A method for treatment of produced water, particularly deoiled water, by evaporation. Methods use a vertical tube heat exchanger bundle where the brine is distributed in a falling film along the inside of the tube wall. Condensing steam causes a portion of the deoiled water to evaporate; this water vapor travels upward in a counterflow direction relative to the deoiled water. Evaporator sump volume is minimized, and evaporators may have a multi-piece construction to lower the center of gravity of an evaporator installation. This technology provides several advantages over conventional vertical tube co-current flow evaporators (where the vapor flows downward with the falling film). These advantages include a minimal total installed cost (TIC) and enhanced water chemistry management.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for recycling deoiled water for heavy oil production.
2. Background of the Related Art
Oil may be extracted from underground reserves using a number of processes. One of those processes is steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). In a typical SAGD process, steam is used for downhole injection to increase the flowability of oil and allow it to be withdrawn from a formation. This process generates a large volume of water that includes oil and other contaminants that flows to the surface through a producing well. It is important for the process to recycle this water for two primary reasons.
First, the boiler that produces the steam for the SAGD process requires a large feed water flow rate, typically 3 to 6 times the volume of oil being produced. For reasons of water conservation and to minimize the impact on certain external water resources (such as fresh water and brackish water) this boiler feed water requirement can typically be satisfied to a high degree (>90%) by recycling the water returning to the surface in the producing well.
Second, the water returning to the surface in the producing well contains contaminants that do not allow this water stream to simply be discharged to the environment.
For reasons of expense and potential environmental impact associated with the extraction, use, and disposal of large amounts of water, it is desirable to re-use water in the SAGD process.
One component that may be used in recycling of SAGD produced water is an evaporator. Co-current vertical-tube falling-film (VTFF) evaporators have historically been used exclusively for this application. Reasons for their common use include 1) the ability to provide a large amount of useable heat transfer surface area in a single vessel, 2) the large amount of heat transfer surface area allows the evaporation capacity per evaporator to be maximized, 3) the vertical design effectively minimizes overall footprint (plant space requirement), 4) the high overall heat transfer coefficient (HTC) that is achievable compared to other evaporator styles, 5) the relatively low power consumption requirement (per gallon of distillate produced) compared to other evaporator styles (achieved with high HTC) and 6) the co-current evaporator is naturally designed with a large sump volume which has traditionally been thought a requirement for water chemistry management.
Co-current VTFF evaporators work by continuously circulating a large volumetric flow rate of water from the evaporator sump to the top-head where the brine is distributed into the heat transfer surface (tubes) as a falling film. As steam condenses on the outside of the tubes, a portion of the falling film is vaporized and travels downward with the falling film where the vapor is disengaged and flows out of the evaporator, (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3).
The co-current evaporator is physically very tall and can extend as high as 150 feet above grade. Approximately one-third of this height is due to the heat transfer surface requirements (vertical tube length) while the balance of the extreme height is mostly due to the significant requirements of the evaporator sump. The evaporator sump is required to be very large for three primary reasons. First, sufficient volume must be provided (below the bottom-tube sheet and above the sump liquid level) to allow the vapor to be released from the evaporator tubes and to be released out of the evaporator vessel. Second, a certain minimum sump volume is required to allow the recirculation pump to be initially started without starving the pump. The liquid level in the evaporator sump will rapidly drop upon initial start-up of the recirculation pump as volume is taken from the sump and fills the recirculation piping, fills the top-head and coats the evaporator tubes. The sump must be large enough to allow this change in volume without immediately starving the recirculation pump. Note that the opposite is also true upon a recirculation pump stop: the water being held-up in the evaporator and recirculation piping will collect very quickly in the evaporator sump immediately after the recirculation pump is stopped. The sump volume must be large and sufficient to accommodate both of these common transient operating scenarios. This is inherent in the design of any co-current VTFF evaporator.
Finally, the sump must also contain a large volume to achieve a chemical equilibrium prior to circulating the brine water to the top-head and distributing onto the heat transfer surface. If chemical equilibrium is not achieved prior to circulation onto the tubes, the dissolved components will tend to precipitate and will form a scale on the evaporator tubes causing the heat transfer efficiency to diminish rapidly. The evaporator sump volume is a critical scale minimization parameter.
The importance of evaporator sump volume for residence time to achieve chemical equilibrium is implicitly understood in technology currently applied to SAGD application. For example, Canadian Patent No. CA2307819, to Heins (assignee Ionics, Incorporated) (the "Heins patent") reports a process that will raise the pH of the evaporator concentrated brine internal to the evaporator. In such a process where hardness levels typically range from 5 mg/L to 25 mg/L (as CaCO3), the hardness will precipitate from solution as calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. Such reactions require an extended length of time to arrive at equilibrium and come to completion; this can be as long as 4-10 minutes depending on operating conditions. If such a residence time is not provided in the evaporator sump, the precipitate from this softening reaction will take place while at the tube surface which causes scale and suboptimal evaporator performance. Even evaporators provided with long residence times in the evaporator sump will still scale at a certain frequency because it is often impractical to provide sumps large enough to ensure the brine exiting the sump is truly in equilibrium.
Another example of the importance of large evaporator sump volume can be seen in the "Seeded Slurry" or "Sorption Slurry" processes that rely on certain chemical species to preferentially form with an already suspended chemical species. In such systems, the evaporator designer must size the evaporator with a large sump to ensure there exist ample seed surface sites to allow the majority of the precipitating species to attach onto the parent solids. One skilled in the art would also recognize that the method reported by the Heins patent requires a large evaporator sump volume for the seeded slurry process to ensure sufficient seed surface sites exist to lower evaporator heat transfer surface scaling. The method reported by United States Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0056945, to Minnich, et al. (assignee HPD, LLC) would also require a large evaporator sump to lower evaporator heat transfer surface scaling. Seeded Slurry processes do not prevent evaporator scaling, they merely lower the scaling rate. This type of treatment method offers suboptimal performance since the evaporator will be unavailable to the process at regular intervals for cleaning. The heat transfer efficiency is also suboptimal since the scale that accumulates causes the mechanical vapor compression (MVC) process to consume more electrical power at a given capacity.
The aforementioned reasons have been the rationale behind the selection of co-current VTFF evaporators currently applied in this technical field. However, the technology currently applied has several distinct deficiencies that cause the delivered solutions to be undesirable in some respects. The first deficiency we note is a suboptimal process performance of the evaporators caused by heat transfer scaling/fouling. Even with the provision of a large sump volume, it is impractical to provide a sump with a volume truly large enough to allow the water chemistry to achieve equilibrium in the evaporator sump. Thus, complete mitigation of scaling/fouling is not achieved, which causes electrical power consumption to increase (in terms of kW/evaporation rate) and also requires significant process downtimes for maintenance and cleaning (heat transfer restoration).
Another recognized deficiency is the challenges and costs inherent in the fabrication, transportation (logistics) and installation/construction of evaporators of such immense dimensions. Co-current falling-film evaporators have total heights as tall as 150 feet and weigh several hundred thousands of pounds. Fabrication of such vessels is a specialty that substantially restricts the number of potential suppliers and escalates the cost of supply. The transportation costs are also high because the extreme dimensions of such evaporators cause a requirement for special permits. There is also impact to project schedule since evaporator shipments of such weight are not allowed in some areas due to seasonal road ban restrictions.
A further deficiency is that the fundamental size of the evaporator does not lend itself to modularization. Modularization is a key strategy for minimizing the total installed cost (TIC) of the plant by maximizing the fabrication/assembly shop hours (low unit cost) and minimizing the on-site assembly hours (high unit cost). Since the co-current VTFF evaporators are shipped separately from the balance of the process, they cannot be pre-assembled with pumps, heat exchangers, tanks, piping, and other equipment. This represents additional work that must be performed on-site for a substantial cost.
A final deficiency we note for the technology currently applied is that co-current VTFF evaporators have a center of gravity that is very high above grade (sometimes as high as 60-100 feet). This is a substantial drawback requiring extremely robust civil foundations to be built, which makes their installation even more costly.

Method for recycling deoiled water using counterflow falling-film evaporators


A computer implemented method of editing attributes of data records presented through GUI elements by a webpage. The method including the steps of: using one or more processors of a client terminal hosting a web browser for executing a code for parsing a webpage rendered by the web browser to extract identifier information of one or more GUI elements presented in the webpage, the GUI elements presenting a value of one or more attributes of a data record extracted from a database according to the identifier information. The GUI elements are presented in a non-editable area, identifying a user selection indicative of the GUI elements, rendering an editing GUI element for editing the value, extracting a user input received from a user using the editing GUI element and forwarding to a server hosting the webpage instructions to update the value in the data record according to the user input.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to editing attributes of data records presented by an application page through graphical user interface (GUI) elements and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to editing attributes of data records presented by an application page through GUI elements by providing a quick edit tool.
The complexity of everyday life, particularly in the field of resource management (for example, organizational resource management, financial resource management, project management, program management and/or the like), is constantly increasing.
In order to efficiently and effectively cope with this constantly increasing complexity, a plurality of management software tools, software products, platforms and systems were devised. These tools, products, platforms and systems are ever changing, evolving and becoming more complex in functionality and operability to address the needs stemming from the challenges presented by the modern resource management environment.

Updating data records by adding editing functions to non-editable display elements


A new cultivar of Cercis Canadensis named ‘Greswan’, characterized by its continuous production of burgundy colored new foliage (both upper and lower surface) throughout the growing season, its multicolored effect when combined with mature green foliage, its burgundy stems and petioles, its distinctively heart-shaped leaves, its purple pink flowers emerging in early spring, its hardiness to U.S.D.A Zone 5, and its ease of propagation by budding.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cercis canadensis, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Greswan'. 'Greswan' is an Eastern redbud tree grown for use as a landscape plant.
The new Cercis was discovered by the inventors in spring of 2000 in Park Hill, Okla. as a naturally whole plant mutation derived from seed sown from unnamed plants of Cercis canadensis after evaluation of approximately 3,000 seedlings.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by budding onto rootstock in August 2003 in Fort Gibson, Okla. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A multi-function system boots up a WWW server in which an applet is embedded. When a browser, which is executed on PCs, requests an HTTP file, the multi-function system transfers the HTML file and the applet. The browser executes the applet. The applet opens a TCP socket and starts communications between the multi-function and the applet. A status information obtaining section of the multi-function system obtains a status of each section of the multi-function system in response to a request from the applet, and the multi-function system notifies the applet of status information. The applet displays the status of each section. This makes it possible to send notification of the status of each section to PCs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and its status information notifying method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image input/output apparatus, which has a printer, a copy machine, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, etc., mounted thereon, and which is so called Printer Copier, Fax Copier, Multi Function System, Multi-Function Station, (hereinafter referred to as multi-Function System) is put on the market. This multi-function system is connected to a Local Area Network (hereinafter referred to as LAN), and shared among a plurality of PCs, which is also connected to LAN.
For transmitting statuses of the respective sections such as print starting and ending, a paper jam, paper-out condition, non-arrival of facsimile, etc., to PC by use of the multi-function system, a special software is executed on PC, and each status is received and transmitted between the multi-function system and PC using the special software.
In order to perform the status transmission from the multi-function system to PC, the special software must be installed onto each PC. For this reason, when the multi-function system is set up, it is necessary to install the special software onto each PC. Also, at the time of exchanging the multi-function system or updating the function of the multi-function system, the special software must be installed again. Thus, in the conventional multi-function system, a significant burden is placed on the maintenance thereof.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, which is capable of a status of each section to a terminal without installing a special software onto the terminal, and to provide its status information informing method.
In order to solve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an image input/output apparatus mounting sections, which execute at lest one of image forming processing, image scanning processing and image communication processing. And, the image/output apparatus publishes a hypertext, which has an applet embedded therein, to an outer terminal, and communications with said applet, which is executed by a browser on said outer terminal to which the hypertext is opened. Then, the apparatus transmits the status information collected from each section of the apparatus to the outer terminal and the applet notifies the status information at the outer terminal.
Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for notifying status information of each section of an image input/output apparatus mounting sections, which execute at lest one of image forming processing, image scanning processing and image communication processing. In the above method, a hypertext, which has an applet embedded therein, is published to an outer terminal. Then, the apparatus communicates with the applet that is executed by a browser on said outer terminal to which the hypertext is opened. The apparatus transmits the status information collected from each section of the apparatus is transmitted to the outer terminal, and the applet notifies the status information at the outer terminal.

Image processing apparatus and its status information notifying method


A device includes a display and a first light source configured to emit light, wherein the first light source is proximate to the display. The device further includes a first camera disposed behind the display, wherein the first camera is configured to detect reflections of the light emitted by the first light source. The first camera is further configured to capture a first image based at least in part on the reflections, wherein the reflections are partially occluded by the display. The device also includes a second camera proximate to the display, wherein the second camera is configured to capture a second image. In addition, the device includes a depth map generator configured to generate depth information about one or more objects in a field-of-view (FOV) of the first and second cameras based at least in part on the first and second images.

Many electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and other computing systems include a camera and display. The camera is often disposed within a region of the device that provides an unobstructed view of the environment. Thus, when integrated on the same surface as the display, the camera is often disposed adjacent to the display, within a notch or cutout. This often results in a large, unsightly black border around the display, which may detract from the device's appearance and limit the device's screen-to-body ratio.


A halogen group solvent comprising a mixed solvent consisting essentially of bromochloromethane and/or 1,2-dichloroethylene and a co-solvent, wherein the co-solvent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, sulfur hexafluoride, difluorochloromethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, etc., and the content of said co-solvent in the mixed solvent is 3 to 65% by weight; a polyolefin solution using the solvent; and a process for producing a three-dimensional fiber of a polyolefin using the solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved solvent having a low toxicity, a low combustibility and a low capability of depleting an ozonosphere and a polyolefin solution using said solvent. Further, the present invention provides a process for producing an improved process for producing a three-dimensional fiber of a polyolefin having an excellent strength and spreadability for use in an nonwoven fabric sheet through the use of said solvent and said solution.
Namely, the present invention relates to an improved solvent which is non-toxic and non-combustible and very safe when used, and a polyolefin solution and an improved flash spinning process using said solvent. The solvent according to the present invention can be applied not only to a polyolefin solution for flash spinning but also to a cleaning agent, a foaming material, a gas for the production of a hollow filament, and a reaction solvent, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process for producing a polyolefin fiber having a plexifilamentary structure is known as a flash spinning process. The flash spinning process is a well known spinning process which comprises adding a polyolefin to an organic solvent also known as a liquefied gas, preparing a polyolefin solution under high temperature and high pressure conditions, passing the solution through a pressure let-down orifice to once lower the pressure of the solution to bring about a phase separation, and passing the opaque solution through a spinneret to inject the solution into an atmosphere where the temperature and pressure are room temperature and normal pressure, respectively, to thereby form a fiber having a three-dimensional structure.
This spinning process is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,081,519, 3,227,794, 3,227,784, 3,467,744, 3,564,088 and 3,756,411, EP 285670 A1, EP 321567 A1, EP 357364 A2, Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 40-28125, Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 42-19520, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 62-33816 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-50512.
The fiber prepared by this flash spinning process is classified into a short fiber-like material and a three-dimensional fiber material. The former is used as a synthetic pulp, and the latter is used as a nonwoven fabric sheet. The nonwoven fabric sheet is generally known as a synthetic paper. The largest feature of this product resides in a good water resistance, high strength and light weight, and freedom from fuzzing. This is highly appreciated in the art, and this nonwoven fabric is applied to envelopes for air mail, sleeves for floppy disks, bags for deoxidizers, bags for desiccants, medical sterilizing bags; clothes for preventing dewing caused by thermal insulation of buildings, working wear for working in nuclear power generation, working wear for asbestos, and working wear for safety and protection, etc. A three-dimensional fiber which has a high strength and is highly spreadable is indispensable to the production of products having these features. This is because a uniform sheet which is dense and permeable to air can not be produced without the use of such a fiber.
The above-described nonwoven fabric sheets are already commercially available as Tyvek.RTM. from DuPont in U.S.A., and Luxer.RTM. from the applicant of the present invention.
The solvent for the polymer used in the flash spinning process should have the following properties. This is also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,519. (1) The boiling point of the solvent is at least 25.degree. C. below the melting point of the polymer used; (2) the solvent is inert to the polymer under spinning conditions; (3) the solvent is a good solvent for the polymer under temperature and pressure conditions suitable for the preparation of a polymer solution; (4) the solvent dissolves only 1% of the polymer when the temperature is below the boiling point of the solvent; and (5) the solvent can immediately give rise to a phase separation at the time of spinning to form a phase consisting essentially of a polymer, and the separated polymer phase is substantially free from the solvent.
Specific known examples of the solvent include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as butane, pentane, hexane, heptane and octane and their isomers and homologues, alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, unsaturated hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, ethyl chloride and methyl chloride, alcohols such as ethanol, methanol and hexafluoroisopropanol, esters, ethers, ketones, nitriles, amides, fluorochlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as trichlorofluoromethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoromethane, sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, nitromethane, water and various liquid mixtures of the above-described solvents.
An optimal solvent is properly selected from these solvents after various conditions for the spinning process used and the kind of polymers used are taken into consideration. Trichlorofluoromethane and 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane which has a high capability of dissolving the polymer and an excellent spinnability and are noncombustible and nontoxic are favorable as the solvent for the flash spinning process of a polyolefin. Among others, trichlorofluoromethane is the best solvent.
In the flash spinning, to inject a polymer solution under high temperature and high pressure into the air to gasify the solution, the solvent should have a low boiling point, remain undecomposed even at a high temperature, have a lipophilic property sufficient for dissolving the polyolefin, and have at least a low toxicity and be fire-resistant. Specifically, in the flash spinning, the solvent is gasified to separate the solvent from the polymer, and the gasified solvent is recovered and liquefied by compression with cooling. Therefore, the flash spinning is conducted in an extensive, sealed space. This is because a gasified solvent can not be recovered when the flash spinning is not conducted in such an extensive space. The size of the sealed space is, for example, as large as 2000 m.sup.3. The filling of such an extensive space with a combustible gas increases the possibility of fire and explosion, and therefore is, very dangerous, which makes it substantially impossible to use a combustible gas as a solvent.
In general, a corona discharge device or a high-voltage destaticizer is contained in the sealed space and can be an ignition source of the combustible gas. This further makes the use of a combustible gas unfavorable. Further, various facilities such as a metallic conveyor for the formation of a nonwoven fabric, a corona discharge device and a spinning head are provided in the sealed space, and this makes it unavordalbe that workers must enter the sealed space for repair and maintenance work. Further, the outlet port for the formed nonwoven fabric sheet is non-contact sealed, and the gas within the sealed space always leaks into the work section. Therefore, when the solvent is toxic, it cannot be used as a solvent for flash spinning. For this reason, trichlorofluoromethane, which is noncombustible and nontoxic, has been regarded as the only solvent useable for the flash spinning process.
In recent years, however, it has been found that a wholly halogenated hydrocarbon wherein all the hydrogen atoms are substituted with chlorine and fluorine is a particular flon (chlorofluorocarbon also known as "CFC") having a very high capability of depleting ozonosphere. It has been decided that the production of a CFC be prohibited by A.D. 2000, from the viewpoint of a protection of the environment. It is a matter of course that the production of trichlorofluoromethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, etc. as particular flons also will be prohibited, and these flons become commercially unavailable. Therefore, trichlorofluoromethane will become unable to be utilized as a solvent in the flash spinning process of a polyolefin.
Under these circumstances, a flash spinning process wherein a new solvent is used without the use of trichlorofluoromethane as a particular flon has been already proposed.
Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,326, EP 0357381A2 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-139408 disclose a flash spinning process wherein use is made of a mixed solvent comprising methylene chloride and an alternative flon, for example, chlorofluoromethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloroethane or 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,081,177, 5,023,025, EP 0 361684A1, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-160909 disclose a spinning process wherein use is made of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane or 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane. Further, EP 0407953A2 discloses a spinning process wherein 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane or the like is used as a solvent for polypropylene. Further, EP 357364A4 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) NO. 3-76809 disclose a process wherein spinning is conducted through the use of methylene chloride and carbon dioxide. Further, EP 0414498A2 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 3-152209 discloses a process wherein use is made of a mixed solvent comprising a water-containing organic solvent. Further, EP 431801 discloses a process wherein spinning is conducted through the use of carbon dioxide and water.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-185708 discloses a spinning process using 1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane and/or 1,3-dichloro-1,2,2,3,3-pentafluoropropane mixed with hydrocarbon derivative.
All of the above-described proposed flash spinning processes, however, give rise to drawbacks when spinning is conducted through the use of a polyolefin.
For example, the mixed solvent comprising methylene chloride and an alternative flon proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,326 may be tentatively used as a solvent for use in a laboratory, but, it cannot be used as an industrial solvent. This is because methylene chloride is highly toxic and carcinogenic. TLV (threshold limit values of airbone contaminants) established by ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) is known as an index for indicating the degree of toxicity. The TLV of trichlorofluoromethane is 1000 ppm, but the TLV of methylene chloride is as low as 50 ppm. Therefore, it is apparent that methylene chloride has a higher toxicity than trichlorofluoromethane. Further, methylene chloride is registered as a carcinogenic substance. This clearly suggests that methylene chloride and its mixed solvent cannot be used on a commercial scale as a solvent for flash spinning. Further, the use of methylene chloride involves a problem from the viewpoint of properties required at the time of spinning. The reason for this is that the heat of evaporation of methylene chloride is 78.7 cal/g which is much larger than that of trichlorofluoromethane, i.e., 43.5 cal/g. This means that the use of methylene chloride as a solvent causes a spun yarn to be liable to be damped by the residual solvent. As described also in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 3-76809, the damped yarn is liable to adhere to and wind around a roller used for pressing the yarn into a sheet structure, so that a no nonwoven fabric sheet having a commercial value cannot be produced, which makes it impossible to produce the nonwoven fabric sheet on a commercial scale. For this reason, when methylene chloride is used as a solvent, it is necessary to allow a gas having a low boiling point to exist together with the methylene chloride solvent, for accelerating the evaporation of methylene chloride remaining in a fiber as spun, and at the same time, to previously enhance the polymer concentration of a spinning solution. The enhancement of the polymer concentration is effective for increasing the amount of occurrence of heat of solidification at the time of flashing of the polymer solution to accelerate the drying of a spun yarn through the utilization of the heat. In this case, the yarn becomes damped when either the use of a gas having a low boiling point is omitted or the enhancement in the polymer concentration is low. However, when the polymer concentration of the solution is enhanced, the spread state of the spun yarn becomes so poor that the quality of the sheet products lowered. Therefore, also from the viewpoint of spinnability, it is understood that methylene chloride cannot be used.
The proposal in U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,177 wherein use is made of an alternative flon has a problem. Specifically, studies in recent years have revealed that 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and its isomers give rise to a tumor in rats, although it is benign. Further, since these alternative flons are a poor solvent for a high-density polyethylene, which is a typical example of a polyolefin, they cannot dissolve the high-density polyethylene when used alone. For this reason, to improve the solubility, a technique wherein a hydrocarbon, methylene chloride, etc. are used as a co-solvent is simultaneously disclosed. However, even when the alternative flon is allowed to exist together with the hydrocarbon, methylene chloride or the like, since the proportion of the alternative flon in the solvent is high and 50% or more, the property that the alternative flon is a poor solvent for the high-density polyethylene strongly remains, so that it is difficult to dissolve the high-density polyethylene. Therefore, a problem that the dissolution rate is low remains unsolved. Thus, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trichloroethane and its isomers have problems of the toxicity and the dissolution of the high-density polyethylene. Similarly, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane and its isomers have problems of the toxicity (toxicity against genital organs) and the dissolution of the high-density polyethylene. On the other hand, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and its isomers dissolve the high-density polyethylene and provide a good yarn even when used alone. These solvents, however, are highly liable to thermal decomposition. Even when dissolution is conducted by means of an extruder, they are liable to thermally decompose with evolution of a large amount of hydrogen chloride or hydrogen fluoride to give a halogenated oligomer. These decomposition products give rise to serious problems such as coloring of a product and corrosion of a spinning apparatus. Further, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane as the solvent has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) exceeding 0.1, i.e., unfavorably has a high capability of depleting ozone. Therefore, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and its isomers cannot be used as a solvent for flash spinning because they are highly liable to thermal decomposition and have a high capability of depleting ozone.
The technique proposed in EP 357364A4 cannot be used as a solvent for flash spinning for the reasons set out above because methylene chloride is used as the solvent.
The spinning process proposed in EP 431801 wherein flash spinning is conducted through the use of a solvent comprising carbon dioxide and water can be applied to a particular polyolefin having a high hydrophilicity as a comonomer component. Since, however, this solvent has a poor capability of dissolving general polyolefins, i.e., polyethylene and polypropylene, it is substantially impossible to prepare a fiber having favorable properties. Further, in this method, it is practically necessary to use a surfactant in combination with the solvent. This not only renders the process complicated but also causes the surfactant to remain in the resultant fiber to lower the practical properties.
Further, in a technique proposed in EP 0414498A2 wherein use is made of a mixed system comprising a water-containing organic solvent, since the solvent used is highly combustible, this technique cannot be used.
The spinning process using 1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane and/or 1,3-dichloro-1,2,2,3,3-pentafluoropropane mixed with hydrocarbon derivative proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-185708 has a drawback due to use of the hydrocarbon derivative having a flammability and a high toxicity. Accordingly, this process cannot be applied to a practical production.
Thus, all the solvents alternative to trichlorofluoromethane for flash spinning proposed up to now apparently have an unsolved problem, and no satisfactory solvent which can be used instead of trichlorofluoromethane has been proposed in the art.

Polyolefin solution using halogen group solvents


The present invention provides novel cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives having modulating action on immune response, their optical isomers, their salts and their preparative processes, and therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases containing them as effective ingredients, the cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives being represented by a general formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.1 each independently denotes hydrogen atom or lower alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes a phenyl group (which may be substituted with 1 to 3 groups of halogen atom, methoxy group or their combinations) or trifluoromethyl group, and X denotes a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, lower alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, cyano group, thiocyano group, trimethylsilylethinyl group, phenyl group (which may be substituted with halogen atom, methoxy group, methyl group or their combinations), carbamoyl group, carboxyl group, lower alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, acetyl group, benzoyl group, nitro group, amino group, lower alkanoylamino group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, benzoylamino group which may be substituted, phenylsulfonylamino group which may be substituted, lower alkylthio group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, lower alkylsulfinyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, lower alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or halogen atom.

For the therapy of chronic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases) with which the immune response is concerned, anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulators, etc. are used. The formers are for symptomatic therapy, thus cannot become fundamental therapeutic agents. Whereas, the latters, in which gold salt and D-penicillamine, levamisole, lobenzarit, etc. are known, have attracted an attention for the last several years.
The inventors have also studied diligently for the purpose of developing a more effective and safer anti-rheumatic agent and have found previously that the cyclic anthranilic acid derivatives have immunomodulatory action and inducing ability for suppressor T cells, and that they have therapeutic effect against rheumatoid arthritis (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 1-279867). However in cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives, compounds having such action are not known.
In cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives having different substituent from the compounds in this invention, those having anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic actions are described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 58-116466 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,511 (1973), but the immuno-modulating action is not referred at all. These publicly known compounds, with which a possibility to cause gastrointestinal injury is suggested, belong to a category of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs having cyclooxygenase-inhibitory action, and their usefulness is not satisfactory from the points of efficacy and toxicity. Moreover, cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives exhibiting monoamineoxydase-inhibitory action are also known (Chemical Abstract, Vol. 64, 1753c (1966), ibid Vol. 70, 10292f(1969)), but these also differ from the compounds of the invention in the structure and action.

Cyclic aminophenylacetic acid derivatives, process for preparing the same and immune response modulator having the same as an effective ingredient


A gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle comprises a housing having an aft end that terminates in a row of chevrons. At least one surface of the housing has scalloped root regions proximate bases of adjacent chevrons. The scalloped root regions have a reduced thickness relative to the rest of the aft end.

Aircraft engines have been made quieter as a result of advanced high bypass ratio engines. High bypass ratio engines derive a substantial fraction of their total thrust from bypass air which is propelled around the core of the engine by an engine-driven forwardly mounted fan. This approach results in less engine noise than pure turbojet engines or low bypass ratio engines.
One approach to further reducing engine noise is to increase the amount of mixing between the high velocity gases exiting the engine, and the surrounding freestream air. In that regard, the use of geometric structures known as chevrons may reduce low-frequency noise by increasing the rate at which the engine flow streams mix with the surrounding freestream air in the aft region of the nozzle. However, in some circumstances existing chevron designs may increase the drag of the duct, thereby decreasing engine efficiency.

Gas turbine engine nozzle including housing having scalloped root regions


A front feed reflector antenna with a dish reflector has a reflector focal length to reflector diameter ratio of less than 0.25. A wave guide is coupled to a proximal end of the dish reflector, projecting into the dish reflector along a longitudinal axis. A dielectric block is coupled to a distal end of the waveguide and a sub-reflector is coupled to a distal end of the dielectric block. A shield is coupled to the periphery of the dish reflector. The sub-reflector diameter is dimensioned to be 2.5 wavelengths or more of a desired operating frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a microwave dual reflector antenna. More particularly, the invention provides a low cost, self-supported front feed reflector antenna with a low sidelobe signal radiation pattern characteristic configurable for the reflector antenna to satisfy rigorous radiation pattern envelope standards, such as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Class 4.
2. Description of Related Art
Front feed dual reflector antennas direct a signal incident on the main reflector onto a sub-reflector mounted adjacent to the focal region of the main reflector, which in turn directs the signal into a waveguide transmission line typically via a feed horn or aperture to the first stage of a receiver. When the dual reflector antenna is used to transmit a signal, the signals travel from the last stage of the transmitter system, via the waveguide, to the feed aperture, sub-reflector, and main reflector to free space.
The electrical performance of a reflector antenna is typically characterized by its gain, radiation pattern envelope, cross-polarization and return loss performance—efficient gain, radiation pattern envelope and cross-polarization characteristics are essential for efficient microwave link planning and coordination, whilst a good return loss is necessary for efficient radio operation.
Reflector antennas with a narrow radiation pattern envelope enable higher density mounting of separate reflector antennas upon a common support structure, such as a radio tower, without generating RF interference between the separate point-to-point communications links. Narrow radiation pattern envelope communications links also provide the advantage of enabling radio frequency spectrum allocations to be repeatedly re-used at the same location, increasing the number of links available for a given number of channels.
Industry accepted standard measures of an antenna's radiation pattern envelope (RPE) are provided for example by ETSI. ETSI provides four RPE classifications designated Class 1 through Class 4, of which the Class 4 specification is the most rigorous. The ETSI Class 4 RPE specification requires significant improvement over ETSI Class 3 RPE specification. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the ETSI Class 4 RPE requires approximately 10-12 dB improvements in sidelobe levels over ETSI Class 3 RPE requirements, resulting in a 35-40% increase in the number of links that can be assigned without additional frequency spectrum usage.
Previously, reflector antennas satisfying the ETSI Class 4 specification have been Gregorian dual reflector offset type reflector antennas, for example as shown in FIG. 1c. The dual offset configuration positions the sub-reflector 15 entirely outside of the signal path from the main reflector 50 to free space, which requires extensive additional structure to align and/or fully enclose the large optical system. Further, because of the non-symmetric nature of the dual offset configuration, an increased level of manufacturing and/or assembly precision is required to avoid introducing cross-polar discrimination interference. These additional structure and/or path alignment tuning requirements significantly increase the overall size and complexity of the resulting antenna assembly, thereby increasing the manufacturing, installation and ongoing maintenance costs.
Deep dish reflectors are reflector dishes wherein the ratio of the reflector focal length (F) to reflector diameter (D) is made less than or equal to 0.25 (as opposed to an F/D of 0.35 typically found in more conventional "flat" dish designs). An example of a dielectric cone feed sub-reflector configured for use with a deep dish reflector is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,855, titled "Tuned Perturbation Cone Feed for Reflector Antenna" issued Jul. 19, 2005 to Hills (U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,855), hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,855 utilizes a dielectric block cone feed with a sub-reflector surface and a leading cone surface having a plurality of downward angled non-periodic perturbations concentric about a longitudinal axis of the dielectric block. The cone feed and sub-reflector diameters are minimized where possible, to prevent blockage of the signal path from the reflector dish to free space. Although a significant improvement over prior designs, such configurations have signal patterns in which the sub-reflector edge and distal edge of the feed boom radiate a portion of the signal broadly across the reflector dish surface, including areas proximate the reflector dish periphery and/or a shadow area of the sub-reflector where secondary reflections with the feed boom and/or sub-reflector may be generated, degrading electrical performance. Further, the plurality of angled features and/or steps in the dielectric block requires complex manufacturing procedures which increase the overall manufacturing cost.
A deep dish type reflector dish extends the length (along the boresight axis) of the resulting reflector antenna so that the distal end of the reflector dish tends to function as a cylindrical shield. Therefore, although common in the non-deep dish reflector antennas, conventional deep dish reflector antenna configurations such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,855 typically do not utilize a separate forward projecting cylindrical shield.
Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a simplified reflector antenna apparatus which overcomes limitations in the prior art, and in so doing present a solution that enables a self supported sub-reflector front feed reflector antenna to meet the most stringent radiation pattern envelope electrical performance over the entire operating band used for a typical microwave communication link.


A liquid disruptor device and a method of manufacturing the same are introduced. The liquid disruptor device comprises a front casing, a liquid seal film, a rear casing, a plane wave generator and a counter-impact cover. The plane wave generator generates a plane blast wave which compresses a liquid contained in the front casing and a liner to not only focus blast energy of the liquid but also allow the liquid to form a liquid knife current for destroying explosives. Hence, the liquid disruptor device displays higher efficiency per unit weight of explosives when detonation thereof occurs at multiple points. Further, a liquid disruptor device module inclusive of at least two liquid disruptor devices combined to assume a geometric shape is introduced.

Explosives are usually contained in a casing, and their explosion is triggered by a disruptor mechanism. The explosion is intended to hit a target but is likely to injure human beings and properties in the vicinity of the target. To protect the human beings and properties in the vicinity of the target against the explosion, the prior art mostly involves handling the explosives with a water disruptor device. The water disruptor device works by bombarding water with explosive powder so as to destroy the explosives under the impact of the water. Conventional water disruptor devices fall into two categories: water cannon water disruptor devices and bottle water disruptor devices. A water cannon water disruptor device works in a manner as follows: when the cartridge is set off, the cannon shoots out a concentrated liquid jet which may be used to disable the detonator of an explosive, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,921. A bottle water disruptor device is provided in the form of a hermetically sealed container filled with water and explosives to achieve the largest explosive surface area under the pressure generated upon explosion, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,725.
Charles E. Munroe, an American scientist, devised the following: filling a container with explosives; closing the mouth of the container with a conical metal cover whose top faces the inside of the container; and detonating the explosives so that blast energy of the explosives is focused on the top of the conical metal cover to generate a high-speed metallic jet emitted outward in the axial direction of the conical metal cover, thereby allowing a target to be pierced by the metallic jet. The aforesaid phenomenon is known as Munroe effect, wherein the conical metal cover is called a liner. FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the conventional Munroe effect. As shown in FIG. 9, a detonator 71 detonates an explosive 72 and thus generates circular blast waves. The blast waves compress the top of a metal liner 73 and thus focus blast energy of the metal liner 73, thereby generating a metallic jet for piercing a target A.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,939 discloses a liquid disruptor device which comprises a non-metallic container filled with explosives and a liquid and coupled to a liner. U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,479 discloses a liquid disruptor device which comprises a liner and a container filled with a liquid. However, the liquid disruptor device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,479 resorts to single-point detonation and thus fails to demonstrate satisfactory efficiency per unit weight of explosives, not to mention that the efficacy of the liquid disruptor device in operation is restricted to one-dimensional destruction of a target. Therefore, it is important to enhance a liquid disruptor device's efficiency per unit weight of explosives, increase the area of destruction inflicted on a target, and create larger destructive openings on the target.

Liquid disruptor device, method of manufacturing the same, and liquid disruptor device module

NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus which guides a conveying target object in the conveying direction while preventing it from falling off from rollers and in which intervals between the adjacent rollers can be narrowed. The present invention is a conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers which are arranged in a conveying direction of a conveying target object and on which the conveying target object is to be placed, wherein the plurality of rollers include a first roller and a second roller adjacent to the first roller, the first roller comprises a first placement portion on which the conveying target object is to be placed, and a large diameter portion which has a larger diameter than that of the first placement portion and guides the conveying target object in the conveying direction, and the second roller comprises a second placement portion on which the conveying target object is to be placed, and a small diameter portion which has a smaller diameter than that of the second placement portion and prevents interference between the large diameter portion and the second roller.

As a conveying apparatus conveying a container which accommodates a semiconductor wafer in a clean room or the like, a conveyor type conveying apparatus which uses a plurality of rollers is known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-534800 proposes a conveying apparatus in which a plurality of rollers comprising driving rollers and running rollers are arranged in two rows in the conveying direction. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-524544 proposes a conveying apparatus comprising a driving rail on which a plurality of rollers are arrayed in the conveying direction and a support rail which is arranged substantially parallel to the driving rail.
If the intervals between adjacent rollers are large, several problems arise. First, a conveying target object tends to vibrate vertically. Dust produced by a driving mechanism which drives the rollers readily passes through the rollers to diffuse in a clean room. Therefore, plates that block the gaps between the adjacent rollers must be arranged, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-524544. Accordingly, the narrower the intervals between the adjacent rollers, the better.
Also, each roller is desirably provided with a portion which guides the conveying target object so as not to fall off from the rollers. For example, the running roller of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-534800 has a large diameter taper at its end to guide the conveying target object to the center of the roller. However, to form such a taper, the intervals between the adjacent rollers tend to increase.


A system and method adds and manages entries on a list of entries of routing information to allow the top entry to be used for routing to a destination corresponding to the list. Costs of a wireless link may be a function of the success rate experienced on that wireless link.

Routing messages are messages that are sent from one node that routes messages in a network, to one or more other nodes that route messages in the network, to inform the one or more other nodes receiving the message of the routing costs of the sender. The receiving nodes then use the information contained in the routing messages they receive to identify the path or paths by which messages should be sent, and to build and send their own routing messages using the path or paths identified.
Paths may be identified by selecting a path with the lowest cost to the destination. Conventional costs may include hop counts, i.e. the number of nodes between a node attempting to send a message that is to be routed, and the destination specified or implied by the message. Because the speed at which a message may be sent can be dramatically impacted by the hop count of a wired network, selecting a path with the lowest hop count or other low costs can allow messages to be routed as rapidly, or nearly rapidly as possible. However, conventional hop counts may not accurately address all of the issues associated with sending a message in a wireless network.
When routing messages, routing loops may occur, whereby a first node routes to another node that routes through the first node. It is desirable to avoid routing messages through such routing loops.
What is needed is a system and method that can efficiently route messages while addressing the needs of a wireless network, yet be able to accommodate frequent changes and to avoid routing loops.

System and method for computing cost metrics for wireless network links


Disclosed is a catalytic method for operating an oxygenate to olefins conversion reaction to provide a substantial quantity of prime olefin in the product. The product is provided by operating within desired parameters of weight hourly space velocity and oxygenate partial pressure. Operating the reaction to supply oxygenate at an oxygenate proportion index of at least 0.5, and controlling weight hourly space velocity and molar flow rate of oxygenate to the reactor to maintain a partial pressure-velocity compensation factor of at least 0.1 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921, a prime olefin selectivity of at least 45 wt. % can be maintained.

This invention relates to a method for converting oxygenates to olefins. More particularly, this invention relates to controlling the reaction process to maintain a partial pressure-velocity compensation factor of at least 0.1 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921 such that a prime olefin selectivity of at least 45 wt. % can be maintained.
Olefins, particularly prime olefins (i.e., ethylene and propylene), have been traditionally produced from petroleum feedstocks by either catalytic or steam cracking. Oxygenates, however, are becoming desirable feedstocks for making prime olefins. Particularly desirable oxygenate feedstocks are alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, diethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate, and methyl formate. Many of these oxygenates can be produced from a variety of sources including synthesis gas derived from natural gas; petroleum liquids; carbonaceous materials, including coal; recycled plastics; municipal wastes; or any appropriate organic material. Because of the wide variety of sources, alcohol, alcohol derivatives, and other oxygenates have promise as an economical, non-petroleum source for light olefin production.
One way of producing olefins is by the catalytic conversion of methanol using a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) molecular sieve catalyst. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,327 to Kaiser, discloses making olefins from methanol using any of a variety of SAPO molecular sieve catalysts. The process can be carried out at a temperature between 300xc2x0 C. and 500xc2x0 C., a pressure between 0.1 atmosphere to 100 atmospheres, and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of between 0.1 and 40 hrxe2x88x921.
It is generally desirable to make prime olefins in a reactor which operates at a high partial pressure of feedstock, since a greater mass of feed stock can be moved through a given reactor size/volume at a given time relative to a reactor operating at a lower partial pressure of feedstock. Alternatively, for a given mass of feedstock to be processed through a reactor, the reactor size at a higher partial pressure of feedstock will be smaller and less expensive relative to a reactor operating at a lower partial pressure of feed stock.
It is also desirable to operate a reactor at a higher weight hourly space velocity (WHSV). Operating at higher WHSVs will enable the reactor volume and catalyst volume to be reduced for a given level of production.
Further, it is generally desirable to operate a reactor using a relatively low proportion of diluent. As the diluent level increases, reactor volume will necessarily increase, without a corresponding increase in feed stock throughput capability. The use of significant quantities of diluent also increases the complexity of the overall process of producing olefins in that the diluent must be separated and recovered, which requires additional facilities in the production process.
Reaching a more desirable level of higher feedstock partial pressure and WHSV, at a relatively low diluent concentration is, therefore, particularly desirable in order to increase the commercial desirability of oxygenates as alternative feedstocks. Unfortunately, in the oxygenate reaction process, increasing the partial pressure of oxygenate to a reactor will oftentimes have deleterious effects on the selectivities of the reaction to desired products, particularly prime olefins, to the point where operation beyond a certain partial pressure is undesirable. Reductions in diluent content of the feedstock may also increase the partial pressure of oxygenate to a reactor, thereby resulting in a decrease of selectivity to prime olefins. Similarly, increasing the WHSV may result in decreased oxygenate conversion. Therefore, operating parameters are needed in order to maintain acceptable levels of prime olefin selectivity in oxygenate conversion processes. Otherwise, the alternative use of oxygenate feedstocks to produce prime olefins will not exceed desirability over conventional petroleum processes.
In order to maintain desirable levels of prime olefin selectivity in catalytically converting oxygenate to olefin product at commercial scale, this invention provides, in one embodiment, a method for making olefin product from an oxygenate-containing feedstock. The method comprises providing a non-zeolite catalyst; and contacting the catalyst in a reactor with an oxygenate-containing feedstock at an oxygenate partial pressure of greater than 20 psia, preferably at least 25 psia, more preferably at least 30 psia.
It is desirable that the catalyst be contacted with the feedstock at a weight hourly space velocity of greater than 2 hrxe2x88x921, preferably in a range of from 5 hrxe2x88x921 to 1000 hrxe2x88x921, more preferably in a range of from 5 hrxe2x88x921 to 500 hrxe2x88x921. It is also desirable that the oxygenate be supplied to the reactor at an oxygenate proportion index of at least 0.5, preferably at least 0.6, more preferably at least 0.7.
The oxygenate-containing feedstock preferably comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of methanol; ethanol; n-propanol; isopropanol; C4-C20 alcohols; methyl ethyl ether; dimethyl ether; diethyl ether; di-isopropyl ether; formaldehyde; dimethyl carbonate; dimethyl ketone; acetic acid; and mixtures thereof It is particularly desirable that the oxygenate be methanol or dimethyl ether.
The non-zeolite catalyst used in the process preferably comprises a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve and a binder. Desirably silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of SAPO-5, SAPO-8, SAPO-11, SAPO-16, SAPO-17, SAPO-18, SAPO-20, SAPO-31, SAPO-34, SAPO-35, SAPO-36, SAPO-37, SAPO-40, SAPO-41, SAPO-42, SAPO-44, SAPO-47, SAPO-56, metal containing forms thereof, and mixtures thereof It is particularly desirable that the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve be SAPO-34 or SAPO-18, most particularly SAPO-34.
The oxygenate-containing feedstock can be contacted at a wide range of temperatures. Preferably, the oxygenate-containing feedstock is contacted with the silicoaluminophosphate catalyst at 200xc2x0 C. to 700xc2x0 C.
In an alternative embodiment, the average gas superficial velocity is maintained above a minimum level. Desirably, the oxygenate-containing feedstock is contacted with the silicoaluminophosphate catalyst in a reactor at an average gas superficial velocity of greater than 1 meter per second.
In yet another alternative embodiment, this invention provides a method for operating an oxygenate to olefins reaction. The method comprises providing a non-zeolite catalyst; providing an oxygenate-containing feedstock at an oxygen proportion index of at least 0.5; contacting the catalyst and the oxygenate-containing feedstock in a reactor and providing product from the reactor having a prime olefin selectivity of at least 45 wt. %; and maintaining a partial pressure-velocity compensation factor at a level of at least 0.1 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921 by controlling weight hourly space velocity and molar flow rate of oxygenate to the reactor.
In a preferred embodiment, the weight hourly space velocity and molar flow rate of oxygenate to the reactor are controlled to maintain a partial pressure-velocity compensation factor of at least 0.15 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921, more preferably at least 0.2 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921.
In controlling the oxygenate to olefins reaction process it is particularly desirable to operate at a relatively high oxygenate proportion index. Particularly desirable is to operate at an oxygenate proportion index of at least 0.6. Even more desirable is to operate at an oxygenate proportion index of at least 0.7.
The oxygenate to olefins reaction process can be controlled over a wide range of weight hourly space velocities. It is, however, particularly desirable to operate at a weight hourly space velocity of at least 2 hrxe2x88x921. Preferably, the process is operated at a weight hourly space velocity in the range of from 2 hrxe2x88x921 to 1000 hrxe2x88x921, more preferably at a range of from 5 hrxe2x88x921 to 500 hrxe2x88x921.
The invention also includes products made according to the methods provided. The products include the olefin product made directly from the oxygenate reaction process, as well as the derivative products of the prime olefins produced. Polyolefins are particularly desirable products which can be produced from the prime olefins of this invention.
In a particularly desirably embodiment, the catalyst and the oxygenate-containing feedstock are contacted in the reactor and the product from the reactor is provided at a prime olefin selectivity of at least 62 wt. %; and the partial pressure-velocity compensation factor is maintained at a level of at least 0.1 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921 by controlling weight hourly space velocity and molar flow rate of oxygenate to the reactor. Preferably, the product from the reactor is provided at a prime olefin selectivity of at least 70 wt. %; and the partial pressure-velocity compensation factor is maintained at a level of at least 0.15 psiaxe2x88x921hrxe2x88x921 by controlling weight hourly space velocity and molar flow rate of oxygenate to the reactor.

Catalytic production of olefins at high methanol partial pressures


A method and system for creating a pre-defined electronic transactions is disclosed. the system comprises a server in communication with a database and a computer network, and the server is configured to: (1) receive a request to create a pre-defined electronic transaction from a client computer via the computer network, (2) receive input from the client computer comprising information that at least partially defines the pre-defined electronic transaction, and (3) store the received information in the database.

The disclosure relates to electronic transactions that have a content part and a funds transaction part which is hereinafter defined in accordance with the term "Summa." The disclosure also relates to methods and systems for conducting electronic transactions between two parties having Summa accounts in which there is the transmission of a Summa message from one party acting as the sender and the other party acting as the receiver, wherein any user can be the sender or the receiver. This invention is related to embodiments of the Summa transactions directed toward micropayments, processing of message types, escrow accounts, and multiple currency and credit accounts.
The parent applications, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, discuss methods and systems for the two-way transfer of payments and messages between at least two users of electronic communication devices (ECD) in communication with a computer server system with which both users have access and using the server system to both transfer electronic messages and to credit and debit the users accounts as required and authorized by the users. These methods and systems feature the payment of a small amount to users of the electronic messaging device with the delivery of a commercial advertisement. As will become evident from the following discussion, micropayments may be incorporated into such a system and associated with the delivery of electronic messages/content via general purpose computer operating web browsers, or specialized software clients.
As discussed in the parent applications, the ability of the Summa transactions to facilitate two-way micropayments provides numerous benefits to Internet sites seeking to monetize their services. For example, websites containing user generated content, such as Facebook™, Wikipedia™, Flikr™, and YouTube™, are very popular and serve a large user base. In many cases, the providers of these services seek to monetize the value of their services by placing advertisements on the pages alongside the user generated content. In many cases, users have no control over the placement or content of any advertisements which may appear alongside their user generated content. As described below, electronic content such as web pages (which may include text, video, audio, programming, or any other electronic information) may be incorporated into the content part of a Summa message in a fashion that allows for collecting funds each time the content is uploaded by the user of a Summa enabled ECD. Conversely, users may receive a payment for activating a hyperlink to, for example, view an advertisement, to complete a survey, or to complete a paid task. Data collected from managing the transactions may be useful for better targeting of commercial messages and data analysis, managing different message types, and for managing store credits and multiple currencies, and managing the escrow of payments pending the delivery of physical goods.
In the specification, the below listing of terms have the following meaning:
"Electronic Communication Device" ("ECD") is any device with computing and communication functions which is capable of communicating with other electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, personal digital assistant ("PDA"), interactive television sets, or other such devices via wired or wireless transmissions, including the internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, or similar existing or future services or protocols. Examples of ECDs include mobile devices as well as ECDs that are placed at fixed locations such as network server farms, cell phone towers, and other permanent or semi-permanent installations.
"Client" refers to an application or system which communicates via a network with a server network. In this specification, the client typically includes user's ECD running client software in network communication with the Summa Server Network Interface.
"Mobile Electronic Device" ("MED") is a mobile, usually hand held, electronic communication device equipped with the ability to communicate with other ECD via cell phone networks, the internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, or similar existing or future services or protocols. This may be a cell phone, mobile phone, or personal digital assistant (PDA), but may also include electronic communication device mounted in a vehicle or a portable vendor's kiosk or other system which is intended to be transported from place to place with relative ease.
"Behavioral metrics" includes any data points that can be measured to track the behavior, response, location or other information about the user of an ECD.
"Receipt charge" is the charge set by the receiver of a Summa message (see definition below) to be applied against the account of a sender and credited to the account of a receiver as generally or specifically defined in the charge schedule. A receipt charge may be negative, which would indicate a payment from the receiver to the sender.
"Receiver" and "recipient" refer to the user of a Summa account (hereinafter defined) who receives a Summa message (hereinafter defined).
"Sender" refers to the user who sends a Summa message (hereinafter defined).
"Service provider" refers to an entity that provides Summa accounts (hereinafter defined) to a plurality of users through at least one Summa network server. Typically, the service provider may be a bank or other financial institution, an internet service provider, or another business offering or managing credits accessible to users through a Summa account (hereinafter defined).
"Summa message" refers to electronic information composed of two parts, an electronic content part (or "message part") and a funds transfer part. The content part, delivered to the user's ECD, would typically be text, video, audio, or other electronic content typical of electronic messaging provided by the sender, while the funds transfer part is a packet of information defining and authorizing a transfer of funds to be credited to or debited from the Summa associated financial account of the sender to or from the Summa associated financial account of the recipient of the Summa message, wherein the funds transfer is contingent on, co-dependent and/or concurrent to delivery of the content part. Delivery may also be contingent on other conditions set by either the sender or recipient, as described elsewhere.
"Summa" is an adjective modifying any portion of the Summa messaging and financial transaction system and in particular indicates that the associated noun which Summa modifies is related to a Summa transaction and/or the gathering and use of data associated with Summa transactions.
"Summa account" refers to an account assigned to a user by a Summa service provider which enables the user to engage in the two-way exchange of Summa messages, as either a sender or a receiver of Summa messages. Each Summa account consists of at least one electronically managed financial account and at least one integrated electronic messaging system. Or, conversely, each Summa account consists of at least one electronic messaging system that is integrated into the electronic management of one or more financial accounts. Alternatively, each Summa account may be composed of a two-way electronic messaging system hosted by the Summa service provider that includes the information, programming and authorizations necessary to credit or debit to one or more financial accounts.
"Summa enabled ECD" refers to any electronic device operating independently of the Summa Link servers which has the necessary programming to accept and/or send and/or display or deliver a Summa message through a computer network associated with the Summa Link servers.
"Summa hyperlink" refers to a code, generally hypertext markup language (HTML), which contains or is associated with information defining a Summa message, including both the funds transfer part and the electronic content part, that has been pre-defined by the creator/publisher of the hyperlink. Activation of a Summa hyperlink initiates the processing of the Summa transaction between the user activating the hyperlink and the creator/publisher. An error free Summa transaction will result in the delivery of the electronic content part of the Summa message associated with the Summa hyperlink concurrent with, and perhaps conditional upon, the transfer of the funds part associated with the Summa message, with the funds being transferred to or from the Summa account of the person activating the hyperlink and from or to the party designated by the Summa hyperlink, typically the creator/publisher and/or agents or clients of the publisher.
"Summa transaction" refers to an electronic transaction involving the processing a Summa message, including processing of both the content part and the funds transfer part and the exchange of information to users and servers regarding the transaction.
"User" refers to any person or business entity with a Summa account on the network. A user may be either the receiver or sender of a Summa message.
"User generated page" refers to any electronic content, including text, video, audio, or programming, which may be treated as the content part of a Summa message and is intended to be made available for retrieval by other users of a computer network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for two-way transfer of funds and electronic content between summa account users with gathering of behavioral metrics and management of multiple currencies and escrow accounts


A method is provided for providing, with a GPU, selective cryptographic assist to data storage operations. The method is performed by a computer, the computer having a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU) and a special-purpose processor optimized for performing vector-based calculations. The method includes (a) calculating a processing load value on the CPU as the CPU performs a set of data storage operations, (b) comparing the calculated processing load value to a threshold value, (c) if the threshold value exceeds the calculated processing load, then performing cryptographic operations related to a data storage operation of the set of data storage operations on the CPU to the exclusion of the special-purpose processor, and (d) otherwise, performing the cryptographic operations related to the data storage operation on the special-purpose processor to the exclusion of the CPU. A corresponding apparatus is also provided. A method is also provided for providing GPU-assist to sequence-detection operations.

Data storage systems often have particular processing needs. For example, some storage systems allow some or all data to be encrypted. Some storage systems provide a multipathing feature to allow data to travel over multiple paths before being written to disk. This may be done to allow for redundancy. It may also be done to increase bandwidth or to distribute load.
In some data storage systems, these particular processing needs are performed in software by a central processing unit (CPU). In particular, data encryption is often performed by a crypto kernel as part of the software used to control the storage system. Path selection for use with multipathing is also often performed by a multipathing module as part of the storage system software. It may be noted that path selection may also involve selecting a particular port of a storage device from a plurality of available ports.
Some storage systems make use of storage devices that incorporate read-ahead caches. These read-ahead caches read several blocks ahead of any given read operation in order to increase efficiency in sequential read operations. This efficiency results from minimizing the need to continually access the disk platters, since disk access operations are much more expensive than cache reads.


A dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly includes a plurality of reconfigurable blades mounted on a hub, an actuator fixed to each of the blades and adapted to effect the reconfiguration thereof, and an actuator power regulator for regulating electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current wind conditions and blade configuration, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator. Sensors measure current wind conditions and current configurations and speed of the blades. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the assembly. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to energize the actuators to reconfigure the blades for optimum performance under current wind conditions.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to wind turbines and is directed more particularly to a turbine blade assembly in which the turbine blades are reconfigured for maximum performance automatically in the course of operation of the turbine.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Wind turbines are alternative energy sources with low environmental impact. The basic physical principle of wind turbine operation is to extract energy from the wind environment to rotate a mechanism to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. In FIG. 1, there is shown a typical horizontal axis wind turbine. The turbine generally includes two or three blades 20 attached to a hub 22. Optimally, the blades 20 are lightweight but very stiff, to resist wind gusts. Many blades employ aerodynamic controls, such as ailerons or wind brakes, to control speed. The hub 22 is connected to a drive train (not shown) and is typically flexible to minimize structural loads. This mechanism is connected to an electrical generator 24. Wind turbines usually employ constant rotational speed generators, though advances are underway to utilize variable speed generators with efficient transformers. Variable speed generators have an advantage in that expensive gearboxes can be reduced or eliminated. The entire mechanism is elevated by a tower structure 26. The higher the tower, the stronger the wind, generally. A control room 28 usually is located near the turbine to monitor wind conditions and employ control strategies on the turbine.
Future applications envision wind turbines connected to a main power grid to provide energy to home and business users. At present, the cost of energy associated with wind turbines is significantly higher than the cost associated with non-renewable energy sources (coal or gas fired turbine generators, for example). The U.S. Department of Energy has a goal of substantially reducing the energy cost for sites where the average annual wind speed is about 15 mph. To do this, turbines must more efficiently generate power at lower wind speeds and must withstand excessive structural loading at high wind speeds. Wind turbines constructed based on current technology shut down at very low (below 6 mph) and very high (above 65 mph) wind speeds. This increases the cost of electricity.
The basis for electrical energy generation resides in the aerodynamics associated with a wind turbine. The turbine generates energy from lift produced on the blades in the presence of wind. FIG. 2A shows the effective lift and drag produced by a turbine blade 20 in operation. The two main sources of velocity the blade 20 xe2x80x9cseesxe2x80x9d are due to the rotation rxcfx89 of the rotor and the oncoming wind Vw. The angle xcex2 is the physical angle of the blade either due to a pitch mechanism or due to the twist along the blade. The angle of attack xcex1 the blade xe2x80x98seesxe2x80x99 is therefore:
xcex1=tanxe2x88x921(Vw/rxcfx89)xe2x88x92xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
As wind speed increases, the angle of attack xcex1 on the blades increases. The blade pitch and twist is typically designed to optimize the angle of attack near the average wind speed. Thus, at low wind speeds the angle of attack is lower than optimum and the turbine loses efficiency. At very low speeds, there is insufficient energy available to drive the turbine. At high wind speeds the angle of attack of the blade becomes excessively large and can drive the blade into a stall. As a result, the forces and moments on the turbine blades become too high and the turbine is shut down to prevent blade failure caused by excessive dynamic loading.
The above applies specifically to the case in which the wind across the turbine rotor is uniform and perpendicular to the flow. During normal operating conditions, neither assumption is typically valid. The flow across the rotor is usually very non-uniform with horizontal and vertical wind shear components. In addition, much of the time, the flow into the rotor (FIG. 2B, for example) is offset by a certain yaw angle xcex3. Defining the position of the blade in the rotation cycle by xcexa8, there is a normal Vn and a crossflow Vc component of the wind:
Vn=Vw cos xcex3
Vc=xe2x88x92Vw sin xcex3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
The wind velocity is also modified due to horizontal and vertical wind shear at a given position in the angular rotation cycle:
Vw=Vmean+(r/R)[Vvshear cos xcexa8+Vhshear sin xcexa8]xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
The tangential velocity the blade experiences during the rotation cycle is then:
Vt=rxcfx89+Vc cos xcexa8xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
The instantaneous angle of attach of the blade during the rotation cycle is then:
xcex1=tanxe2x88x921(Vn/Vt)xe2x88x92xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
During uncontrolled turbine operation, there is significant variation in the local blade angle of attack. For large angle of attack variations, this can result in a phenomena termed xe2x80x9cdynamic stallxe2x80x9d. Experimental field studies have demonstrated that significant dynamic loading can be experienced by the turbine blade resulting in fatigue and potential failure of the wind turbine. This problem is a major cause of increased operational and maintenance costs. An additional consequence is that for high wind speeds, the turbine is rarely operating under optimal conditions in terms of blade angle of attack. For both low and high wind speeds, it is desirable to control the local blade angle of attack to establish optimal operating conditions.
There are essentially two ways to control the blade angle of attack. The first is to vary the rotational velocity of the turbine. This is a major reason that research has been conducted to improve the efficiency of variable speed power transformers. During high wind speeds, it is desirable to increase the rotational velocity of the turbine, and decrease the rotational velocity during low wind speeds. Unfortunately, the efficiency of the transformers are such that it is still more cost effective to sacrifice operating the turbine during high wind states and maintain constant rotational velocity.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an alternative wind turbine assembly which facilitates control of the angle of attack of the blades, as by actively or dynamically reconfiguring the blades to provide continuous adjustment of the angle of attack, as by local blade pitch angle adjustments and/or by pitching the entire blades.
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a wind turbine assembly adapted to twist the turbine blades dynamically to increase efficiency at low wind speeds, and reduce dynamic loads at high wind speeds.
A further object of the invention is to provide a wind turbine assembly having means to control the dynamics of the blade during instances of wind shear and non-zero yaw of the turbine with respect to the wind, such that optimal blade angles of attack can be maintained throughout the entire rotational cycle of the wind turbine.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a wind turbine assembly adapted to effect dynamic blade twist so that wind turbines will start at lower wind speeds, and continue to operate at higher wind speeds.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a wind turbine assembly adapted to adjust the twist of the wind turbine blades so as to increase the lift at low speeds and decrease the lift at high speeds, whereby to increase the range of wind speeds at which wind turbines can practically produce energy, and wherein at any specific wind speed the blades twist is optimized for that speed to improve the overall efficiency of the system.
With the above and other objects in view, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly comprising a plurality of reconfigurable twistable blades mounted on a hub, an actuator fixed to each of the blades and adapted to effect the reconfiguration thereof, and an actuator power regulator for regulating electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current wind conditions and blade configuration twist, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator. Sensors measure current wind conditions and current configurations and speed of the blades. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the assembly. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to energize the actuators to reconfigure the blades for optimum performance under current wind conditions.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly comprising a plurality of blades, each being reconfigurable while in operation to assume a selected configuration, an actuator embedded in each of the blades and adapted to receive electrical power to effect the blade reconfiguration to the selected configuration, and an actuator power regulator for regulating the electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current configuration of the blades, wind speed, rotational speed of the blades, and voltage and current available, and processes the signals, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator, and continuously adjusts the commands in response to the signals received. A blade load sensor is embedded in each of the blades and is adapted to measure deflection of the blade, and thereby the configuration of the blade, and to report to the control computer. Rotational speed sensors are embedded in a hub for the blades and are adapted to measure blade rotational speed and to report to the control computer. A wind speed sensor is disposed proximate a remainder of the assembly, and adapted to measure wind speed and to report to the control computer. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the control computer and to the actuator power regulator. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to initiate operation of the actuators to reconfigure the blades to obtain the selected configuration under current wind conditions.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular assembly embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A honeycomb structure according to the present invention has partition walls, and a number of through-holes divided from each other by the partition walls and extending in an axial direction. The honeycomb structure contains silicon carbide (SiC) or a composite material having silicon carbide (SiC) as a main crystal phase, and has a cylindrical shape. A circularity of a periphery of the honeycomb structure is in a range of 1.0 to 2.5 mm. The honeycomb structure can be contained in a metal container in stable state and hardly has problems such as breakage or breakdown.

While the recently tightened regulation on exhaust gas has been improving in reducing discharged amounts of harmful substances such as hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from an engine itself; a three-way catalyst, which is the main current at present, has also been improving. Both of them have been effective in reducing a discharged amount of harmful substances.
However, an amount of harmful substances discharged right after an engine has started is highlightened, while discharged substances are reduced extending over the whole running condition of an engine as the improvement according to tightening of exhaust gas regulations. For example, in FTP-75 cycle, which is a regulated running cycle in U.S., 60-80% of total emission discharged in the whole running cycle is discharged in the Bag-1 mode for 140 second right after the engine has started. This is because a catalyst is not sufficiently activated since temperature of exhaust gas is low right after an engine has started (Bag-1A), thereby passing harmful substances through the catalyst.
Therefore, some measures are employed, for example, putting a catalyst as close to an engine as possible in a place where exhaust gas has high temperature to raise temperature of the catalyst right after an engine has started, thinning the cell partition walls to decrease heat capacity of a catalyst itself, and increasing cell density of a carrier to quickly absorb heat of exhaust gas and to increase a contact area of a catalyst with exhaust gas.
As a catalyst, there is generally used a catalyst produced by loading γ-alumina of a fine porous structure having a high surface area on the surface of cell partition walls of a ceramic honeycomb structure, which is one of cell structures, and then noble metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium are loaded, as catalyst components, on the alumina. Further, to these noble metals are added ceria, zirconia, and the like, to store and release oxygen contained in exhaust gas. Such noble metals and oxygen-storing substances are present in a dispersed state in the pores in the γ-alumina layer loaded on the surface of porous cell partition walls (rib) of the carrier.
A honeycomb structure is generally used in such a condition that it is housed (canned) in a container made of metal such as stainless steel with being held by the container. In addition, a honeycomb filter obtained by alternately plugging the honeycomb structure at each end face in such a way that it looks checkerboard patterns is suitably used also as a filter for capturing and removing particulate matters contained in dust-containing fluid such as diesel engine exhaust gas (such a filter may hereinbelow be referred to as "DPF."), and the filter is disposed in a predetermined place after being canned similarly to the case of the aforementioned honeycomb structure.
Upon canning, an appropriate compressible elastic member is disposed in a gap between the container and a peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure to impart an adequate compressing surface pressure to the honeycomb structure. An example of related prior art is a method of canning a honeycomb structure in a metal container with holding the honeycomb structure with a mat of an intumescent material containing vermiculite (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,207,989 and 5,385,873).
However, in the case of the method disclosed in the above U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,207,989 and 5,385,873, compressing surface pressure is rapidly raised by intumescence. Therefore, the rapidly raised compressing surface pressure tends to exceed strength (isostatic strength) of a honeycomb structure having thin walls with low strength, and the honeycomb structure is liable to break. In addition, since compressibility of an intumescent mat is quickly deteriorated from about 800 degree C., compressing surface pressure disappears at about 1000 degree C., and it becomes impossible to hold the honeycomb structure.
Whereas, in a non-intumescent mat not containing vermiculite (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,532 and 2,798,871), the change in surface pressure according to temperature-rise is very small, and the honeycomb structure can be held with surface pressure being hardly decreased even at 1000 degree C.
A honeycomb structure having thin walls has conventionally been held using a non-intumescent mat in place of an intumescent mat. However, when a honeycomb structure is wound with a mat serving as a holding member followed by being canned in a metal container, slippage tends to be caused at the joint of the mat, and surface pressure tends to be increased. Further, when a honeycomb structure having a mat wound thereon is stuffed in a metal container, the mat tends to have rumples, and surface pressure tends to be increased at that point. These cause non-uniform distribution of compressing surface pressure acting on a peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure. When partially heightened compressing surface pressure exceeds isostatic strength of the honeycomb structure, the cell structure breaks. In addition, because of the non-uniform distribution of the surface pressure, the cell structure tends to slip due to vibrations of an engine or pressure of exhaust gas in practical use.
Incidentally, "isostatic strength" of a honeycomb structure means a value measured by "isostatic fracture strength test" provided for by the automobile standards JASO standard M505-87 published by Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. Specifically, the test is conducted in such a manner that a cell structure as a carrier is put in a rubber tube, and the container is capped and subjected to isotropic pressure compression, which imitates compression load in the case that a carrier is held at a peripheral surface thereof by a can of a converter. The isostatic strength is shown by a value of pressure at the time of breakage of a carrier. A catalyst converter for purifying automotive exhaust gas generally employs a canning structure in which a carrier is held at a peripheral surface thereof. It is a matter of course that high isostatic strength is preferable in view of canning.
When the actual surface pressure becomes higher than the intended surface pressure planned upon design of canning, the structure may break at the point if the surface pressure exceeds isostatic strength of the honeycomb structure. According as thickness of cell partition walls decreases and strength of the structure is lowered, it is necessary to decrease the intended surface pressure, and it is necessary to minimize fluctuation of the surface pressure by suppressing extraordinary increase of actual canning surface pressure. It is ideal that the actual surface pressure is equal to the intended surface pressure because it makes possible the canning design just as aimed.
Further, a honeycomb structure may break because of varied gap between the honeycomb structure and the metal container due to precision of an external shape of the honeycomb structure or because of uneven compression pressure act on the peripheral portion of the honeycomb structure and high holding surface pressure acts partially as a result of slippage of a holding member caused when the honeycomb structure is housed in a metal container. As the partition walls of a honeycomb structure are made thinner, the isostatic strength level of the honeycomb structure becomes lower, which requires to make compressing surface pressure of the honeycomb structure as low as possible with keeping the minimum surface pressure required for holding a honeycomb structure. As the level of compressing surface pressure is lowered, it is necessary to make variance in surface pressure smaller, i.e., to give more uniform distribution of surface pressure.
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art and aims to provide a honeycomb structure which is capable of being housed in a metal container under a safely held condition and which hardly has problems such as breakage or breakdown, as well as a canning structure which has a metal container housing the honeycomb structure and which is superior in vibration resistance particularly under high temperature conditions.

Honeycomb structural body and canning structural body storing the honeycomb structural body