Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing laurolactam from cyclododecanone oxime by liquid-phase rearrangement reaction using trichlorotriazine as a rearrangement catalyst. The present invention can provide a process which can solve the problem of termination of the reaction at a certain conversion, can prevent an inactive precipitate generated from trichlorotriazine from precipitating in the course of the reaction process, and can remove an inactive precipitate, an active intermediate and a residual catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing laurolactam from cyclododecanone oxime by liquid-phase rearrangement reaction using trichlorotriazine as a rearrangement catalyst. The present invention can provide a process which can solve the problem of termination of the reaction at a certain conversion, can prevent an inactive precipitate generated from trichlorotriazine from precipitating in the course of the reaction process, and can remove an inactive precipitate, an active intermediate and a residual catalyst.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of: allowing the directions of a magnetic field, an electric current and the liquid metal flow to perpendicularly intersect to one another; and varying at least one of the magnetic field and the electric current in intensity in response to the temperature of the liquid metal. A force acting on the liquid metal flow is increased and decreased by the interaction between the magnetic field and the electric current. An apparatus for performing the method comprising material varying in electric property with the temperature of the liquid metal. The material is installed in at least one of a path of the magnetic field, a path of the electric current and means for generating the magnetic field. Variation of the electric property of the material allows one of the magnetic field and the electric current to be automatically increased or decreased in intensity in response to the temperature of the liquid metal, so that the force acting on the liquid metal flow is controlled.

Abstract: A device for flowing a fluid having electrical conductivity comprises a plurality of fluid passages annularly arranged such that electric current can flow across the adjacent passages and a magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic flux crossing the plurality of passages in radial direction. The electric current induced by making the electrically conductive fluid flow in part of the fluid passages is caused to flow in loop through all the fluid passages. The electrically conductive fluid existing in the remaining fluid passages is caused to flow by the induced current and the magnetic flux produced in the magnetic field generating means, in synchronism with the flow of the fluid flowing through said part of the fluid passages.

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur battery comprising molten sodium as an active material for a minus pole and molten sulfur as an active material for a plus pole, the molten sodium and molten sulfur being partitioned from each other by a sodium ion-permeating solid electrolyte such as .beta.-alumina as a boundary is provided with a sodium storage tank communicated with the molten sodium in the battery cell, a draining mechanism for withdrawing the molten sodium, when desired, from the battery cell into the sodium storage tank, and a circulating mechanism for purifying and returning the sodium from the sodium storage tank to the battery cell as the molten sodium, sodium can be discarged urgently from the battery at an accident of direct contact between the sodium and sulfur, with the result of improved safety.