Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing a predetermined major component gas, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. Also, by utilizing the function of this gas separation apparatus, a membrane reactor and a hydrogen production apparatus exhibiting high energy utilization efficiency are provided. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively.

Abstract: A feeder has a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and is configured to feed a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and is configured to print a toner image corresponding to digital image data onto the recording medium. An electrical component unit is configured to control the feeder and the image forming unit. The image forming unit and the electrical component unit are respectively disposed on both sides of the feeder in a shorter side direction.

Abstract: A shift conversion catalyst layer is divided into at least two front and back stages. A first catalyst and a second catalyst are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively. The first catalyst has a property that a carbon monoxide conversion rate decreases with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in a supplied reaction gas at a constant carbon monoxide concentration in the supplied reaction gas and a constant reaction temperature. The first catalyst is combined with the second catalyst such that the degree of decrease in carbon monoxide conversion rate with respect to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the supplied reaction gas in the second catalyst is lower than that in the first catalyst. Whereby, the conversion rate of a carbon monoxide concentration of a carbon monoxide shift conversion apparatus can be improved without increasing the used amount of a shift conversion catalyst.

Abstract: A burner including a fuel-containing fluid supply nozzle which supplies a fuel-containing fluid, from a connecting part in a fluid transfer flow passage for transferring a fuel-containing fluid including a fuel and a medium for transfer of the fuel, toward an outlet part provided on a furnace wall surface. The nozzle in its cross section perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid has a rectangular, elliptical, or substantially elliptical form having major and minor axis parts from a connecting part in the fluid transfer flow passage toward the outlet part provided on the furnace wall surface. Further, the area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid is gradually increased from the connecting part in the fluid transfer flow passage toward the outlet part. Air supply nozzle(s) for supplying combustion air are provided on the outer peripheral part of the nozzle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: A CO2-facilitated transport membrane of excellent carbon dioxide permeability and CO2/H2 selectivity, which can be applied to a CO2 permeable membrane reactor, is stably provided. The CO2-facilitated transport membrane is formed such that a gel layer 1 obtained by adding cesium carbonate to a polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid copolymer gel membrane is supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2. More preferably, a gel layer supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2 is coated with hydrophilic porous membranes 3 and 4.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for a porous alumina material, comprising the steps of: mixing an alkoxysilane solution that comprises an alkoxysilane, a mixed solvent comprising water and an alcohol, and an inorganic acid, with an aluminum solution comprising an aluminum compound and water, to prepare a mixed solution in which the aluminum compound and the alkoxysilane are dissolved in the mixed solvent; co-precipitating aluminum hydroxide with a silicon compound in the mixed solution, to form a precipitate; and baking the precipitate to form a porous alumina material comprising aluminum oxide and silicon oxide.

Abstract: A graphite crucible (2) for retaining a quartz crucible (1) has a graphite crucible substrate (3) as a graphite crucible forming material, and a coating film (4) made of a carbonized phenolic resin and formed over the entire surface of the graphite crucible substrate (3). The phenolic resin is impregnated inside open pores (5) existing in a surface of the graphite crucible substrate (3). The coating film (4) may be formed only within a portion of the graphite crucible in which SiC formation can occur easily, not over the entirety of the surface of the graphite crucible. For example, it is possible to deposit the film only on the entire inner surface of the crucible. It is also possible to deposit the film only on a curved portion (sharply curved portion) of the inner surface, or only on a curved portion and a straight trunk portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the pump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film.

Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing a predetermined major component gas, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. Also, by utilizing the function of this gas separation apparatus, a membrane reactor and a hydrogen production apparatus exhibiting high energy utilization efficiency are provided. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively.

Abstract: A single crystal pulling apparatus (1) has a quartz crucible (2) for accommodating silicon melt (3), a graphite crucible (4) for retaining the quartz crucible (2), a tray (5) for securing and holding the graphite crucible (4) from below, and a crucible rotating shaft (6) for supporting the tray (5) from below and for elevating and lowering the tray (5) and the crucibles (2), (4) while rotating them. A low heat conductive member (10) is interposed on a joint surface between the tray (5) and the crucible rotating shaft (6). The low heat conductive member (10) is formed in a substantially tubular shape, and is interposed in such a manner that a protruding portion of the crucible rotating shaft (6) is inserted through a center hole of the low heat conductive member (10). Thereby, a gap portion (11) is formed below a bottom portion of the tray (5).

Abstract: A steam permselective membrane containing a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer is provided. The steam permselective membrane may further contain at least one alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of a cesium compound, a potassium compound and a rubidium compound.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for operating a reformed gas production apparatus with which it is possible to achieve a high reforming efficiency while preventing a drop in catalyst activity due to the deposition of carbon. The reformed gas production method uses a reforming catalyst to reform a fuel that contains a hydrocarbon having at least two carbon atoms to produce a reformed gas that includes methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide. With this method, a fluid that includes the fuel, at least one of steam and a carbon dioxide-containing gas, and an oxygen-containing gas, is supplied to a reforming reaction region, and with the thermal decomposition index temperature of the fuel, which is determined by the type and the concentration of the hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms that make up the fuel, serving as an upper limit temperature of the reforming reaction region, the fluid is brought into contact with the reforming catalyst to produce the reformed gas.

Abstract: A carbon crucible prevents leakage of SiO gas from a boundary portion between a straight trunk portion and a tray portion and prevents SiC formation from quickly developing. A carbon crucible (5) for retaining a quartz crucible (4) used in a metal single crystal pulling apparatus for silicon or the like has a straight trunk portion (9) and a tray portion (10) that are divided from each other. A graphite sheet (11) is disposed between the quartz crucible (4) and the carbon crucible (5) so as to cover at least a boundary portion (A) of an inner surface of the carbon crucible (5) between the straight trunk portion (9) and the tray portion (10). The graphite sheet (11) is an expanded graphite sheet.

Abstract: A CO2-facilitated transport membrane of excellent carbon dioxide permeability and CO2/H2 selectivity, which can be applied to a CO2 permeable membrane reactor, is stably provided. The CO2-facilitated transport membrane is formed such that a gel layer 1 obtained by adding cesium carbonate to a polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid copolymer gel membrane is supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2. More preferably, a gel layer supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2 is coated with hydrophilic porous membranes 3 and 4.

Abstract: An image forming unit is accommodated in a space defined by a frame body. An image reader is disposed above the image forming unit. A first supporting member is secured between an upper portion of the frame body and a bottom portion of the image reader and configured to support the image reader to the frame body in a cantilever manner. A second supporting member is secured on an upper portion of the frame body and configured to receive a bottom portion of the image reader supported by the first supporting member in a cantilever manner.

Abstract: A feeder has a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and is configured to feed a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and is configured to print a toner image corresponding to digital image data onto the recording medium. An electrical component unit is configured to control the feeder and the image forming unit. The image forming unit and the electrical component unit are respectively disposed on both sides of the feeder in a shorter side direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeder having a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and feeds a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first, an image forming unit having a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and prints a toner image onto the recording medium, and a sub feeder that can feed the maximum size recording medium to the image forming unit independently from the feeder. A post processing apparatus receives a printed recording medium and executes post processing on a side of the recording medium. A feeding source of the maximum size recording medium is selected from the feeder and the sub feeder for executing the post processing on the longer and shorter sides of the maximum size recording medium, respectively.

Abstract: A feeder is configured to feed a recording medium. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of a maximum size recording medium to be accommodated in the feeder, and is disposed above the feeder in such a manner as to allow the maximum size recording medium to enter the image forming unit with a longer side first.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reformed gas production apparatus that includes a reaction chamber containing a reforming catalyst, a supply route to the reaction chamber, a reformed gas conduction route from the reaction chamber, and a reaction chamber temperature control means that controls a temperature of the reaction chamber. The supply route supplies a fluid that includes a fuel containing a hydrocarbon having at least two carbon atoms, at least one of steam and a carbon dioxide-containing gas, and an oxygen-containing gas. The fuel can be a mixed fuel that includes a plurality of types of hydrocarbons that each have at least two carbon atoms. The reaction chamber temperature control means relates to the thermal decomposition index temperature of the fuel, which defines an upper limit temperature of the reforming reaction region.