NEDO Project Research Articles

1A1-G08 安全技術を導入したフォーク型物流支援ロボットの開発 : NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクトによる技術開発(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-G08 安全技術を導入したフォーク型物流支援ロボットの開発 : NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクトによる技術開発(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-I07 ロボットの車輪の轢過による中足骨傷害に関する検討(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-I07 ロボットの車輪の轢過による中足骨傷害に関する検討(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H03 力学的人体損傷の許容レベル等の総合評価 : 物理量から生物・医学的重症度へ(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H03 力学的人体損傷の許容レベル等の総合評価 : 物理量から生物・医学的重症度へ(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-I02 マニピュレータの挟圧安全性とその試験方法について(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-I02 マニピュレータの挟圧安全性とその試験方法について(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H04 屋外搭乗型生活支援ロボットにおける安全エンジニアリング技術の開発とその適用事例(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H04 屋外搭乗型生活支援ロボットにおける安全エンジニアリング技術の開発とその適用事例(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H02 移乗支援ロボット「ロボティックベッド^[○!R]」の機能安全開発(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-H02 移乗支援ロボット「ロボティックベッド^[○!R]」の機能安全開発(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-G07 移乗支援ロボット"ロボティックベッド^[○!R]"の安全機能設計・評価(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

1A1-G07 移乗支援ロボット"ロボティックベッド^[○!R]"の安全機能設計・評価(NEDO生活支援ロボット実用化プロジェクト)

Missions and Progressions of PEFC Evaluation Project in Japan

Many kinds of catalysts and membranes for PEFC (Polymer electrolyte fuel cell) have been being developed at various institutes, companies or universities. To find truly practical materials among such developed ones is very important to accelerate the commercialization of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). In Japan, since 2010, such a mission has been executed under "PEFC Evaluation Project" which is one of NEDO projects. In PEFC Evaluation Project, a newly developed catalyst is processed to an MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), and the MEA is constructed to a single cell to evaluate the fuel cell performance.

Degradation of SOFC Cell/Stack Performance in Relation to Materials Deterioration

The characteristic features of solid oxide fuel cells are reviewed from the viewpoint of the thermodynamic variables to be developed inside cells/stacks particularly in terms of gradients of chemical potential, electrical potential and temperature and corresponding flows of air, fuel, electricity and heat. Examples of abrupt destruction of SOFC systems were collected from failures in controlling their steady flows, while continuous degradation was caused by materials behaviors under gradients of chemical potentials during a long operation. The local equilibrium approximation has been adopted in NEDO project on the durability/reliability of SOFC stacks/systems; this makes it possible to examine the thermodynamic stability/reactivity as well as mass transfer under the thermodynamic variable gradients. Major results of the NEDO project are described with a focus on degradation/deterioration of electrolyte and electrode materials.

Pulmonary Toxicity of Manufactured Nanomaterials

We introduced the report on the pulmonary toxicity of manufactured nanomaterials as a national project in Japan conducted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO project). Well-characterized and well-dispersed industrial nanomaterials were used in this project. Using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), we conducted intratracheal instillation and inhalation studies. At a low dose (0.2 mg/rat) and a high dose (1 mg/rat) of almost individual MWCNTs, transient and persistent inflammatory responses were induced in the lungs following intratracheal instillation. Well-dispersed MWCNTs at a low concentration (0.37 mg/m3) did not induce pulmonary inflammation. Using single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), we also conducted both studies. At low (0.2 mg/rat) and high doses (0.4 mg/rat) of well-dispersed SWCNTs, persistent inflammatory responses were induced in the lungs following intratracheal instillation. Well-dispersed MWCNTs at low and high concentrations (0.03 mg/m3 and 0.13 mg/m3, respectively) did not induce pulmonary inflammation. On the basis of these data from mainly inhalation studies, the acceptable exposure concentration of carbon nanotubes is proposed to be 0.03 mg/m3 in Japan.

Durability Tests of Flatten Tubular Segmented-in-Series Type SOFC Stacks for Intermediate Temperature Operation

Durability tests of flatten tubular segmented-in-series type SOFC stacks for intermediate temperature operation have been carried out since FY 2008 in the NEDO project, "Development of system and elemental technology on SOFCs". A short bundle composed of four cell stacks fabricated in FY 2009 showed a degradation rate of 0.31 % during the last 1000 hour of a 4000 hour continuous test at rated current density of 0.24 A/cm2 in an electric furnace, while another deteriorated by about 0.01 %/cycle in 100 thermal cycles. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and Raman spectroscopy analyses of tested cell stacks indicated that fuel leakage reduction at the cell stack surface, Cr poisoning reduction in cathode and uniform and dense formation of cathode interlayer were important for their durability improvement. FY 2010 durability tests are now in progress.

Current Status of NEDO Project on Durability/Reliability of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks/Systems

Fundamental investigations on the durability and reliability of SOFC modules/stacks have started as one of the new NEDO SOFC project from 2008 to 2013. The main target is to make sure the long term durability in the range of 40,000 h and reliability during 250 times of starting up and ending operation mode; for this purpose, it needs to adopt the accelerating methods for establishing durability and reliability. This project consists of industrial developers, public research institutes and universities. Investigations will be made using real stacks, real cells and single model cells to facilitate the cooperation among three parties. Industrial developers will focus on the test of durability and reliability using real stacks, whereas universities and research institutes will focus on the fundamental understanding on degradation using various kinds of cells from various different approaches based on thermodynamic, chemical, and mechanical aspects; since three phase boundaries are important in understanding of degradation in electrochemical performance, special emphasis will be paid on this research topics. Prediction of life is also important topics in this project on durability and reliability.

Current Status of NEDO Project on Durability/Reliability of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks/Systems

not Available.

店舗用ロボット搬送システム : NEDO戦略的先端ロボット要素技術開発プロジェクトの報告(<小特集>未来の店舗技術)

店舗用ロボット搬送システム : NEDO戦略的先端ロボット要素技術開発プロジェクトの報告(<小特集>未来の店舗技術)

Preface for Special Report on Reservoir Assessment of the Appi Geothermal Field, NEDO's Project “Geothermal Development Promotion Survey”

Preface for Special Report on Reservoir Assessment of the Appi Geothermal Field, NEDO's Project “Geothermal Development Promotion Survey”

Reservoir Assessment of the Appi Geothermal Field, NEDO's Project “Geothermal Development Promotion Survey”

Reservoir Assessment of the Appi Geothermal Field, NEDO's Project “Geothermal Development Promotion Survey”

Technology development of high-quality n-type multicrystalline silicon for next-generation ultra-thin crystalline silicon solar cells

This paper, under the NEDO project, aims at technology development of high-quality, n-type multicrystalline Si wafers. The targets of the technology development are to realize a high minority-carrier lifetime of 1 ms and to apply for a commercial solidification furnace. In particular, real-time observation of the unidirectional solidification process, the effect of quartz crucible quality on the ingots, the quality improvement of n-type Si wafers and evolution to a commercial furnace will be described.

Reversible strain limit of critical currents and universality of intrinsic strain effect forREBCO-coated conductors

Intensive research work has been carried out in order to develop industrially available HTSREBCO-coated conductors under the NEDO project in Japan. Recently, several groups inthe project succeeded in the development of high performance coated conductors. Theircharacteristic features have been evaluated in terms of mechanical propertiesand their influence on critical currents. The mechanical properties at RT and77 K were analyzed on the basis of the rule of mixtures. The force-free strain(Aff) was analytically deduced, which indicates the strain at which the residual stress exertedon the superconducting layer becomes zero. Tensile strain dependence on criticalcurrents could be divided into elastic and brittle regions. The reversible strain limit(Arev) was defined as a strain at which the critical current recovers elastically to the level of 99%Ico. Within the elastic region, the critical current showed a convex strain dependence,which is explained as Ekin’s intrinsic strain effect. The degradation beyond thereversible strain limit was attributed to a fracture of the superconducting layer. As awhole, the present study made clear quantitatively the tensile strain behavior ofcritical currents and proposed a reasonable definition for the reversible strain limit.

Development of electrical efficiency measurement techniques for 10 kW-class SOFC system: Part I. Measurement of electrical efficiency

Measurement techniques to estimate electrical efficiency of 10 kW-class SOFC systems fueled by town-gas were developed and demonstrated for a system developed by Kansai Electric Power Company and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation under a NEDO project. Higher heating value of the fuel was evaluated with a transportable gas sampling unit and conventional gas chromatography in AIST laboratory with thermal-conductivity and flame-ionization detectors, leading to mean value 44.69 MJ m −3 on a volumetric base for ideal-gas at the standard state (0 °C, 101.325 kPa). Mass-flow-rate of the fuel was estimated as 33.04 slm with a mass-flow meter for CH 4, which was calibrated to correct CH 4 flow-rate and effect of sensitivity change and to obtain conversion factor from CH 4 to town-gas. Without calibration, systematic effect would occur by 8% in flow-rate measurement in the case for CH 4. Power output was measured with a precision power analyzer, a virtual three phase starpoint adapter, and tri-axial shunts. Power of fundamental wave (60 Hz) was estimated as 10.14 kW, considering from total active power, total higher harmonic distortion factor, and power consumption at the starpoint adapter. The electrical efficiency was presumed to be 41.2% (HHV), though this mean value will be complete only when uncertainty estimation is accompanied.

Recent Progress in the Superconductivity Research Field -Application of Superconducting Tapes and Discovery of New Materials-

Major developments in the research field of superconductivity have been achieved in 2008. Since the discovery of high-Tc superconductors, their practical application has been studied by many researchers. Coated conductors consisting of an YBa2Cu3Oy superconducting layer deposited on metal tapes buffered oxide layers were developed in the NEDO project between FY2003 and FY2007. These technologies for coated conductors are expected to be applicable to electrical power equipment. A new NEDO project that started in FY2008 is focusing on the development of superconducting electric power equipment such as power cables, superconducting magnetic energy storage devices (SMES) and transformers. Furthermore, a new family of high-Tc superconductors, Fe-As-O-based superconductors, has been discovered. The highest reported critical temperature, Tc, has rapidly increased owing to the considerable effort of many researchers. A new social environment based on superconductivity technology might indeed be realized in the near future.