Abstract: A reducing agent supplying device includes a reforming device, an obtaining section and a controller. The reforming device mixes fuel, which is a hydrocarbon compound, with air, and reforms the fuel by partially oxidizing the fuel with oxygen in the air. A reformed fuel is supplied into the exhaust passage as the reducing agent. The obtaining section obtains a physical quantity as a property index. The physical quantity has a correlation with property of the fuel that is supplied to the reforming device. The controller controls the reforming device according to the property index obtained by the obtaining section.

Abstract: A reducing agent supplying device includes a reaction container. The reaction container has a reaction chamber therein in which fuel of a hydrocarbon compound is mixed with air and is oxidized with oxygen in air. An equivalent ratio of fuel to air inside the reaction chamber is adjusted to be within a specified equivalent ratio range. A temperature inside the reaction chamber is adjusted to be within a specified temperature range. The specified equivalent ratio range and the specified temperature range are set such that a cool flame reaction, through which fuel inside the reaction chamber is partially oxidized with oxygen in air, is generated. The fuel partially oxidized through the cool flame reaction is used as the reducing agent.

Abstract: A reducing agent supplying device includes a reforming device, an obtaining section and a controller. The reforming device mixes fuel, which is a hydrocarbon compound, with air, and reforms the fuel by partially oxidizing the fuel with oxygen in the air. A reformed fuel is supplied into the exhaust passage as the reducing agent. The obtaining section obtains a physical quantity as a property index. The physical quantity has a correlation with property of the fuel that is supplied to the reforming device. The controller controls the reforming device according to the property index obtained by the obtaining section.

Abstract: A reducing agent supplying device includes a reaction container. The reaction container has a reaction chamber therein in which fuel of a hydrocarbon compound is mixed with air and is oxidized with oxygen in air. An equivalent ratio of fuel to air inside the reaction chamber is adjusted to be within a specified equivalent ratio range. A temperature inside the reaction chamber is adjusted to be within a specified temperature range. The specified equivalent ratio range and the specified temperature range are set such that a cool flame reaction, through which fuel inside the reaction chamber is partially oxidized with oxygen in air, is generated. The fuel partially oxidized through the cool flame reaction is used as the reducing agent.

Abstract: A gas separation and recovery apparatus that separates and recovers nitrogen oxides from a gas mixture includes: a liquid storing portion that stores a liquid, the liquid absorbing the nitrogen oxides; a gas-liquid contacting portion in which the liquid and the gas mixture contact with each other; and a liquid recovering portion that recovers the liquid after the liquid contacts the gas mixture. The liquid is an ionic liquid that chemically absorbs the nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A gas separation and recovery apparatus that separates and recovers nitrogen oxides from a gas mixture includes: a liquid storing portion that stores a liquid, the liquid absorbing the nitrogen oxides; a gas-liquid contacting portion in which the liquid and the gas mixture contact with each other; and a liquid recovering portion that recovers the liquid after the liquid contacts the gas mixture. The liquid is an ionic liquid that chemically absorbs the nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: An adsorbent structure including a honeycomb structure having a periphery and two ends, the honeycomb structure having a plurality of passages which are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction between the ends, and a composition including zeolite coated on the partition walls. The zeolite may be a high-silica zeolite having a Si/Al ratio of not less than 40. The composition may include a mixture of zeolite and heat-resistant oxide loaded with a noble metal, and the zeolite may also be loaded with a noble metal. Further, the composition may include two layers, a first layer comprising zeolite, and a second layer comprising a heat-resistant oxide loaded with a noble metal. The first layer comprising zeolite may be loaded with a noble metal.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying raw materials at constant amounts has a raw material tank for storing and feeding raw materials, a belt for transferring raw materials, a level control guide for defining a thickness of raw materials on the belt, and a belt cover. The apparatus further includes a reversible belt drive motor for controlling a rotation direction of the belt forward and backward and a device for removing raw materials arranged at a backward side of the belt. In the case of supplying the raw materials at constant amounts, a normal operation of supplying the raw materials is performed by rotating the belt in a forward direction. In the case of removing the raw materials arranged on the belt and in the raw material tank, the raw materials are transferred to the device for removing raw materials arranged at a backward side of the belt by rotating the belt in a backward direction so as to remove the raw materials from the belt and the raw material tank.

Abstract: An adsorbent structure including a honeycomb structure having a periphery and two ends, the honeycomb structure having a plurality of passages which are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction between the ends, and a composition including zeolite coated on the partition walls. The zeolite may be a high-silica zeolite having a Si/Al ratio of not less than 40. The composition may include a mixture of zeolite and heat-resistant oxide loaded with a noble metal, and the zeolite may also be loaded with a noble metal. Further, the composition may include two layers, a first layer comprising zeolite, and a second layer comprising a heat-resistant oxide loaded with a noble metal. The first layer comprising zeolite may be loaded with a noble metal.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying raw materials at constant amounts has a raw material tank for storing and feeding raw materials, a belt for transferring raw materials, a level control guide for defining a thickness of raw materials on the belt, and a belt cover. The apparatus further includes a reversible belt drive motor for controlling a rotation direction of the belt forward and backward and a device for removing raw materials arranged at a backward side of the belt. In the case of supplying the raw materials at constant amounts, a normal operation of supplying the raw materials is performed by rotating the belt in a forward direction. In the case of removing the raw materials arranged on the belt and in the raw material tank, the raw materials are transferred to the device for removing raw materials arranged at a backward side of the belt by rotating the belt in a backward direction so as to remove the raw materials from the belt and the raw material tank.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater includes a honeycomb structure having a periphery, a front end, and a back end, including a plurality of passages which are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction of the honeycomb structure, the honeycomb structure being electrically conductive, whereby fluid flows through the passages from the front end to the back end; and a device for applying electric current to the honeycomb structure so as to generate heat; wherein at least one gap for obstructing electric current extends through the partition walls from the back end toward the front end but does not reach the front end so that, upon applying electric current to the honeycomb structure, a front region of the honeycomb structure heats more quickly than a back region of the honeycomb structure thereby a catalyst composition loaded onto the front region is activated earlier. Slit may extend between the front end and the back end.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater including a honeycomb structure which is made of a conductive material and which has a number of passages substantially parallel to a gas flow direction partitioned by partition walls and which has respective providing a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and at least two electrodes for electrification provided on the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb heater is characterized in that besides the passages, orifices which have a larger hydraulic diameter than the passages and which narrow a current flow path are formed at predetermined positions of the honeycomb structure to adjust resistance, whereby a specific region of the honeycomb heater is locally heated more quickly as compared with other regions at the time of the electrification.

Abstract: A heater is composed of (a) a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, (b) an adsorbent composed mainly of zeolite or an adsorbent-catalyst composition comprising adsorbent and a catalyst component supported on the adsorbent, the adsorbent or adsorbent-catalyst composition being coated on the honeycomb structure, and (c) at least two electrodes fixed to the honeycomb structure for electrification of the honeycomb structure, wherein a gas is flowed through the passages in the honeycomb structure and is heated. A catalytic converter has at least one main monolith catalyst and the above heater provided upstream or downstream of the main monolith catalyst or between two main monolith catalysts.

Abstract: A heating element for heating fluid flowing therethrough, including an electrically conductive honeycomb structure, electrodes electrically connected to the honeycomb structure for applying an electric current to the honeycomb structure, wherein the honeycomb structure has a front region which is adapted to heat more quickly than a back region of the honeycomb structure. To this end, the honeycomb structure may include at least one gap for obstructing electric current flow, the gap extending through the partition walls and terminating before reaching the front end of the honeycomb structure. Alternatively, the front region may be heated more quickly than the back region by providing at least one depression formed the back end of the honeycomb structure, such that the front region extends from a terminating end of the depression toward the front end of the honeycomb structure. A catalytic converter incorporating the heating element is also provided.

Abstract: A heater is composed of (a) a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, (b) an adsorbent composed mainly of zeolite or an adsorbent-catalyst composition comprising adsorbent and a catalyst component supported on the adsorbent, the adsorbent or adsorbent-catalyst composition being coated on the honeycomb structure and (c) at least two electrodes fixed to the honeycomb structure for electrification of the honeycomb structure, wherein a gas is flowed through the passages in the honeycomb structure and is heated. A catalytic converter has at least one main monolith catalyst and the above heater provided upstream or downstream of the main monolith catalyst or between two main monolith catalysts.