Abstract: A heat pump including: a refrigerant accumulator in which a substance accumulating a refrigerant is disposed, the refrigerant accumulator having a heating means heating the substance in order to release the refrigerant; a flow path connected at one end thereof to the refrigerant accumulator, the flow path holding the refrigerant released from the substance in the refrigerant accumulator by capillary action; a first heat exchanger provided between the refrigerant accumulator and the flow path or around the flow path and exchanging heat with the refrigerant in order to condense the refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger provided around the flow path and exchanging cold energy generated by evaporation of the refrigerant from the other end of the flow path.

Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes: a laser light source; an optical fiber; and a temperature measurement unit configured to acquire a measured temperature distribution of a temperature of a temperature measurement area along an installation path of the optical fiber by detecting backscattered light of the incident laser light in the optical fiber, wherein the temperature measurement unit sequentially makes a correction for the measured temperature distribution a plurality of times so as to make a square error between a convolution of a transfer function of the optical fiber along the installation path and the corrected temperature distribution and the measured temperature distribution smaller in each of the corrections, and the temperature measurement unit also replaces a corrected temperature at a specific point of the installation path with an estimated temperature at the specific point in each of the corrections.

Abstract: An air volume adjustment device is located at a vent for connecting an equipment installation area, where a rack for housing computers is installed, to a free access floor provided below a floor of the equipment installation area and supplied with air from an air conditioner. The air volume adjustment device includes an air volume adjustment sheet provided with an opening to allow passage of air, a first roll connected to one end portion of the air volume adjustment sheet and made capable of reeling in the air volume adjustment sheet, and a second roll located away from the first roll, connected to another end portion of the air volume adjustment sheet, and made capable of reeling in the air volume adjustment sheet.

Abstract: A ligand contains: a benzimidazole skeleton; and functional groups at the 5-position and the 6-position of the benzimidazole skeleton. The functional group is capable of forming a coordinate bond with a metal, and contains a nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell is disclosed that includes a conductive carrier, and a catalyst layer formed to cover the conductive carrier and formed of one of Pt, Ru, and a Pt-based alloy.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided with a first measurement portion and a second measurement portion. The first measurement portion is provided with a heater and a hygroscopic layer made of a resin in which a material having a deliquescent property is dispersed. Meanwhile, the second measurement portion is provided with the heater and a non-hygroscopic layer having a lower moisture absorption capacity than the capacity of the hygroscopic layer. The heater is brought into heat generation by being supplied with electric power, and temperatures at the second measurement portion and temperatures at the first measurement portion are measured with a temperature measurement device. Then, an analyzer calculates a humidity based on an integrated value of differences between the temperatures at the first measurement portion and the temperatures at the second measurement portion.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided with a first measurement portion and a second measurement portion provided with covering layers different at least in any one of heat capacity and heat conductivity. Then, the first measurement portion and the second measurement portion are located in the same measurement position and light is inputted from a temperature measurement device into the optical fiber. Thereafter, the temperature measurement device receives backscattered light generated inside the optical fiber to measure temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. An analyzer analyzes a variation over time of the temperature distribution outputted from the temperature measurement device to calculate a temperature and a wind velocity in a measurement position where the first measurement portion and the second measurement portion are located.

Abstract: An image of an installed state of an optical fiber is captured by a camera. The optical fiber is provided with position marks at fixed intervals, the position marks each indicating a distance from a predetermined position and a direction of the optical fiber. An installed state analyzing apparatus performs image processing on the captured image and analyzes the installed state of the optical fiber by using the optical fiber installation tools and the position marks.

Abstract: An image of an installed state of an optical fiber is captured by a camera. The optical fiber is provided with position marks at fixed intervals, the position marks each indicating a distance from a predetermined position and a direction of the optical fiber. An installed state analyzing apparatus performs image processing on the captured image and analyzes the installed state of the optical fiber by using the optical fiber installation tools and the position marks.

Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes: a laser light source; an optical fiber; and a temperature measurement unit configured to acquire a measured temperature distribution of a temperature of a temperature measurement area along an installation path of the optical fiber by detecting backscattered light of the incident laser light in the optical fiber, wherein the temperature measurement unit sequentially makes a correction for the measured temperature distribution a plurality of times so as to make a square error between a convolution of a transfer function of the optical fiber along the installation path and the corrected temperature distribution and the measured temperature distribution smaller in each of the corrections, and the temperature measurement unit also replaces a corrected temperature at a specific point of the installation path with an estimated temperature at the specific point in each of the corrections.

Abstract: A heat pump including: a refrigerant accumulator in which a substance accumulating a refrigerant is disposed, the refrigerant accumulator having a heating means heating the substance in order to release the refrigerant; a flow path connected at one end thereof to the refrigerant accumulator, the flow path holding the refrigerant released from the substance in the refrigerant accumulator by capillary action; a first heat exchanger provided between the refrigerant accumulator and the flow path or around the flow path and exchanging heat with the refrigerant in order to condense the refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger provided around the flow path and exchanging cold energy generated by evaporation of the refrigerant from the other end of the flow path.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell power generation part containing a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode, and a heat-exchange chamber configured to cool a gas emitted from the fuel-cell power generation part to thereby form water. A power generation reaction using a fuel yields electric power and water in the fuel-cell power generation part. The electric power is utilized as driving force typically for an electrical apparatus. A gas containing the water as vapor undergoes heat exchange and condensation to thereby form water in the heat-exchange chamber. The formed water remains inside the heat-exchange chamber without leaking out. The fuel cell system is free from deteriorated performance and uncomfortable feeling in use and can easily and reliably recover the water.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell power generation part containing a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode, and a heat-exchange chamber configured to cool a gas emitted from the fuel-cell power generation part to thereby form water. A power generation reaction using a fuel yields electric power and water in the fuel-cell power generation part. The electric power is utilized as driving force typically for an electrical apparatus. A gas containing the water as vapor undergoes heat exchange and condensation to thereby form water in the heat-exchange chamber. The formed water remains inside the heat-exchange chamber without leaking out. The fuel cell system is free from deteriorated performance and uncomfortable feeling in use and can easily and reliably recover the water.

Abstract: In the present invention, a material having a structure represented by formula (1) or (2) (wherein W equals N or C) is used as a solid electrolyte for a fuel cell. An electrolyte membrane having a small fuel crossover and a fuel cell having excellent ion conductivity and service capacity are obtained.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition that shows low methanol cross-over and exhibits high proton conductivity when used as a solid electrolyte for solid polymer fuel cells or the like, and a solid electrolyte membrane and a solid polymer fuel cell that use the electrolyte composition are provided. This electrolyte composition comprises a perfluorocyclobutane-containing polymer having a specific structure. High proton conductivity is provided by sulfonic acid groups connected to the benzene rings. Reduction of methanol crossover is realized by introduction of a rigid structure with aromatic rings, or a combination o a rigid structure with aromatic rings and a three-dimensional cross-linked structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell cartridge includes a fuel reservoir configured to supply a fuel to a fuel-cell power generation part and has a water-absorber configured to absorb water formed in the fuel-cell power generation part, at least on part of its outer surface. When the cartridge is attached to a fuel cell system, the fuel in the fuel reservoir is supplied to the fuel cell system. A power generation reaction in the fuel-cell power generation part yields electric power and water. The water is easily and reliably absorbed by the water-absorber without leakage to outside of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell cartridge has a simple structure, is easily handled, can easily and reliably recover water formed in the fuel cell, allows the recovered water to be easily disposed of upon recharge of the fuel and exhibits good recyclability.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solid electrolyte membrane made from an electrolyte composition that shows low methanol cross-over and exhibits high proton conductivity. The method includes applying an electrolyte composition including an organic solvent and a perfluorocyclobutane-containing polymer having a specific structure onto a substrate, and then removing the solvent. High proton conductivity is provided by sulfonic acid groups connected to the benzene rings. Reduction of methanol crossover is realized by introduction of a rigid structure with aromatic rings, or a combination of a rigid structure with aromatic rings and a three-dimensional cross-linked structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to organic conductive polymer compositions adapted to produce touch panel input devices that hardly undergo resistance degradation even after prolonged and repeated usages, and represent remarkably improved reliability and lifetime in particular. The organic conductive polymer compositions according to the present invention comprise a thiophene derivative polymer, a water-soluble organic compound (except for nitrogen-containing compounds), and a dopant, wherein the thiophene derivative polymer is expressed by the formula (1).

Abstract: A ligand contains: a benzimidazole skeleton; and functional groups at the 5-position and the 6-position of the benzimidazole skeleton. The functional group is capable of forming a coordinate bond with a metal, and contains a nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cells, or the like is provided that is chemically stable in a strong acid atmosphere, and has low methanol cross-over as well as high proton conductivity. The solid electrolyte membrane is manufactured, using an electrolyte composition comprising a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer having a specific triazine structure. This polymer can be synthesized, for example, from a sulfonic acid group-containing dihydroxy compound having a triazine structure, and a difluoride.