Abstract: The present invention relates to flow measurement, and more particularly, to a system for measuring a flow rate by three-dimensionally crossing a plurality of sidings each other within a conduit. An ultrasonic flow measurement system according to the present invention determines a flow central part of fluid by three-dimensionally crossing the plurality of sidings each other within the conduit in three dimensions and calculates a flow rate flowing in the conduit, meeting the flow central part, thereby more accurately measuring the flow rate than the existing method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flow measurement, and more particularly, to a system for measuring a flow rate by three-dimensionally crossing a plurality of sidings each other within a conduit. An ultrasonic flow measurement system according to the present invention determines a flow central part of fluid by three-dimensionally crossing the plurality of sidings each other within the conduit in three dimensions and calculates a flow rate flowing in the conduit, meeting the flow central part, thereby more accurately measuring the flow rate than the existing method.

Abstract: Provided is a negative-electrode material powder for lithium-ion secondary battery including a silicon-rich layer on the surface of a lower silicon oxide powder, and a negative-electrode material powder for said battery comprising a silicon oxide powder, characterized by satisfying c/d<1, where c is the molar ratio of oxygen to silicon on the surface of the silicon oxide powder and d is that for the entire part thereof. It preferably satisfies one of c<1 and 0.8<d<1.0. Preferably, the surface of the powder is devoid of crystalline silicon, the inside of the powder is amorphous, and the surface includes a conductive carbon film. The surface of said negative-electrode material powder is coated with silicon using disproportionation of SiCl (X<4). This provides a negative-electrode material powder that can be used as a lithium-ion secondary battery having a large reversible capacity, while a small irreversible capacity, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A process for producing Ti, comprising a reduction step of reacting TiCl4 with Ca in a CaCl2-containing molten salt having the Ca dissolved therein to thereby form Ti particles, a separation step of separating the Ti particles formed in said molten salt from said molten salt and an electrolysis step of electrolyzing the molten salt so as to increase the Ca concentration, wherein the molten salt increased in Ca concentration in the electrolysis step is introduced into a regulating cell to thereby render the Ca concentration of the molten salt constant and thereafter the molten salt is used for the reduction of TiCl4 in the reduction step. In the present invention, the Ca concentration of the molten salt to be fed to the corresponding reduction vessel can be inhibited from fluctuating and, at the same time, can maintain high concentration levels. Further, a large volume of the molten salt can be treated continuously.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for electrolyzing molten salt that can enhance the concentration of metal-fog forming metal in the molten salt by carrying out the electrolysis under conditions that the molten salt containing the chloride of metal-fog forming metal is supplied from one end of an electrolytic cell to a space between an anode and a cathode in a continuous or intermittent manner to provide a flow rate in one direction to the molten salt in the vicinity of the surface of the cathode and thus to allow the molten salt to flow in one direction in the vicinity of the surface of the cathode. According to the present invention, while high current efficiency is maintained, only the molten salt enriched with metal-fog forming metal such as Ca can be effectively taken out. Further, this method can easily be carried out by using the electrolytic cell according to the present invention.

Abstract: In producing Ti or a Ti alloy through reduction by Ca, an electrolytic-bath salt taken out from a reduction process is electrolyzed to recover Ca and the electrolytic-bath salt as a solid substance, and the recovered Ca and electrolytic-bath salt are delivered to the reduction process. Therefore, heat generation is suppressed in the reduction process by utilizing latent heat of fusion possessed by the solid substance, thereby largely improving production efficiency and thermal efficiency. Additionally, a reaction temperature is easily controlled, and a raw-material loading rate can be enhanced to efficiently produce Ti or the Ti alloy. At this point, using a pulling electrolysis method of the invention, the solid-state Ca and electrolytic-bath salt can be obtained at a low voltage and high current efficiency, i.e., with the relatively small power consumption.

Abstract: A mixed molten salt containing CaCl2 and NaCl is held in the reactor cell 1 at a temperature not more than 600° C. TiCl4 which is of a Ti raw material is introduced into the reactor cell 1 while Na is introduced into the reactor cell 1. Na introduced into the reactor cell 1 is replaced by Ca, Ca is dissolved in the molten salt, Ca reduces TiCl4 introduced into the reactor cell 1, and thereby Ti particles are generated. The generated Ti particles are introduced to a separation cell 2 along with the molten salt, and the Ti particles and Na are separated from the molten salt. The residual molten salt is introduced to an electrolytic cell 3 to generate Na by high-temperature electrolysis at the temperature more than 600° C. The generated Na is returned to the reactor cell 1 to replenish Na consumed in the reactor cell 1. The highly reactive Ca is not directly handled, and Na which is easy to handle is used in a circulating manner. Therefore, the Ti or Ti alloy can economically be produced by Ca reduction.

Abstract: A method for producing Ti or Ti alloys through reduction by Ca, including: a reduction step of holding a molten salt, containing CaCl2 and having Ca dissolved therein, in a reactor vessel 1, and reacting a metallic chloride containing TiCl4 with Ca in said salt to generate particles of Ti or Ti alloys in said salt; and a separation step of separating particles of Ti or Ti alloys, generated in said salt, from said salt. An electrolysis step 8, in which CaCl2 discharged outside the reactor vessel 1 is electrolyzed into Ca and Cl2, and the generated Ca is used for the generation reaction of Ti or Ti alloys in the reactor vessel 1, is preferably added. In the electrolysis step 8, an alloy electrode made of a molten Ca alloy, if applied for a cathode, is effective in enhancing the electricity efficiency, and also can be effectively utilized as a carrier medium of Ca for raising a Ca concentration of molten salt. By this method, high-purity Ti metals can be efficiently and economically produced.

Abstract: The frozen food product according to the present invention contains as a major ingredient boiled rice grains or boiled pasta pieces; a water migration-preventing layer formed on the surface of each rice grain or boiled pasta; and a sauce layer formed on the surface of the water migration-preventing layer, and the product is frozen in such a state. In the frozen food product described above, rice grains or pasta pieces contained as the major ingredient are mixed homogeneously with a sauce, and if the frozen food is packaged portionwise, the resulting packaged products can give stable quality where the major ingredient and the sauce are blended at a constant rate. This frozen food product can be manufactured by carrying out a step of admixing a primary sauce to the major ingredient so as to form a water migration-preventing layer; a step of freezing the thus treated major ingredient; a step of admixing a secondary sauce to the resulting major ingredient; and a step of freezing the resulting major ingredient.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cooked rice with stabilized quality on an industrial scale and cooked rice prepared according to the process, which has a moisture gradient formed between the outer layer and the inner layer of each rice grain and has no hard core in the rice grains when tested organoleptically. The method includes the steps of steaming raw rice having been subjected to a washing and soaking step to effect gelatinization of starch inside rice grains; cooling and individuating the resulting rice to remove moisture present on the surface of each rice grain; frying the resulting rice with an oil to form an oil film over the surface of each rice grain; and boiling the resulting rice together with seasonings and water. In the cooked rice, difference between the moisture content of the outer layer (to the depth of 0.5 mm from the surface) and that of the inner layer (portion deeper than 0.5 mm from the surface) of each rice grain is 2.5% to 5%, preferably 3% to 5%.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon dioxide film according to the present invention comprises steps of: (i) contacting a substrate with processing solution containing silicofluoric acid solution supersaturated with silicon dioxide, and (ii) forming the silicon dioxide film on the substrate; wherein organic colorant(s) is/are introduced into the silicon dioxide film by adding organic colorant(s) to the processing solution. According to the present invention, a silicon dioxide film containing organic colorant without defect such as air bubbles, or undecomposed raw material.

Abstract: A thin film capacitor having high performances, e.g. high frequency characteristics, heat resistance and dielectric strength, and capable of meeting demands for high integration and miniaturization of electronic devices, which comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a silica thin film formed on the substrate by bringing the substrate into contact with an aqueous solution of hydrosilicofluoric acid supersaturated with silica, and an electrically conductive film formed as an electrode on the silica thin film.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon dioxide film according to the present invention comprises steps of: (i) contacting a substrate with processing solution containing silicofluoric acid solution supersaturated with silicon dioxide, and (ii) forming the silicon dioxide film on the substrate; wherein organic colorant(s) is/are introduced into the silicon dioxide film by adding organic colorant(s) to the processing solution. According to the present invention, a silicon dioxide film containing organic colorant without defect such as air bubbles, or undecomposed raw material.