Patents by Inventor Manabu Masamoto

Manabu Masamoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944983
    Abstract: An electrostatic separation method includes: applying voltage between a lower electrode at a bottom portion of or in the raw material layer and an upper electrode above the raw material layer, generating an electric field between electrodes; fluidizing the raw material layer and bringing conductive particles and the lower electrode into contact in the raw material layer charging only the conductive particles wherein their polarity becomes the same as the lower electrode; generating polarity, the same as the upper electrode, by dielectric polarization on a conveyor belt downward-facing conveyance surface passing through a capture region above the raw material layer and under the upper electrode, the conveyance surface including a nonconductor; separates charged conductive particles from the raw material layer surface by electrostatic force and adhering conductive particles to the conveyor belt conveyance surface; and separating and collecting the particles from the conveyance surface that moved outside the ele
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Ihara, Koki Ikeda, Naoya Ogiyama, Yusuke Iida, Manabu Masamoto, Koji Fukumoto, Gen Kiyotaki, Keiichi Mashio, Tomoyuki Suzuki, Ryoma Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230405604
    Abstract: An electrostatic separator separates conductive particles from raw materials includes: a container with a raw material layer; a gas dispersion plate at the bottom of the raw material layer; at least one vibrating body in the raw material layer flush with the gas dispersion plate or above it; a fluidization gas supplier introduced from the container bottom into the raw material layer flows upward through the gas dispersion plate; an upper electrode above the raw material layer; a lower electrode in the raw material layer, the lower electrode being flush with the gas dispersion plate or above it; a power supply applies a voltage between the upper and lower electrode wherein one becomes a negative electrode, the other becomes a positive electrode, and an electric field is generated between them; and a capturer captures conductive particles that have flown out of the raw material layer surface toward the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki IHARA, Koki IKEDA, Naoya OGIYAMA, Yusuke IIDA, Manabu MASAMOTO, Koji FUKUMOTO, Gen KIYOTAKI, Keiichi MASHIO, Tomoyuki SUZUKI, Ryoma YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230398553
    Abstract: An electrostatic separation method includes: applying voltage between a lower electrode at a bottom portion of or in the raw material layer and an upper electrode above the raw material layer, generating an electric field between electrodes; fluidizing the raw material layer and bringing conductive particles and the lower electrode into contact in the raw material layer charging only the conductive particles wherein their polarity becomes the same as the lower electrode; generating polarity, the same as the upper electrode, by dielectric polarization on a conveyor belt downward-facing conveyance surface passing through a capture region above the raw material layer and under the upper electrode, the conveyance surface including a nonconductor; separates charged conductive particles from the raw material layer surface by electrostatic force and adhering conductive particles to the conveyor belt conveyance surface; and separating and collecting the particles from the conveyance surface that moved outside the ele
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki IHARA, Koki IKEDA, Naoya OGIYAMA, Yusuke IIDA, Manabu MASAMOTO, Koji FUKUMOTO, Gen KIYOTAKI, Keiichi MASHIO, Tomoyuki SUZUKI, Ryoma YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220364204
    Abstract: A production method includes: an alkali extraction step of adding an alkali and water, or an alkali solution, to raw material ash containing an ammonium sulfate component, sulfuric acid, vanadium, and at least one other metal selected from nickel, iron, and magnesium, wherein a pH of 13 or higher is achieved, to obtain an alkali leachate; a solid-liquid separation step on the alkali leachate to obtain a leach filtrate containing vanadium; an evaporation concentration step of evaporating and concentrating the leach filtrate to obtain a concentrated liquid; and a crystallization/solid-liquid separation step of cooling and crystalizing the concentrated liquid and recovering a precipitate containing a vanadium compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu MASAMOTO, Takashi NISHINO, Yuta KITAGAWA, Daichi AKAGI
  • Publication number: 20210071204
    Abstract: A bioethanol production method using lignocellulosic biomass as a raw material, the method being adapted to increase the ethanol concentration of a fermentation liquid obtained in a fermentation step and reduce the distillation load without having to use specialized equipment in solubilizing the biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose contained in the biomass. When a solid residue of the cellulosic biomass, from which hemicellulose has been removed, is mixed with an aqueous solution containing a cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme in a reaction vessel, ethanol is added in an amount of 3 to 6% by mass. Bacterial proliferation is suppressed during hydrolysis of cellulose, and the ethanol concentration achieved in ethanol fermentation of a saccharified solution is increased, so that the distillation load is reduced. The ethanol added at the time of hydrolysis can be collected during distillation of the alcoholic fermentation liquid and reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi NISHINO, Noriaki IZUMI, Hironori TAJIRI, Shoji TSUJITA, Asuka ODA, Manabu MASAMOTO, Yusuke WARATANI
  • Publication number: 20200332328
    Abstract: A saccharified solution production method in which cellulosic biomass is solubilized by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose contained in the cellulosic biomass, the method being adapted to quickly solubilize the biomass and give a slurry while keeping a high solids concentration in a reaction vessel. The biomass pulverized and an aqueous solution containing a cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme are mixed in one reaction vessel including no baffle plate disposed in its interior, and the cellulosic biomass is solubilized under stirring. Afterwards, the contents of the reaction vessel are transferred to another reaction vessel including a baffle plate disposed in its interior, and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is allowed to proceed. The solids concentration in the first reaction vessel is preferably 15 to 30% by mass. The efficiency of stirring during enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is enhanced, and thus the amount of sugar production can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi NISHINO, Noriaki IZUMI, Hironori TAJIRI, Shoji TSUJITA, Asuka ODA, Manabu MASAMOTO, Yusuke WARATANI
  • Patent number: 10570432
    Abstract: A method for producing a saccharified solution making it possible that while the concentration of a solid in a reactor is kept high at an initial stage of hydrolyzing a cellulose contained in a biomass with an enzyme, the biomass is earlier solubilized to be made into a slurry form. In the method, at an initial stage of mixing an aqueous solution containing a biomass pulverized in a reactor, the aqueous solution is poured into reactor, and then pulverized biomass is supplied thereinto step by step while content in reactor is stirred. A final solid concentration in reactor is set into the range of 15 to 30% both inclusive by mass. The reactor's bottom plane is made into a conical or mirror plate form. At least in upper and lower parts of the reactor's inside, plural stirring fans having a long rotation radius are located to stir content in reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Nishino, Noriaki Izumi, Hironori Tajiri, Hiromasa Kusuda, Shoji Tsujita, Manabu Masamoto
  • Publication number: 20190048377
    Abstract: A method for producing a saccharified solution making it possible that while the concentration of a solid in a reactor is kept high at an initial stage of hydrolyzing a cellulose contained in a biomass with an enzyme, the biomass is earlier solubilized to be made into a slurry form. In the method, at an initial stage of mixing an aqueous solution containing a biomass pulverized in a reactor, the aqueous solution is poured into reactor, and then pulverized biomass is supplied thereinto step by step while content in reactor is stirred. A final solid concentration in reactor is set into the range of 15 to 30% both inclusive by mass. The reactor's bottom plane is made into a conical or mirror plate form. At least in upper and lower parts of the reactor's inside, plural stirring fans having a long rotation radius are located to stir content in reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi NISHINO, Noriaki IZUMI, Hironori TAJIRI, Hiromasa KUSUDA, Shoji TSUJITA, Manabu MASAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9481860
    Abstract: A method for removing bacterial contaminants from a saccharified solution capable of suppressing proliferation of bacterial contaminants in a fermentation tank without using an antibiotic in alcoholic fermentation of a biomass saccharified solution using normal yeast, and a fermentation system suited for conducting the method are provided. The method and system include drawing out a saccharified solution from a fermentation tank, conducting rough separation for recovering yeast from the solution, and conducting fine separation for removing bacterial contaminants from the solution, thereby removing only the contaminants while recovering yeast. The rough separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.5 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less or centrifugal separation at 50G or higher and 500G or lower. The fine separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.22 ?m or less, or centrifugal separation at 1000G or higher and 15000G or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriaki Izumi, Manabu Masamoto, Satoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 9273329
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, after a volatile organic acid is added as a catalyst to a slurry and the hydrolytic saccharification reaction of hemicellulose is performed, the volatile organic acid (including one added to the slurry and one produced as a by-product) contained in a C5 saccharified solution can be easily recovered by adding a small amount of sulfuric acid to the C5 saccharified solution and subjecting the C5 saccharified solution to air stripping treatment. The efficiency of hydrolytic saccharification of hemicellulose into C5 sugars using a volatile organic acid can also be continuously improved by adding the recovered volatile organic acid as a catalyst to another slurry of cellulosic biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Kusuda, Noriaki Izumi, Hironori Tajiri, Shoji Tsujita, Takashi Nishino, Manabu Masamoto
  • Publication number: 20150337253
    Abstract: A method for removing bacterial contaminants from a saccharified solution capable of suppressing proliferation of bacterial contaminants in a fermentation tank without using an antibiotic in alcoholic fermentation of a biomass saccharified solution using normal yeast, and a fermentation system suited for conducting the method are provided. The method and system include drawing out a saccharified solution from a fermentation tank, conducting rough separation for recovering yeast from the solution, and conducting fine separation for removing bacterial contaminants from the solution, thereby removing only the contaminants while recovering yeast. The rough separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.5 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less or centrifugal separation at 50G or higher and 500G or lower. The fine separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.22 ?m or less, or centrifugal separation at 1000G or higher and 15000G or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Noriaki IZUMI, Manabu MASAMOTO, Satoshi KONISHI
  • Publication number: 20140234936
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, after a volatile organic acid is added as a catalyst to a slurry and the hydrolytic saccharification reaction of hemicellulose is performed, the volatile organic acid (including one added to the slurry and one produced as a by-product) contained in a C5 saccharified solution can be easily recovered by adding a small amount of sulfuric acid to the C5 saccharified solution and subjecting the C5 saccharified solution to air stripping treatment. The efficiency of hydrolytic saccharification of hemicellulose into C5 sugars using a volatile organic acid can also be continuously improved by adding the recovered volatile organic acid as a catalyst to another slurry of cellulosic biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Kusuda, Noriaki Izumi, Hironori Tajiri, Shoji Tsujita, Takashi Nishio, Manabu Masamoto
  • Patent number: 8653394
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic separation method and an electrostatic separation device each of which, even in a case where the concentration of unburned components of coal ash produced by a boiler of a coal-fired power plant is as high as 15% to 30%, can stably separate the ash without generating spark, reuse the high unburned component ash as fuel, and reuse the low unburned component ash as, for example, an auxiliary material of concrete. The electrostatic separation device may include a substantially flat plate lower side electrode and an upper side electrode including a high dielectric resin element. A separation zone is formed in a region of electrostatic force between the lower side electrode and the upper side electrode, with one of the electrodes having positive polarity and the other having negative polarity. Unburned carbon ash in the coal ash supplied to the separation zone is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takikawa, Keiichi Mashio, Manabu Masamoto, Kouji Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Mayumi
  • Publication number: 20120043261
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic separation method and an electrostatic separation device each of which, even in a case where the concentration of unburned components of coal ash produced by a boiler of a coal-fired power plant is as high as 15% to 30%, can stably separate the ash without generating spark, reuse the high unburned component ash as fuel, and reuse the low unburned component ash as, for example, an auxiliary material of concrete. The electrostatic separation device may include a substantially flat plate lower side electrode and an upper side electrode including a high dielectric resin element. A separation zone is formed in a region of electrostatic force between the lower side electrode and the upper side electrode, with one of the electrodes having positive polarity and the other having negative polarity. Unburned carbon ash in the coal ash supplied to the separation zone is separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI PLANT SYSTEMS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Takikawa, Keiichi Mashio, Manabu Masamoto, Kouji Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Mayumi
  • Patent number: 8071904
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic separation method and an electrostatic separation device each of which, even in a case where the concentration of unburned components of coal ash produced by a boiler of a coal-fired power plant is as high as 15% to 30%, can stably separate the ash (into high unburned component ash and low unburned component ash) without generating spark, reuse the high unburned component ash as fuel, and reuse the low unburned component ash as, for example, an auxiliary material of concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takikawa, Keiichi Mashio, Manabu Masamoto, Kouji Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Mayumi
  • Publication number: 20090065402
    Abstract: [Object]The present invention provides an electrostatic separation method and an electrostatic separation device each of which, even in a case where the concentration of unburned components of coal ash produced by a boiler of a coal-fired power plant is as high as 15% to 30%, can stably separate the ash (into high unburned component ash and low unburned component ash) without generating spark, reuse the high unburned component ash as fuel, and reuse the low unburned component ash as, for example, an auxiliary material of concrete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Kawasaki Plant Systems Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takikawa, Keiichi Mashio, Manabu Masamoto, Kouji Fukumoto, Yasuhiro Mayumi