Abstract: A residual chlorine measuring method includes the steps of bringing a counter electrode, a working electrode and a reference electrode into contact with a sample solution containing a residual chlorine. Applying a voltage between the counter electrode and the working electrode and measuring a current value to calculate a concentration of the residual chlorine. The working electrode is an electrically conductive diamond electrode to which an element selected from a group of boron, nitrogen and phosphorus is doped into a diamond coating. The reference electrode is a silver/silver chloride electrode. A current value, when setting the potential of the electrically conductive diamond electrode to the silver/silver chloride electrode, is in the range of +0.5 V to +1.5 V for measurements.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided that comprises a display case part with an inside thereof being dividable into a plurality of zones, a supply duct that is connected to supply openings for supplying conditioning air for controlling environmental conditions to the plurality of zones respectively, and an exhaust duct that is connected to exhaust openings for taking in air from the plurality of zones. In this storage apparatus, conditioning air such as cold air or hot air is circulated in the respective zones, and the environmental conditions can be adjusted efficiently in zone basis. Therefore, in a storage apparatus equipped with an open-type display case part, it is possible to dispense with an air curtain covering the entire open side, so that a storage apparatus with a high storage capacity is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of evaluating the risk of possible caries and the device, system, and program of the same, which is useful for the subjects to keep their mouth conditions best by measuring the chemical properties of saliva samples collected from the mouths of subjects to allow for easy and sanitary evaluation of the risk of possible caries in a short time and to help the subjects accurately recognize their risk of possible caries and closely consult their dentist. In the present invention, saliva from the mouth of subject is collected, a given ratio of acid is added to the saliva, and the chemical property of the saliva is measured to evaluate the risk of possible caries base on the measured value.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided that comprises a display case part with an inside thereof being dividable into a plurality of zones, a supply duct that is connected to supply openings for supplying conditioning air for controlling environmental conditions to the plurality of zones respectively, and an exhaust duct that is connected to exhaust openings for taking in air from the plurality of zones. In this storage apparatus, conditioning air such as cold air or hot air is circulated in the respective zones, and the environmental conditions can be adjusted efficiently in zone basis. Therefore, in a storage apparatus equipped with an open-type display case part, it is possible to dispense with an air curtain covering the entire open side, so that a storage apparatus with a high storage capacity is provided.

Abstract: A process of producing cooked noodles, including the step of heating cooked noodles by direct contact with saturated steam at 105° to 150° C. or the step of heating comprising the substeps of directly applying saturated steam at 105° to 150° C. to cooked noodles intermittently and steaming the noodles by direct contact with saturated steam at 90° to 100° C. The resulting cooked noodle product is preservable for a long time without the aid of additives and yet keeps a pleasant texture.

Abstract: A process of producing cooked noodles packaged for ambient temperature distribution, including the step of heating cooked noodles by direct contact with superheated steam at 120 to 480 kPa or the step of heating comprising the substeps of directly applying superheated steam to cooked noodles intermittently and steaming the noodles by direct contact with saturated steam. The resulting cooked noodle product is preservable for a long time without the aid of additives and yet keeps a pleasant texture.

Abstract: An ejector for a refrigerant cycle includes a nozzle having therein a refrigerant passage, and a needle valve provided in the refrigerant passage of the nozzle upstream from a throat portion of the nozzle. The needle valve is disposed in the nozzle to define therebetween a throttle portion that is positioned upstream from the throat portion. A top end portion of the needle valve and an inner wall of the nozzle are formed, so that refrigerant is decompressed to a gas-liquid two-phase state at upstream of the throat portion. Accordingly, a throttle degree of the nozzle can be variably controlled while ejector efficiency is not deteriorated.

Abstract: In a hybrid water heater, a heat pump unit and a combustion heating unit are combined for heating water to be stored in a hot water tank. The combustion heating unit includes a combustor for heating water in a chamber by combustion operation. The chamber of the combustion heating unit communicates with the hot water tank through a first water port provided at an upper side of the hot water tank and a second water port provided at a lower side of the hot water tank, so that hot water heated in the chamber flows into the upper side in the hot water tank through the first water port, by using natural convection. Further, water in the hot water tank at the lower side flows from the second water port into the chamber.

Abstract: In a control unit of a hot-water supply system, a boiling time period is estimated based on a hot-water amount stored in a tank at a time of 23:00, a boiling start time is adjusted so that boiling operation is finished at a time immediately before 7:00. For example, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is smaller at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made longer and the boiling start time is made earlier. On the other hand, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is larger at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made shorter and the boiling start time is made later.

Abstract: An ejector for a refrigerant cycle includes a nozzle having therein a refrigerant passage, and a needle valve provided in the refrigerant passage of the nozzle upstream from a throat portion of the nozzle. The needle valve is disposed in the nozzle to define therebetween a throttle portion that is positioned upstream from the throat portion. A top end portion of the needle valve and an inner wall of the nozzle are formed, so that refrigerant is decompressed to a gas-liquid two-phase state at upstream of the throat portion. Accordingly, a throttle degree of the nozzle can be variably controlled while ejector efficiency is not deteriorated.

Abstract: In an ejector cycle system using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, an ejector decompresses and expands refrigerant from a radiator to suck gas refrigerant evaporated in an evaporator, and converts an expansion energy to a pressure energy to increase a refrigerant pressure to be sucked into a compressor. Because refrigerant is decompressed and expanded in a super-critical area, a pressure difference during the decompression operation becomes larger, and a specific enthalpy difference becomes larger. Accordingly, energy converting efficiency in the ejector becomes higher, and efficiency of the ejector cycle system is improved.

Abstract: In a hybrid water heater, a heat pump unit and a combustion heating unit are combined for heating water to be stored in a hot water tank. The combustion heating unit includes a combustor for heating water in a chamber by combustion operation. The chamber of the combustion heating unit communicates with the hot water tank through a first water port provided at an upper side of the hot water tank and a second water port provided at a lower side of the hot water tank, so that hot water heated in the chamber flows into the upper side in the hot water tank through the first water port, by using natural convection. Further, water in the hot water tank at the lower side flows from the second water port into the chamber.

Abstract: In a control unit of a hot-water supply system, a boiling time period is estimated based on a hot-water amount stored in a tank at a time of 23:00, a boiling start time is adjusted so that boiling operation is finished at a time immediately before 7:00. For example, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is smaller at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made longer and the boiling start time is made earlier. On the other hand, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is larger at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made shorter and the boiling start time is made later.

Abstract: A connector system 10 includes a polarizing key mechanism permitting only a specific combination of a pair of first and second connectors 12, 14 to be connected with each other. The polarizing key mechanism includes a frame-shaped first guide member 40 arranged around a fitting portion 22 of the first connector 12, and a frame-shaped second guide member 42 arranged around a fitting portion 32 of the second connector 14. Two grooves 48 are formed to be recessed on the outer surface of the opposed longitudinal parts of a first wall 44 of the first guide member 40. Two ribs 52 are formed to project from the inner surface of the opposed longitudinal parts of a second wall 50 of the second guide member 42. The first and second guide members 40, 42 permit the first and second connectors 12, 14 to be connected with each other only when the grooves 48 are compensatingly engaged with the ribs 52.

Abstract: In an ejector cycle system using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, an ejector decompresses and expands refrigerant from a radiator to suck gas refrigerant evaporated in an evaporator, and converts an expansion energy to a pressure energy to increase a refrigerant pressure to be sucked into a compressor. Because refrigerant is decompressed and expanded in a super-critical area, a pressure difference during the decompression operation becomes larger, and a specific enthalpy difference becomes larger. Accordingly, energy converting efficiency in the ejector becomes higher, and efficiency of the ejector cycle system is improved.

Abstract: A method for evaluating material is carried out by making current measurements in an electrolyte positioned between a sensor and a material to be evaluated. The sensor has a substrate and a sensor surface. A light source is disposed in a spaced relationship with the substrate of the sensor. An electrolyte such as a gas or a solution is positioned to contact the sensor surface, and a material to be evaluated is positioned to contact the electrolyte, such that the electrolyte is positioned between the sensor and the material to be evaluated. A change in a property of the electrolyte, for example, pH, is caused by irradiating the sensor with the light beam. By generating a current in the substrate and then measuring the current, the pH of the electrolyte may be determined.

Abstract: A method of measuring microbial activity of microbes in real time includes preparing a medium to enable microbial activity and placing the medium in operative contact with an appropriate sensor. The sensor is scanned to provide measurement electrical signals representative of position and amount of microbial activity, the sensor being responsive to a by-product of the microbial activity, such as a change in pH. The measurement signals can then be processed to provide a visual image display, and the display can visually distinguish between levels of pH activity and coordinate positions of the microbial activity.

Abstract: A treating apparatus and method of the present invention carry out dyeing, scouring, bleaching and other treatment for feeling of a textile fabric by transferring and circulating the textile fabric with jetting force of air and liquor using an air jet flow type apparatus which is equipped with a fabric treating passageway in circular form comprised of a transferring passageway and a residence chamber both ends of which are jointed to one another, and perform a series of treating operations such as charging fabric, raising and holding of temperature at a constant degree, cooling and drying more efficiently in a short time. The exit section of the residence chamber is located at a position lower than the entrance section of the chamber, close to the ground on which the apparatus is installed, whereby charge and take-out of a textile fabric is facilitated.

Abstract: A pH sensor having an ISFET is provided on a crystalline substrate of silicon with a thin film of aluminum oxide formed to have epitaxial growth with an overlaying thin film of silicon epitaxial grown on the aluminum oxide layer. A source element and a drain element are provided on the silicon film, and a pH responsive film layer is connected to the source and drain. The pH sensor can be accompanied with appropriate circuitry also integrally formed on the same epitaxial SOI substrate.