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In Japan, about 750 million liters of lubricating oil from automobiles and marine engines become waste per year. The authors propose a plan to convert such used lubricating oil (ULO) to effective energy. In detail, some special diesel generator plants should be built and ULO should be burned there after some process. This plan has at least two advantages, i.e. to save the petroleum energy and to avoid the environmental pollution. Aim of this study is to develop the way to utilize ULO for diesel fuel at such a generator plant. Combustion characteristics of ULO are in detail investigated by observation of burning flames in a visual engine and by engine test run. As results of comparison between ULO and heavy fuel oil (HFO), ULO shows rather better ignition quality in the visual engine and lower smoke emission from the running test engine than HFO.

A water recovery system from waste water is essential for long-duration manned space missions. The waste water consists of shower, laundry, hand wash, urine, and humidity condensate. The water recycle system also contributes to the reduce quantity and frequency of resupply from the Earth. There are many candidate technologies to process the waste water for reuse. The total water recovery and management system is combined with several process technologies. The authors focused on the membrane distillation process which is one candidate of water recovery system. Since 1997, the authors have been studying the water recovery system with low pressure membrane distillation method. This paper describes the study and results of preliminary experiments.

Regenerative processes for the air revitalization system of spacecraft atmosphere are essential for realization of long-term manned space missions. These processes include Oxygen (O2) Generation System (OGS) through water electrolysis. The authors have been studying O2 generation system of a new Solid Polymer Water Electrolyte (SPWE) with simplified cell structure since 1985. The initial study results until 1991 were presented in the 21st and the former International Conference on Environmental Systems shown in REFERENCE. This paper describes a follow-on study activity to OGS which focuses on the improvement of cell endurance performance and resource.

This report describes the development of an advanced technology headlamp reflector which is capable of producing a sharp cut-off line. Similar attempts in the past have suffered from various drawbacks, but through the use of a mathematically derived set of equations describing a controlled curved surface, we were able to greatly increase performance specifications. Prototype headlamp tests showed improved distant visibility, a major problem in existing designs. Furthermore, by superimposing a ripple pattern onto the reflector surface, we were able to attain sufficient light diffusion to enable the reflector to be used within headlamps having highly slanted outer lenses.

Non-regenerative carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system, oxygen (O2) gas storage system, and other consumables have been utilized for the past short-term environmental control system on orbit because of the advantages of system weight, electric power consumption, system reliability, and so forth. However, to sustain long-term manned activity, regenerative resource recycle systems should be essential to reduce the quantity and frequency of resupply from the Earth. O2 generation system (OGS) is indispensable to this resource recycle systems and water electrolysis technology is considered to be suitable for near future space applications. The authors have been studying OGS since 1985 concerning a new solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) and simplified cell structure. This paper describes OGS development status and results of preliminary experiments.

To support sustained manned activities in an enclosed environment in space vehicles such as the Space Station (SS), a respirable air supply system is essential and optimization should be aimed at in the design of such a system. For cabin air revitalization, it is indispensable to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gaseous contaminants generated from crew and/or non-metalic materials to prevent them from accumulating. In addition to the above functions, oxygen (O2) recovery function using trapped CO2 is indispensable for the Air Revitalization System (ARS) because a reduction of resupply materials from ground is strictly required. This paper presents and an outline of a feasibility study of the ARS in which system optimization is made.

It is necessary to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other contaminant gases generated from the crew and nonmetallic materials to keep the allowable level of them for the long duration life support in the space station. Therefore, the Air Revitalization System (ARS) shall be provided in the space station. The ARS for Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) consists of a regenerative CO2 removal system and a trace contaminant control system (TCCS). A solid amine CO2 removal system has been evaluated as the preferable technology. An adsorption and catalytic oxidizing method has been selected for the TCCS. This paper describes the outline of the investigations and study results of the ARS for JEM implemented on the phase B preliminary study (entrusted by NASDA) and subsequent activity.