Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element that can efficiently make a temperature difference across a thermoelectric conversion material is provided. In the thermoelectric conversion element, on a first surface of a thermoelectric conversion module comprising a P-type thermoelectric element, an N-type thermoelectric element, and an electrode, a thermally conductive resin layer A and a thermally conductive resin layer B having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive resin layer A are provided in an alternating manner so as to be in direct contact with the first surface, and on a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface of the thermoelectric conversion module, a thermally conductive resin layer a and a thermally conductive resin layer b having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive resin layer a are provided in an alternating manner so as to be in direct contact with the second surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a power conversion apparatus 3 for converting polyphase ac power directly to ac power. A conversion circuit includes a plurality of first switching devices 311, 313, 315 and a plurality of second switching devices 312, 314, 316 connected, respectively, with the phases R, S, T of the polyphase ac power, and configured to enable electrical switching operation in both directions. Output lines 331, 332 formed by a pair of busbars are connected with the conversion circuit. The first switching devices and the second switching devices are so arranged that output terminals are arranged in a row. The output lines 331, 332 are connected with the output terminals and drawn out rectilinearly in one direction.

Abstract: Provided are a power generation element including a power generation material indicated by the following general formula (1), and a power generation system using the power generation element: (AxB1-x)NbO3 (1), where A and B are mutually different and represent at least one element selected from rare-earth elements, alkaline-earth metals, alkaline metals, Cd, and Bi, and x represents an atomic proportion in a numerical range of 0<x?1. The configuration provides a power generation material that enables sufficient power generation performance even in a high temperature range, a power generation element including the power generation material, and a power generation system using the power generation element.

Abstract: A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit and a plurality of output lines. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The output lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements have output terminals. The output terminals of the first and second switching elements are arranged in first and second rows. The output terminals of the first and second switching elements face each other. The first output lines include two first output lines including first and second widely shaped bus bars connected to the output terminals of the first and second switching elements, respectively. The first output lines extending out in one direction, and line up in an upright direction.

Abstract: A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit, a plurality of input lines and a plurality of capacitors. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to the phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The input lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The capacitors are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements are arranged such that paired input terminals line up in a row with the paired input terminals to an outside, and paired output terminals to an inside. The input lines extend in a direction in which the paired input terminals line up, and extend from one of the input terminals to another of the input terminals.

Abstract: An electric power conversion device comprises a conversion circuit having bi-directionally switchable plural pairs of switching elements connected to respective phases and converting an inputted AC power into an AC electric power. A first switching time is calculated using detected voltages detected by voltage sensors and an output command value. A second switching time is calculated using a carrier and the first switching time. A control signal generating section generates control signals to switch on and off of the switching elements using the first switching time and second switching time. In a case where a state is transited from the first switching time to the second switching time, a controller turns off one of on a state switching elements of either one of an upper arm circuit or a lower arm circuit and maintains on state of the other of the on state switching elements of the other arm circuit.

Abstract: An electric power conversion device comprises a conversion circuit having bi-directionally switchable plural pairs of switching elements connected to respective phases and converting an inputted AC power into an AC electric power. A first switching time is calculated using detected voltages detected by voltage sensors and an output command value. A second switching time is calculated using a carrier and the calculated first switching time. The second switching time is such that, in one period of the alternating current electric power outputted from the conversion circuit, the second switching time included in a first half period of the one period is equal to the second switching time included in a second half period of the one period.

Abstract: An electric power conversion device comprises a conversion circuit having bi-directionally switchable plural pairs of switching elements connected to respective phases and converting an inputted AC power into an AC electric power. A first switching time is calculated using detected voltages detected by voltage sensors and an output command value. A second switching time is calculated in a form of a time which is a subtraction of the first switching time from a half period of a carrier and, using this time, control signals to switch on and off of the switching elements are generated.

Abstract: Provided are a vulcanizate of a chloroprene rubber composition containing carbon black that generates a smaller amount of heat when used and a method for producing the same by a simpler and more convenient method. First, an unvulcanized rubber composition at least containing a chloroprene polymer and carbon black is vulcanization-molded, to give a semivulcanized molded article having a cure characteristic value, as determined by the method specified in JIS K6300-2: 2001, in the range of t10 to t80. Then, the semivulcanized molded article obtained by semivulcanized film-forming step is additionally vulcanized in the state as it is deformed entirely and the deformation is removed, to give vulcanizate in a desired shape.

Abstract: A power-generating system includes a heat source which is able to produce temporal temperature variation; a first device which is able to produce temporal temperature variation based on the temperature change of the heat source and in which polarization occurs; a second device for taking out a net generating power from the first device; a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the first device; a voltage application device that applies a voltage to the first device; and a control unit for activating the voltage application device on detecting an increase in temperature of the first device and for stopping the voltage application device on detecting a decrease in temperature of the first device by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Provided are a vulcanizate of a chloroprene rubber composition containing carbon black that generates a smaller amount of heat when used and a method for producing the same by a simpler and more convenient method. First, an unvulcanized rubber composition at least containing a chloroprene polymer and carbon black is vulcanization-molded, to give a semivulcanized molded article having a cure characteristic value, as determined by the method specified in JIS K6300-2: 2001, in the range of t10 to t80. Then, the semivulcanized molded article obtained by semivulcanized film-forming step is additionally vulcanized in the state as it is deformed entirely and the deformation is removed, to give vulcanizate in a desired shape.

Abstract: A power-generating system includes a heat source which is able to produce temporal temperature variation; a first device which is able to produce temporal temperature variation based on the temperature change of the heat source and in which polarization occurs; a second device for taking out a net generating power from the first device; a detection unit that detects the temperature of the first device; an electric field application unit that applies an electric field to the first device; and a control unit for activating the electric field application unit when the temperature detected by the detection unit is the Curie temperature of the first device or higher.

Abstract: A matrix converter according to an embodiment includes a power converter having a plurality of bidirectional switches, a controller, and a current detector. The controller controls the power converter. The correct detector detects a current flowing to an output side of the power converter. The controller extracts a high-frequency component contained in the current detected by the current detector, adjusts an output current reference on the basis of the high-frequency component, and controls the power converter on the basis of the adjusted output current reference.

Abstract: A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit, a plurality of input lines and a plurality of capacitors. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to the phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The input lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The capacitors are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements are arranged such that paired input terminals line up in a row with the paired input terminals to an outside, and paired output terminals to an inside. The input lines extend in a direction in which the paired input terminals line up, and extend from one of the input terminals to another of the input terminals.

Abstract: A power-generating system includes a heat source which is able to produce temporal temperature variation, a first device in which polarization occurs based on the temperature change of the heat source, and a second device for taking out a net generating power from the first device, wherein 80% or higher of the total surface area of the first device is heated and/or cooled with the heat source.

Abstract: A modified natural rubber particle having carbon-carbon double bands assigned to multifunctional vinyl monomers graft-copolymerized onto the surface of the modified natural rubber particle, which is prepared by graft-copolymerization of multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles. One of the methods for producing a modified natural rubber particle includes the steps of: forming inclusion complex of the multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds with a guest-protecting agent to protect at least one of the double bonds of the multifunctional vinyl monomers; graft-copolymerizing the resulting inclusion complex onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles; and deprotecting the protected double bonds by removing the guest-protecting agent from the obtained graft-copolymer.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 that are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally, and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316 that are connected to each phase to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. The converter circuit comprises input lines R, S and T connected to each input terminal, and output lines P and N connected to each output terminal. Parts of wiring 347 and 348 of protection circuits 32 are located between output lines P and N. The wiring distance between each protection circuit 32 and the corresponding switching element can be shortened.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316, both of which are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. Condensers 821 to 826 are provided between phases. Input terminals of the first switching elements and those of the second switching elements are arranged to form respective lines. Some of the plurality of condensers 821 and 822 are arranged to be angled relative to the arrangement direction of the terminals. The wiring distance between the condensers and the switching elements can be shortened.

Abstract: There are provided a method by which a stress history of an object can be measured with high reliability if the object, which has temporarily been elastically deformed upon receiving an external force, recovers from the elastic deformation, and a composite material containing cement as a main component, of which a stress history can be measured with high reliability without reducing the strength of the material itself and without breaking the structure. To achieve the above-mentioned advantages, the method includes the steps of: acquiring an initial value of a twin density for calcite particles contained in an object to be measured that is elastically deformable upon receiving an external force; and measuring a history of stresses received by the object to be measured on the basis of a difference from the initial value in respect of the twin density for the calcite particles after the object to be measured receives the external force.

Abstract: There is provided a zeolite membrane which is thinner than a conventional membrane and which has improved permeability and a method for manufacturing the zeolite membrane. The method includes a surface layer forming step for forming a surface layer by attaching a low polar polymer on a first surface of a porous substrate to cover the surface, a filling step for filling a masking polymer into pores in the porous substrate from a surface different from the first surface of the porous substrate up to the surface layer by impregnating the porous substrate with the masking polymer and solidifying the masking polymer, and a surface layer removing step for removing the surface layer. After the surface layer removing step, a zeolite membrane is formed on the first surface of the porous substrate.