Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus usable in a seawater desalination system. The energy recovery apparatus includes a plurality of chambers to pressurize the seawater by pressure energy of the concentrated seawater by supply and discharging the concentrated seawater and the seawater, a first flowmeter for integrating a flow rate of the seawater or the concentrated seawater which flows into the chamber, a second flowmeter for integrating a flow rate of the seawater or the concentrated seawater discharged from the chamber, a switching valve in each of the chambers to switch the inflow and the discharge of the concentrated seawater, and a controller to control the respective switching valves of the chambers on the basis of integrated flow rate of the chamber obtained from the flow rate of the flowmeter. The controller inputs a single input signal to the respective switching valves of the chambers to control the respective switching valves.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus usable in a seawater desalination system. The energy recovery apparatus includes a plurality of chambers to pressurize the seawater by pressure energy of the concentrated seawater by supply and discharging the concentrated seawater and the seawater, a first flowmeter for integrating a flow rate of the seawater or the concentrated seawater which flows into the chamber, a second flowmeter for integrating a flow rate of the seawater or the concentrated seawater discharged from the chamber, a switching valve in each of the chambers to switch the inflow and the discharge of the concentrated seawater, and a controller to control the respective switching valves of the chambers on the basis of integrated flow rate of the chamber obtained from the flow rate of the flowmeter. The controller inputs a single input signal to the respective switching valves of the chambers to control the respective switching valves.

Abstract: In a seawater desalination system for producing fresh water from seawater by passing the seawater pressurized by a pump through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to separate the seawater into fresh water and concentrated seawater, an energy exchange chamber for utilizing pressure energy of the concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus as energy for pressurizing part of the seawater is provided. The energy exchange chamber includes a concentrated seawater port for introducing and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for introducing and discharging the seawater, a plurality of flow regulators, and a plurality of partitioned fluid passages provided in the chamber to allow the concentrated seawater port and the seawater port to communicate with each other.

Abstract: A seawater desalination system which can solve a problem of wear of a sliding member and can suppress mixing of concentrated seawater and seawater by making an energy exchange chamber no-piston configuration is provided. In a seawater desalination system for producing fresh water from seawater by passing the seawater pressurized by a pump through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus (4) to separate the seawater into fresh water and concentrated seawater, an energy exchange chamber (20) for utilizing pressure energy of the concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus (3) as energy for pressurizing part of the seawater is provided.

Abstract: A seawater desalination system produces fresh water from seawater by passing the seawater pressurized by a pump through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to separate the seawater into fresh water and concentrated seawater. An energy exchange chamber is provided for utilizing pressure energy of the concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus as energy for pressurizing part of the seawater. The energy exchange chamber includes a concentrated seawater port for introducing and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for introducing and discharging the seawater, and a plurality of partitioned fluid passages provided in the chamber to allow the concentrated seawater port and the seawater port to communicate with each other.

Abstract: A power recovery chamber is used for a positive-displacement power recovery apparatus in the seawater desalination plant or system. The power recovery chamber includes a cylinder, a piston disposed in the cylinder and capable of being reciprocated in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, and a piston guide disposed in the cylinder and extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder for guiding the piston when the piston is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. At least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the piston is out of contact with an inner surface of the cylinder, and the piston is brought into contact with the piston guide at a part where the piston guide passes through the piston.

Abstract: A seawater desalination system which can solve a problem of wear of a sliding member and can suppress mixing of concentrated seawater and seawater by making an energy exchange chamber no-piston configuration is provided. In a seawater desalination system for producing fresh water from seawater by passing the seawater pressurized by a pump through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus (4) to separate the seawater into fresh water and concentrated seawater, an energy exchange chamber (20) for utilizing pressure energy of the concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus (3) as energy for pressurizing part of the seawater is provided.

Abstract: A power recovery system is used for reducing the total energy consumption in a process such as an industrial treating process or a fluid refining process including the delivery of a fluid under a high pressure. The power recovery system includes a high-pressure pump for pressuring raw water, a reverse osmosis membrane cartridge for treating high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump with a reverse osmosis membrane to produce treated water, a positive-displacement piston pump for pressuring raw water under the pressure of concentrated water which is discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane cartridge without being treated by the reverse osmosis membrane, and a power recovery pump turbine for boosting the pressurized raw water discharged from the positive-displacement piston pump and adding the boosted water to the high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump. The power recovery pump turbine is actuated by pressurized water generated in the power recovery system.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 ?m. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 ?m. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.

Abstract: A power recovery chamber is used for a positive-displacement power recovery apparatus in the seawater desalination plant or system. The power recovery chamber includes a cylinder, a piston disposed in the cylinder and capable of being reciprocated in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, and a piston guide disposed in the cylinder and extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder for guiding the piston when the piston is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. At least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the piston is out of contact with an inner surface of the cylinder, and the piston is brought into contact with the piston guide at a part where the piston guide passes through the piston.

Abstract: A power recovery system is used for reducing the total energy consumption in a process such as an industrial treating process or a fluid refining process including the delivery of a fluid under a high pressure. The power recovery system includes a high-pressure pump for pressuring raw water, a reverse osmosis membrane cartridge for treating high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump with a reverse osmosis membrane to produce treated water, a positive-displacement piston pump for pressuring raw water under the pressure of concentrated water which is discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane cartridge without being treated by the reverse osmosis membrane, and a power recovery pump turbine for boosting the pressurized raw water discharged from the positive-displacement piston pump and adding the boosted water to the high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump. The power recovery pump turbine is actuated by pressurized water generated in the power recovery system.

Abstract: A microchannel chip reaction control system of the present invention is characterized by being provided with a microchannel chip 1 having at least two microfluidic channels 1a and 1b for introducing reagent solutions A and B and a microfluidic reaction channel 1c formed by joining the two microfluidic channels 1a and 1b to each other, analysis means 2 for analyzing a product C obtained from the microfluidic reaction channel 1c, and control means 3 for controlling conditions for the reaction in the microchannel chip 1 on the basis of analysis results obtained from the analysis means 2.

Abstract: A vane-type hydraulic motor includes a rotor (30) having a main shaft (70) and a plurality of vanes (35), a cam casing (10) having a chamber (11) for rotatably housing the rotor (30), a first port (13) and a second port (15) for supplying a working fluid into the chamber (11) and discharging the working fluid from the chamber (11). A bypass path (80) is provided for allowing the working fluid to flow from bearing portions (51, 61) supporting the main shaft (70). A drain port (17) is provided for discharging the working fluid to the exterior.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 ?m. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vane-type rotary machine suitable for use in applications where a low-viscosity fluid such as water is used as a working fluid. According to the present invention, a vane-type rotary machine having a rotor (11) mounted with vanes and rotatably housed in a cam casing (10) includes a motor supply opening (or pump discharge opening) (30) for a working fluid, a motor return opening (or pump suction opening) (20) formed in the cam casing for a working fluid, and branch flow passages (23, 25, 33 and 35) branched from the motor supply opening (or pump discharge opening) and the motor return opening (or the pump suction opening) and communicating with vane chambers (22, 24, 32 and 34). The distances of the branch flow passages are identical to each other.

Abstract: A vane-type hydraulic motor includes a rotor (30) having a main shaft (70) and a plurality of vanes (35), a cam casing (10) having a chamber (11) for rotatably housing the rotor (30), a first port (13) and a second port (15) for supplying a working fluid into the chamber (11) and discharging the working fluid from the chamber (11). A bypass path (80) is provided for allowing the working fluid to flow from bearing portions (51, 61) supporting the main shaft (70). A drain port (17) is provided for discharging the working fluid to the exterior.