Prof. Kohama has experienced "Japan 2011 earthquake/tsunami disaster". He saw real disaster scenes with his own eyes. Power outage occurred. In the situation, time is critical, but victims could not know tsunami/earthquake information. This partly led to expansion of the damages. The following crossed his mind: If electric power supply could be continued for several days, the damage expansion would be minimized. Victims could get moment-to-moment changing disaster conditions from broadcasts. Airconditioners, if operable, would help patients and sick persons keep their health conditions good. This would spur him on to accelerate his MgFC development having thus far been made, I suppose. For an example of MgFC use, see the picture in previous article. More
2012年5月28日月曜日
2012年5月22日火曜日
AeroTrain
The high-speed transport system has wings, and flies at the height of 10 cm above the ground and at the speed of 500 km/h, while moving within and along a train guideway, which is U-shaped in cross section. The transport system uses well combination of the principle of flotation and the ground effect#3. This causes the train to take a minimum running resistance, and results in reduction of the energy consumption by the train and allowing use of the small drive source of the train. In addition, flame-retardant magnesium alloy (Mg-Al-Ca, developed by AIST) is used for making the train body. Use of the alloy also contributes to the running resistance reduction. Those reasons enable the electric power generated by renewable-energy based power generators, such as solar battery and wind power to drive the train #4.
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2012年5月21日月曜日
Mg Soleil project
Pro. Kohama conceives a "Mg Soleil project" and is promoting the project. He has a conclusion that the primary energy available on the earth is the solar energy. He investigated the entire energy available on the earth, including fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy and others, and calculatively reached the conclusion that the solar energy is over 60% of the earth's available energy. To gather the solar energy the desert is the best place. The reason is that the solar energy density is much higher, three times, than in Japan#2A. Magnesium is an almost limitless resource.Solar furnaces are placed on the desert, gathered magnesium compound is refined to produce magnesium metal, and it is transported as metal masses to consumption areas. In the consumption area, the magnesium metal is used as structural materials and converted into electrical energy. To the end, he considers that it is essential to develop Mg refining technology and Mg fuel-cell technology. AeroTrain uses specially designed flame retardant magnesium for its body. This is an example of the application of Mg to the structural material.
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Next generation high-speed transport system
Sendai having suffered from Japan 2011 earthquake/ tsunami disaster is steadily and powerfully moving towards its reconstruction. In this situation, large-scale technology development is now progressing. The technology concerns the next-generation high-speed transport system (AeroTrain)*1.
The developer is Prof. Kohama (Tohoku University, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center). The performances of AeroTrain are far superior to those of Shinkansen and Linear Motor Car. It should be noted that the transport system is designed based on the concept of environmental friendliness. The environment-friendliness is his mission as a scientist , and also his technical idea. The transport system will go into real service in 2020.
The research/development of the AeroTrain is being made in part of the NEDO project.
During and in connection with the development, a magnesium fuel cell was developed. This is a shocking fuel cell. There is no doubt that his tragic experience of the earthquake/tsunami disaster gave a great impulse to him for the MgFC development. The MgFC has great advantages when using in emergency situations. >> More
2012年4月27日金曜日
Nihon steel corp. raises a lawsuit against Posco on the reason of “grain-oriented magnetic steel sheet” patent infringement
2012年4月7日土曜日
Artificial-photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation system
- Light-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency is improved two times, 1.35% -
Writing of the "Technology Details" on this article has been completed. To read more, please feel free to contact us.
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H2 fuel cells still involve many problems to be solved. A typical problem of them is “hydrogen brittlement”. The fuel cells have been much developed and some types of them have entered the early market phase even under the situation, however. In Japan the residential PEFC CHP (combined heat & power cogenerations) systems having been sold are well over 10,000 units in number and installed at ordinary houses and being used for electricity and hot water supply. The CHP systems of the SOFC type have been introduced into the market recently, in addition to the PEFC type CHP systems. FCVs (fuel cell vehicles) will enter the early market phase worldwide in around 2015. Hydrogen is the fuel to those fuel cells. The problem confronting us is how to generate hydrogen as the fuel cleanly, effectively and cheaply.
A hydrogen generation technology is now attracting an attention. The technology is based on the artificial photosynthesis. It originated from Japan. Now, it is being actively investigated widely and worldwide. The hydrogen generation technology generates hydrogen and oxygen by using solar light rays (visible light rays) and a photoelectrode (oxide semiconductor in the technology developed anew, which will be described later), and through the water splitting process.
In the electrolysis conventionally and usually used, paired electrodes are put in an electrolytic solution, and voltage is applied to those electrodes. The voltage difference between the electrodes causes current to flow and to split water. Electric power for the voltage application is fed to the electrolysis system from outside.
On the other hand, the artificial photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation technology excites the photoelectrode by solar light rays and splits water by using current flowing out from the electrode.
A small auxiliary power source is used for assisting the current flow at the present stage of the technology.
In other words, the electrolysis system contains a power source means in itself.
The voltage required to split water is extremely lower than of the conventional electrolysis technology. The auxiliary power source could be reduced to almost zero if the technology further advances.
It is noted that where no auxiliary power source is used, hydrogen is cleanly generated at considerably low voltage.
AIST has recently developed (improved) an innovative artificial photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation technology. The new technology remarkably improves the light-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. The efficiency = 1.35%. The figure is two times of the conventional electrolysis technology.
A diagram showing a scheme of the artificial-photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation system developed this time is put on my site: http://www.fcpat-japan.com.
Writing of the "Technology Details" on this article has been completed. To read more, please feel free to contact us.
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H2 fuel cells still involve many problems to be solved. A typical problem of them is “hydrogen brittlement”. The fuel cells have been much developed and some types of them have entered the early market phase even under the situation, however. In Japan the residential PEFC CHP (combined heat & power cogenerations) systems having been sold are well over 10,000 units in number and installed at ordinary houses and being used for electricity and hot water supply. The CHP systems of the SOFC type have been introduced into the market recently, in addition to the PEFC type CHP systems. FCVs (fuel cell vehicles) will enter the early market phase worldwide in around 2015. Hydrogen is the fuel to those fuel cells. The problem confronting us is how to generate hydrogen as the fuel cleanly, effectively and cheaply.
A hydrogen generation technology is now attracting an attention. The technology is based on the artificial photosynthesis. It originated from Japan. Now, it is being actively investigated widely and worldwide. The hydrogen generation technology generates hydrogen and oxygen by using solar light rays (visible light rays) and a photoelectrode (oxide semiconductor in the technology developed anew, which will be described later), and through the water splitting process.
In the electrolysis conventionally and usually used, paired electrodes are put in an electrolytic solution, and voltage is applied to those electrodes. The voltage difference between the electrodes causes current to flow and to split water. Electric power for the voltage application is fed to the electrolysis system from outside.
On the other hand, the artificial photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation technology excites the photoelectrode by solar light rays and splits water by using current flowing out from the electrode.
A small auxiliary power source is used for assisting the current flow at the present stage of the technology.
In other words, the electrolysis system contains a power source means in itself.
The voltage required to split water is extremely lower than of the conventional electrolysis technology. The auxiliary power source could be reduced to almost zero if the technology further advances.
It is noted that where no auxiliary power source is used, hydrogen is cleanly generated at considerably low voltage.
AIST has recently developed (improved) an innovative artificial photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation technology. The new technology remarkably improves the light-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. The efficiency = 1.35%. The figure is two times of the conventional electrolysis technology.
A diagram showing a scheme of the artificial-photosynthesis basis hydrogen generation system developed this time is put on my site: http://www.fcpat-japan.com.
2012年2月7日火曜日
Another magnesium fuel cell, developed anew
A magnesium fuel cell (Mg FC) has been developed additionally.
The Mg FC specifications are: electric capacitor = 60 Ah, and size = 26cm×17cm×10cm. In structure, a negative electrode (active material) = incombustible magnesium, a positive electrode (active material) = oxygen gas, and electrolytic solution = saline solution. The prototype successfully charged 120 mobile phones at 360 W as its output. In use, the saline solution is set to the FC body.
The FC body is normally operable at its rated output power even after it is left for several tens years in a state that the solution not set to the FC body.
The Mg FC is resistant to disasters.
In the case of the hydrogen-based fuel cells currently used, for example, the residential CHP (ENEFARM) reforms city gas to produce hydrogen and uses the produced hydrogen for its fuel. In disaster situation, if the pipe- line feeding city gas is damaged, it is substantially impossible to operate the CHP even in case where the CHP itself is not damaged and could normally operate. On the other hand, the Mg FC is normally operable if the electrolytic solution is available, with its long durability of several tens years.
lytic solution is available and since the durability of the FC is very long, several tens years.
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The Mg FC specifications are: electric capacitor = 60 Ah, and size = 26cm×17cm×10cm. In structure, a negative electrode (active material) = incombustible magnesium, a positive electrode (active material) = oxygen gas, and electrolytic solution = saline solution. The prototype successfully charged 120 mobile phones at 360 W as its output. In use, the saline solution is set to the FC body.
The FC body is normally operable at its rated output power even after it is left for several tens years in a state that the solution not set to the FC body.
The Mg FC is resistant to disasters.
In the case of the hydrogen-based fuel cells currently used, for example, the residential CHP (ENEFARM) reforms city gas to produce hydrogen and uses the produced hydrogen for its fuel. In disaster situation, if the pipe- line feeding city gas is damaged, it is substantially impossible to operate the CHP even in case where the CHP itself is not damaged and could normally operate. On the other hand, the Mg FC is normally operable if the electrolytic solution is available, with its long durability of several tens years.
lytic solution is available and since the durability of the FC is very long, several tens years.
>> More
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