Abstract: A nickel electrode for alkaline secondary battery including a porous sintered nickel substrate loaded with a nickel hydroxide-based active material, the nickel electrode has a configuration wherein a surface portion of the active material loaded into the sintered nickel substrate is provided with a combination of a first coating layer of a suitable compound and a second coating layer of a suitable compound, or a coating layer of a compound of two or more suitable elements, or wherein the coating layer of two or more suitable elements is formed between the sintered nickel substrate and the active material.

Abstract: A separator for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy as a negative electrode. The separator is a laminate of a substrate and a porous hydrophilic film.

Abstract: In an alkaline secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator to be interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, the above-mentioned separator has double bond of carbon. Further, an average amount of double bond of carbon in the gram of separator is in the range of 10 &mgr;mol/g to 200 &mgr;mol/g, and an average amount of increased nitrogen in the gram of separator after the separator is immersed in an alkaline aqueous solution having ammonium salt dissolved therein is not less than 140 &mgr;g/g.

Abstract: In a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode containing hydrogen absorbing alloy powder and a binding agent, employed as the binding agent is a copolymer of aromatic vinyl and at least one of acrylic ester and methacrylic acid ester, in which the total content of acrylic ester units and methacrylic acid ester units is in the range of 43 to 90% by weight of the whole copolymer, and the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode is used as a negative electrode of a nickel-metal hydride battery.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode is prepared by adding a binder to a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder and forming the mixture to a shape of an electrode, and the binder is partly or entirely made of poly N-vinyl acetamide, whereby higher high-rate discharge characteristics are obtained than conventionally.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery according to the present invention is obtained by adhering an electrode material consisting of hydrogen absorbing alloy powder and a binding agent composed of a polymeric material to a current collector, an aqueous polymeric material except for fluorocarbon resin is applied to a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, to form a coating layer, and a polymeric material in the coating layer is different from the polymeric material in the binding agent.

Abstract: In a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery, a covering layer containing at least one of metal elected from nickel and cobalt, and carbon particles is formed on a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode or hydrogen absorbing alloy particles used in the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode.

Abstract: Thermal decomposition of a reactant, XY, proceeds on a negative catalytic electrode to form products, X and Y. The product Y is a cellular reaction material, which separates into ions, Y.sup.+, and electrons, e.sup.-, on the negative catalytic electrode. The ions Y.sup.+ move through a solid electrolyte, the electrons e.sup.- pass through an external resistor, and the product X formed on the negative catalytic electrode is circulated to the positive catalytic electrode, therefore reproducing the reactant XY. Since the cellular reaction material Y need not be released from the top of the catalytic electrode, the invention is adapted to convert heat energy into electric energy efficiently as compared with conventional methods. In one embodiment, reactant XY is 2-propanol, and products X and Y are acetone and hydrogen, respectively.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction apparatus includes a catalytic reaction vessel containing a catalyst for an exothermic reaction. First and second catalyst regions contain a catalyst and have different catalytic performances from one another. At least two raw materials are introduced in the catalytic reaction vessel and passed through the first and second catalyst regions to react to generate heat. The heat is transferred to a heat medium arranged outside and contacting the catalytic reaction vessel so that distribution of temperature is controlled in the catalytic reaction vessel. The difference in catalytic performance is achieved by controlling concentration of the catalyst or by using different catalyst species.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction apparatus for carrying out an exothermic catalytic reaction includes a first vessel for containing a first raw material for the exothermic catalytic reaction; a second vessel for containing a second raw material for the exothermic catalytic reaction; a reaction vessel for carrying out therein the exothermic catalytic reaction which is connected to the first and second vessels and receives the first and second raw materials for the exothermic catalytic reaction, the reaction vessel having first and second regions respectively containing first and second catalysts having respective activities different from each other so that the first and second regions have different catalytic performances from one another; a first heat exchanger associated with the reaction vessel and containing a heating medium flowing through the first heat exchanger so that the heating medium receives heat generated by the exothermic reaction in the reaction vessel; a third vessel connected to the first heat exchanger

Abstract: In a solar heat powered plant according to the present invention, hot water is normally circulated through a hot-water tank, a low-temperature-side heat load unit, a return tank, a low-temperature-side heat exchanger, and again through the hot-water tank, in the order named, under the condition in which first and second valves are opened and closed, respectively. On the other hand, in warming up the hot-water tank, the first and second valves are closed and opened, respectively, so that the hot water is circulated between the hot-after tank and the low-temperature-side heat exchanger, through a by-pass pipe. Thus, the warming up of the hot-water tank can be achieved in a short time.

Abstract: A solar heat plant comprises a first system including a high temperature heat collector for changing solar energy to high temperature heat energy under usual sunshine and to low temperature heat energy under poor sunshine to supply the heat energy to a high temperature heat medium, a high temperature heat load which works under usual sunshine using the heat energy supplied to the high temperature heat medium, a second system including a low temperature heat collector for changing solar energy to low temperature heat energy under usual or poor sunshine to supply the heat energy to a low temperature heat medium, and a low temperature heat load which works under usual sunshine using the heat energy supplied to the low temperature heat medium and also works under poor sunshine using the heat energies supplied to the high and low temperature heat media.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat transfer is disclosed. This apparatus is a closed container which is possessed of an input portion and an output portion for heat energy and is provided on the inside thereof with a wick extending throughout from the input portion to the output portion and disposed so that the resistance offered thereby to the flow of liquid gradually decreases from the input side to the output side. The heat medium which is vaporized on the input side is moved in the direction of the output side by virtue of the difference of pressure created inside the container. The heat medium which is deprived of heat and consequently liquefied on the output side is moved within the wick in the direction of the input side by virtue of capillary action coupled with the suction resulting from the vaporization of the heat medium in the input portion.