Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus includes an air-fuel ratio control unit controlling an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust gas control catalyst of the internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio control unit controlling the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust gas control catalyst. The air-fuel ratio control unit alternately repeats a rich process for controlling the air-fuel ratio that is richer than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and a lean process for controlling the air-fuel ratio hat is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio control unit, during the rich process, executes a lean pulse process for controlling, over a period shorter than a period of one execution of the lean process, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to reach a lean air-fuel ratio having a higher lean level than the air-fuel ratio during the lean process.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus includes an air-fuel ratio control unit controlling an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust gas control catalyst of the internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio control unit controlling the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust gas control catalyst. The air-fuel ratio control unit alternately repeats a rich process for controlling the air-fuel ratio that is richer than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and a lean process for controlling the air-fuel ratio hat is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio control unit, during the rich process, executes a lean pulse process for controlling, over a period shorter than a period of one execution of the lean process, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to reach a lean air-fuel ratio having a higher lean level than the air-fuel ratio during the lean process.

Abstract: An exhaust gas control system according to the present disclosure includes: a first exhaust gas control catalyst layer that controls an exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine; and a second exhaust gas control catalyst layer that further controls the exhaust gas that has been controlled by the first exhaust gas control catalyst layer. The second exhaust gas control catalyst layer contains an oxygen storage material. The ratio of the amount (mmol—CO2/m2) of base points per specific surface area (m2/g) of the oxygen storage material to the specific surface area is equal to or less than 4.50×10?5.

Abstract: A burner combustion chamber (3), a reformer catalyst (4) to which burner combustion gas is fed, and a heat exchange part (13a) for heating the air fed to the burner (7) are provided. When the temperature of the reformer catalyst (4) exceeds the allowable catalyst temperature (TX) or when it is predicted the temperature of the reformer catalyst (4) will exceed the allowable catalyst temperature (TX), the air circulation route for guiding air to the burner (7) is switched from a high temperature air circulation route (13) for guiding air heated by the heat exchange part (13a) to the burner (7) to a low temperature air circulation route (14) for guiding air not flowing within the heat exchange part (13a) and lower in temperature than the air heated at the heat exchange part (13a) to the burner (7).

Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprising at least two exhaust treatment catalysts arranged in an engine exhaust passage, a hydrogen feed source, and a plurality of hydrogen feed passages for feeding hydrogen from the hydrogen feed source to the exhaust treatment catalysts. When warming up the exhaust treatment catalysts, hydrogen is fed from the hydrogen feed source through the corresponding hydrogen feed passage to the exhaust treatment catalyst with the larger rise of the exhaust removal rate when hydrogen is fed among the exhaust treatment catalysts.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment catalyst (13) arranged in an engine exhaust passage and a heat and hydrogen generation device (50) are provided. The amount of fuel fed to the heat and hydrogen generation device (50), which is required for making the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) rise by exactly a predetermined temperature rise by heat and hydrogen fed from the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) when the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is not poisoned and does not thermally deteriorate, is calculated based on the amount of exhaust gas. When fuel of the reference feed fuel amount corresponding to the amount of exhaust gas is fed to the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) and the temperature rise of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) fails to reach the predetermined temperature rise, the treatment for restoration from poisoning of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is performed.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust treatment catalyst (13) arranged in an engine exhaust passage and a heat and hydrogen generation device (50) able to feed only heat or heat and hydrogen to the exhaust treatment catalyst (13). When the warm-up operation of the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) is completed and a reforming action by a reformer catalyst (54) becomes possible, if the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is a preset activation temperature or more, a partial oxidation reaction is performed at the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) and the generated heat and hydrogen are fed to the exhaust treatment catalyst (50). At this time, if the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is less than the preset activation temperature, a complete oxidation reaction by a lean air-fuel ratio is continued and a heat is fed to the exhaust treatment catalyst (13).

Abstract: An exhaust treatment catalyst (13) arranged in an engine exhaust passage and a heat and hydrogen generation device (50) are provided. The amount of fuel fed to the heat and hydrogen generation device (50), which is required for making the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) rise by exactly a predetermined temperature rise by heat and hydrogen fed from the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) when the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is not poisoned and does not thermally deteriorate, is calculated based on the amount of exhaust gas. When fuel of the reference feed fuel amount corresponding to the amount of exhaust gas is fed to the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) and the temperature rise of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) fails to reach the predetermined temperature rise, the treatment for restoration from poisoning of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is performed.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprising at least two exhaust treatment catalysts arranged in an engine exhaust passage, a hydrogen feed source, and a plurality of hydrogen feed passages for feeding hydrogen from the hydrogen feed source to the exhaust treatment catalysts. When warming up the exhaust treatment catalysts, hydrogen is fed from the hydrogen feed source through the corresponding hydrogen feed passage to the exhaust treatment catalyst with the larger rise of the exhaust removal rate when hydrogen is fed among the exhaust treatment catalysts.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust treatment catalyst (13) arranged in an engine exhaust passage and a heat and hydrogen generation device (50) able to feed only heat or heat and hydrogen to the exhaust treatment catalyst (13). When the warm-up operation of the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) is completed and a reforming action by a reformer catalyst (54) becomes possible, if the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is a preset activation temperature or more, a partial oxidation reaction is performed at the heat and hydrogen generation device (50) and the generated heat and hydrogen are fed to the exhaust treatment catalyst (50). At this time, if the temperature of the exhaust treatment catalyst (13) is less than the preset activation temperature, a complete oxidation reaction by a lean air-fuel ratio is continued and a heat is fed to the exhaust treatment catalyst (13).

Abstract: A heat and hydrogen generation device comprising a burner combustion chamber (3), a burner (7) for feeding fuel and air into the burner combustion chamber (3), and a reformer catalyst (4). The target value of the O2/C molar ratio of air and fuel which are made to react in the burner combustion chamber (3) is preset as the target O2/C molar ratio. The actual O2/C molar ratio at the time of warm-up operation is estimated from the rate of temperature rise of the reformer catalyst (4) etc., when performing warm-up operation. When the estimated actual O2/C molar ratio deviates from the target O2/C molar ratio at the time of warm-up operation, the ratio of feed between the amount of feed of air for burner combustion and the amount of feed of fuel for burner combustion is corrected, in a direction making the estimated actual O2/C molar ratio approach the target O2/C molar ratio at the time of warm-up operation.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an ammonia synthesis method using solar thermal energy, whereby it is possible to minimize the load of collecting solar thermal energy, and especially high-temperature solar thermal energy. The method of the present invention for synthesis of ammonia using solar thermal energy includes the following steps (a) to (c): (a) conducting ammonia synthesis reaction in which nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted to synthesize ammonia, (b) heating a heating medium by solar thermal energy and the reaction heat energy of the ammonia synthesis reaction, and (c) conducting at least part of the water splitting reaction in which water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, using the thermal energy of the heated heating medium, to obtain the hydrogen.

Abstract: A burner combustion chamber (3), a burner (7) for performing a burner combustion in the burner combustion chamber (3) a reformer catalyst (4) to which burner combustion gas is fed, and a heat exchange part (13a) for heating the air fed to the burner (7) are provided. A switching device (16, 17) able to switch an air flow route for introducing the outside air to the burner (7) between a high temperature air flow route (13) for introducing the outside air flowing within the heat exchange part (13a) and heated at the heat exchange part(13a) to the burner (7) and a low temperature air flow route (14) for feeding the outside air, which does not flow within the heat exchange part (13a) and thereby is lower in temperature than the outside air heated at the heat exchange part (13a), to the burner (7) is provided.

Abstract: A burner combustion chamber (3), a reformer catalyst (4) to which burner combustion gas is fed, and a heat exchange part (13a) for heating the air fed to the burner (7) are provided. When the temperature of the reformer catalyst (4) exceeds the allowable catalyst temperature (TX) or when it is predicted the temperature of the reformer catalyst (4) will exceed the allowable catalyst temperature (TX), the air circulation route for guiding air to the burner (7) is switched from a high temperature air circulation route (13) for guiding air heated by the heat exchange part (13a) to the burner (7) to a low temperature air circulation route (14) for guiding air not flowing within the heat exchange part (13a) and lower in temperature than the air heated at the heat exchange part (13a) to the burner (7).

Abstract: A nanoparticle carrying method making a carrier adsorb ammonium ions, making the nanoparticles adsorb an organic acid, and making the carrier and the nanoparticles contact each other in a basic solution to thereby cause the carrier to adsorb the nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can be carried in high dispersion irrespective of superhydrophilicity.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an ammonia synthesis method using solar thermal energy, whereby it is possible to minimize the load of collecting solar thermal energy, and especially high-temperature solar thermal energy. The method of the present invention for synthesis of ammonia using solar thermal energy includes the following steps (a) to (c): (a) conducting ammonia synthesis reaction in which nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted to synthesize ammonia, (b) heating a heating medium by solar thermal energy and the reaction heat energy of the ammonia synthesis reaction, and (c) conducting at least part of the water splitting reaction in which water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, using the thermal energy of the heated heating medium, to obtain the hydrogen.

Abstract: A catalyst support particle 10 is disclosed, wherein the particle comprises a zirconia-based metal oxide particle 1, and rare earth oxide-enriched areas 2 dotted on the surface thereof. A production process of a catalyst support particle is disclosed, wherein the process comprises (a) providing a colloidal solution containing a colloidal particle of rare earth hydroxide or oxide, (b) adding a zirconia-based metal oxide particle to the colloidal solution to cause the colloidal particle to be adsorbed and loaded on the surface of the zirconia-based metal oxide particle, and (c) drying and firing the zirconia-based metal oxide particle having the colloidal particle adsorbed and loaded thereon.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an exhaust gas purifying catalyst is provided. The catalyst comprises a porous silica support comprising silica having a pore structure, and a perovskite-type composite metal oxide particle supported in the pore structure of the porous silica support. Further, the peak attributable to the space between silica primary particles is in the range of 3 to 100 nm in the pore distribution of the porous silica support.

Abstract: A pretreatment method for saccharification of plant fiber materials includes: immersing the plant fiber material in a solution that contains an organic solvent, in which a cluster acid is dissolved, prior to saccharifying cellulose contained in the plant fiber material; and distilling off the organic solvent from the immersed plant fiber material to obtain a pretreated mixture that contains the cluster acid and the pretreated plant fiber material.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen from water is provided. The hydrogen production process includes splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, wherein the process includes decomposing sulfuric acid into water, sulfur dioxide and oxygen through a reaction of formula (X1) by using solar thermal energy, wherein at least a part of the elementary reaction of formula (X1-1) is performed using thermal solar energy, and at least a part of the elementary reaction of formula (X1-2) is performed using additional thermal energy other than solar thermal energy, and wherein the heating temperature by the additional thermal energy is higher by 10° C. or more than the heating temperature by the solar thermal energy, and at least a part of the additional thermal energy is generated in a reaction vessel: (X1) H2SO4?H2O+SO2+1/2O2, (X1-1) H2SO4?H2O+SO3, and (X1-2) SO3?SO2+1/2O2.