Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a diffusion combustor arranged at an axis portion of a combustion chamber for effecting diffusion combustion, a plurality of first premixing combustors arranged at an outer periphery of the diffusion combustor for effecting premixed combustion, each of the plurality of first premixing combustors being formed so that a mixture outlet end thereof projects more downstream than a fuel outlet end of the diffusion combustor, and a plurality of second premixing combustors each formed so that a mixture outlet thereof projects more downstream than the mixture outlet end of the first combustor, wherein the first premixing combustors and the second premixing combustors are arranged alternately at the outer periphery of the diffusion combustor, and wherein a swirler is provided on the first premixing combustor in the vicinity of the mixture outlet end thereof for swirling mixture.

Abstract: Method of opening and closing a fluid passage comprises the steps of freezing fluid in the fluid passage by first cooling the fluid to a temperature below the freezing point of the fluid to close the fluid passage and after the fluid passage is closed, raising the temperature of the fluid close (or just below) to the freezing point of the fluid, whereby the fluid passage is maintained in a closed state with a small power supply and the responsiveness in opening the fluid passage is enhanced.

Abstract: A dehydrating vessel of a washing machine includes a wall formed of non-water absorbing material, and a water absorbing porous material layer attached to an inner periphery of the wall. The water absorbing porous material layer exhibits a capillary action. A plurality of water releasing apertures are formed at the wall and the water absorbing porous material layer. The rate of dehydration achieved in a zone of the dehydrating vessel near the wall of the vessel can be improved, so that the rate of dehydration can be rendered substantially uniform from the wall to the central portion of the vessel without nonuniformity.

Abstract: A vaneless diffuser disposed on the outer periphery of an impeller of a centrifugal compressor and including a pair of opposed diffuser plates of a disk shape defining therebetween a fluid channel is formed with a plurality of guide vanes extending from the inlet of the diffuser to its outlet. The guide vanes which are disposed on at least one of the pair of diffuser plates and extend immediately from the outlet of the impeller in the direction of flow of a fluid through the fluid channel has a height smaller than one-half the width of the fluid channel and gradually decreasing in going from the inlet of the diffuser toward its outlet.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes an impeller and a diffuser arranged around the outer periphery of the impeller and including a pair of annular, spaced diffuser plates defining a diffuser channel therebetween. A plurality of guide vanes are provided on at least one of the pair of diffuser plates to guide a low flow angle portion of a fluid flow introduced into the diffuser channel from the outlet of the impeller. The guide vanes each extend from the inlet of the diffuser channel to a position which does not exceed about one half the distance between the inlet and the outlet of the diffuser channel and have a height which is less than one half the spacing between the pair of diffuser plates.

Abstract: A turbo-fluid device in the form of a package, in which a heat exchanger used as a cooler for a turbo-compressor, desiccator, or turbo-refrigerator; or a heater for a turbo-generator is formed in an annular form, while there are housed in the interior of the annular heat exchanger an electric motor or generator, transmission, compressor and/or turbine, oil feed device and other accessories, thereby decreasing sound level and reducing the size and the weight of the device.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes an impeller and a diffuser arranged around the outer periphery of the impeller and including a pair of annular, spaced diffuser plates defining a diffuser channel therebetween. A plurality of guide vanes are provided on at least one of the pair of diffuser plates to guide a low flow angle portion of a fluid flow introduced into the diffuser channel from the outlet of the impeller. The guide vanes each extend from the inlet of the diffuser channel to a position which does not exceed about one half the distance between the inlet and the outlet of the diffuser channel and have a height which is less than one half the spacing between the pair of diffuser plates.