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A method to intensify the mixing process of scalar components within shear-thinning fluids was proposed. A conical Taylor–Couette flow enabled fluid elements to circulate in the entire fluid column owing to the global circulation flow (i.e., meridional flow) for keeping good local mixing within Taylor cells. The global convection and mixing characteristics were numerically investigated. The meridional flow was found to be enhanced with increasing shear-thinning. In addition, ......

Polystyrene particles were dispersed in glycerol solution containing sodium chloride. The orthokinetic agglomeration process of the particles was observed in a mixing tank agitated by a six-blade Rushton turbine. It is found that the median diameter of agglomerates was initially increased and asymptotically approached a constant value. Bimodal particle size distributions were obtained within all of the experimental conditions and the stable size of produced agglomerates was independent of the rotational speed of the impeller. On the other hand, the amount of produced agglomerates was increased as the increase in the rotational speed of the impeller. Considering the experimental results, the population balance equation of a mathematical model to describe the evolution of the agglomerates was simplified. Then a representative shear rate taking into account the shear history of individual particles was proposed and its applicability was evaluated. It is showed that this shear rate is useful to predict agglomeration behavior of particles and a conventional representative shear rate in a mixing tank is overestimation.

The sedimentation and flow characteristics of micro-encapsulated phase change materials have been investigated. As a phase change material, trimethylolethane clathrate hydrate having 218 kJ kg−1 of latent heat was used and encapsulated in silica hard-shell microcapsules, which size distribution has two peak at 15 µm and 59 µm. A cationic surfactant, oleylbishydroxyethylmethylammonium chloride with a counter-ion, sodium salicylate was used as drag reducing additives and poly vinyl alcohol was used as a stabilizer. From the results, it was found that the combination additive prevents effectively the microcapsule sedimentation. The drag reduction was also observed to occur in the high Reynolds number region. Thus, the present additive was concluded to be promising for the latent heat transportation by use of silica hard-shell microcapsules containing phase change materials.

This study numerically investigates the heat transfer characteristics, including the fluid flow, of a Taylor vortex flow system with shear-thinning fluids. Governing equations were solved using OpenFOAM® 4.0 code. The Carreau model was utilized as the rheological model. The parameter (n) in the Carreau model, which describes the slope of a decrease in viscosity with an increase in shear-rate, was varied from 1 to 0.3. The local Nusselt number (NuL) decreased with the increase in shear-thinning property. Furthermore, a correlation equation between the effective Reynolds number (Reeff) and a global Nusselt number (NuG) was proposed. Using this equation, NuG was evaluated within a ± 10% error in the case of n = 1, 0.7, 0.5, and within a ± 20% error in the case of n = 0.3. The size of the Taylor vortices became axially larger with an increase in the shear-thinning property. Furthermore, the thickness of the boundary layer of velocity and temperature increased with an increase in shear-thinning property. The ratio of the thickness of velocity boundary layer to the temperature boundary layer monotonically decreased with an increase in Reeff.

The material deposition in a mixing tank agitated by the MAXBLEND impeller in a turbulent state was quantified and compared between cases with and without baffle clearance. Magnesium hydroxide formed from the chemical reaction between calcium hydroxide and magnesium chloride was used as a model of scale formation. Flow velocity in the tank was investigated by employing computational fluid dynamics simulation and experimentally validated by an ultrasonic velocity profiler method. Results showed that the amount of scale decreased with the increase in the rotational speed of the impeller due to the erosion effect on the tank wall. In the case without baffle clearance, the smaller weight of the scale was deposited on the front of the baffle plate due to the flow impingement, which enhanced the removal of the scale deposition. However, the lower-velocity magnitude behind the baffles resulted in an enhancement in the formation of scale. Installation of baffle clearance caused a contraction flow in between the tank wall and baffles, and consequently, the higher flow velocity reduced the amount and thickness of the scale. Measurement of the torque showed that the baffle clearance did not affect the power consumption, so the installation of baffle clearance can be a promising approach to reduce scale deposition in terms of saving operational costs and increasing process efficiency and safety.

In this paper, thermal processing of starch slurry in a Couette-Taylor flow (CTF) apparatus was investigated. Gelatinized starch dispersion, after treatment in the CTF apparatus, was characterized using such parameters like starch granule diameters (or average diameter), starch granule swelling degree (quantifying the amount of water absorbed by starch granules) and concentration of dissolved starch. These parameters were affected mostly by the process temperature, although the impact of the axial flow or rotor rotation on them was also observed. Moreover, the analysis of results showed a relatively good correlation between these parameters, as well as, between those parameter and apparent viscosity of gelatinized starch dispersion. Meanwhile, the increase in the value of the apparent viscosity and in shear-tinning behaviour of dispersion was associated with the progress of starch processing in the CTF apparatus. Finally, the CTF apparatuses of different geometries were compared using numerical simulation of the process. The results of the simulation indicated that the apparatus scaling-up without increasing the width of the gap between cylinders results in higher mechanical energy consumption per unit of processed starch slurry.

In food industries, enzymatic starch hydrolysis is an important process that consists of two steps: gelatinization and saccharification. One of the major difficulties in designing the starch hydrolysis process is the sharp change in its rheological properties. In this study, Taylor–Couette flow reactor was applied to continuous starch hydrolysis process. The concentration of reducing sugar produced via enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated by varying operational variables: rotational speed of the inner cylinder, axial velocity (reaction time), amount of enzyme, and initial starch content in the slurry. When Taylor vortices were formed in the annular space, efficient hydrolysis occurred because Taylor vortices improved the mixing of gelatinized starch with enzyme. Furthermore, a modified inner cylinder was proposed, and its mixing performance was numerically investigated. The modified inner cylinder showed higher potential for enhanced mixing of gelatinized starch and the enzyme than the conventional cylinder.

The objective of this study is to model the transport phenomena in packed column distillation with the aid of experiment and computer-aided process simulation. The main concept is in that local distillation efficiency HETP is considered as the height of control volume for shell balance of mass and enthalpy, so that it becomes possible to bridge between the ideal and real processes. Distillation experiment was conducted under the total-reflux condition. Determination of local HETPs was performed by comparing the vertical temperature distribution experimentally observed with the stage-by-stage temperature distribution calculated by computer process simulation. In a manner similar to the analogy analysis of a single-phase boundary layer flow over a flat plate, a semi-empirical model of local similarity between simultaneous interphase mass and enthalpy transfer was successfully built by experiment collaborating with a computer-aided process simulation.

Biological Liquid Crystal, a rich set of soft materials with rod-like structures widely existed in nature, possess typical lyotropic liquid crystalline phase properties both in vitro (e.g. cellulose, peptides and protein assemblies), and in vivo (e.g. cellular lipid membrane, packed DNA in bacteria and aligned fibroblasts). Given the ability to undergo phase transition in response to various stimuli, numerous practices have been exercised to spatially arrange biological liquid crystals. In this mini-review, the fundamental understanding of interactions between rod-shaped biological building blocks and their orientational ordering across multiple length scales is addressed. Discussions are made with regard to the dependence of physical properties of non-motile objects on the first-order phase transition and the coexistence of multi-phases in passive liquid crystalline systems. This review also focuses on how the applied physical stimuli drives the reorganization of constituent passive particles for a new steady-state alignment. A number of recent progresses in the dynamics behaviours of active liquid crystals are presented, and particular attention has been given to those self-propelled animate elements, like the formation of motile topological defects, active turbulence, correlation of orientational ordering and cellular functions. Finally, future implications and potential applications of the biological liquid crystalline materials are discussed.

Homogeneous dispersion of particles is crucial for many processes where the reaction rate is highly dependent on relative rates of mixing or degree of homogenization. These processes include crystallization, polymerization, and some mineral-refining processes. Complete particle dispersion in high-concentration slurries is researched experimentally and numerically. Computation fluid dynamics results suggest that cloud height is an excellent indicator for mixing homogeneity, and energy efficiency can be enhanced by removing baffles over a range of solids concentrations under the complete dispersion condition. The power required to maintain a high cloud height in a stirred tank can be predicted via a simple power number analysis. The proposed unbaffled design can be potentially beneficial to some industrial processes like crystallization.

In this study, a Taylor-Couette flow reactor (TCFR) was applied to starch hydrolysis accompanied with an intricate viscosity change during reaction for the purpose of process intensification. In industries, several reactors are used in starch hydrolysis, namely gelatinization, liquefaction, and saccharification. It was possible to conduct a continuous starch hydrolysis with one TCFR. In addition, a sufficient reducing sugar yield was obtained in the Taylor vortex flow regime. However, the yield decreased at a higher effective Reynolds number (Reeff) due to axial dispersion through a bypass flow generated by the wavy motion of Taylor cells. In order to immobilize Taylor vortex flow at this condition, a ribbed inner cylinder was employed which suppressed axial dispersion at the higher Reeff. As a result, a higher reducing sugar yield was successfully obtained than that by using a standard cylinder, demonstrating that the optimization of TCFR geometry has the potential for process intensification.

Starch gelatinization and enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out in a continuous Couette–Taylor flow reactor with a water jacket. The degree of gelatinization and the concentration of reducing sugars produced via enzymatic saccharification were evaluated by varying operational variables: rotation speed of an inner cylinder, initial concentration of starch and reaction temperature. At the initial concentration of the starch suspension, 50 kg m−3, starch saccharification proceeded sufficiently even at low rotation speed of the inner cylinder and saccharification temperature. At the higher initial concentration, 100 and 150 kg m−3, a higher rotation speed of the inner cylinder and temperature of the saccharification section were required to obtain sufficient starch saccharification. Even in the case of C0 = 100 and 150 kg m−3, the more reducing sugar was obtained by choosing an adequate rotation speed of the inner cylinder and a reaction temperature.

Couette–Taylor flow (CTF), which is characterized by the presence of Taylor vortices, ensures effective mixing, fast heat transfer and improved rheological properties of starch slurry. Therefore, this type of flow can be expected to provide favorable conditions for starch processing. In order to check how to intensify the process, starch gelatinization has been studied experimentally and using computer simulation in two CTF apparatuses of different volumes. The results show that, when the volume of apparatus was small, high value of degree of starch gelatinization could be achieved at relatively low temperature or at relatively low rotor rotation frequency. The increase in the apparatus volume ensures higher rate of gelatinized starch production and the reduction in dissipation of mechanical energy connected with rotor rotation, however, it also amplifies the detrimental inlet and gravitation effects. To overcome both of these negative effects, the increase in the rotor frequency is required. Practical Application Starch gelatinization is a process frequently encountered in food industry, e.g., food sterilization or starch hydrolysis. Therefore, a new way of starch processing could be interesting in the context of growing consumer interest in natural food. It is expected that CTF apparatus could enable to process much more concentrated starch slurry than a jet cooker or coil heater typically used in industrial setting. Starch granules should also be less damaged during treatment in CTF apparatus than in an extruder. The results presented in this paper are relevant for process intensification and scale-up of starch gelatinization in CTF apparatus and will be extended to simultaneous starch gelatinization with enzymatic hydrolysis in the future work.

A Fullzone (FZ) impeller was used in the first study of the characteristics involved in the fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae. Both the experimental and simulation results of this study revealed novel findings into the positive relationship between the global-axial mixing patterns of a FZ impeller and fermentation efficiency. The mixing results when using the FZ impeller compared with a double Rushton turbine (DRT) impeller indicated that the culture mixed by the FZ resulted in a more homogeneous medium with higher values for oxygen mass transfer, cell growth rate, and alpha amylase activity. The simulation of fluid flow was done in a laminar regime using a two-fluid model. According to the simulation results, the maximum shear stress when using the DRT was higher than that with the FZ at the same power input (Pin). A high degree of local shear stress and the shear rate near the turbine blade of the DRT resulted in cell damage and a reduction in the enzyme activity, biomass, pellet diameter, and dissolved oxygen concentration. Calculations using the Brown equation showed that the maximum and average shear rates during mixing with the FZ impeller were lower than that when using the DRT. Therefore, the use of an FZ impeller, particularly at low Pin, enhanced the cultivation of A. oryzae.

Attempts were made to intensify continuous emulsion polymerization using a compartment reactor consisting of three well-mixing compartments. The goal of this intensification is to obtain a stable and monodisperse particle size as well as high monomer conversion, by controlling the mixing under continuous operation. A two-bladed paddle impeller was used in the first compartment to intensify the dispersibility and reactivity in the aqueous phase, while a rotating disk was used in the third compartment to avoid excessive flocculation of the polymer particles. In the second compartment, a two-bladed turbine impeller or a rotating disk was used. The compartment reactor successfully obtained much higher monomer conversion and also more stable and monodisperse particles than a single continuous stirred-tank reactor. The oscillations of the mean particle size were greatly suppressed by spatially different mixing operations.

酢酸ビニルの連続乳化重合プロセスをFreund and Sundmacher（2008）が提唱した機能モジュール表現法により反応器の機能分析を行い，これを元に3つの混合区画をもつコンパートメント反応器を用いたプロセス強化について検討した．連続乳化重合反応器を，接触（Contacting），ラジカルによる活性化（Activating），酢酸ビニルモノマーの水相中での反応（Chemical reaction），ポリマー粒子の成長（Particle growth）の4つの機能モジュールに分解し，コンパートメント反応器の3つの区画を，Contacting-Activating（第1区画），Chemical reaction（第2区画），Particle growth（第3区画）の3つの機能ゾーンにそれぞれ対応させ，第1区画でパドル翼，第2，第3区画で回転円板を用いて乳化重合を行い，コンパートメント反応器の性能を評価した．その結果，このコンパートメント反応器を用いることで，高重合率と安定かつ単分散な粒子径分布が得られた．この性能評価結果から，プロセス強化のために，新たな多層構造を有する機能モジュール表現法を提案した．

Particle dispersion in a stirred vessel with dual paddle impellers was numerically investigated by a commercial CFD code. The working fluid was assumed a weak shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluid or Newtonian fluid having low viscosity (ca. 4.0 Pa · s). Particles were initially set in the lower half region in the vessel. Numerical simulations were conducted by varying rheological property, location of the impellers and discharge flow rate of impellers. Numerical results showed that the viscosity was lower near the impeller in the non-Newtonian fluid than in the Newtonian fluid due to strong shear near the forefront of impeller. Consequently, the velocity of discharge flow from impeller was larger in the non-Newtonian. Larger velocity of the discharge flow took more particles to the tank wall as compared with Newtonian fluid. The present work adopted the mean value and the standard deviation of particle concentration as particle dispersion indexes. It has been found that the standard deviation depends on particle dispersion process.

We developed a novel membrane reactor consisted of a CO shift catalyst and a membrane for selective CO2 separation. First, we successfully developed novel facilitated transport membranes with excellent performances exceeding our target values, i.e. CO2 permeance of 1x10-4 mol/(m2skPa) and CO2/H2 selectivity of 100 at 160 oC. The developed membrane maintained high performances for more than 400 hours. Second, we developed CO shift catalysts, which had high activity for the CO shift reaction at 160 oC. Among the catalysts developed in this study, precious metal-based catalysts had quite high activities. By combining the developed membrane and catalyst, a membrane reactor-type CO converter was fabricated. By using the CO converter, CO and CO2 concentrations in feed gas (14.8 and 7.4 %, respectively) were drastically reduced. Observed CO and CO2 concentrations at the feed-side exit of the CO converter were 5 ppm and 0.3 %, respectively.

流体のレオロジー特性が撹拌槽の混合に及ぼす効果をヨウ素とチオ硫酸ナトリウムの酸化還元反応を用いて実験的に調査した．非ニュートン流体として弱いshear-thinning性をもつカルボキシメチルセルロース（CMC）水溶液を用い，ニュートン流体としてはグリセリン水溶液を用いた．混合パターンにおいて両者には明確な差はなかった．撹拌レイノルズ数Reおよび，Reappが215より大きい場合，撹拌翼軸の周辺に固体的回転部が出現し，この部分の混合が混合時間を決定した．一方，Reまたは，Reappが195より小さいときは，明確な固体的回転部は現れず，撹拌槽の上半部が先に脱色された．結果として，混合時間は撹拌槽の下半分の混合により決定された．撹拌レイノルズ数がほぼ同じ場合，非ニュートン流体の無次元混合時間はニュートン流体の混合時間よりも短いことがわかった．

定温熱風条件下における低風速低湿度片面熱風方式による揮発単成分系塗膜の回分乾燥速度曲線から，高風速高湿度両面熱風方式による回分乾燥速度曲線を推定するための相関法を提案した．提案した相関法は，（1）風速が変化する場合，（2）熱風方式が変化する場合，（3）湿度が変化する場合の3パターンで構成されており，（1）では相関パラメータnを含むものの，（2）（3）ではまったく含んでいない．また，その利用に際して塗膜内の移動物性は一切不要である．既往の数値計算手法に基づいた数値計算結果を数値実験結果とみなして相関法の妥当性を検討した．この際，Fick型拡散移動ならびに乾燥途中の固体化により生じた乾燥応力勾配を推進力する物質移動促進効果をFick型拡散移動に加味した非Fick型移動の2つの検討例に対して，低風速低湿度片面熱風方式による回分乾燥速度曲線から，高風速高湿度両面熱風方式による回分乾燥速度曲線を推定する手順を示すとともに乾燥速度曲線の推定を試みた．その結果，本研究で提案した相関法による推定結果は，数値計算結果と良好に一致したが，その程度はFick型に比べて非Fick型で低かった．また，（1）ではFick型と非Fick型で共通した相関パラメータ値を得たことから，この値が他の場合でも適用できる可能性が示唆された．

ミクロンオーダーの球形のポリメタクリル酸メチル微粒子をポリビニルアルコール水溶液中に分散させたスラリーを平面基材上に塗布した塗膜の乾燥速度を改良材料温度変化法により実測した．この際，乾き層中に空隙が形成され難いと想定される粒子濃度（微粒子体積／ポリマー体積）=約0.25–1.0の範囲を対象とし，粒径の影響も検討した．その結果，減率乾燥前半の速度は粒子濃度の増加とともに低下し，その程度は粒径が小さいほど大きかったが，後半の乾燥速度はほぼ一致した．その際，空隙はほぼ形成されなかった．実験で得られた後半の速度の特徴は，本研究で提案した乾燥応力を推進力とする移動モデルにより説明できた．また，先の乾燥実験で得た乾き塗膜表面の光沢度を実測し，粒子濃度と粒径が光沢度に与える影響に関しても実験的検討を加えた．その結果，光沢度は粒子濃度の増加とともに減少したが，粒径による違いは小さかった．

単独揮発成分を含む塗膜に対する連続式熱風乾燥装置の乾燥室1室に着目して非定常操作を考慮してモデル化した．塗膜の乾燥モデルには乾燥応力による物質移動促進効果を考慮した高分子溶液塗膜に対する既往の「乾燥特性モデル」を利用し，ポリビニルアルコール水溶液塗膜を例として乾燥操作のシミュレーションを行った．計算条件の範囲内で以下の結論を得た．乾燥装置は一般に複数の乾燥室の直列接続で構成されることから，以下の結論も乾燥装置の設計に対して有効だろう．乾燥室内の湿度の増加とともに定率乾燥期間の塗膜温度も大きく上昇する．滞留時間を大きくすることで出口含水率を著しく低下できる．外気湿度が増加すれば出口含水率も増加する．外気供給速度と装置壁の断熱性能が装置の省エネルギー性能に大きな影響を与えることから，滞留時間の増加が乾燥所要エネルギーの増大に与える影響は大きい．一方，非定常操作と外気供給速度の増加が出口含水率に与える影響は小さい．以上より省エネルギー性能を考慮した滞留時間の決定には，第1に装置壁の断熱性能，次いで外気湿度と外気供給速度を検討すべきことが示唆された．

A numerical study has been conducted to determine the effect of radial heating on the stability of Taylor vortices in a system formed by concentric conical cylinders. The outer conical cylinder is stationary while the inner conical cylinder rotates. Both conical cylinders have the same apex angle resulting in a constant annular gap. The study of the effects of the introduction of buoyancy on the flow properties has been accomplished by considering both conical cylinders to be isothermal, the inner conical cylinder at a higher temperature than the outer conical cylinder. The calculations are achieved by the use of a Simplified Marker and Cell algorithm using a staggered mesh grid. The investigation is concerned with radius ratios of 0.8 defined at the top of the flow system. The results have shown that the apex angle affected the symmetry of the flow structures and the heat transfer mechanism. It was revealed through the Nusselt number that the overall heat transfer increased when the apex angle was increased.

To gain a better understanding of the dynamic behavior of continuous emulsion polymerization, the authors developed a simple stochastic model which considers the competitive interaction between polymerization reaction and aggregation of latex particles. The numerical results were then compared with the experimental data from continuous emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate carried out under various operating conditions. The numerical and experimental results showed satisfactory agreement. It was found that the dynamic behavior of particle size distribution is affected by latex particle aggregation and the feed flow rate.

ポリビニルアルコール水溶液(PVA)またはスチレンブタジエン系ゴムラテックス(SBRL)で湿ったガラス微粒子層を用いてマイクロ波併用熱風対流乾燥実験と熱風対流乾燥実験を行い, 乾燥速度と乾き層内含高分子率分布を測定した. 比較対照のため水で湿った場合の実験も行った. 併用乾燥所要時間は対流乾燥所要時間の40-80%程度に短縮され, マイクロ波併用の効果が認められた. 併用乾燥, 対流乾燥ともに初期含水率の低下とともに乾燥速度は増加し, SBRLの乾燥速度がPVAよりも大きくなったが, 表面付近の含高分子率はSBRLで高かった. 併用乾燥では対流乾燥に比して含高分子率分布が平坦化する傾向にあり, これもマイクロ波併用の効果だろう.

ポリビニルアルコール(PVA)水溶液で湿ったガラス微粒子充填層を用いて, マイクロ波乾燥と熱風対流乾燥を交互に繰り返す逐次乾燥実験を行ったところ, 初期含水率が限界含水率以上の試料で, 表面付近以外の含高分子率分布が平坦な乾き試料が得られた. これは, 試料底部ほど含高分子率が低下する熱風対流乾燥法や試料中央部の含高分子率が低下する熱風対流-伝導乾燥法では見られなかった現象であり, 材料内部の蒸発が盛んであるマイクロ波乾燥ならではの結果といえる. これまでにない含高分子率分布を与える乾燥法として逐次乾燥法が有効であることが示唆された.

材料表面に移動抵抗をもつ親水性多孔平板の等材料温度乾燥においてregular regime(RR)曲線が現れる可能性に関して, 数値実験的, 理論的検討を行った. その結果, 第1に抵抗値一定では抵抗のない場合と同じ描き方でRR曲線が現れたのに対して, 抵抗値が乾燥とともに増加する場合には現れなかった. 第2に水分移動係数の含水率依存性が既知のとき, 流束比較法に基づいた乾燥特性関数で, 移動抵抗をもつ場合の乾燥速度と平均含水率の関係を良好に推定できた.

Nonlinear dynamics of the formation of mixing fields was investigated at low Reynolds numbers (Re

The structure of isolated mixing regions was observed in a stirred vessel with the aid of flow-visualization technique. Two toroidal regions were clearly formed respectively above and below the turbine impeller in the range less than Re = 100. Under the condition of this experiment, these regions remained visible for a couple of hours. Under the nearly same rotational condition, a set of three stable filaments surrounding the torus was found in the case of the six-bladed turbine, while a set of four filaments was found in the case of the four-bladed turbine. The velocity fluctuation of flow caused by the rotating turbine blades can be regarded as periodical perturbations for the secondary circulating flow. Hence it can be considered that these structures depend on periodical perturbations caused by the rotating turbine blades. In order to observe the inside structure of ring-doughnut-shaped core regions, the unsteady rotation procedure was applied. Another set of filaments was observed inside the core. It has been found that the isolated mixing regions have complex multi-structures consisting of various KAM tori.

粒状材料を乾燥固化させる際に利用されるバインダーの中から，無機バインダーである水ガラスを選び，その水溶液で湿ったガラス微粒子層のマイクロ波による乾燥固化実験を行った．乾き材料層内のバインダー体積一定の条件下で，材料空隙体積に占める初期水溶液体積で定義される初期液相率を0.1–0.35の範囲で変えて実験を行い，乾燥速度と材料表面温度を測定した．その結果，平均含水率に対する乾燥速度のプロットでは，低含水率域で1本のマスター曲線の存在が示唆されたが，平均含水率に対する表面温度のプロットではされなかった．0.15以下の初期液相率に対する水ガラスの結果を，有機バインダーであるゼラチンに対する筆者らによる既往の結果と比較検討したところ，水ガラスの乾燥速度はゼラチンの最大で2倍以上となった．

微粒子層の乾燥固化の一例として鋳型の製造に着目し，ゼラチン水溶液とガラス微粒子の混合物のマイクロ波併用熱風対流乾燥を行い，マイクロ波が乾燥所要時間および乾き材料の機械的強度に与える影響に関して実験的検討を行った．その結果，マイクロ波の併用により乾燥所要時間は対流乾燥に比べて大幅に短縮された．一方，乾き材料強度はマイクロ波の有無に関係なく，乾燥前期の材料温度に依存したことから，マイクロ波の影響は主として発熱による材料温度上昇に起因することが示唆された．

等材料温度乾燥速度曲線から材料内水分移動係数の含水率依存性を推定する方法のひとつである「流束比較法」を吸着過程に応用した. 吸着量依存性として一般的な指数型拡散係数を用いたシミュレーションを, 境膜物質移動抵抗が無視小の平板材料の吸着過程に対して行い, 吸着速度と平均吸着量の関係を求めた. 吸着過程のある時刻において, そのときの平均吸着量と等しい吸着量を持つ定常系での流束が, 非定常過程の流束に比例すると仮定してこれを推定する「流束比較法」を用いて, 拡散係数から吸着速度と平均吸着量の関係を推定する近似代数方程式(吸着特性関数)を提案した. 推定式はシミュレーション結果を良好に再現した.

An experimental study of isolated mixing regions (IMRs) in a cylindrical vessel stirred by three different impellers (a six-blade Rusthon turbine, a four-blade Lightnin A315 impeller and an axial CPE RTF4 impeller) has shown the existence of IMRs in all three systems at low Reynolds numbers. Calculations of the Re ranges in which IMRs exist, torque measurements and flow visualizations enabled the analysis of the effects of impeller type and the flow structures when IMRs were present. Particular attention was given to the case of the Rushton turbine, where digital image analysis revealed that the mechanism of IMR disappearance can be described as a period-doubling locus in the physical space, in which IMRs completely disappear at a critical Re, resulting in global mixing.

乾燥途中の含水多孔平板を乾燥表面に近い乾き圏と内部の湿り圏に分割し，各圏のマイクロ乾燥と誘電高周波乾燥における発熱率を推定するモデル「精密法」を提案した．さらに，提案したモデルを簡略化して「一様材料近似法」と「一様電界強度近似法」を提案し，これらの方法と精密法の結果を，モデル計算を通して比較検討した．その結果，湿り圏での含水率が小さければ，両圏の各発熱率の推定には一様電界強度近似法のみが利用でき，両圏の合計発熱率の推定には両近似法が利用できた．一方，湿り圏での含水率が大きくなれば，両圏の各発熱率および合計発熱率の推定に一様電界強度近似法は利用できなくなったが，両圏の合計発熱率の推定には一様材料近似法が利用できる場合もあった．

酢酸ビニルの連続乳化重合において，反応温度を周期的に変化させる動的操作により，得られるラテックス粒子の粒子径分布の時間変化を調べた．実験は反応場を水相中に限定するために臨界ミセル濃度以下で行った．周期操作を行わない定常操作により得られた重合率は，臨界温度（Tc）が53℃で0から60%に階段状に変化した．動的操作においては，この臨界温度を跨ぐように一定周期で反応温度を高温と低温に切り替えた．この周期操作により重合率の安定な周期振動を誘発した．この振動に同期して粒子径分布が変化することがわかった．

ポリエステルフィルム上にポリビニルアルコールを主成分とした市販合成のり塗布層を形成させた塗膜試料を，断熱材上に静置して回分式熱風乾燥実験を行い，放射温度計から得た試料表面温度履歴に蒸発総水分量を必要としない改良材料温度変化法を適用することで，乾燥速度の測定に成功した．異なる厚みに対して得られた塗布層の減率乾燥速度は，同じ平均含水率に対して，高含水率域で乾き塗布層厚みが大きいほど低下し，低含水率域で変わらないという既往のポリビニルアルコール水溶液と近い結果であった．また，乾燥応力による物質移動促進効果を加味したFick型の拡散移動モデルに基づいた既往の乾燥特性モデルを用いて，本実測結果の相関を試みたところ結果は良好だった．

市販電子レンジを改造した簡易型マイクロ波併用熱風対流乾燥実験装置を試作した．この装置を用いて，マイクロ波併用熱風対流乾燥実験と熱風対流乾燥実験を行い，湿り多孔体の乾燥速度を実測した．マイクロ波を併用しない場合に比して限界含水率付近での乾燥速度増加が著しく，乾燥所要時間は約1/2となった．また，両実験結果よりマイクロ波発熱率の含水率依存性を推定した結果，含水率に対する大きな依存性が示唆された．