Abstract: There is provided a production process of a sheet-like dense cordierite sintered body which hardly generates cracks when dried and sintered, and has excellent formability. A production process of a sheet-like dense cordierite sintered body which has a step of forming a raw material containing cordierite powders having an average particle size of greater than 2 ?m but not greater than 4 ?m into a cordierite green sheet; and sintering the cordierite green sheet at from 1350 to 1450° C.

Abstract: A ceramic green sheet containing 100 parts by mass of a cordierite powder having an average particle diameter of 1.0 to 5.0 ?m and a BET specific surface area of 4.0 to 10.0 m2/g and 14.0 to 19.0 parts by mass of a binder. The ceramic green sheet is preferred to further contain 0.5 to 2.5 parts by mass of a dispersing agent and 5.0 to 9.0 parts by mass of a plasticizer relative to 100 parts by mass of the cordierite powder. The ceramic green sheet can be made, by firing, into a tape-shaped ceramic formed body which is dense and superior in thermal sock resistance.

Abstract: A plasma generation electrode capable of subjecting predetermined components contained in a fluid to be treated to their respective reaction treatments with plasmas having different intensities optimized on a reaction basis, by passing merely once the fluid to be treated, is provided. In the plasma generation electrode, a unit electrode is composed of a tabular ceramic material serving as a dielectric material and an electrically conductive film disposed in the inside of the ceramic material, a plurality of unit electrodes are layered at a constant spacing, the distance between the electrically conductive films disposed in the unit electrodes adjacent to each other is varied partly or the dielectric constant of the ceramic material constituting the unit electrode is varied partly, and plasmas having different intensities can be generated partly in the spaces.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode 1 includes at least two plate-shaped unit electrodes 2 each of which faces each other and is capable of generating plasma upon application of a voltage between the unit electrodes 2, at least one of the unit electrodes 2 each of which faces each other including a plate-shaped ceramic dielectric 3 having a plurality of grooves 5 and/or a plurality of recesses 6 formed in at least one surface, and a conductive film 4 disposed inside the ceramic dielectric 3, the plasma generating electrode 1 capable of generating high-density plasma at edges 9 formed by a surface 21 of the ceramic dielectric 3 and side surfaces 22 of the grooves 5 and/or the recesses 6 upon application of a voltage between the unit electrodes 2, the high-density plasma having a density higher than that of plasma generated between the unit electrodes 2 in an area other than the vicinity of the edges 9.

Abstract: In a cold stocker according to the present invention, a compartment-cooling heat exchanger is connected to a cold-side heat exchanger mounted to a cold section of a Stirling refrigerating engine so as to form a cold-side refrigerant circulation circuit. To a warm section of the Stirling refrigerating engine, a first warm-side heat exchanger and a second warm-side heat exchanger are mounted. A heat-dissipating heat exchanger is connected to the first warm-side heat exchanger so as to form a first warm-side refrigerant circulation circuit. To the second warm-side heat exchanger are connected a heat exchange portion for promoting evaporation in drainage and a heat exchange portion for preventing dew condensation on a cold stocker wall so as to form a second warm-side refrigerant circulation circuit.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode according to the invention includes at least two opposing plate-shaped unit electrodes 2, each having a rectangular surface and four end faces, and a holding member 5 which holds at least one (fixed end 6) of a pair of parallel ends (pair of ends) of four ends of the unit electrode 2 corresponding to the four end faces, at least one of the opposing unit electrodes 2 being a conductive-film-containing electrode 8 including a ceramic body 3 and a conductive film 4, and a distance “a” (mm) from an edge of the conductive film 4 to an edge of the ceramic body 3 on the other pair of parallel ends (other pair of ends 9) of the four ends of the conductive-film-containing electrode 8 adjacent to the pair of ends and a thickness “c” (mm) of the ceramic body 3 satisfying a relationship “(c/2)?a?5c”. The plasma generating electrode 1 is effectively prevented from breaking due to thermal shock.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode capable of generating plasma with a high energy level by using a small amount of electric power is provided. The plasma generating electrode includes at least a pair of unit electrodes including a unit electrode as an anode and a unit electrode as a cathode, and can generate plasma by applying voltage, the unit electrode as an anode and the unit electrode as a cathode being disposed facing each other, and at least the unit electrode as an anode having a plate-like ceramic dielectric and a conductive film disposed in the ceramic dielectric, wherein the unit electrode as a cathode can emit secondary electrons in a number five times or greater than the number of cations (primary particles) which it receives when the cations produced in the process of plasma generation collide therewith.

Abstract: A plasma reactor is provided with two or more plasma generating electrodes which are installed in series inside a gas passage in a casing, with each plasma generating electrode being electrically controlled independently. The surface area of the conductor on each unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the upstream side of the gas passage is smaller than the surface area of the conductor on the unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the downstream side of the gas passage. Plasma can be generated between each of the unit electrodes by supplying each of the plasma generating electrodes with independently controlled electric power. The plasma reactor can efficiently react specific components contained in the gas passing through the gas passage.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle refrigerating system has a pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b, each comprising a warm head 8a and 8b of which the temperature rises as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, a cold head 7a and 7b of which the temperature falls as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, and a piston and a displacer that vibrate inside a cylinder along the axis thereof with an identical period and with a predetermined phase difference maintained. Inside a machine chamber 15, the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b is arranged coaxially with the axes thereof aligned with each other and with the cold heads 7a and 7b thereof facing away from each other, and the pistons or displacers of the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b are driven to vibrate in phase with each other.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode 1 of the invention includes at least a pair of electrodes 5, at least one electrode 5a of the pair of electrodes 5 including a plate-like ceramic body 2 as a dielectric and a plurality of conductive films 3 disposed in the ceramic body 2 and each having a plurality of through-holes 4 formed through the conductive film 3 in its thickness direction in a predetermined arrangement pattern, the through-holes 4 having a cross-sectional shape including an arc shape along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, an arrangement pattern of the through-holes 4a formed in at least one conductive film 3a being different from an arrangement pattern of the through-holes 4b formed in the other conductive film 3b. The plasma generating electrode 1 is capable of simultaneously generating different states of plasma upon application of voltage between the pair of electrodes 5 due to the different arrangement patterns of the through-holes 4 in the conductive films 3.

Abstract: A natural circulation circuit includes an evaporator surrounding a heat radiating portion of a Stirling refrigerating machine to absorb heat of the heat radiating portion through evaporation of a coolant, a condenser arranged to be higher than the evaporator to condense the coolant having gas phase, a conduit guiding the coolant from the evaporator to the condenser, and a return pipe returning the liquefied coolant from the condenser to the evaporator. In the evaporator a distance between an opening of the return pipe and an inner circumferential surface of the evaporator is smaller than that between an opening of the conduit and the inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treating apparatus 1 includes: a case body 2 and a plasma producing means 3 capable of producing plasma inside the case body 2 and treats the substances to be treated contained in the exhaust gas by the plasma producing means 3. The plasma producing means 3 has one or more each of a pulse electrode 4 and a ground electrode 5 that are oppositely disposed in the case body 2 and has a pulse power source 6 capable of feeding a pulse current to the pulse electrode 4 by switching frequency and/or voltage for different values at predetermined time intervals. The substances to be treated contained in the exhaust gas can selectively be treated by switching frequency and/or voltage value for different values at predetermined time intervals so that plasma of a kind adequate for the substances to be treated contained in an exhaust gas is produced between the pulse electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode 1 of the present invention includes a plurality of unit electrodes 2 hierarchically layered at predetermined intervals, the unit electrodes 2 including a deficient unit electrode 2b in which a conductive film 4 has an absent portion and a normal unit electrode 2a in which the conductive film 4 does not have an absent portion. Spaces V formed between the unit electrodes 2 include a normal space Va formed so that the distance between conductive films 4 corresponds to the distance between the unit electrodes 2 and a deficient space Vb formed so that the distance between the conductive films 4 is greater than the distance between the conductive films 4 in the normal space Va. The plasma generating electrode 1 of the present invention can efficiently treat a plurality of predetermined components contained in a treatment target fluid by utilizing different types of plasma suitable for respective reactions by causing the treatment target fluid to flow only once.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode of the present invention includes a pair of unit electrodes 2, each of the pair of unit electrodes 2 including a plate-like ceramic body 19 and a conductive film 12 disposed inside the ceramic body 19 and including a plurality of protrusions 13 on a front surface, the pair of unit electrodes 2 constituting a basic unit 1 by being hierarchically layered at intervals corresponding to thickness of the protrusion 13 in a state that a plurality of spaces which are open on each end in the arrangement direction of the protrusion are formed, the basic units 1 constituting an electrode unit in which the basic units 1 are hierarchically layered at intervals corresponding to the thickness of the protrusion 13, and the plasma generating electrode being capable of generating plasma in the three-dimensionally arranged spaces V upon application of voltage between the unit electrodes 2 constituting the electrode unit.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode of the invention present includes at least a pair of electrodes 5, at least one electrode 5a of the pair of electrodes 5 including a plate-like ceramic body 2 as a dielectric and a conductive film 3 disposed inside the ceramic plate 2 and having a plurality of through-holes 4 formed through the conductive film 3 in its thickness direction, the through-holes having a cross-sectional shape including an arc shape along a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction. The plasma generating electrode can generate uniform and stable plasma at low power consumption.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a Stirling refrigerating machine having a high-temperature heat radiation portion and a low-temperature heat absorption portion and for cooling a freezing compartment, and a compressor for circulating a first refrigerant through a first circulation circuit having a cooling compartment evaporator. The high-temperature heat radiation portion is in contact with a first circulation spiral portion formed in the first circulation circuit.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode includes two types of plate-shaped unit electrodes of different polarities, the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities being hierarchically and alternately stacked at specific intervals, a discharge space for generating plasma being formed between the opposing unit electrodes, each of the unit electrodes of one polarity among the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities including a plate-shaped conductor exhibiting conductivity and a ceramic dielectric disposed to cover the conductor, the ceramic dielectric of the unit electrode of one polarity including a support protrusion for forming the discharge space for generating plasma between the opposing unit electrodes and at least a part of a space in which the unit electrode of the other polarity is disposed opposite to the unit electrode of one polarity and for supporting the unit electrode of one polarity, the support protrusion being integrally formed with the ceramic dielectric on at least one surface o

Abstract: In a Stirling refrigerator, waste heat rejected from the heat rejecter of a Stirling refrigerating device is transferred by way of dew prevention heat pipes to heat the open side of the refrigerator. This makes it possible to prevent condensation of moisture on the open side of the refrigerator, where dew tends to collect as a door is opened or closed or in other situations, in an effective and energy-saving manner without using a heater, and thereby alleviate the load on the heat-rejecting heat exchanger.

Abstract: A loop-type thermosiphon capable of stable operation regardless of fluctuation of heat load and a Stirling refrigerator using the same are provided. The loop-type thermosiphon transferring heat from a high-temperature heat source using a working fluid includes a evaporator having a heat absorption portion and evaporating the working fluid by depriving the high-temperature heat source of heat through the heat absorption portion, a condenser located above the high-temperature heat source and condensing the working fluid that has evaporated in the evaporator, and a pipe connecting the evaporator and the condenser so as to form a loop.

Abstract: A silicon nitride porous body (5) obtained by nitriding a molded body having metallic silicon (3) as a main component, the porous body having a porous structure with an average pore diameter of 3 ?m or above, and wherein the total content of silicon and nitrogen is 95% or above and the nitridation ratio of silicon is 90% or above. The silicon nitride porous body has a porous structure with a large average pore diameter, with a test specimen cut out from the porous body exhibiting large thermal conductivity and a small thermal expansion coefficient, and can be suitably used in a component for purifying gas and/or solution such as a ceramic filter.