell frame 20 includes: frame body 21 having an opening 22, frame body 21 including through-hole 31 for passage of a fluid containing an active material, through-hole 31 penetrating from one surface of frame body 21 to the other surface thereof around opening 22, and groove-like slit 35 formed in one surface or the other surface and connecting through-hole 31 and opening 22; and rotor 40 made of an insulating material, rotor 40 received in slit 35 and forced to rotate by the flow of the fluid through slit 35 between through-hole 31 and opening 22.

Abstract: Redox flow battery 1 includes cell stack 2, first positive-electrode tank 11, second positive-electrode tank 12, first negative-electrode tank 21, and second negative-electrode tank 22. Cell stack 2 is divided into a plurality of cell groups 3, each of which consists of a plurality of cells 4. The plurality of cell groups 3 are connected to first and second positive-electrode tanks 11, 12 such that a positive-electrode fluid containing positive-electrode active material flows in parallel through the plurality of cell groups 3, and are connected to first and second negative-electrode tanks 21, 22 such that a negative-electrode fluid containing negative-electrode active material flows in parallel through the plurality of cell groups 3. The plurality of cells 4 in each cell group 3 are connected to each other such that the positive-electrode fluid flows in series through a plurality of positive cells 5 and such that the negative-electrode fluid flows in series through a plurality of negative cells 6.

Abstract: A closed loop refrigeration system using a gas hydrate having a temperature below 0° C. has: a first circulation loop extending through a gas hydrate formation device 1, an object 2 to be cooled and a separator 3 and back to the formation device 1 and including a gas hydrate line 10 for transporting a gas hydrate having a temperature below 0° C.; and a second circulation loop for gas extending through the formation device 1, a compressor 4, a cooler 5 and a decompressor 6 and back to the formation device 1, wherein an object to be transported in the first circulation loop is transported together with a liquid carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a process and an apparatus for urea production in which preheating of raw material ammonia or heating in a medium-pressure decomposition step can be performed at a relatively low pressure while preventing decrease in an overall heat transfer coefficient. A process for urea production includes: a synthesis step of generating a urea synthesis solution; a high-pressure decomposition step of heating the urea synthesis solution to separate a gaseous mixture containing ammonia and carbon dioxide from the urea synthesis solution; a condensation step of condensing the gaseous mixture; a medium-low-pressure steam generation step of reducing a pressure of medium-pressure steam condensate obtained in the high-pressure decomposition step to a medium-low pressure to generate medium-low-pressure steam and medium-low-pressure steam condensate; and one or both of a medium-pressure decomposition step and an ammonia preheating step.

Abstract: To provide a process for separating hydrocarbons capable of recovering ethane or propane, including improved cold heat recovery enabling a reduction in compressor power.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a product gas and product LNG having pressure P1 close to the atmospheric pressure from lean LNG, includes: a) branching the lean LNG to obtain a first flow and a second flow; b) cooling the second flow by using a refrigerant; c) branching a liquid flow derived from the cooled second flow to obtain refrigerant LNG and remaining LNG; d) subjecting the remaining LNG to pressure reduction and gas-liquid separation to obtain a gas phase flow and a liquid phase flow (product LNG) having pressure P1; e) subjecting the refrigerant LNG to pressure reduction; f) using a flow from the step e as the refrigerant; g) joining, before or after the step f, the gas phase flow having pressure P1 to a flow from the step e; h) liquefying a flow resulting from the steps f and g by pressure increase and cooling (through heat exchange with the first flow); i) increasing the first flow in pressure before the step h; j) obtaining the product gas by regasifying the first flow after the steps h and i; and k) joi