Abstract: An oxidative autothermal reformer including a reforming layer at least partially filled with a reforming catalyst for producing a reformed gas composed mainly of hydrogen through a reforming reaction by contacting a mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and steam with the reforming catalyst; and an oxidative exothermic layer at least partially filled with an oxidation catalyst for generating heat by oxidizing a part of the reformed gas, in which the reforming layer is disposed at an upstream side of the oxidative exothermic layer; the reforming layer and the oxidative exothermic layer are in the form of a cylinder and have a triple circular tube structure formed by disposing an inner reforming layer, an oxidative exothermic layer and an outer reforming layer from the inside in a radial direction in this order; and at least a part of the reforming catalyst filled in the inner reforming layer and the outer reforming layer contains Ru metal.

Abstract: A combustor is proposed which is compact and eliminates generation of NOx and unburned combustible and is capable of stable combustion.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oxidative autothermal reformer (1) comprising a reforming layer (2) at least partially filled with a reforming catalyst for producing a reformed gas composed mainly of hydrogen through a reforming reaction by contacting a mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and steam with the reforming catalyst; and an oxidative exothermic layer (3) at least partially filled with an oxidation catalyst for generating heat by oxidizing a part of the reformed gas, in which the reforming layer (2) is disposed at an upstream side of the oxidative exothermic layer (3); the reforming layer (2) and the oxidative exothermic layer (3) are in the form of a cylinder and have a triple circular tube structure formed by disposing an inner reforming layer (2A), an oxidative exothermic layer (3) and an outer reforming layer (2B) from the inside in a radical direction in this order; and at least a part of the reforming catalyst filled in the inner reforming layer (2A) and the outer reforming layer (2B)

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol. The method includes preparing a columnar catalytic member having many axial passages and containing a reforming catalyst, a shift catalyst and an oxidation catalyst; preparing a reformable gas containing a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and water vapor mixed together; rotating the columnar catalytic member, while passing the gas therethrough transversely with respect to its cross-section such that the gas first flows along a forward path extending in one direction through a first portion of the axial passages and then flows along a backward path extending in the other direction through a second portion of the axial passages, thereby causing the gas to undergo reforming and shift reactions to form hydrogen for recovery, while the gas makes a round trip along the forward and backward paths; and introducing an oxygen containing gas into the forward path and/or the backward path.

Abstract: The system is a self-oxidation internal heating steam reforming system for conducting self-oxidation of a raw material gas under the presence of oxygen and conducting steam reforming to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas. The system includes a steam generator including a combustion section for combusting an air-fuel mixture obtained by mixing a combustion air with a fuel, thereby heating water using a combustion gas generated in the combustion section to generate hydrogen; a first sucking-mixer for sucking the raw material gas into a steam stream coming from the steam generator to obtain a raw material-steam mixture; and a reformer for oxidizing the raw material gas in the raw material-steam mixture by an oxygen-containing gas supplied from outside, thereby conducting steam reforming of the raw material gas using the reaction heat of the oxidation to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol. The method includes preparing a columnar catalytic member having many axial passages and containing a reforming catalyst, a shift catalyst and an oxidation catalyst; preparing a reformable gas containing a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and water vapor mixed together; rotating the columnar catalytic member, while passing the gas therethrough transversely with respect to its cross-section such that the gas first flows along a forward path extending in one direction through a first portion of the axial passages and then flows along a backward path extending in the other direction through a second portion of the axial passages, thereby causing the gas to undergo reforming and shift reactions to form hydrogen for recovery, while the gas makes a round trip along the forward and backward paths; and introducing an oxygen containing gas into the forward path and/or the backward path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the production of hydrogen by the reformation of a hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol having a hollow cylindrical frame; a columnar catalytic member having a multitude of axial passages, mounted in and supported by the cylindrical frame so as to be rotatable relative thereto by a drive unit; a lid body, closing an upper end of the cylindrical frame and making a space immediately above the columnar catalytic member; a partition wall for subdividing the space into a first and a second independent space; a gas inlet port formed in the lid body for introducing a mixture gas of hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol and water vapor into the first space; a hydrogen outlet port formed in the lid body for recovering hydrogen generated from the second space; and an oxygen inlet port for introducing oxygen into a region of the catalytic member, wherein the oxygen inlet port may make further use of the gas inlet port and/or be additionally provided for communication with a closed

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol efficiently is disclosed together with an apparatus for implementing the method.

Abstract: An auto-oxidation and internal heating type reforming method and apparatus for hydrogen production are disclosed for use in a process in which a gaseous mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol with water vapor is fed into contact with a mass of a reforming catalyst to bring about a reforming reaction of the gaseous mixture to produce hydrogen, wherein a small amount of an oxidizing catalyst is admixed with the reforming catalyst in that mass; and a small amount of oxygen is admixed with the gaseous mixture, whereby a portion of the hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol is exothermally oxidized to generate a quantity of heat required to reform the gaseous mixture of the hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol with water vapor.

Abstract: An auto-oxidation and internal heating type reforming method and apparatus for hydrogen production are disclosed for use in a process in which a gaseous mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol with water vapor is fed into contact with a mass of a reforming catalyst to bring about a reforming reaction of the gaseous mixture to produce hydrogen, wherein a small amount of an oxidizing catalyst is admixed with the reforming catalyst in that mass; and a small amount of oxygen is admixed with the gaseous mixture, whereby a portion of the hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol is exothermally oxidized to generate a quantity of heat required to reform the gaseous mixture of the hydrocarbon or aliphatic alcohol with water vapor.

Abstract: A gas heating apparatus comprises a duct constructed by a heat insulating material having a heat resisting property, a plurality of honeycombs disposed across in the duct so as to oppose to a direction of a gas flow in the duct, the honeycombs being formed of a material having a heat resisting property, and a plurality of heat radiating members disposed inside the duct so as to oppose to the honeycombs, respectively, for radiating heat to the honeycombs. The gas entering the duct flows therein and is heated during the passing through the honeycombs. The honeycombs are constituted as partition walls.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprises: a large-diameter sleeve-like element forming an incoming passage through which an air/fuel mixture gas flows in a predetermined direction; at least one small-diameter sleeve-like element disposed in the incoming passage, which small-diameter sleeve-like element forms an outgoing passage through which a combustion gas having been issued from the incoming passage flows in a direction counter to the above predetermined direction; an air/fuel mixing unit for issuing the air/fuel mixture gas under a predetermined pressure to a main incoming port located in an upstream side of the incoming passage; an auxiliary incoming unit for issuing a combustion gas produced by a pilot burner to the upstream side of the incoming passage prior to supplying the air/fuel mixture gas to the incoming passage; and a combustion-gas outlet port for discharging the combustion gas having passed through the outgoing passage, which combustion-gas outlet port communicates with an outlet opening of the outgo

Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprises: a large-diameter sleeve-like element forming an incoming passage through which an air/fuel mixture gas flows in a predetermined direction; at least one small-diameter sleeve-like element disposed in the incoming passage, which small-diameter sleeve-like element forms an outgoing passage through which a combustion gas having been issued from the incoming passage flows in a direction counter to the above predetermined direction; an air/fuel mixing unit for issuing the air/fuel mixture gas under a predetermined pressure to a main incoming port located in an upstream side of the incoming passage; an auxiliary incoming unit for issuing a combustion gas produced by a pilot burner to the upstream side of the incoming passage prior to supplying the air/fuel mixture gas to the incoming passage; and a combustion-gas outlet port for discharging the combustion gas having passed through the outgoing passage, which combustion-gas outlet port communicates with an outlet opening of the outgo

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating apparatus having an object to form a construction of high thermal efficiency so that a heat transfer area of a surface to be heated in a heating chamber may be made small so as to miniaturize the whole equipment, and to utilize the whole quantity of supplied oxygen effectually thereby to suppress generation of polution materials.

Abstract: A far-infrared radiating system comprises a far-infrared radiating element (2) such as a ceramic, adhered to a metallic material (1) and radiating far-infrared rays upon heating. The system is constructed of a primary-radiating element (5) which is made of a metallic material while heated by a combustion gas passing therethrough and a secondary-radiating element (3) provided with the far-infrared radiating element (2) adhered to the metallic material (1). The primary-radiating element (5) is spaced apart and oppositely disposed from the secondary-radiating element (3) which is heated by infrared rays radiated from the primary-radiating element (5) having been heated with a combustion gas passing therethrough, whereby the secondary-radiating element (3) radiates far-infrared rays.

Abstract: In a far-infrared radiating system, a plurality of radiating units for allowing the combustion gas to pass therethrough are connected in series to form a multi-stage series-connecting construction. The combustion gas releases its heat energy in the form of far-infrared rays when passing through each of the radiating units. The combustion gas having passed through the radiating unit decreases in temperature, and recovers its previous high temperature through combustion of a fuel which is mixed with such combustion gas before the combustion gas enters the following-stage radiating unit. Such combustion is repeated in each of the following stages so that the heat produced by combustion of the fuel is effectively radiated in the form of the far-infrared rays without making waste.

Abstract: A differential-pressure control device for fuel cell comprises three liquid tubs allowed to communicate with each other at their respective bottom portions through a sealing liquid having free surfaces, gas pipe means which connect the liquid tubs to gas outlets of the fuel cell respectively to introduce the gas flows from an anode, a cathode and a cell container of the fuel cell into the sealing liquid of the liquid tubs, each of the gas pipe means being formed with gas blow out section opened in the sealing liquid at the end portion thereof, the gas blow out sections having relative heights set at the value corresponding to predetermined differential pressure among the electrodes and the cell container, and gas conduit means for guiding the gas to the outside of the device from the gas chambers defined by the liquid tubs and the free surfaces of the sealing liquid respectively and located at the tops of the liquid tubs respectively.

Abstract: A sunrays focusing apparatus for obtaining highly condensed solar energy. The apparatus includes a first trough-shaped parabolic reflector mounted for rotation about both vertical and horizontal axes.A first elongated refractor is mounted to the first parabolic reflector along or adjacent to the focal axis of the first parabolic reflector.A second trough-shaped parabolic reflector is also mounted to the first parabolic reflector in such a way that focal axes of both first and second parabolic reflectors are disposed at right angles to each other.A second reflector is mounted to the first parabolic reflector along or adjacent to the focal axis of the second parabolic reflector. Mounted on the second parabolic reflector is a sun tracking device responsive to sunrays for directing the first parabolic reflector towards the sun.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing fresh water from sea water in which a vertical accumulator utilizes the sensible heat of sea water so as to evaporate said sea water to a temperature above 100.degree. C. under pressure, a heat-exchanger connecting between the upper and lower portions of said accumulator causes a high temperature liquid to effect heat-exchange with sea water to be evaporated, a fresh sea water feed line connected to the lower portion of said accumulator adjusts the pressure within the accumulator and an evaporator receives higher temperature sea water. The accumulator accumulates heat in such a manner that the upper portion of said accumulator holds higher temperature sea water and the lower portion of the accumulator holds lower temperature sea water so that when heat is accumulated, the amount of said higher temperature sea water increases and when heat is radiated, the amount of higher temperature decreases whereby sea water evaporates at all times.

Abstract: A sun following-up device for a solar heat utilization apparatus which comprises a hollow cylindrical member, a fish eye lens unit on the top of said cylindrical member, a series of vertically spaced lenses positioned within said cylindrical member, a casing positioned on the bottom of said cylindrical member, a screen glass positioned within said casing for forming an image thereon, a pair of spaced diffusion glasses positioned on the undersurface of said screen glass to define a slit between the opposing faces thereof, a pair of photosensitive cells positioned on the undersurface of said diffusion glasses, optical fibers having one ends received in said slit leaving a clearance between the ends and a pair of photosensitive cells secured to said optical fibers.