Abstract: A vortex generating apparatus includes: a member to contact with a flow of a fluid to form a stagnation point and a first and a second separation points on a periphery of a cross section of the member parallel to the flow; a disturbance applying unit to apply a disturbance to an upstream side of the first separation point to cause part of a boundary layer of the flow to adhere; and a controller to temporally control the application of the disturbance to change an adhesion distance from the stagnation point to the first separation point so as to generate a dynamic stall vortex.

Abstract: A wind power generation system 10 of an embodiment includes a rotor 40 having blades 42, an airflow generation device 60 provided in a leading edge of each of the blades 42 and having a first electrode 61 and a second electrode 62 which are separated via a dielectric, a discharge power supply 65 applying a voltage between the electrodes of the airflow generation device 60, and a control unit 110 controlling the discharge power supply 65. The control unit 110 controls the voltage to perform pulse modulation so that the value of a relational expression fC/U is 0.1 or larger and 9 or smaller where f is a pulse modulation frequency of the voltage, C is a chord length of the blades 42, and U is a relative velocity combining a peripheral velocity of the blades 42 and a wind velocity, so as to generate plasma induced flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an air current generating apparatus includes: a dielectric substrate exposed to gas: a first electrode disposed inside the dielectric substrate; a second electrode disposed near a surface of the dielectric so as to correspond the first electrode and having a sharp shape; and a power source applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes and plasmatizing part of the gas to generate an air current.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wind-power generating system 10 includes: a lightning protecting device including a receptor 70 provided on a blade surface and a lightning conductor 73 grounding the receptor 70; an airflow generating device 60 provided on the blade surface and including first and second electrodes 61, 62 separated via a dielectric 63; a discharge power source 65 including switches 90, 91 able to connect the first and second electrodes 61, 62 to output terminals 84, 85 respectively and a switch 92 able to connect the first or second electrode 61, 62 to a grounding conductor 100; and a thundercloud detecting device detecting information regarding thundercloud approach. When the information regarding the thundercloud approach is detected, the second electrode 62 is connected to the grounding conductor 100 and the first and second electrodes 61, 62 are disconnected from the output terminals 84, 85.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an air current generating apparatus includes: a dielectric substrate exposed to gas: a first electrode disposed inside the dielectric substrate; a second electrode disposed near a surface of the dielectric so as to correspond the first electrode and having a sharp shape; and a power source applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes and plasmatizing part of the gas to generate an air current.

Abstract: An airflow control device 10 in an embodiment includes: a vortex shedding structure portion 20 discharging an airflow flowing on a surface in a flow direction as a vortex flow; and a first electrode 40 and a second electrode 41 disposed on a downstream side of the vortex shedding structure portion 20 via a dielectric. By applying a voltage between the first electrode 40 and the second electrode 41, flow of the airflow on the downstream side of the vortex shedding structure portion 20 is controlled.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wind-power generating system 10 includes: a lightning protecting device including a receptor 70 provided on a blade surface and a lightning conductor 73 grounding the receptor 70; an airflow generating device 60 provided on the blade surface and including first and second electrodes 61, 62 separated via a dielectric 63; a discharge power source 65 including switches 90, 91 able to connect the first and second electrodes 61, 62 to output terminals 84, 85 respectively and a switch 92 able to connect the first or second electrode 61, 62 to a grounding conductor 100; and a thundercloud detecting device detecting information regarding thundercloud approach. When the information regarding the thundercloud approach is detected, the second electrode 62 is connected to the grounding conductor 100 and the first and second electrodes 61, 62 are disconnected from the output terminals 84, 85.

Abstract: A wind power generation system 10 of an embodiment includes a rotor 40 having blades 42, an airflow generation device 60 provided in a leading edge of each of the blades 42 and having a first electrode 61 and a second electrode 62 which are separated via a dielectric, a discharge power supply 65 applying a voltage between the electrodes of the airflow generation device 60, and a control unit 110 controlling the discharge power supply 65. The control unit 110 controls the voltage to perform pulse modulation so that the value of a relational expression fC/U is 0.1 or larger and 9 or smaller where f is a pulse modulation frequency of the voltage, C is a chord length of the blades 42, and U is a relative velocity combining a peripheral velocity of the blades 42 and a wind velocity, so as to generate plasma induced flow.

Abstract: A wind power generation system 10 of an embodiment includes a rotor 40 having a hub 41 and blades 42, a nacelle 31 pivotally supporting the rotor 40, a tower 30 supporting the nacelle 31, an airflow generation device 60 provided in a leading edge of each of the blades 42 and having a first electrode 61 and a second electrode 62 which are separated via a dielectric, and a discharge power supply 65 capable of applying a voltage between the electrodes of the airflow generation device 60. Further, the system includes a measurement device detecting information related to at least one of output in the wind power generation system 10, torque in the rotor 40 and a rotation speed of the blades 42, and a control unit 110 controlling the discharge power supply 65 based on an output from the measurement device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an air current generating apparatus includes: a dielectric substrate exposed to gas: a first electrode disposed inside the dielectric substrate; a second electrode disposed near a surface of the dielectric so as to correspond the first electrode and having a sharp shape; and a power source applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes and plasmatizing part of the gas to generate an air current.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a deodorizer disposed in a cold air circulation path for deodorizing an atmosphere in the refrigerator. The deodorizer includes discharging means for producing ozone and ultraviolet rays by means of high-voltage discharge and a photocatalyst module for decomposing an odor component and injurious matter contained in the atmosphere by means of photocatalyst.

Abstract: A photocatalysis apparatus has at least one unit structure (2). The unit structure has a photocatalyst module (6) and a pair of discharge electrodes (5) sandwiching the photocatalyst module. The photocatalyst module includes a photocatalyst and a three-dimensional ceramic mesh base carrying the photocatalyst. At least one of the discharge electrodes is a three-dimensional discharge electrode having an electrode body (3) and a conductive frame (4). The electrode body consists of cells made of a conductive foil and has front, back, and side faces. The front and back faces are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and have a shape selected from a group including a honeycomb, a lattice, and a mesh. The side faces of the electrode body is covered with the conductive frame.

Abstract: A photocatalysis apparatus has at least one unit structure (2). The unit structure has a photocatalyst module (6) and a pair of discharge electrodes (5) sandwiching the photocatalyst module. The photocatalyst module includes a photocatalyst and a three-dimensional ceramic mesh base carrying the photocatalyst. At least one of the discharge electrodes is a three-dimensional discharge electrode having an electrode body (3) and a conductive frame (4). The electrode body consists of cells made of a conductive foil and has front, back, and side faces. The front and back faces are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and have a shape selected from a group including a honeycomb, a lattice, and a mesh. The side faces of the electrode body is covered with the conductive frame.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a deodorizer disposed in a cold air circulation path for deodorizing an atmosphere in the refrigerator. The deodorizer includes discharging means for producing ozone and ultraviolet rays by means of high-voltage discharge and a photocatalyst module for decomposing an odor component and injurious matter contained in the atmosphere by means of photocatalyst.

Abstract: Fibrous boiled fish paste is produced by adding water to minced meat, mixing both with agitation, molding the mixture into a certain shape, subjecting it to setting, dividing it finely into the form of fibers or flat pieces extending in parallel and then heating the resulting finely divided product without separating each fiber or flat piece individually. The resulting boiled fish paste comprises an inner part coated with an outer surface forming a pellicle united to the inner part. The inner part is divided finely into the form of fibers or flat pieces in parallel to such a degree that each fiber or flat piece separates individually with ease in the mouth upon eating. This boiled fish paste is united in a body in appearance, but it loosens immediately in fiber-like manner in the mouth upon eating and it has an improved mouth feel.