Koichiro Kawano

Development of an eco-sensor for the continuous monitoring of environmental volatile organic chlorinated compounds

In recent years, we have developed an advanced environmental monitoring system (AEMS) containing an eco-sensor, meaning a sensor for the measurement of environmental pollutants, based on lipid membranes, for continuous monitoring of underground water in industrial areas such as semiconductor factories (Ishimori Y, Tamura H, Kawano K, Aoyama N and Tamiya E 2000 Proc. Photonic East 2000 pp 43-50). The AEMS project is made up of three components as follows: (1) the eco-sensor, (2) prediction of plume propagation using a computer simulation technique, and (3) the environmental protection method. In this paper, we would like to focus on the study of the eco-sensor. We considered modified lipid membranes to serve as good models for cell membranes because they would be ideal hosts for receptor molecules of biological origin or disruptive environmental pollutants. Thus, we selected the lipid membrane as an environmental sensing element. In attempting to improve the applicability and the responsivity of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in the eco-sensor, we have investigated automatic BLM preparation devices. An automatic BLM preparation device was made by use of an inkjet mechanism. The reproducibility of the BLM preparation was remarkably improved. The sensitivity to volatile organic chlorinated compounds such as cis-1, 2-dichloroethylene was of the order of 10 ppb using mono-olein BLMs even in real underground water. We have also been developing a smaller eco-sensor for practical use.

The Development of Quite Low Cost Disposable, Rapid, Individually Controlled Matrix (10×10) Microreactor System

We have developed a unique new matrix (10 × 10 matrix, 500 μm diameter test tube, 2 mm pitch, within 20×20 mm area) microreactor system which is not only fast but also individually controllable. This reactor system can perform 100 different kinds of processes in parallel more quickly than is possible with any conventional microreactor with quite lower cost due to the use of disposable sheet.

Overview of the AEMS project

High-tech industries are often the cause of groundwater contamination that affects surrounding areas. While steps must be taken to prevent this type of contamination, high-tech industries should be able to procure the required amounts of high-quality groundwater for their manufacturing processes. The objective of the Advanced Environmental Monitoring System (AEMS) project is to develop a new integrated groundwater monitoring system based on innovative technologies in order to facilitate effective management of groundwater contamination in and around high-tech industrial facilities. It will be possible to use the biosensors developed in this project not only to monitor ground and other fresh water from various sources for contamination, but also to assess the toxicity and environmental hazards arising from industrial effluents. The AEMS project provides high-tech industries with the means to fulfill their commitments to modern society. Through this project they can pursue sustainable development, compliance with environmental regulations, responsible corporate citizenship, effective life-cycle management, and improved worker safety.

Development of eco-sensor for the continuous monitoring of environmental volatile organic chlorinated compounds

In recent years, we have developed an advanced environmental monitoring system (AEMS) containing the eco-sensor, which means a sensor for the measurement of environmental pollutants, based on lipid membranes for continuous monitoring of underground water in industry areas such as semiconductor factories. The AEMS project is composed of three work packages followed by 1)Eco-sensor, 2)Prediction of plume propagation using a computer simulation technique, and 3)Environmental protection method. In this presentation, we would like to focus on the study of the eco-sensor. The reason why lipid membranes selected as a sensing element for environmental pollutants is that the pollutants should be interacted with cell membranes because cells are surrounded by cell membranes containing lipid components. Improving the applicability and the responsibility of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in the eco-sensor, we have investigated the automatic BLMs preparation device. An automatic BLMs preparation was remarkably improved. The sensitivity to volatile organic chlorinated compounds such as cis-1,2-dichloroethylene was in the order of 10ppb using the monoolein BLMs even in real underground water. We also have been developing a smaller sized eco-sensor for the practical use.

Experimental investigation on the behavior of a microdroplet jet

This paper deals with the generation, measurement and control of micro liquid droplet jet in water. In connection with the development of a lipid membrane biosensor device for underground water pollution, a method of working liquid transportation by micro droplet jet has been proposed. The generation and the behavior of micro droplet jet have been investigated by the method of flow visualization. Experimental results show that the behavior of micro droplet is controllable by changing the driven pressure and the duration time of jet ejection. It is feasible to transport the working liquid to a given place by arranging the relative position according to the trajectory of droplet jet.

Development of an eco-sensor based on bilayer lipid membrane for the continuous monitoring of environmental pollutants

In recent years, we have developed an advanced environmental monitoring system (AEMS) containing the eco-sensor, which means a sensor for the measurement of environmental pollutants, based on lipid membranes for continuous monitoring of ground water in industry areas such as semiconductor factories. The AEMS project is composed of three work packages as follows, 1) Eco -sensor, 2) Prediction of plume propagation using a computer simulation technique, and 3) Environmental protection method. In this paper, we would like to focus on the study of the eco-sensor. We considered that modified lipid membranes serve as good models for cell membranes because they would be ideal hosts for receptor molecules of biological origin or disruptive environmental pollutants. Thus, we selected lipid membrane as a sensing element for environmental pollutants. We have already confirmed that the eco-sensor could detect a 10 ppb level of volatile organic chlorinated compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene in ground water. Here, we tried to apply the eco-sensor to measure other environmental pollutants containing pesticides and endocrine disrupting chemicals. We made a novel automatic bilayer lipid membrane preparation device and a new system for the continuous measurement of environmental pollutants in ground water.

Advanced environmental monitoring system using ecosensor based on bilayer lipid membrane

In recent years, we have developed an advanced environmental monitoring system (AEMS) containing the eco-sensor, which means a sensor for the measurement of environmental pollutants, based on lipid membranes for continuous monitoring of underground water in industry areas such as semiconductor factories. The AEMS project is composed of three work packages followed by 1) Eco-sensor, 2) Prediction of plume propagation using a computer simulation technique, and 3) Environmental protection method. In this presentation, we would like to focus on the study of the eco-sensor. The reason why lipid membranes were selected as a sensing element for environmental pollutants is that the pollutants should be interacted with cell membranes because cells are surrounded by cell membranes containing lipid components. Improving the applicability and the responsibility of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in the eco-sensor, we have investigated the automatic BLMs preparation device. An automatic BLMs preparation device was made by use of an inkjet mechanism. The reproducibility of the BLMs preparation was remarkably improved. The sensitivity to volatile organic chloride compounds such as cis-1,2-dichloroethylene was in the order of 10 ppb using the monoolein BLMs even in real underground water. We also have been developing a smaller sized eco-sensor for the practical use.

Three-Dimensional Computation of Gas Turbine Combustors and the Validation Studies of Turbulence and Combustion Models

The main aim or the present work is to explore computational fluid dynamics and related turbulence and combustion models for application to the design, understanding and development of gas turbine combustor. Validation studies were conducted using the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations (SIMPLE) scheme to solve the relevant steady, elliptical partial differential equations of the conservation of mass, momentum, energy and chemical species in three-dimensional cylindrical co-ordinate system to simulate the gas turbine combustion chamber configurations. A modified version of k-e turbulence model was used for characterization of local turbulence in gas turbine combustor. Since, in the present study both diffusion and pre-mixed combustion were considered, in addition to familiar bi-molecular Arhenius relation, influence of turbulence on reaction rates was accounted for based on the eddy break up concept of Spalding and was assumed that the local reaction rate was proportional to the rate of dissipation of turbulent eddies. Firstly, the validity of the present approach with the turbulence and reaction models considered is checked by comparing the computed results with the standard experimental data on recirculation zone, mean axial velocity and temperature profiles, etc. for confined, reacting and non-reacting flows with reasonably well defined boundary conditions. Finally, the results of computation for practical gas turbine combustor using combined diffusion and pre-mixed combustion for different combustion conditions are discussed.Copyright

Visualization of Coolant Flow inside Transformer Coil

From the view point of safety and maintenance simplicity, the development of high performance gas cooled gas insulated transformer has been desirable. In this type of transformer, the coolant gas is circulated in the gap between the coils to cool it. The flow pattern of coolant in the flow path strongly depend on its configuration formed by the coil. Therefore, in order to achieve high cooling efficiency of coils and at the same time to reduce the pressure loss, it is important to have sufficient knowledge about the flow behavior in the coil flow path. In the present work, in order to decide appropriate flow path configuration formed by the coil foi its efficient cooling, flow visualization study based on numerical simulation was performed. This study led to the understanding that for the standard coil flow path configuration there occurred recirculating flow covering a region of stagnation which caused increase in coil surface temperature and in efficient for cooling. In order to prevent the occu ?? ence of recirculating flow, a modified flow path configuration is proposed to have efficient cooling.