Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer, fuel cell stacks, and an exhaust-gas combustor. The reformer has a tubular shape extending in an axial direction and reforms raw fuel into combustion gas. The fuel cell stacks generate electric power from the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The fuel cell stacks are arranged radially outward of the reformer in a circumferential direction to face the reformer in a radial direction. The exhaust-gas combustor burns fuel gas that is not used and included in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stacks. The exhaust-gas combustor is arranged radially inward of the reformer to face the reformer in the radial direction. Each fuel cell stack includes flat plate type cells stacked in the radial direction. This achieves downsizing of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer, fuel cell stacks, and an exhaust-gas combustor. The reformer has a tubular shape extending in an axial direction and reforms raw fuel into combustion gas. The fuel cell stacks generate electric power from the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The fuel cell stacks are arranged radially outward of the reformer in a circumferential direction to face the reformer in a radial direction. The exhaust-gas combustor burns fuel gas that is not used and included in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stacks. The exhaust-gas combustor is arranged radially inward of the reformer to face the reformer in the radial direction. Each fuel cell stack includes flat plate type cells stacked in the radial direction. This achieves downsizing of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer, fuel cell stacks, and an exhaust-gas combustor. The reformer has a tubular shape extending in an axial direction and reforms raw fuel into combustion gas. The fuel cell stacks generate electric power from the fuel gas and oxidant gas. The fuel cell stacks are arranged radially outward of the reformer in a circumferential direction to face the reformer in a radial direction. The exhaust-gas combustor burns fuel gas that is not used and included in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stacks. The exhaust-gas combustor is arranged radially inward of the reformer to face the reformer in the radial direction. Each fuel cell stack includes flat plate type cells stacked in the radial direction. This achieves downsizing of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide, in a combined system of a bioethanol producing device and an SOFC, a method that is capable of further enhancing the electric power generation efficiency of the SOFC, and is also capable of achieving further reduction of the energy required for distillation of the fermented liquid. A part of an anode off-gas is refluxed to the water-containing ethanol vapor line from the mash column to the reforming device at a reflux ratio ((flow rate of reflux gas)/(flow rate of (anode off-gas)?(reflux gas))) of from 1 to 2. The ethanol concentration of the water-containing ethanol vapor is controlled by refluxing, to a range of from 25 to 35% by weight with water contained in the anode off-gas of the solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide, in a combined system of a bioethanol producing device and an SOFC, a method that is capable of further enhancing the electric power generation efficiency of the SOFC, and is also capable of achieving further reduction of the energy required for distillation of the fermented liquid. A part of an anode off-gas is refluxed to the water-containing ethanol vapor line from the mash column to the reforming device at a reflux ratio ((flow rate of reflux gas)/(flow rate of (anode off-gas)?(reflux gas))) of from 1 to 2. The ethanol concentration of the water-containing ethanol vapor is controlled by refluxing, to a range of from 25 to 35% by weight with water contained in the anode off-gas of the solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a VP dewatering method being applicable over a wide range, having good handling properties, and being economically efficient and highly energy-saving, which comprises compression-pressuring a dewatered vapor product to elevate a condensation temperature thereof and then re-using the same as a heat source for vaporizing a supply liquid. In dewatering a water-containing organic substance which is a liquid starting material according to a vapor permeation membrane separation method, a dewatered organic substance vapor discharged from a membrane module is pressurized with a compressor to elevate the condensation temperature of the vapor and then the vapor is fed to a vaporizer of said method to collect and use the latent heat of condensation thereof.

Abstract: In the carbon dioxide separation system, a mixed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 3 to 75% is introduced into a primary carbon dioxide separation device equipped with a zeolite membrane for carbon dioxide separation to produce a primary permeated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more on the permeate side of the zeolite membrane and also reduce the carbon dioxide concentration of a primary gas on the non-permeate side of the zeolite membrane to 3 to 15%. Next, the primary gas on the non-permeate side is introduced into a secondary carbon dioxide separation device that employs an amine absorption method or a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method to produce a secondary separated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more separated by the separation device and also produce a carbon-dioxide-removed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 2% or less.

Abstract: To reduce an influence of concentration polarization in a simple structure without an outer membrane element 32 and baffles, reduce a manufacturing cost of a module, and reduce a risk of damaging a membrane surface during manufacture. A plurality of horizontal cylindrical membrane elements 32 are disposed to form a row in a vertical direction in a module main body 11. An inside of each of the membrane elements is depressurized. A treatment liquid is sprayed from above the uppermost membrane element 32 so as to form a falling liquid membrane on outer faces of the respective membrane elements 32.

Abstract: A separation membrane according to the present invention is characterized by having a porous tube containing an alumina as a main component and an attachment member disposed in a connection position of the porous tube, wherein the porous tube and the attachment member are bonded by a ceramic oxide-based bonding agent containing 17 to 48 wt % of SiO2, 2 to 8 wt % of Al2O3, 24 to 60 wt % of BaO, and 0.5 to 5 wt % of ZnO as essential components and containing at least one of La2O3, CaO, and SrO, and a thin zeolite layer is formed on a surface of the porous tube. The attachment member is bonded to the porous tube before the formation of the zeolite layer. Therefore, the bonding agent can have a melting temperature higher than 600° C., which is the upper heatproof temperature limit of the zeolite. Thus, the ceramic oxide material for the bonding agent can be selected from a wider range of compositions such as glass compositions (without limitations on the glass softening temperature).

Abstract: In the device for mounting a separation membrane element in a separation membrane module, a sealing member is constituted of a plurality of notched circular packings made of graphite, for example, each having a notched circular shape as viewed in a plan view. The plurality of notched circular packings are fitted on an upper end portion of the separation membrane element in a state where the notched circular packings are made to overlap with each other in plural stages, notched portions of the notched circular packings arranged adjacent to each other vertically are arranged at positions different from each other as viewed in a plan view, the notched circular packings in plural stages are received by the inwardly projecting annular receiving portion in the mounting hole, the notched circular packings in plural stages are pressed to the annular receiving portion by threaded engagement of the press fitting thus applying sealing.

Abstract: In a separation membrane module in a module main body, an upper horizontal partition plate forms an upper fluid channel, a lower horizontal partition plate forms a lower fluid channel, a plurality of vertical outer tubes are fixed between the upper horizontal partition plate and the lower horizontal partition plate, and vertical tubular membrane elements extend through the respective outer tubes with a gap. An upper end of the gap is in communication with the upper fluid channel and a lower end of the gap is in communication with the lower fluid channel. An upper end opening of each of the membrane elements is open to outside of the module main body and a lower end opening each of the membrane elements is closed. A vertical partition plate is provided in either the upper fluid channel or the lower fluid channel to form an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber.

Abstract: In the carbon dioxide separation system, a mixed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 3 to 75% is introduced into a primary carbon dioxide separation device equipped with a zeolite membrane for carbon dioxide separation to produce a primary permeated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more on the permeate side of the zeolite membrane and also reduce the carbon dioxide concentration of a primary gas on the non-permeate side of the zeolite membrane to 3 to 15%. Next, the primary gas on the non-permeate side is introduced into a secondary carbon dioxide separation device that employs an amine absorption method or a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method to produce a secondary separated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more separated by the separation device and also produce a carbon-dioxide-removed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 2% or less.

Abstract: The method for separating water by a separation membrane is a method for separating water from an aqueous organic acid solution by the separation membrane, and the separation membrane consists of polycrystalline membrane of mordenite (the chemical composition of the frame: AlnSi40-nO96, 2?n?, further, a major component of exchangeable cations present in ion exchange sites of the mordenite is protons (H+). The separation membrane for dehydrating an aqueous organic acid solution exhibits unexpectedly remarkable water permeability and has excellent acid resistance, without damaging water separation selectivity. The method for separating water using this separation membrane enables, for example, realizing the process of dehydrating acetic acid by the separation membrane, and a great energy saving. There are provided the above-described separation membrane for dehydrating an aqueous organic acid solution, and the method for manufacturing it.

Abstract: To reduce an influence of concentration polarization in a simple structure without an outer membrane element 32 and baffles, reduce a manufacturing cost of a module, and reduce a risk of damaging a membrane surface during manufacture. A plurality of horizontal cylindrical membrane elements 32 are disposed to form a row in a vertical direction in a module main body 11. An inside of each of the membrane elements is depressurized. A treatment liquid is sprayed from above the uppermost membrane element 32 so as to form a falling liquid membrane on outer faces of the respective membrane elements 32.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a VP dewatering method being applicable over a wide range, having good handling properties, and being economically efficient and highly energy-saving, which comprises compression-pressuring a dewatered vapor product to elevate a condensation temperature thereof and then re-using the same as a heat source for vaporizing a supply liquid. In dewatering a water-containing organic substance which is a liquid starting material according to a vapor permeation membrane separation method, a dewatered organic substance vapor discharged from a membrane module is pressurized with a compressor to elevate the condensation temperature of the vapor and then the vapor is fed to a vaporizer of said method to collect and use the latent heat of condensation thereof.

Abstract: A separation membrane according to the present invention is characterized by having a porous tube containing an alumina as a main component and an attachment member disposed in a connection position of the porous tube, wherein the porous tube and the attachment member are bonded by a ceramic oxide-based bonding agent containing 17 to 48 wt % of SiO2, 2 to 8 wt % of Al2O3, 24 to 60 wt % of BaO, and 0.5 to 5 wt % of ZnO as essential components and containing at least one of La2O3, CaO, and SrO, and a thin zeolite layer is formed on a surface of the porous tube. The attachment member is bonded to the porous tube before the formation of the zeolite layer. Therefore, the bonding agent can have a melting temperature higher than 600° C., which is the upper heatproof temperature limit of the zeolite. Thus, the ceramic oxide material for the bonding agent can be selected from a wider range of compositions such as glass compositions (without limitations on the glass softening temperature).

Abstract: A separation membrane module is provided with a module main body 11, an upper horizontal partition plate 21 which is positioned in an upper portion within the module main body 11 so as to form an upper fluid channel 22, a lower horizontal partition plate 23 which is positioned in a lower portion within the module main body 11 so as to form a lower fluid channel 24, a plurality of vertical outer tubes 13 which are fixed between the upper horizontal partition plate 21 and the lower horizontal partition plate 23, and vertical tubular membrane elements 21 which are put through the respective outer tubes 13 with a gap. An upper end of the gap between each of the outer tubes 13 and the membrane elements 12 put there through is joined with the upper fluid channel 22, and a lower end of the gap is joined with the lower fluid channel 24. An upper end opening of each of the membrane elements 12 is open to an outer side of the module main body 11, and a lower end opening each of the membrane elements 12 is closed.