Abstract: A computing system includes a node system configured to include each of a plurality of nodes coupled through paths processes received data and transmits data of a processing result to another node; and a configuration manager configured to include a node manager setting a first length of a path located close to an end point from which data is output in the node system to a second length greater than or equal to the first length, of a path located further away from the end point when paths coupling the nodes to one another are set, the node system processing data by using a network in which the plurality of nodes are coupled through paths set by the node manager.

Abstract: This method of upgrading a biomass comprises: an upgrading step for performing upgrading treatment of a cellulose based biomass with an oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of at least 0.5, in presence of water and under a pressure of at least saturated water vapor pressure, and reducing said oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of said biomass to no more than 0.38, and a separation step for separating an upgraded reactant obtained from said upgrading step into a solid component and a liquid component.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to continuously feed an object to be treated to a high-pressure reactor which treats the object to be treated containing 10 mass % or more of water under high pressure, while preventing backflow of a high-pressure atmosphere from the high-pressure reactor. This is embodied by making a configuration such that the object to be treated is fed to the high-pressure reactor connected to a discharge port of a screw feeder which is provided with a feed unit for the object to be treated and the discharge port on one end side and the other end side respectively and forms a high-pressure atmosphere pressurized to, for example, 2 MPa or higher, while air-tightness between the high-pressure atmosphere and the one end side of the screw feeder is maintained by a sealing action of an accumulation compressed on the other end side of the screw feeder.

Abstract: This method of upgrading a biomass comprises: an upgrading step for performing upgrading treatment of a cellulose based biomass with an oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of at least 0.5, in presence of water and under a pressure of at least saturated water vapor pressure, and reducing said oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of said biomass to no more than 0.38, and a separation step for separating an upgraded reactant obtained from said upgrading step into a solid component and a liquid component.

Abstract: This method of upgrading a biomass comprises: an upgrading step for performing upgrading treatment of a cellulose based biomass with an oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of at least 0.5, in presence of water and under a pressure of at least saturated water vapor pressure, and reducing said oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of said biomass to no more than 0.38, and a separation step for separating an upgraded reactant obtained from said upgrading step into a solid component and a liquid component.

Abstract: In the process for reforming a biomass in accordance with the present invention, a mixture of a biomass and water as a raw material is compressed by a compressing pump 2 to be deposited into the inlet side of a circulating pump 43 in a primary reactor 41. The mixture is discharged from the circulating pump 43, conveyed to a heater 45, and then heated at a temperature ranging from 200 to 260° C., and sent to a reacting bath 47. In the reacting bath 47, hemicellulose contained in the biomass dissolves in hot water and subjected to a carbonizing reaction. The mixture derived from the primary reactor 41 is deposited in the inlet side of a circulating pump 44 of a secondary reactor 42, and sent to a heater 46, heated here at a temperature ranging from 270 to 330° C., and sent to the reacting bath 47. In the reacting bath 47, cellulose contained in the biomass dissolves in hot water, and is subjected to a carbonizing reaction.

Abstract: This method of upgrading a biomass comprises: an upgrading step for performing upgrading treatment of a cellulose based biomass with an oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of at least 0.5, in presence of water and under a pressure of at least saturated water vapor pressure, and reducing said oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of said biomass to no more than 0.38, and a separation step for separating an upgraded reactant obtained from said upgrading step into a solid component and a liquid component.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to continuously feed an object to be treated to a high-pressure reactor which treats the object to be treated containing 10 mass % or more of water under high pressure, while preventing backflow of a high-pressure atmosphere from the high-pressure reactor. This is embodied by making a configuration such that the object to be treated is fed to the high-pressure reactor connected to a discharge port of a screw feeder which is provided with a feed unit for the object to be treated and the discharge port on one end side and the other end side respectively and forms a high-pressure atmosphere pressurized to, for example, 2 MPa or higher, while air-tightness between the high-pressure atmosphere and the one end side of the screw feeder is maintained by a sealing action of an accumulation compressed on the other end side of the screw feeder.

Abstract: In a coal-water slurry producing system, low grade coal is wet-ground to not greater than 3 mm in particle size to produce a ground coal slurry. An upgrading treatment is applied to the ground coal slurry under a pressurized hydrothermal atmosphere not less than 300.degree. C. to produce an upgraded coal slurry. The upgraded coal slurry is subjected to a dehydration treatment to produce an upgraded coal cake and a filtrate. A final coal-water slurry is produced from the upgraded coal cake. The filtrate is recycled for producing the ground coal slurry. A slurry transfer mechanism is provided in the coal-water slurry producing system for ensuring a stable transfer of the upgraded coal slurry from a high-pressure slurry vessel to a low-pressure slurry vessel.

Abstract: Pitch-based carbon fibers on which silicone based spin finish oils remain in the amount of 0.1-2.0% by weight of said fibers and having a stack height of the crystallites L.sub.C (002) of 16-28.ANG., an interlayer spacing distance d.sub.002 of 3.46-3.49.ANG., a tensile strength of 5-50 Kgf/mm.sup.2 and an elongation of 0.3-8.0% are provided. The said pitch-based carbon fibers show good cohesiveness and lubricity of fiber bundles and superior in adaptation to various kinds of processes.

Abstract: An optical system for detecting the shape of a three-dimensional object comprising a collimating lens for converting a laser beam to a parallel beam of light, a scanning optical system which moves the parallel beam incident on the object in a direction normal to the object thereby to scan the object with a scanning beam, a mirror which is located in the vicinity of the scanning beam at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the object, to reflect the beam reflected by the object in a predetermined direction as a reflection beam, an image forming lens which converges the reflection beam to a point and thereby producing an image of the object, and a first optical detector located at the point at which the reflection beam is converged to detect the converged beam spot.

Abstract: Three dimensional woven fabrics containing bent parts of a small radius of curvature which bent parts comprise easily graphitized pitch-derived carbon fibers obtained by thermosetting treatment and light carbonization treatment carried out after melt-spinning of high softening point pitch and having a tensile strength of 15 250 Kgf/mm.sup.2, an elongation of 0.5-8.0% and modulus of elasticity of 400-40,000 Kgf/mm.sup.2 and a capability of increasing both of their tensile strength and modulus of elasticity to 1.1 times or greater than the above-mentioned values by additional heat treatment carried out under a relaxed state to have a tensile strength of 150 Kgf/mm.sup.2 or greater and a modulus of elasticity of 40,000 Kgf/mm.sup.2 or greater. They are superior in abrasion resistance, flexion-resisting property and scratch-resisting property and useful as one component of fiber composite materials in reinforcing plastics, metals, cements, ceramics, carbon materials, etc.

Abstract: A method for producing mesophase pitch based carbon fibers which enables to produce high strength high modulus carbon fibers at a relatively low temperature with stabilized production manner. This method comprises carbonizing infusibilized fibers, in an inert atmosphere under no tension state or a tension of 1 mg/denier or less in the first stage to give a specified interlayer spacing and a crystallite thickness and then carbonizing under a tension of 50-300 mg/denier at a temperature of 2600.degree. C. or more in the second stage.

Abstract: A method for producing high strength, high modulus carbon fibers having a modulus of elasticity of 75 tonf/mm.sup.2 or more and a tensile strength of 250 kgf/mm.sup.2 or more is provided. This method comprises graphitizing mesophase-pitch-based carbon fibers at a temperature of 2600.degree. C. or more for several seconds or for several minutes while stretching said fibers with a stretching ratio which satisifies specified relations.