Abstract: A shift conversion catalyst layer is divided into at least two front and back stages. A first catalyst and a second catalyst are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively. The first catalyst has a property that a carbon monoxide conversion rate decreases with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in a supplied reaction gas at a constant carbon monoxide concentration in the supplied reaction gas and a constant reaction temperature. The first catalyst is combined with the second catalyst such that the degree of decrease in carbon monoxide conversion rate with respect to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the supplied reaction gas in the second catalyst is lower than that in the first catalyst. Whereby, the conversion rate of a carbon monoxide concentration of a carbon monoxide shift conversion apparatus can be improved without increasing the used amount of a shift conversion catalyst.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide separation method including the steps of: feeding a mixed gas that contains at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to a carbon dioxide separation membrane that contains a hydrophilic resin and a carbon dioxide carrier; separating, from the mixed gas, a permeation gas that contains the carbon dioxide by use of the carbon dioxide separation membrane; adjusting temperature of gas which contacts the carbon dioxide separation membrane so that a temperature difference between the mixed gas and the permeation gas is not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 20° C.; and adjusting pressure of the permeation gas, the pressure of the permeation gas and water vapor partial pressure in the mixed gas satisfying the following formula (1): 2.5 kPaA<(pressure of permeation gas)<(water vapor partial pressure in mixed gas) . . . (1).

Abstract: A system for producing an oxygenate, comprising: a desulfurization apparatus for contacting a raw material gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a desulfurizing agent comprising copper; and a synthesis apparatus for contacting the raw material gas treated by the desulfurizing apparatus with an oxygenate-synthesis catalyst comprising rhodium.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having improved CO2 permeance and improved CO2 selective permeability. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane which contains a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a copolymer including a first structural unit derived from an acrylic acid cesium salt or an acrylic acid rubidium salt and a second structural unit derived from vinyl alcohol. More preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher.

Abstract: A steam permselective membrane containing a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer is provided. The steam permselective membrane may further contain at least one alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of a cesium compound, a potassium compound and a rubidium compound.

Abstract: Provided are a CO2 gas separation membrane, a method for manufacturing the same, and a carbon dioxide gas separation membrane module including the same, the CO2 gas separation membrane including: a first layer (A) containing at least one alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal bicarbonate and an alkali metal hydroxide, and a first resin in which a polymer having a carboxyl group has been crosslinked; a second layer (B) containing at least one of the alkali metal compounds, and a second resin having a structural unit derived from a vinyl ester of a fatty acid; and a hydrophobic porous membrane (C).

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for a CO2 gas separation membrane containing: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal bicarbonate, and an alkali metal hydroxide; a crosslinked polymer in which a polymer having a carboxyl group has been crosslinked; and a non-crosslinked polymer obtained by polymerization of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a CO2 permselective membrane 1 having an amino acid ionic liquid and a porous membrane impregnated with the amino acid ionic liquid, wherein the amino acid ionic liquid contains a certain range of water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CO shift conversion device and a CO shift conversion method which improves CO conversion rate without increasing usage of a shift conversion catalyst. A CO shift conversion device includes: a CO shift converter 10 having a catalyst layer 5 composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst and performing CO shift conversion process on a gas flowing inside; and a CO2 remover 51 removing CO2 contained in a gas introduced. The catalyst layer 5 is composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst having a property that a CO conversion rate decreases with an increase of the concentration of CO2 contained in a gas flowing inside. The concentration of CO2 contained in a gas G0 to be processed is lowered by the CO2 remover 51 and, after that, the resultant gas is supplied to the CO shift converter 10 where it is subjected to the CO shift conversion process.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for generating an automated control process for controlling a subsection of a utility grid of a power network. The method includes: determining a topology of the subsection of the utility grid by obtaining data describing functionalities of components of the subsection of the utility grid and relationships between the components; identifying an event type in the power network which will trigger a requirement for implementing a configuration change to the subsection; generating an automated control process for directing the configuration change in the subsection, should an event of the event type occur; and automatically distributing the automated control process to a controller associated with the power network. The controller monitors, at least in part, the power network, and initiates the configuration change using the automated control process based on identifying occurrence of the event of the event type.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having improved CO2 permeance and improved CO2 selective permeability. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane which contains a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a copolymer including a first structural unit derived from an acrylic acid cesium salt or an acrylic acid rubidium salt and a second structural unit derived from vinyl alcohol. More preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher.

Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing at least carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively. When the second mixture gas is supplied, the second separation membrane 34 separates water vapor that permeates through the second separation membrane 34 by allowing water vapor to permeate selectively.

Abstract: An Epicatalytic Thermal Diode (ETD) includes one or more ETD cells. Each cell comprises first and second surfaces with a cavity between them, which contains a gas that is epicatalytically active with respect to the pair of surfaces. The surfaces chemically interact with the gas such that the gas dissociates at a faster rate proximate to the first surface than it does proximate to the second surface. Thus, a steady-state temperature differential between the first surface and the second surface is created and maintained. In various applications, multiple ETD cells are connected in series and/or parallel.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, or is soluble in water.

Abstract: Automated identification of components connected within a power grid is facilitated by: obtaining by one component of the power grid a request to broadcast a power-connected beacon identifying, at least in part, the one component of the power grid; and responsive to the request, automatically broadcasting by the one component the power-connected beacon into the power grid by superimposing the beacon onto an energized power line to identify that the one component is electrically connected to the power grid. In one embodiment, the power grid includes one or more stand-alone sub-grids, and the one component is a load component, or a distribution component, or a power-supply component of one stand-alone sub-grid of the power grid, and the obtaining is subsequent to a reconfiguration of the power grid, wherein one or more stand-alone sub-grids in the power grid are modified.