Abstract: A solid-liquid separator that separates solid particles from a fluid in which the solid particles are dispersed includes: a flow channel part where a linear flow channel into which the fluid is introduced is formed; and an ultrasonic vibrator as a secondary flow generation mechanism that generates a secondary flow in a cross-section direction in the fluid flowing on an upstream side of the flow channel. The flow channel includes a rectangular cross section defined by a flow channel width and a flow channel height perpendicular to the flow channel width. An aspect ratio of the cross section at least on a downstream side from the secondary flow generation mechanism in the flow channel is in a range from 10 to 100, the aspect ratio being expressed by a ratio of the flow channel width to the flow channel height.

Abstract: A system for preparing a sample solution for testing includes a microorganism separation device, and prepares a sample solution for testing from an undiluted sample solution. The microorganism separation device includes a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit configured to supply the undiluted sample solution to the hydrodynamic separation device. The hydrodynamic separation device includes a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and is configured to separate a liquid into a first segment and a second segment through use of a vortex flow generated in the liquid flowing through the curved flow channel. Particles contained in the undiluted sample solution are concentrated in the first segment.

Abstract: A microorganism screening system includes a container configured to store a liquid containing microorganism particles and a liquid medium, and a microorganism separation device. The microorganism separation device includes a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit configured to supply the liquid from the container to the hydrodynamic separation device. The hydrodynamic separation device includes a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and is configured to separate the liquid into a first segment containing relatively large microorganism particles and a second segment containing relatively small microorganism particles through use of a vortex flow generated in the liquid flowing through the curved flow channel. Screening for microorganisms can be performed efficiently.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact apparatus has a gas-liquid contact unit, a liquid supply system, and a gas supply system. The gas-liquid contact unit includes a plurality of stages which are allocated so as to be arranged in the lateral direction. Each of the plurality of stages includes a plurality of vertical flat plates arranged parallel to each other at intervals. The liquid supply system supplies a liquid to the gas-liquid contact unit, and causes the liquid to be circulated along the arrangement of the plurality of stages successively. The gas supply system supplies a gas to the gas-liquid contact unit, and causes the gas to be circulated along the arrangement of the plurality of stages successively. The supplied liquid flows down on the plurality of vertical flat plates in each of the plurality of stages, and comes into contact with the supplied gas.

Abstract: The packing has one or more thin-layer packing elements that are installed upright, the packing element having a main body portion with a planar liquid film formation surface, and one or more wall portions that are provided upright relative to the liquid film formation surface along a linear direction. The side surface of each wall portion has a curved portion at the base thereof connected to the liquid film formation surface, the curved portion curving so as to continue into the liquid film formation surface.

Abstract: A packing for gas-liquid contact has at least one packing element of a thin layer shape, placed in a standing position. The packing element has a main body portion having a planar liquid film-forming surface extending along a liquid flow direction, and at least one wall portion provided to stand relative to the liquid film-forming surface and extending along the liquid flow direction. The wall portion has a side surface inclined at a predetermined angle to the liquid film-forming surface in a surface position of a liquid film to be formed by a liquid on the liquid film-forming surface.

Abstract: A hydrophilized material has a surface provided with surface roughness that arithmetic mean roughness is 0.3 ?m to 1.0 ?m and mean width of roughness profile elements is 0.1 mm or less. A hydrophilized member that contacts a liquid is at least partially made of the hydrophilized material. The hydrophilized member is applicable to a gas-liquid contact apparatus having a gas-liquid contact section, a liquid supply system, and a gas supply system, to constitute the gas-liquid contact section as a packing element. Wettability imparted due to the surface roughness is exhibited continuously.

Abstract: The cell culture system has a culture tank containing a liquid medium that cultures cells, and a cell separator including a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit. The hydrodynamic separation device has a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and separates relatively large cells from the cells contained in the liquid medium using a vortex flow generated by flow through the curved flow channel. The liquid feeding unit flows the liquid medium through the hydrodynamic separation device in a pressure environment controlled to suppress decrease in cell viability caused by pressure fluctuation in the liquid medium during flowing through the hydrodynamic separation device.

Abstract: The cell culture system comprises: a culturing tank housing a liquid culture medium containing cells to be cultured; a hydrodynamic separation device for separating liquid medium supplied from the culturing tank into a cell-rich fraction having a relatively high cell density and a cell-poor fraction having a relatively low cell density; and a filtration separator for removing cells from the cell-poor fraction separated by the hydrodynamic separation device and recovering the liquid culture medium. The hydrodynamic separation device uses a vortex flow generated by flow along curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section to separate the liquid culture medium. Alternatively, the cell-poor fraction from the hydrodynamic separator device is supplied to the culturing tank to reduce the cell density of the liquid culture medium, and the liquid medium is supplied to the filtration separator to remove the cells and recover the liquid medium.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact apparatus has a gas-liquid contact unit, a liquid supply system, and a gas supply system. The gas-liquid contact unit includes a plurality of stages which are allocated so as to be arranged in the lateral direction. Each of the plurality of stages includes a plurality of vertical flat plates arranged parallel to each other at intervals. The liquid supply system supplies a liquid to the gas-liquid contact unit, and causes the liquid to be circulated along the arrangement of the plurality of stages successively. The gas supply system supplies a gas to the gas-liquid contact unit, and causes the gas to be circulated along the arrangement of the plurality of stages successively. The supplied liquid flows down on the plurality of vertical flat plates in each of the plurality of stages, and comes into contact with the supplied gas.

Abstract: A packing for gas-liquid contact has at least one packing element of a thin layer shape, placed in a standing position. The packing element has a main body portion having a planar liquid film-forming surface extending along a liquid flow direction, and at least one wall portion provided to stand relative to the liquid film-forming surface and extending along the liquid flow direction. The wall portion has a side surface inclined at a predetermined angle to the liquid film-forming surface in a surface position of a liquid film to be formed by a liquid on the liquid film-forming surface.

Abstract: A packing has a plurality of sheet materials spaced and arranged in parallel, and liquid flows along the flat surface thereof in a standing use state. Each sheet material has at least one member group including a plurality of support members arranged such that the upper end of the uppermost support member corresponds to the upper end of the sheet material and the lower end of the lowermost support member corresponds to the lower end of the sheet material. Each support member has a pair of support walls parallel to the liquid flow direction and perpendicular to the sheet material surface, and a bridging part connecting the support walls. A sandwiching structure is formed that one sheet material is held by at least one support member attached thereto and at least one support member attached to an adjacent sheet material, and it extends linearly through the plurality of sheet materials.

Abstract: A hydrophilized material has a surface provided with surface roughness that arithmetic mean roughness is 0.3 ?m to 1.0 ?m and mean width of roughness profile elements is 0.1 mm or less. A hydrophilized member that contacts a liquid is at least partially made of the hydrophilized material. The hydrophilized member is applicable to a gas-liquid contact apparatus having a gas-liquid contact section, a liquid supply system, and a gas supply system, to constitute the gas-liquid contact section as a packing element. Wettability imparted due to the surface roughness is exhibited continuously.

Abstract: The packing has one or more thin-layer packing elements that are installed upright, the packing element having a main body portion with a planar liquid film formation surface, and one or more wall portions that are provided upright relative to the liquid film formation surface along a linear direction. The side surface of each wall portion has a curved portion at the base thereof connected to the liquid film formation surface, the curved portion curbing so as to continue into the liquid film formation surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing packing includes: determining types of a gas and a liquid which are brought into gas-liquid contact and a main plate to be used; calculating a relationship between a contact angle and a liquid film length ratio; determining the arrangement (intervals) of a rib; determining rib conditions; calculating the minimum value of the flow direction length of the rib satisfying the contact angle and a strength requirement; confirming whether or not a liquid film length is greater than the minimum value; and determining the flow direction length of the rib within a range from the minimum value to the liquid film length.

Abstract: A packing has a plurality of sheet materials spaced and arranged in parallel, and liquid flows along the flat surface thereof in a standing use state. Each sheet material has at least one member group including a plurality of support members arranged such that the upper end of the uppermost support member corresponds to the upper end of the sheet material and the lower end of the lowermost support member corresponds to the lower end of the sheet material. Each support member has a pair of support walls parallel to the liquid flow direction and perpendicular to the sheet material surface, and a bridging part connecting the support walls. A sandwiching structure is formed that one sheet material is held by at least one support member attached thereto and at least one support member attached to an adjacent sheet material, and it extends linearly through the plurality of sheet materials.

Abstract: Provided is a gas separation apparatus advantageous in suppression of increase in pressure loss and achievement of reduced size and weight, thereby reducing costs. The gas separation apparatus causes an absorbent to flow down along the surface of a packing arranged in a treatment chamber, and supplies to the treatment chamber a gas to be treated which contains a target gas component, and then causes the gas to be treated and the absorbent flowing down along the surface of the packing to come into gas-liquid contact. Thus the target gas component contained in the gas to be treated is absorbed into the absorbent and separated or recovered from the gas to be treated. The packing has at least one packing unit configured by a plurality of expanded metal plates standing vertically and being aligned.

Abstract: The gas separation device separates or captures a target gas component from a gas to be processed by: causing an absorbing liquid to flow down on a surface of a packing disposed inside a processing tank while supplying the gas to be processed containing the target gas component into the processing tank; bringing the absorbing liquid flowing down on the surface of the packing and the gas to be processed into gas-liquid contact; and thereby causing the absorbing liquid to absorb the target gas component contained in the gas to be processed. The packing includes at least one packing unit formed from multiple expanded metal plates, which are disposed vertically and arranged in parallel. Each expanded metal plate includes strands forming the openings which are arranged like stairs. Each strand is inclined to the vertical direction at an angle in a range from 48° to 73°.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing packing includes: determining types of a gas and a liquid which are brought into gas-liquid contact and a main plate to be used; calculating a relationship between a contact angle and a liquid film length ratio; determining the arrangement (intervals) of a rib; determining rib conditions; calculating the minimum value of the flow direction length of the rib satisfying the contact angle and a strength requirement; confirming whether or not a liquid film length is greater than the minimum value; and determining the flow direction length of the rib within a range from the minimum value to the liquid film length.

Abstract: The gas separation device separates or captures a target gas component from a gas to be processed by: causing an absorbing liquid to flow down on a surface of a packing disposed inside a processing tank while supplying the gas to be processed containing the target gas component into the processing tank; bringing the absorbing liquid flowing down on the surface of the packing and the gas to be processed into gas-liquid contact; and thereby causing the absorbing liquid to absorb the target gas component contained in the gas to be processed. The packing includes at least one packing unit formed from multiple expanded metal plates, which are disposed vertically and arranged in parallel. Each expanded metal plate includes strands forming the openings which are arranged like stairs. Each strand is inclined to the vertical direction at an angle in a range from 48° to 73°.