Abstract: A database includes a classification master table which registers a classification name obtained by classifying processing performed in each process of a production line and a classification ID in association with each other, a process table which registers a process name of the process and a process ID in association with each other, a process order table which registers the process ID and a next process ID in association with each other, a process classification table which registers the process ID and the classification ID in association with each other, a knowledge table which registers a problem content occurring in each process, a factor thereof, and a knowledge ID in association with each other, and a knowledge classification table which registers the knowledge ID and the classification ID in association with each other.

Abstract: An embodiment of the process state analysis device of the present invention is provided with an evaluation value calculation unit and a graph creation unit. The evaluation value calculation unit calculates, within an evaluation value calculation range indicating a target range for calculating evaluation values, an evaluation value for each cluster that is classified on the basis of multi-dimensional process data output from each measurement device. The graph creation unit determines a hue for a graph element for each cluster on the basis of the evaluation value for the cluster as calculated within the evaluation value calculation range, and on the basis of a color reference evaluation value corresponding to a reference hue for the graph element, and creates and outputs a graph representing, for each aggregation unit time interval in a specified display period, the number of nodes belonging to each cluster.

Abstract: In order to realize stable quality control, provided is a quality control device (1) having an input device which receives data such as an operation condition of each device (21) to (26) in a production system (20) for producing a product; a calculation unit which assigns a value of the operation condition to a correlation formula calculated in advance and calculates a value derived from the correlation formula; and a determination unit which performs good or bad determination on a quality of a workpiece in each process, on the basis of a result calculated by the calculation unit. Further, when “bad” is determined as a result of the good or bad determination, the quality control device (1) calculates an appropriate value of the operation condition and sets the value to each device (21) to (26).

Abstract: Provided are an optical sensor and an analyzer, including an optical sensor section in which a cladding layer of an optical fiber is removed so as to expose a core layer by a predetermined optical path length, and a protective material is added to a surface of the exposed core layer, the protective material having higher resistance to an organic solvent, base, or acid than that of the cladding layer; a light source device that causes light to enter one end of the optical fiber; a light receiving device that receives transmitted light emitted from another end of the optical fiber; and a control device that controls the light source device and the light receiving device to measure optical transmittance in the optical sensor based on a ratio of intensity of the light emitted from the light source device to intensity of the light received by the light receiving device.

Abstract: An embodiment of the process state analysis device of the present invention is provided with an evaluation value calculation unit and a graph creation unit. The evaluation value calculation unit calculates, within an evaluation value calculation range indicating a target range for calculating evaluation values, an evaluation value for each cluster that is classified on the basis of multi-dimensional process data output from each measurement device. The graph creation unit determines a hue for a graph element for each cluster on the basis of the evaluation value for the cluster as calculated within the evaluation value calculation range, and on the basis of a color reference evaluation value corresponding to a reference hue for the graph element, and creates and outputs a graph representing, for each aggregation unit time interval in a specified display period, the number of nodes belonging to each cluster.

Abstract: A fuel rod and a fuel assembly for light water reactors, in which crack penetration to a fuel cladding tube or an end plug can be prevented, are provided. The fuel rod 10a includes: a cylindrical cladding tube 11 formed of a ceramic base material; a connection 21 formed of the same material as the cladding tube 11; and an end plug 12a having a concave portion 12f of a continuously curved surface shape adapted to house the connection 21. The end plug 12a is formed of the same material as the cladding tube 11. A slanted surface 11a formed at an end portion of the cladding tube 11, and a slanted surface 12d formed at an end portion of the end plug 12a are joined in contact with each other with a metallic joint material 20. The joint is supported by the connection 21.

Abstract: In order to realize stable quality control, provided is a quality control device (1) having an input device which receives data such as an operation condition of each device (21) to (26) in a production system (20) for producing a product; a calculation unit which assigns a value of the operation condition to a correlation formula calculated in advance and calculates a value derived from the correlation formula; and a determination unit which performs good or bad determination on a quality of a workpiece in each process, on the basis of a result calculated by the calculation unit. Further, when “bad” is determined as a result of the good or bad determination, the quality control device (1) calculates an appropriate value of the operation condition and sets the value to each device (21) to (26).

Abstract: Provided are an optical sensor and an analyzer, including an optical sensor section in which a cladding layer of an optical fiber is removed so as to expose a core layer by a predetermined optical path length, and a protective material is added to a surface of the exposed core layer, the protective material having higher resistance to an organic solvent, base, or acid than that of the cladding layer; a light source device that causes light to enter one end of the optical fiber; a light receiving device that receives transmitted light emitted from another end of the optical fiber; and a control device that controls the light source device and the light receiving device to measure optical transmittance in the optical sensor based on a ratio of intensity of the light emitted from the light source device to intensity of the light received by the light receiving device.

Abstract: Provided herein is a fuel rod and a fuel assembly for light water reactors in which crack penetration to a fuel cladding tube or an end plug can be prevented even when cracking occurs at the joint between the fuel cladding tube and the end plug for which a ceramic base material is used. A fuel rod 10a for light water reactors includes: a cylindrical cladding tube 11 formed of a ceramic base material; a connection 21 formed of the same or similar material to the cladding tube 11; and an end plug 12a having a concave portion 12f of a continuously curved surface shape adapted to house the connection 21. The end plug 12a is formed of the same or similar material to the cladding tube 11. A slanted surface 11a formed at an end portion of the cladding tube 11, and a slanted surface 12d formed at an end portion of the end plug 12a are joined in contact with each other with a metallic joint material 20. The joint is supported by the connection 21.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode is constituted by a positive electrode mixture layer containing a positive electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive agent being formed on a positive electrode collector, the negative electrode is constituted by a negative electrode mixture layer containing a negative electrode active material, the binder, and the conductive agent being formed on a negative electrode collector, and the conductive agent contained in both of the positive electrode mixture layer and the negative electrode mixture layer is a fibrous conductive agent or a mixture of the fibrous conductive agent and a particulate conductive agent and an aspect ratio of the fibrous conductive agent is 20 or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing liquid fuel that has penetrated from an anode from reaching a cathode and of effectively utilizing a cathode catalyst, which provides a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell having high output density. In a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell including an anode formed of a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, a cathode formed of a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane formed between the anode and the cathode, an intermediate layer is formed between the cathode and the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided that is inexpensive, and is excellent in the ionic conductivity characteristics, the methanol crossover characteristics and the mechanical characteristics. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane contains a block copolymer A containing a hydrophilic segment having an ion exchange group and a hydrophobic segment, and a block copolymer B containing a hydrophilic segment having an ion exchange group and a hydrophobic segment and having a smaller ion exchange capacity than the block copolymer A, and has a structure where a region A having the block copolymer A agglomerated therein is dispersed in a matrix constituted by a region B having the block copolymer B agglomerated therein, with a microscopic phase-separated structure having a period of from 10 to 100 nm being formed in the region A and the region B.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell in which a membrane electrode assembly less undergoes increase in ion conduction resistance, and a polymer electrolyte membrane less undergoes deterioration. Specifically, the polymer electrolyte membrane includes a first membrane and a second membrane being two different membranes composed of polymer electrolytes having different ion-exchange capacities, in which the first membrane has an area of one surface thereof equal to or larger than an area of one surface of an anode or a cathode, and the second membrane has an area of one surface thereof smaller than that of the first membrane and is arranged in a gas inflow region on a side being in contact with the cathode. The second membrane has an ion-exchange capacity smaller than that of the first membrane or has a number-average molecular weight larger than that of the first membrane.

Abstract: A fuel battery system of the present invention includes: an alkaline fuel battery; a fuel supply device for supplying a fuel to an anode of the fuel battery; an oxidizing agent supply device for supplying an oxidizing agent to a cathode of the fuel battery; a liquid supply device which supplies a liquid to the cathode; a valve which switches between fluids to be supplied to the cathode; and a control device which controls the switching of the valve. The fuel battery system suppresses the neutralization of an anion-exchange electrolyte due to carbon dioxide in the air, by supplying the liquid from the liquid supply device to the cathode and making the cathode in the state of being immersed in the liquid when the fuel battery stops power generation.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode-assembly contains two or more types of solid polymer electrolytes having different acid dissociation constants in an electrode catalyst layer, a solid polymer electrolyte of small acid strength covers the surface of a catalyst, and a solid polymer electrolyte of large acid strength is disposed to the periphery thereof, which makes the resistance to dissolving of the catalyst metal and the ion conductivity in the catalyst electrode layer compatible.

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly includes an anode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a cathode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode gas diffusion layer; and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a set composed of the anode, the cathode and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being interposed between the anode gas diffusion layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer, wherein the cathode gas diffusion layer contains an oxidation catalyst and a water-repellent resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell that has a minute projection cluster on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. Further, the present invention provides a production method of an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, wherein a mold comprising convex portions having a fixed planar pattern is pressed on one side or both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, then while concave portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane formed in the concave portions are being stretched, the mold is removed from the polymer electrolyte membrane for forming a minute projection cluster.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a bipolar plate substrate; and a byproduct-decomposing layer covering the bipolar plate substrate, the bipolar plate has channels for transport of a reactant gas, the channels being arranged on a surface of the bipolar plate substrate, and the bipolar plate has a first side to face an anode catalyst layer of the fuel cell and a second side to face a cathode catalyst layer of the fuel cell. The byproduct-decomposing layer is arranged on at least one of the first side and the second side, includes a catalyst, and is capable of decomposing a byproduct formed as a result of a reaction of the fuel cell. The bipolar plate enables long-term control of discharge of formic acid and other byproducts without deterioration in system efficiency of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which suppresses a decrease in system efficiency of a fuel cell and, at the same time, allows an emission amount of harmful materials to be reduced for an extended period of time is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack generating electric power by chemical reaction between liquid fuel supplied to an anode and oxidant gases supplied to a cathode, and an exhaust mechanism discharging to an outside of the system exhaust gases discharged from the anode of the fuel cell stack, the exhaust mechanism being adapted to emit the exhaust gases into liquid in a tank storing the liquid fuel or water and, thereafter, discharge the exhaust gases to the outside of the system.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode being formed on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and containing a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, a cathode being formed on another side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and containing a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte, an anode gas diffusion layer formed on one side of the anode, and a cathode gas diffusion layer formed on one side of the cathode. In addition, a formic acid oxidation electrode containing palladium and a solid polymer electrolyte is formed between the anode gas diffusion layer and the anode.