Abstract: An air cleaner having a first photocatalyst carrying member (26) carrying a photocatalyst for cleaning air upon being irradiated with light, a lamp (12) for illuminating the first photocatalyst carrying member (26), and a receiving member (17) receiving a portion between the ends of the lamp (12) through the first photocatalyst carrying member (26). The first photocatalyst carrying member (26) is contained in a containing section (20) of a main body casing (15), for example, and is interposed between the lamp (12) and an innermost portion (21) of the containing section (20). The receiving member (17) may be a projection (24), for example, provided in a standing posture in the innermost portion (21) of the containing section (20).

Abstract: An electrodeposition coating process consisting of the successive process steps: 1) electrodeposition of a coating layer of an electrodeposition coating agent that contains a thermally curable binder system onto the surface of an electrically conductive substrate and 2) thermal curing of the electrodeposited coating layer by irradiation with near infrared radiation.

Abstract: An exhaust emission purifier includes a catalyst unit disposed in an exhaust pipe of an engine. Electrodes (reaction adjustment unit) are provided on a honeycomb carrier of the catalyst unit in a layered form in order to apply an electric field to the vicinity of the catalyst surface to thereby adjust the catalytic reaction. An ECU serves as a status detection unit to detect factors which affect the exhaust gas purifying performance of the catalyst unit (i.e., operating conditions), and serves as a control unit which controls the electric field applied by the electrodes, on the basis of the detected operating conditions.

Abstract: The safe operation of pyrolytic-based, hazardous waste processing systems is accomplished by rapidly controlling an oxygen to product gas ratio and pressures within such systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the irradiation, in particular UV irradiation, of a liquid. The irradiation takes place in this case under precisely defined and reproducible operating conditions. The apparatus has a rotating cylinder with an upper inflow, a lower outflow and an irradiation unit, the cylinder forming an angle of inclination (&agr;) with the horizontal. The lower outflow also has two connections for passing on the liquid, one connection being closable with the aid of a first control unit if the irradiation of the liquid deviates from the defined conditions.

Abstract: An electrophoretic coating process of the surface of a sample in a bath, and a coating system, in which, during the flow of an electrophoretic current, one subjects the bath or the sample to vibrational movements so as to produce vaporous cavitations in the vicinity of the surface of the sample. The vibrations may be applied only in an initial phase of the beginning of current flow and/or only in a second phase at the end of current flow. In the system, the vibrations are generated using vibrational generators positioned in only at least one of the beginning and end positions of the container holding the bath.

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge non-thermal plasma reactor system and method for treating a combustion exhaust stream includes admitting an exhaust stream into a non-thermal plasma reactor having at least one segmented non-thermal plasma element including a plurality of individually energizable electrodes defining a plurality of corona volumes. In a preferred embodiment, the individually energizable electrodes are progressively smaller in size in the exhaust flow direction to provide optimum plasma volume variation. Individually energizable electrodes are selectively activated to effect variable corona volumes for treating an exhaust stream. Additional electrode segments may be activated such as during periods of high exhaust flow. The segmented elements may comprise a variety of shapes, such as C-shaped elements, I-shaped elements, planar elements, swept-shaped elements, inter-digitized elements prepared from comb-shaped elements.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a plural layer coating film-forming method comprising applying a cationically electrodepositable coating material (A) which provides a cured coating film having a volume resistivity value of 1012 &OHgr;.cm or less on a coated article and then applying an anionically electrodepositable coating material (B) on a cured coating film surface thereof.

Abstract: A method for forming double-layer coatings excellent in smoothness and resistant to yellowing is provided which comprises electrodepositing a cationic electrodeposition coating composition to form an uncured cationically electrodeposited coating, applying an intermediate coating composition to said uncured coating to form an uncured intermediate coating, and heating both uncured coatings simultaneously, said cationic electrodeposition coating composition containing a sulfonium group- and propargyl group-containing resin composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape deformable materials, which are capable of (1) being deformed, (2) storing an amount of shape deformation, and (3) recovering at least a portion of the shape deformation when exposed to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) energy. The shape deformable materials can advantageously be in the form of films, fibers, filaments, strands, nonwovens, and pre-molded elements. The shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to form products, which are both disposable and reusable. More specifically, the shape deformable materials of the present invention may be used to produce products such as disposable diapers, training pants, incontinence products, and feminine care products.

Abstract: A filter and a method for separating ions in a partially ionized plasma according to their mass includes a chamber with crossed electric and magnetic fields established therein. A feed, including metal atoms having ionization potentials in a low range, and gas atoms having an ionization potential in a high range, is introduced into the chamber. An electron temperature below the low range is generated to partially ionize the feed by dissociating the metal atoms from the gas atoms, and by ionizing the metal atoms into light and heavy ions according to their mass to charge ratio. The light and heavy ions are then influenced by the crossed electric and magnetic fields to separate the light ions from the heavy ions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a polyatomic form of a prescribed element is disclosed. The apparatus includes a chamber and a plasma source. The plasma source is coupled to the chamber for producing plasma of the prescribed element from a supply of the element in a gaseous state. The plasma includes at least a mixture of single atomic and double atomic species of the prescribed element. Lastly, a quencher is disposed within the chamber proximate an output of the plasma source for facilitating generation of the polyatomic form of the prescribed element from the mixture of single atomic and double atomic species of the prescribed element. In one embodiment, the element is oxygen and the polyatomic form is ozone.

Abstract: A device for electrolysis of an aqueous solution of an organic fuel. The electrolyte is a solid-state polymer membrane with anode and cathode catalysts on both surfaces for electro-oxidization and electro-reduction. A low-cost and portable hydrogen generator can be made based on the device with organic fuels such as methanol.

Abstract: A process for preparing a multi-layer coating on an electrically conductive automotive body or an electrically conductive automotive body part by applying a cathodic electrodeposition coating layer, optionally a further coating layer and an outer clear coating, in which the cathodic electrodeposition coating layer of a cathodic electrodeposition coating composition is applied which, as the cathodic electrodeposition binder, contains a seed polymer with an amine value of 30 to 100 mg KOH/g and a hydroxyl value of 50 to 200 mg KOH/g, which can be prepared by radical polymerisation of 70 to 97 wt-% of a monomer mixture comprising hydroxy-functional olefinically unsaturated monomer and amino-functional olefinically unsaturated monomer in the presence of 3 to 30 wt-% of an aminoepoxy resin.

Abstract: A melting furnace that incorporates the autoclave theory and is equipped with a high-frequency (horizontal wave) device for incinerating material and for thermal decomposition and recrystallization of organic and inorganic hazardous compounds contained in it and to detoxify hazardous substances that have been recrystallized or thermally decomposed by using specific solvents. A melting furnace to accomplish the above is provided and hazardous gas that is generated during the incineration process at high temperature and under high pressure in the furnace is treated.

Abstract: A cationic electrodeposition coating composition comprising (A) a cationic resin having a crosslinkable functional group and a cationic group in one molecule, (B) a crosslinking agent, and (C) polyether polyol, said cationic electrodeposition coating composition having a volatile organic solvent content in the range of 1% by weight or less.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for producing a controlled atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of below 10−13 Pa and an operating temperature above 1000° C. According to the invention a furnace is vented by a gas mixture having an oxygen partial pressure lower than 10−8 Pa but higher than that of said controlled atmosphere, and that a partial volume of said furnace is submitted to a static electric field having a strength of at least 6V/cm and reducing the oxygen partial pressure in this partial volume by orders of magnitude. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method.

Abstract: Plasma treatment for producing carbonaceous field emission electron emitters is disclosed. A plasma of ions is generated in a closed chamber and used to surround the exposed surface of a carbonaceous material. A voltage is applied to an electrode that is in contact with the carbonaceous material. This voltage has a negative potential relative to a second electrode in the chamber and serves to accelerate the ions toward the carbonaceous material and provide an ion energy sufficient to etch the exposed surface of the carbonaceous material but not sufficient to result in the implantation of the ions within the carbonaceous material. Preferably, the ions used are those of an inert gas or an inert gas with a small amount of added nitrogen.

Abstract: Syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is an intermediate in the conversion of methane to liquid fuels. For certain applications, it is desirable to maintain an H2/CO molar ratio of about 3. This molar ratio is achieved by steam reforming of methane in accordance with: CH4+H2O→3H2+CO. To provide the heat required to drive the endothermic steam reforming reaction, a low grade fuel is combusted in a reactor and the heat of combustion conducted to the endothermic reaction. By using an oxygen selective ion transport membrane element to transport the oxygen required for combustion, the formation of undesirable NOx compounds is minimized.

Abstract: A method of cracking a hydrocarbon composition having a normal boiling range beginning at a temperature of at least about 200° C., includes the steps of providing the hydrocarbon composition in a reactor including a first electrode mechanism, a second electrode mechanism and at least one layer of a normally solid dielectric material positioned between the first and the second electrode mechanisms. The hydrocarbon composition within the reactor is exposed to a dielectric barrier discharge, and the dielectric barrier discharge is controlled to convert the hydrocarbon composition into products having normal boiling points of below about 200° C.