Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Takayuki Sakurai

Noriko Hirata

Hiroyuki Kanazawa

Jun Kudo

Thomas Stephen Pontefract

Ayano Otogasako

Taku Okamoto

Osamu Nakasone

Yuki Nakayama

Hidetaka Ozawa

Kosuke Monna

Keizo Iwama

Masanobu Miki

Makoto Hattori

Shoji Yokoi

Satoshi Nishikawa

Tatsuya Okayama

Shotaro Niizuma

Tatsuya Terazawa

Yasuharu Kuno

Shinzou Hayashi

Naoyuki Shimada

A power calculation apparatus calculates an amount of power suppliable and demandable between a battery and a power grid. The power calculation apparatus includes a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform: predicting the amount of power suppliable and demandable between the battery and the power grid at a predetermined point in time to calculate a prediction value of the amount of power suppliable and demandable; and switching a calculation logic to be applied to a calculation of the prediction value, based on a length of duration from a present point in time to the predetermined point in time.

Power calculation apparatus and power calculation method

A power calculation apparatus predicting and calculating an amount of power suppliable from a vehicle having a battery to a power grid via a connection apparatus, the power calculation apparatus includes a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform: predicting a position of the vehicle after a predetermined duration; predicting a degree of likelihood of connection of the vehicle to the connection apparatus after the predetermined duration, based on a predicted position of the vehicle after the predetermined duration and the connection apparatus; and predicting the amount of power suppliable from the vehicle to the power grid after the predetermined duration, based on the degree of likelihood.

A power calculation apparatus includes a microprocessor and a memory. The microprocessor is configured to perform: acquiring a power amount information regarding amounts of power input to and output from a plurality of vehicles, the amounts of power being detected by a plurality of measuring instruments provided in the plurality of vehicles or interposed between a power grid and the plurality of vehicles; classifying the plurality of measuring instruments based on errors possessed by the plurality of measuring instruments to set a plurality of groups; and calculating a total power input and output in each of the groups, based on the power amount information. The setting the plurality of groups includes setting the plurality of groups such that a mean value of errors of amounts of power in the groups is a predetermined value or less.

A power calculation apparatus calculating an amount of power suppliable to a power system by an energy source connectable, at a connection point, to the power system and capable of power generation and power storing, the power calculation apparatus includes: a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to perform: specifying a position of the connection point of the energy source in connection with the power system; acquiring a capacity information indicating a power generation capacity or a remaining storage capacity of the energy source; and calculating an amount of power suppliable by the energy source to the power system in an area within a predetermined range including the connection point, based on the capacity information and the position of the connection point.

Provided is a gas sensor which is capable of preferably sensing an ammonia gas, and has excellent durability. A mixed-potential gas sensor includes a sensor element composed of an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte, and a heater provided inside the element. The sensor element includes on a surface thereof a sensing electrode formed of a cermet including Pt, Au and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte, and also includes a reference electrode formed of a cermet of Pt and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte, and a porous electrode protective layer whose porosity is 5 to 40% covering at least the sensing electrode. The Au abundance ratio in a surface of noble metal particles forming the sensing electrode is 0.4 or more. The concentration of an ammonia gas is determined on the basis of a potential difference occurring between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode when the sensor element is disposed in a measurement gas and heated to 400&#xb0; C. to 800&#xb0; C.

Ammonia gas sensor and method for measuring concentration of ammonia gas

Provided is a gas sensor having excellent detection sensitivity and responsiveness. In a sensor element, 3.5&#x2264;D2/D1&#x2264;6 is satisfied, where D1 is a value of a diffusion resistance of a measurement gas via a main gas distribution part extending from an outside edge position of a first gas inlet to the second internal space, and D2 is a value of a diffusion resistance of a measurement gas flowing via a second gas inlet that causes the outside and the second internal space to communicate with each other. The concentration of a predetermined gas component contained in the measurement gas through the second gas inlet is determined on the basis of a potential difference between the sensing electrode and a reference electrode, while pumping oxygen in or out for the measurement gas via the main gas distribution part such that the oxygen concentration of the second internal space is maintained at 1 vol % or more.

Gas sensor

A sensing electrode for sensing a predetermined gas component of a measurement gas, which is provided in a mixed-potential gas sensor that measures the concentration of the predetermined gas component, is formed of a cermet containing a noble metal and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte. The noble metal comprises Pt and Au. An Au abundance ratio, which is an area ratio of a portion covered with Au to a portion at which Pt is exposed in a surface of noble metal particles forming the sensing electrode, is 0.3 or more.

Gas sensor, method of producing conductive paste, and method of manufacturing gas sensor

Provided is a method for accurately diagnosing a degree of degradation of an oxidation catalyst. A target gas detecting element configured to output an electromotive force corresponding to a concentration of a target gas is provided downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. A sum of change amounts of an electromotive force in a time-variable profile thereof after the introduction of a gas atmosphere for diagnosis into the catalyst is set as a diagnosis index value. The gas atmosphere has been intentionally created in the engine and includes a target gas having a concentration higher than the concentration of a target gas during a steady operation state of the engine. The index value is then compared with a threshold corresponding to the temperature of the catalyst to diagnosis whether degradation exceeding an acceptable degree has occurred in the catalyst.

Method for diagnosing degradation of catalyst and catalyst degradation diagnosis system

Provided is a method for accurately diagnosing a degree of degradation of an oxidation catalyst. A target gas detecting element configured to output an electromotive force corresponding to a concentration of a target gas is provided downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. A maximum change amount of an electromotive force after the introduction of a gas atmosphere for diagnosis into the catalyst is set as a diagnosis index value. The gas atmosphere has been intentionally created in the engine and includes a target gas having a concentration higher than the concentration of a target gas in a steady operation state of the engine. The index value is then compared with a threshold corresponding to the temperature of the catalyst to diagnosis whether degradation exceeding an acceptable degree has occurred in the catalyst.

Provided is a method for recovering output of a gas sensor in shorter time. The method includes: determining a recovering temperature Tand a recovering time &#x394;&#x3c4;based on a condition setting range where a high recovery rate is expected; and recovering the output based on Tand &#x394;&#x3c4;, wherein in the recovering, a duty ratio for a heater is instantly increased to value Dhigher than a value in a normal driving mode when the recovering starts, Dis maintained up to T, and PID control is performed by reducing the duty ratio to value Dto maintain T. After an elapse of &#x394;&#x3c4;, the duty ratio is reduced to value D. When the temperature of the element reaches a value 1 to 1.2 times as high as the temperature in the normal drive mode, the duty ratio is instantly changed to value Din the normal drive mode.

Method of recovering process for gas sensor

The apparatus is provided with an abnormality determination means for determining abnormality of the apparatus where two different combinations of two electrodes are selected from the three electrodes, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in one combination by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in another combination out of the at least two different combinations by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, and an abnormality of the apparatus is determined from the current values measured.

Apparatus with abnormality determination function and method for determining abnormality

The particulate matter detection device of the present invention is a particulate matter detection deviceincluding an electrode portionand detection meansfor detecting an electrical characteristic of the electrode portion, whereby a particulate mattercontained in an exhaust gasis detected on the basis of a change of the electrical characteristic due to the particulate matterattached to the electrode portion. The particulate matter detection device ifurther includes removal meansand abnormality judgment meansfor comparing an initial electrical characteristic in a use initial state of the device with the electrical characteristic measured in a state where the particulate matterattached to the surface of the electrode portionis removed by the removal means, to judge whether or not the particulate matter detection device ihas an abnormality.

Particulate matter detection device and inspection method of the particulate matter detection device

A method for drying a honeycomb formed body using microwaves is provided. The method can reduce the difference in the drying speed inside the honeycomb formed bodies during the drying process and can dry the honeycomb formed bodies without cell deformation. The method comprises placing the honeycomb formed body in a drying furnace with the cell axis in the vertical direction and irradiating the honeycomb with microwaves at a frequency of 300&#x2013;30,000 MHz. The difference of the water content in the vertical direction of the honeycomb formed bodyis maintained at 0.3% per mm or less during microwave irradiation.

Growing community of inventors

Kakamigahara, Japan

Takayuki Sakurai