Abstract: A hot water feeder in which a solar heat collector is used. The feeder has a first heat exchanger for heating a heat medium by solar heat, a second heat exchanger for heating water in a hot-water tank by the heated heat medium, and a heat exchange volume determination unit. The heat exchange volume determination unit calculates the flow rate of the heat medium circulating between the first and second heat exchangers on the basis of the detected temperature of the heat medium fed to the first heat exchanger and the rotational speed of a heat medium circulation pump, and calculates the heat exchange volume on basis of the flow rate and the temperature difference between the detected temperatures.

Abstract: In a hot water supply system having a solar heater that heats a heating medium with absorbed solar heat, a cogeneration unit that heats the medium by heat exhausted from an engine, a hot water supply unit with a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging between the medium and water supplied from a water supply source to generate the hot water, a medium circulator that circulates the medium among the solar heater, cogeneration unit and heat exchanger, an electric heater that heats the hot water with the power generated by the generator, a heat absorption amount to be adsorbed by the solar heater is estimated and operations of the cogeneration unit and the electric heater are controlled based on the estimated heat absorption amount, thereby enabling to improve energy efficiency of the entire system.

Abstract: Maximum power point tracking control apparatus for a solar battery includes: a voltage detection section for detecting an output voltage of the battery; a current detection section for detecting an output current of the battery; a storage section storing therein duty cycle values of a solar-battery output controlling switching element that are predefined on the basis of relationship between output voltages and currents of the battery; and a control section for, at the start of maximum power point tracking control, reading out, from the storage section, one of the duty cycle values that corresponds to the detected output voltage and controlling a duty cycle of the switching element in accordance with the read-out duty cycle value.

Abstract: In a power supply system (10) having a cogeneration unit (12) equipped with an internal combustion engine (12a) and a generator (12b) to generate power to be supplied to a power destination and hot water to be supplied to a hot water destination, there are provided with a natural energy generation unit (14) that generates power with natural energy, a power supply unit (20) that receives the power generated by the generator and natural energy generation unit to supply the received power to the power destination; a voltage detector (22a) that detects voltage (V1) of the power flowing through an connecting bus (22), and an electric heater (121). The power supply unit (20) controls operation of the electric heater based on the detected connecting bus power voltage (V1), thereby effectively utilizing surplus electricity without transmitting back it to a commercial power source.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head is provided, which has a head structure that narrows the erase band width in shingled write recording. A perpendicular magnetic recording head has a main pole that generates a recording magnetic field, a trailing shield positioned on the trailing side of the main pole, and a side shield positioned in the cross-track direction of the main pole. In the structure, a gap length (MP?SS distance) between the side shield and the main pole and a gap length (MP?TS distance) between the trailing shield and the main pole satisfy a relationship, (MP?TS distance)×0.5<(MP?SS distance)<(MP?TS distance)×1.5.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided for improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell includes a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell may include a first cooling liquid passage and a second cooling liquid passage independent of the first cooling liquid passage. Cooling liquid is heated by an external heating device and supplied to the second cooling liquid passage.

Abstract: In a power supply system (10) having a cogeneration unit (12) equipped with an internal combustion engine (12a) and a generator (12b) to generate power to be supplied to a power destination and hot water to be supplied to a hot water destination, there are provided with a natural energy generation unit (14) that generates power with natural energy, a power supply unit (20) that receives the power generated by the generator and natural energy generation unit to supply the received power to the power destination; a voltage detector (22a) that detects voltage (V1) of the power flowing through an connecting bus (22), and an electric heater (12l). The power supply unit (20) controls operation of the electric heater based on the detected connecting bus power voltage (V1), thereby effectively utilizing surplus electricity without transmitting back it to a commercial power source.

Abstract: In a hot water supply system having a solar heater that heats a heating medium with absorbed solar heat, a cogeneration unit that heats the medium by heat exhausted from an engine, a hot water supply unit with a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging between the medium and water supplied from a water supply source to generate the hot water, a medium circulator that circulates the medium among the solar heater, cogeneration unit and heat exchanger, an electric heater that heats the hot water with the power generated by the generator, a heat absorption amount to be adsorbed by the solar heater is estimated and operations of the cogeneration unit and the electric heater are controlled based on the estimated heat absorption amount, thereby enabling to improve energy efficiency of the entire system.

Abstract: Maximum power point tracking control apparatus for a solar battery includes: a voltage detection section for detecting an output voltage of the battery; a current detection section for detecting an output current of the battery; a storage section storing therein duty cycle values of a solar-battery output controlling switching element that are predefined on the basis of relationship between output voltages and currents of the battery; and a control section for, at the start of maximum power point tracking control, reading out, from the storage section, one of the duty cycle values that corresponds to the detected output voltage and controlling a duty cycle of the switching element in accordance with the read-out duty cycle value.

Abstract: A hot water feeder in which a solar heat collector is used. The feeder has a first heat exchanger for heating a heat medium by solar heat, a second heat exchanger for heating water in a hot-water tank by the heated heat medium, and a heat exchange volume determination unit. The heat exchange volume determination unit calculates the flow rate of the heat medium circulating between the first and second heat exchangers on the basis of the detected temperature of the heat medium fed to the first heat exchanger and the rotational speed of a heat medium circulation pump, and calculates the heat exchange volume on basis of the flow rate and the temperature difference between the detected temperatures.

Abstract: Fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell for outputting, via a pair of terminals, electric energy produced through reaction between oxygen contained in air supplied to an air electrode and hydrogen contained in fuel gas supplied to a fuel electrode; a subsidiary power supply device for supplying electric power to the terminals; a detection section for detecting a supplied pressure of the fuel gas; and a control section for, when the detected gas pressure is lower than required gas pressure, performing control to cause electric power, corresponding to a difference between the detected gas pressure and the required gas pressure, to be supplied from the subsidiary power supply device to the terminals.

Abstract: An exhaust gas processing device for a fuel cell is disclosed. In the exhaust gas processing device, hydrogen gas purged from the fuel cell is mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell and diluted prior to being discharged to an atmosphere. The exhaust gas processing device includes a reservoir in which purged hydrogen gas from the fuel cell is retained and mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell, and an agitating gas introduction inlet provided at an upper part of the reservoir. The purged hydrogen gas is mixed with and diluted by agitating gas introduced from the agitating gas introduction inlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell which can self-heat in a short time, in which no reaction gas is necessary for combustion, thereby improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell comprises a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. This cell structure has a power generation plane and at least a part of the generation plane is defined as a local generation area so as to locally generate power. The fuel cell may include a pair of separators between which the cell structure is placed, and a reaction gas passage may be formed between the cell structure and each separator. One of a system for supplying a reaction gas to only a part of the reaction gas passage, and a system for supplying a reaction gas to the entire reaction gas passage is switchably selected.

Abstract: A fuel cell which can self-heat in a short time, in which no reaction gas is necessary for combustion, thereby improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell comprises a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. This cell structure has a power generation plane and at least a part of the generation plane is defined as a local generation area so as to locally generate power. The fuel cell may include a pair of separators between which the cell structure is placed, and a reaction gas passage may be formed between the cell structure and each separator. One of a system for supplying a reaction gas to only a part of the reaction gas passage, and a system for supplying a reaction gas to the entire reaction gas passage is switchably selected.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for nasal administration exhibits an improved bioavailability of a biologically active polypeptide, the active ingredient of the pharmaceutical composition. Specifically, the composition is prepared by uniformly dispersing and embedding a biologically active acidic polypeptide having an isoelectric point of 7 or lower on the surfaces of a polyvalent metal compound carrier with the help of an additive capable of dispersing and embedding the polypeptide on the surfaces of the carrier. The polyvalent metal compound carrier is a metal compound with a valent of 2 or higher that is either insoluble or little soluble in water, examples being aluminum compounds, calcium compounds, magnesium compounds, silicone compounds, iron compounds, and zinc compounds.

Abstract: There is provided a highly specific and highly sensitive assay method for platelet-activating factor (PAF). The invention may be employed to measure PAF levels in biological samples for elucidating the role of PAF in various pathological conditions. In addition, it is expected to facilitate diagnosis of various diseases associated with PAF fluctuation, and also contributing to evaluation of therapeutic effects on such diseases.

Abstract: An exhaust gas processing device for a fuel cell is disclosed. In the exhaust gas processing device, hydrogen gas purged from the fuel cell is mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell and diluted prior to being discharged to an atmosphere. The exhaust gas processing device includes a reservoir in which purged hydrogen gas from the fuel cell is retained and mixed with cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell, and an agitating gas introduction inlet provided at an upper part of the reservoir. The purged hydrogen gas is mixed with and diluted by agitating gas introduced from the agitating gas introduction inlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a humidifier which can humidify a fuel cell even when humidification has become insufficient at start-up of the fuel cell and during normal operation thereof. A water collecting apparatus which collects water in the exhaust gas of the fuel cell, and an auxiliary humidifier which humidifies the gas supply by using collected water from the water collecting apparatus, are provided separate to the water-permeable-type humidifier. The water collecting apparatus comprises a vapor/liquid separator and a collected water storage tank, and the auxiliary humidifier comprises a check valve, a collected water supply pump, an auxiliary humidification pipe, and an injector. The collected water in the collected water storage tank is transferred by a collected water supply pump, atomized by the injector, and supplied to the intake side of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell which can self-heat in a short time, in which no reaction gas is necessary for combustion, thereby improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell comprises a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. This cell structure has a power generation plane and at least a part of the generation plane is defined as a local generation area so as to locally generate power. The fuel cell may include a pair of separators between which the cell structure is placed, and a reaction gas passage may be formed between the cell structure and each separator. One of a system for supplying a reaction gas to only a part of the reaction gas passage, and a system for supplying a reaction gas to the entire reaction gas passage is switchably selected.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a humidifier which can humidify a fuel cell even when humidification has become insufficient at start-up of the fuel cell and during normal operation thereof. A water collecting apparatus which collects water in the exhaust gas of the fuel cell, and an auxiliary humidifier which humidifies the gas supply by using collected water from the water collecting apparatus, are provided separate to the water-permeable-type humidifier. The water collecting apparatus comprises a vapor/liquid separator and a collected water storage tank, and the auxiliary humidifier comprises a check valve, a collected water supply pump, an auxiliary humidification pipe, and an injector. The collected water in the collected water storage tank is transferred by a collected water supply pump, atomized by the injector, and supplied to the intake side of the fuel cell.