Abstract: An operation server operates a plurality of MSTs, and includes a reception unit that receives a charging request that specifies at least a charging date and time and a charging place, a planning unit that generates deployment plan information for the MSTs based on the charging request received by the reception unit, and a deployment unit that executes a deployment process for the MSTs based on the deployment plan information. When there are not two or more of the MSTs that are available at the charging date and time specified by the charging request, the reception unit rejects the charging request. When the MST that has been deployed or is scheduled to be deployed fails, the deployment unit executes the deployment process such that the MST that is available at the charging date and time assigned to the failed MST is deployed instead of the failed MST, among the MSTs.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube is an Ag layer having Nb dispersed therein, the content of Nb being 0.1 at % to 31.8 at %.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer is an Ag layer in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, and a method for producing the solar heat collector tube wherein the infrared reflective layer that is an Ag layer, in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, is formed by sputtering in the presence of a gas including nitrogen gas, with Ag and silicon being used as targets.

Abstract: This invention provides a solar heat-collecting pipe that includes, in the stated order from the inner side on the outer surface of a ferrous material pipe through the interior of which a heat transfer medium is allowed to flow, at least a first diffusion-preventing layer, a second diffusion-preventing layer, an infrared radiation-reflecting layer, a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer. The first diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide. The second diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of tantalum nitride, tantalum oxynitride, titanium nitride, titanium oxynitride, niobium nitride, and niobium oxynitride.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

Abstract: This invention is a sunlight-to-heat converting member containing chromium silicide having an element ratio of Cr to Si from 1:1.6 to 1:4.7. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting stack including a layer of the sunlight-to-heat converting member and a metal layer. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting device including a light collecting part, either or both of a container and a flow path where sunlight is collected by the light collecting part, and a heating medium housed in either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member or the sunlight-to-heat converting stack is formed on a surface of either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member, the sunlight-to-heat converting stack, and the sunlight-to-heat converting device of this invention can convert light to heat efficiently.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube is an Ag layer having Nb dispersed therein, the content of Nb being 0.1 at % to 31.8 at %.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer is an Ag layer in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, and a method for producing the solar heat collector tube wherein the infrared reflective layer that is an Ag layer, in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, is formed by sputtering in the presence of a gas including nitrogen gas, with Ag and silicon being used as targets.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing an optical selective film that contributes to efficiently converting light into heat. This optical selective film is characterized in that: the optical selective film includes at least an Ag-containing layer, and an Ag diffusion prevention layer that is disposed adjacent to the Ag-containing layer; and the Ag diffusion prevention layer contains FeSix (X=1 to 2).

Abstract: A solar heat collection tube 1 of the present invention has: a tube 3 in which a heat medium 2 can flow; an infrared reflective layer 4 formed on an outer surface of the tube 3; a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5 formed on the infrared reflective layer 4 and containing manganese silicide; and an anti-reflection layer 6 formed on the sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5. Preferably, the manganese silicide used in the sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5 is a semiconductor. The solar heat collection tube 1 of the present invention allows sunlight to be converted into heat efficiently.

Abstract: This invention is a sunlight-to-heat converting member containing chromium silicide having an element ratio of Cr to Si from 1:1.6 to 1:4.7. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting stack including a layer of the sunlight-to-heat converting member and a metal layer. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting device including a light collecting part, either or both of a container and a flow path where sunlight is collected by the light collecting part, and a heating medium housed in either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member or the sunlight-to-heat converting stack is formed on a surface of either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member, the sunlight-to-heat converting stack, and the sunlight-to-heat converting device of this invention can convert light to heat efficiently.

Abstract: A solar-heat collection tube includes: a central metal tube through which a heat medium flows; a glass tube, which covers the outer periphery of the central metal tube such that an annular vacuum space is defined between the glass tube and the central metal tube; and a metal thermal-expansion-difference absorption portion, which absorbs the thermal expansion difference between the central metal tube and the glass tube. The glass tube includes an end portion having an end surface. The thermal-expansion-difference absorption portion is formed from metal, and includes a connecting end connected to the end portion of the glass tube. The connecting end is formed to be gradually reduced in thickness. The connecting end is connected to the glass tube in a state in which the connecting end enters the end portion of the glass tube through the end surface of the glass tube.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing an optical selective film that contributes to efficiently converting light into heat. This optical selective film is characterized in that: the optical selective film includes at least an Ag-containing layer, and an Ag diffusion prevention layer that is disposed adjacent to the Ag-containing layer; and the Ag diffusion prevention layer contains FeSix (X=1 to 2).

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a heat conversion member capable of efficiently converting light to heat. This heat conversion member is characterized in that it includes a composite material of at least one type of semiconductor and at least one type of metal material.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a heat conversion member capable of efficiently converting light to heat. This heat conversion member includes at least one type of semiconductor, and is characterized in that the band gap of the semiconductor is 0.5-1.2 eV.

Abstract: A trough type solar thermal collector which uses a curved mirror to make a heat tube which is arranged in the front of the curved mirror collect sunlight and to heat a fluid which flows through the inside of the heat tube, the trough type solar thermal collector configured to be able to avoid damage to the curved mirror due to vortex-induced vibration, is provided. The trough type solar thermal collection apparatus of the present invention is provided with, at an outer edge of the curved mirror in the direction of change of curvature of the curved shape of the curved mirror, vortex control means for controlling the flow of vortices which forms at the outer edge, whereby it is possible to avoid damage to the curved mirror such as occurs due to vortex-induced vibration at the time when higher windspeed resistance specifications are sought from the apparatus.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system includes an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is allowed to flow, a selective catalytic reduction catalyst provided in the exhaust passage, a mixing chamber provided upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst in the exhaust passage as viewed in the direction of exhaust gas flow, a fuel injection valve for injection of fuel, an air injection valve for injection of air, and a urea water injection valve for injection of urea water. The fuel injection valve, the air injection valve and the urea water injection valve each has an injection port directed to the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A lighting system and a display are capable of efficiently using light emitted by a light emitting element. The lighting system and the display according to the present invention include prisms located in an electroluminescent layer, which functions as the light emitting element. Each prism reflects or refracts light incident to the prism such that light emitted by the electroluminescent layer reaches an interface between the electroluminescent layer and a transparent electrode at an angle that is less than the critical angle at the interface.

Abstract: A light emitting device (10) may comprise a constant current source (12), a first organic electroluminescent element (16), switches (14, 20), and a second organic electroluminescent element (18). The first organic electroluminescent element (16) may be connected to the constant current source (12). The switches (14, 20) may switch the direction of a voltage applied from the constant current source (12) to the first electroluminescent element (16). The second organic electroluminescent element (18) may be connected in parallel with the first organic electroluminescent element (16). When reverse voltage is applied to the first organic electroluminescent element (16), electric current from the constant current source (12) flows to the second organic electroluminescent element (18) and the second organic electroluminescent element (18) generates an electric potential.