Abstract: To predict a temporal change of weather with high accuracy. A weather prediction system including a prediction unit that calculates weather prediction data for an area including a point targeted for prediction, a correlation calculation unit that calculates a correlation between a weather variable of the weather prediction data at a predetermined time at the point targeted for prediction and a weather variable of the weather prediction data at a time different from the predetermined time at a point other than the point targeted for prediction, an observed value acquisition unit that acquires an observed value of an area including the point other than the point targeted for prediction, and a correction unit that corrects the weather prediction data for the area including the point targeted for prediction based on information on the correlation and the observed value.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of obtaining a thermal flow meter capable of reducing a pulsation error by preventing a discharge port and a main outlet from being blocked by a vortex during a transient period and reducing a difference between flow speed distributions in normal and pulsation states. This thermal flow meter is provided with a housing disposed in a main passage; and a sub passage provided in the housing. In addition, in the housing, a first outlet and a second outlet of the sub passage are disposed in a downstream end portion of the housing, and a curved surface section is provided adjacent to the first and second outlets.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to avoid a decrease in dispensing accuracy of a sample, a reagent, or the like as a temperature changes. In an automatic analyzer, a dispensing nozzle sucks the sample from a sample container holding the sample and discharges the sample to a reaction container. A syringe pump controls an amount of change in a volume of water. A first pipe connects the dispensing nozzle and the syringe pump. An electromagnetic valve flows or stops the water. A second pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the syringe pump. A branch pipe branches the water. A third pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the branch pipe. A case accommodates at least the syringe pump, the first pipe, the electromagnetic valve, the second pipe, the branch pipe, and the third pipe. Further, the third pipe includes a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange of the water.

Abstract: An energy operation system, apparatus, and method capable of stably supplying energy and providing adjustment control based on prediction precision and planning precision for energy supply and demand. An energy operation apparatus includes a demand predictor, planner, evaluator, and solution quality controller. The demand predictor predicts demand and/or a power generation amount of future energy in a management area. The planner prepares a future energy supply plan in the management area based on a prediction. The evaluator evaluates supply and/or demand conditions including at least one of future weather in the management area, energy demand in the management area, a demand density and/or a generation density of future energy in the management area. The solution quality controller controls the quality of at least one of a prediction solution of the demand predictor and the energy supply plan of the planner based on an evaluation result from the evaluator.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal flowmeter enabling a measurement error while fluid is pulsating, to fall below that of a conventional one. The thermal flowmeter includes a sub-passage configured to take in part of the fluid flowing in a main passage; and a flow-amount measuring unit disposed in the sub-passage. The sub-passage has a first passage provided on a measurement face side of the flow-amount measuring unit; a second passage provided on a back face side of the flow-amount measuring unit; and a slope passage provided on a downstream side in a forward direction of the fluid in the second passage with respect to an outlet of the second passage. The slope passage has a first slope face on a first passage side with respect to the flow-amount measuring unit, the first slope face sloping from a second passage side to the first passage side with respect to the forward direction.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to obtain a thermal flowmeter which effectively causes water droplets to be directed to a discharge port when the water droplets adhered to a wall surface of a first passage are drawn into a third passage portion. A thermal flowmeter of the present invention includes a sub-passage that takes a measurement gas flowing through a main passage; and a flow detection unit that measures a flow rate of the measurement gas by performing heat transfer with the measurement gas flowing through a sub-passage. Further, the sub-passage includes a first passage, a second passage portion branching in the middle of the first passage portion to be directed toward the flow detection unit; and a third passage portion branching in the middle of the second passage portion to be directed toward a third outlet, and a pressure loss generation means is provided between a third inlet and the third outlet of the third passage portion.

Abstract: A thermal flowmeter includes: a sub-passage (307) that takes a part of a gas (30) to be measured flowing through a main passage; and a flow measurement unit (451) disposed inside the sub-passage (307). The sub-passage (307) includes: a first passage (351) provided on a measurement surface (451a) side of the flow measurement unit (451); a second passage (352) provided on a back surface (451b) side of the flow measurement unit (451); and an inclined passage (361) provided on an upstream side of an inlet (351a) of the first passage in a forward flow direction F of the gas (30) to be measured in the first passage (351).

Abstract: A cleaning water flow velocity during nozzle cleaning is momentarily changed by using a pressure changing mechanism, for example, a syringe. That is, after the start of cleaning, a solenoid valve is opened, and an aspirating operation of the syringe is momentarily performed by a fixed amount in a state where a flow of cleaning water in a nozzle is developed, whereby a nozzle flow velocity is momentarily decelerated. Immediately thereafter, the syringe is pushed back to a home position again, and the flow velocity in the nozzle is accelerated again. A cleaning effect can be improved by performing transition of velocity distribution to various states. Flow velocity control by the pressure changing mechanism can be realized without inhibiting a dispensing cycle, and the cleaning effect of the nozzle can be improved without changing the pressure of a liquid feeding pump or extending the cleaning time.

Abstract: The objective is to provide a thermal flowmeter that prevents a backflow generated from a trailing vortex downstream of the thermal flowmeter from inhibiting a flow flowing out from a dust discharge port. An opening surface of a dust discharge port is formed in a position that is displaced at least with respect to the direction of a backflow of air resulting from a trailing vortex generated as a result of the flow of air at a lower end surface in which the dust discharge port is formed. The main flow in an intake pipe flows from an upstream side to a downstream side, it is possible to avoid the flow from the dust discharge port opposing head-on a backflow from a trailing vortex on the lower end surface side, and suppress a reduction in the dust discharging effect and a worsening of mass flow rate measurement errors.

Abstract: To provide a technique that is related to a cleaning mechanism of an automatic analyzer and which is adapted to reduce variability of a cleaning range in a reaction vessel so that blank value measurement and the like are less affected by the variability of the cleaning range. The automatic analyzer controls a sequence including optical measurement and cleaning and includes a discharge mechanism including a discharge nozzle for discharging a liquid into a reaction vessel; and an overflow suction mechanism including an overflow suction nozzle for sucking an overflow amount of the liquid in the reaction vessel.

Abstract: Provided is a technique related to an automatic analyzer and capable of ensuring cleaning performance of a reaction container by a cleaning process including a tip suction step, and preventing decrease in analysis accuracy or improving the analysis accuracy. The automatic analyzer includes a control apparatus, a block suction mechanism that moves a suction nozzle and a suction block for suctioning a liquid in the reaction container up and down and suctions the liquid, and a block cleaning mechanism for cleaning the suction block.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal flowmeter having good measurement accuracy by reducing deviation in the flow velocity distribution of a gas under measurement flowing through an auxiliary passage. An auxiliary passage 330 for taking in a portion of a gas under measurement IA flowing through a main passage 124 has a curved passage 32a that bends toward a flowrate measurement element 602. The curved passage 32a has a resistance portion 50 formed therein that applies resistance to the flow of the gas under measurement IA flowing through the outer peripheral side CO of the curved passage 32a so that the pressure loss of the gas under measurement IA flowing through the outer peripheral side CO is high compared to that of the gas flowing through the inner peripheral side CI of the curved passage 32a.

Abstract: An energy operation system, apparatus, and method capable of stably supplying energy and providing adjustment control based on prediction precision and planning precision for energy supply and demand. An energy operation apparatus includes a demand predictor, planner, evaluator, and solution quality controller. The demand predictor predicts demand and/or a power generation amount of future energy in a management area. The planner prepares a future energy supply plan in the management area based on a prediction. The evaluator evaluates supply and/or demand conditions including at least one of future weather in the management area, energy demand in the management area, a demand density and/or a generation density of future energy in the management area. The solution quality controller controls the quality of at least one of a prediction solution of the demand predictor and the energy supply plan of the planner based on an evaluation result from the evaluator.

Abstract: A thermal flowmeter includes a plurality of measuring units for stabilizing air flowing in a sub-passage, and improves noise performance or a pulsation characteristic of a flow rate sensor. The thermal flowmeter includes a flange fixed to an attachment part of a main passage, a sub-passage takes in a part of measured gas flowing in the main passage, a flow rate measuring unit measures a flow rate of the measured gas in the sub-passage, a circuit component controls the flow rate measuring unit, and the flow rate measuring unit and an electronic component are mounted on a circuit substrate. The sub-passage is formed in a substrate of the circuit substrate, the sub-passage on a surface side of the circuit substrate and a second space on a rear surface side are separated by the circuit substrate, and a pressure measuring unit and the circuit component are arranged in the second space.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer capable of controlling an interval between the tip of a sample nozzle and the bottom of a reaction container regardless of individual differences between reaction containers and sample nozzles and suppressing adhesion of a sample to the sample nozzle is disclosed. Sample nozzles 13a and 14a are moved toward the bottom surface of a reaction container 2, the movement of the sample nozzles is stopped at a point in time when a stop position detector 46 detects a stop position detection plate 45, the sample nozzles are ascended from the stop position to a position where the stop position detection plate 45 separates from a detection range of the stop position detector 46, and an arm 44 is moved upward by a moving distance stored in a memory.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal flowmeter capable of reducing a measurement error during pulsation of a fluid as compared with that in the related art. The thermal flowmeter includes: a sub-passage 307 that takes a part of a gas 30 to be measured flowing through a main passage; and a flow measurement unit 451 disposed inside the sub-passage 307. The sub-passage 307 includes: a first passage 351 provided on a measurement surface 451a side of the flow measurement unit 451; a second passage 352 provided on a back surface 451b side of the flow measurement unit 451; and an inclined passage 361 provided on an upstream side of an inlet 351a of the first passage 351 in a forward flow direction F of the gas 30 to be measured in the first passage 351. The inclined passage 361 includes a first inclined surface 371, which is inclined from the second passage 352 side toward the first passage 351 side with respect to the forward flow direction F, to be closer to the second passage 352 side than the flow measurement unit 451.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to obtain a thermal flowmeter which effectively causes water droplets to be directed to a discharge port when the water droplets adhered to a wall surface of a first passage are drawn into a third passage portion. A thermal flowmeter of the present invention includes a sub-passage that takes a measurement gas flowing through a main passage; and a flow detection unit that measures a flow rate of the measurement gas by performing heat transfer with the measurement gas flowing through a sub-passage. Further, the sub-passage includes a first passage, a second passage portion branching in the middle of the first passage portion to be directed toward the flow detection unit; and a third passage portion branching in the middle of the second passage portion to be directed toward a third outlet, and a pressure loss generation means is provided between a third inlet and the third outlet of the third passage portion.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of obtaining a thermal flow meter capable of reducing a pulsation error by preventing a discharge port and a main outlet from being blocked by a vortex during a transient period and reducing a difference between flow speed distributions in normal and pulsation states. This thermal flow meter is provided with a housing disposed in a main passage; and a sub passage provided in the housing. In addition, in the housing, a first outlet and a second outlet of the sub passage are disposed in a downstream end portion of the housing, and a curved surface section is provided adjacent to the first and second outlets.

Abstract: The objective is to provide a thermal flowmeter that prevents a backflow generated from a trailing vortex downstream of the thermal flowmeter from inhibiting a flow flowing out from a dust discharge port. An opening surface of a dust discharge port is formed in a position that is displaced at least with respect to the direction of a backflow of air resulting from a trailing vortex generated as a result of the flow of air at a lower end surface in which the dust discharge port is formed. The main flow in an intake pipe flows from an upstream side to a downstream side, it is possible to avoid the flow from the dust discharge port opposing head-on a backflow from a trailing vortex on the lower end surface side, and suppress a reduction in the dust discharging effect and a worsening of mass flow rate measurement errors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal flowmeter having good measurement accuracy by reducing deviation in the flow velocity distribution of a gas under measurement flowing through an auxiliary passage. An auxiliary passage 330 for taking in a portion of a gas under measurement IA flowing through a main passage 124 has a curved passage 32a that bends toward a flowrate measurement element 602. The curved passage 32a has a resistance portion 50 formed therein that applies resistance to the flow of the gas under measurement IA flowing through the outer peripheral side CO of the curved passage 32a so that the pressure loss of the gas under measurement IA flowing through the outer peripheral side CO is high compared to that of the gas flowing through the inner peripheral side CI of the curved passage 32a.