カテゴリー: category_group_usa

What Is Cooling Equipment?

Cooling Equipment is a general term for equipment used to remove heat from water, oil, products, equipment, raw materials, etc., to maintain them at the proper temperature.

Types of Cooling Equipment

Industrial cooling equipment can be divided into three main categories: those used for cooling necessary for production and manufacturing processes, those used for internal cooling of equipment, and those used for air conditioning of facilities and equipment.

Cooling required for production and manufacturing processes in agriculture, fisheries, and factories is called process cooling, which can be broadly classified into cooling equipment and material cooling. Cooling equipment is used to reduce the heat generated by equipment such as metal processing machines, printing presses, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and medical devices, and to prevent malfunctions and loss of accuracy, thereby improving production efficiency and safety.

For example, chiller units and cooling equipment, which cool water and other heat media.

On the other hand, product cooling is used to improve quality and production efficiency by cooling heat from injection moldings, metalworking products, plating solvents, and food products to a temperature suitable for processing and storage.

One example is seawater cooling equipment, which cools seawater in the fish tanks of fishing vessels to maintain the freshness of the catch. Cooling equipment differs greatly in its cooling mechanism, so it is important to select the right type according to the environment in which it will be used and its intended use.

Electronic cooling equipment is the most common type of equipment used for internal cooling. Compact, lightweight, and quiet, they are used to cool CPUs inside PCs and CCD cameras.

Cooling equipment used for air conditioning of large-scale facilities and equipment includes chiller units and cooling towers that utilize vaporization heat.

Energy Conservation Performance of Cooling Equipment

The main energy efficiency evaluation criteria for Cooling Equipment are the “energy consumption coefficient (COP),” which indicates the operating efficiency at 100% load, and the “period performance factor (IPLV),” which is a weighted average of the operating efficiency at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% load, plus the rate of occurrence. It is recommended to select a more energy-efficient system after considering COP and IPLV, respectively.

What Is a Freezer?

Freezers are electrical appliances that create a low-temperature space below -10°C and are used primarily for storing food.

A freezer is distinguished from a refrigerator in that it creates a low temperature of -18°C or lower and freezes and stores food. Refrigerators and freezers work in exactly the same way, just at different temperatures.

How Freezers Work

The principle of freezers is almost the same as that of air conditioners, using a mechanism called a heat pump. A heat pump is a mechanism that exchanges heat between a low-temperature place and a high-temperature place. The heat inside freezers is absorbed and dissipated to the outside of the freezers to keep the inside of the refrigerator cool.

A substance called a refrigerant is used as a medium for heat exchange, taking advantage of the physical laws of the substance, such as taking heat from the surroundings when it vaporizes and dissipating heat when it liquefies.

Heat pumps are mainly composed of four components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. Each of these four devices have the following roles. 

1. Compressor

Compressors compress gaseous refrigerants. Since heat is generated during compression, the compressor is located outside of freezers. In most freezers, the compressor is installed on the back. If the space on the back is not enough, heat cannot escape, resulting in lower cooling efficiency and higher power consumption. 

2. Condenser

The condenser has the role of liquefying the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor. The condenser is also installed outside freezers.

3. Expansion Valve

The expansion valve is responsible for lowering the pressure of liquid refrigerant liquefied by the condenser to lower its boiling point. Expansion valves are installed inside freezers.

4. Evaporator

The evaporator vaporizes the liquid refrigerant with reduced boiling point sent from the expansion valve. As the liquid vaporizes, it removes heat from its surroundings, keeping the inside of the refrigerator cool. The vaporized refrigerant is then fed to the compressor, which releases heat to the outside, repeating this cycle to keep the freezers cool inside.

Types of Freezers

Freezers are generally classified according to the cooling method, and there are three main types: direct-cooling type, fan type, and Peltier type.

1. Direct Cooling Type

This is a method in which an evaporator is installed inside freezers and the inside is cooled by natural convection. It has the advantage of high cooling efficiency and low electricity costs. It has the disadvantages of not being able to set temperatures for each room and the need for defrosting.

2. Fan Type

This is a method in which an evaporator is installed outside of freezers and cool air is supplied by a fan. This method has the advantages of allowing temperature settings for each room and eliminating the need for defrosting. The disadvantages are that the main unit is larger due to the installation of a fan and that it operates more noisily.

3. Peltier Method

This cooling method uses a Peltier element that absorbs and releases heat by passing an electric current through it. 5-15°C cooling is possible. It has the advantages of being quiet with no startup or vibration noise, compact, and requiring no defrosting. Compared to direct cooling and fan cooling, it has the disadvantage of not being able to maintain temperatures lower than 5°C.

What Are Adhesives and Repair Materials?

Adhesives are substances that bond objects to each other. Most adhesives work by applying a sticky liquid to the surface to be bonded and allowing the other side to dry and solidify, making it impossible to separate.

Different types of adhesives can bond to a limited number of materials and can differ in the temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions in which they can be used, so it is necessary to select the appropriate adhesive. Paint is sometimes considered a type of adhesive because it adheres to one side of the surface.

Repair materials are used in much the same way as adhesives, but they are used not only to bond objects together, but also to fill holes and dents. For example, they are used to repair scratches and dents on a car, or when wallpaper peels off or a wall cracks in a house.

Types of Adhesives

1. Woodworking Bonding

The material that can be used for woodworking bonding is wood. It is easy to handle, but it is soft and semi-solid after drying, and the adhesive itself will tear and come off if it is pulled with all your might. It is not suitable for parts that require strength.

2. Instant Adhesives

There are many types of instant adhesives available. Since they harden in just a few seconds, care must be taken when handling it. If your finger gets stuck during handling, use a release agent to carefully peel it off instead of forcing it off and causing damage to your skin.

Types of Repair Materials

1. Silicone

Silicone is often used to prevent gaps in situations where liquid leaks from gaps in the cover and to prevent leakage. It is also used to prevent the entry of liquid, as opposed to leaking.

Another type of silicone is a repair material called caulking material, which is used to attach peeling wallpaper and fill gaps in walls. It is a gel-like liquid that hardens to a rubbery consistency when dry. It is not very strong and should be handled with care. 

2. Putty

Putty is a repair material used to fill gaps or add thickness to repair scratches and dents. It is clay-like and solidifies as it dries.

What Are Clamps & Fasteners?

Clamps and Fasteners are devices used to hold or compress something.

For example, when cutting wood with a saw, you can hold and cut the wood by hand, or you can use a device to hold and cut the wood to protect the hands. When cutting and shaving repeatedly, it is important to use a clamp or clamping device to hold the wood firmly in place for efficient production.

Types of Clamps & Fasteners

Clamps & fasteners can be either firm or light to organize and align the work.

For example, inside a power distribution panel, various cables can become entangled, making maintenance and appearance difficult. Therefore, the clamping points are positioned from the design stage and can be soft-clamped like clips. Clamps & fasteners can be classified into those that do not require power and those that do.

Examples of Clamps & Fasteners

A typical example of a clamp & fastener is a vise. A vise is a device that hard clamps the workpiece. A soft clamp is a type of clamp that is a clip made of a thin metal plate and uses spring force. Binding bands are another type.

Magnetic chucks are available in two types: those that use magnets and require no power, and those that use electricity and electromagnetic force. The magnetic chucks can only be used with ferromagnetic materials such as iron, which adhere to magnets to a certain extent.

Air grippers and air chucks use compressed air from a compressor. Some air grippers use a vacuum generator to generate negative pressure.

What Are Clean Room Supplies?

Clean Room Supplies are items used in a clean room where air cleanliness is guaranteed.

For semiconductor-related products, even the slightest dust contamination can cause fatal product defects. In biotechnology research, even the slightest contamination by bacteria or other contaminants can have a major impact on research results. Clean rooms are used to thoroughly prevent the entry of such foreign substances.

Since clean room supplies must maintain a high level of cleanliness, most clean room supplies are disposable consumables.

Types of Clean Room Supplies

A variety of tools are introduced to maintain a clean environment in cleanrooms designed to keep foreign materials out.

1. Clean Locker

These lockers are sterilized and deodorized by ozone, ultraviolet rays, etc., to ensure hygienic storage of stored clothes, shoes, etc.

2. Clean Wear

Disposable clean wear is worn before entering the clean room to prevent dust from entering the room if white coats or other clothes exposed to the outside air are worn.

3. Vacuum Cleaner For Clean Rooms

The clean room is a near dust-free environment, but as time goes by, dust and other particles are generated, so a clean room vacuum cleaner is used to clean the room. The vacuum cleaner is designed to prevent reoccurrence of contamination by filtering the inhaled air through multiple layers.

4. Pass Box

When materials are brought into the clean room from outside, they are placed in a box and processed before being brought inside in order to prevent foreign substances from being brought in. This box is called a pass box. In the pass box, dust is vacuumed, UV irradiation is performed, and other processes are applied to clean the object.

5. Net Cap

Since hair can fall through the gaps in the hood of the clean wear, a disposable clean wear net cap is worn to prevent hair from mixing with the hood.

6. Clean Tape

Clean tape is an adhesive tape suitable for use in clean rooms. General tapes emit dust from the core, etc., but clean tape has a plastic core that suppresses dust emissions.

7. Clean Room Shoes

Clean room shoes are used exclusively in clean rooms. They are constructed without any gaps or protruding structures such as seams to prevent dust from being generated. Some types can be disinfected and sterilized by autoclave.

8. Rags For Clean Rooms

Clean room rags are cloths that can be used in clean rooms. They are often made of materials that generate little dust, such as non-woven fabrics.

9. Clean Hood

A clean hood is work equipment with an air intake mechanism. When working in a clean room, the work area must always be under negative pressure to prevent dust and aerosols generated from flying out to places other than the worktable, which is adjusted by the clean hood.

What Are Hoses & Tubes?

Hoses are tubular objects designed to carry gases or liquids. They can be made of woven scientific or metallic fibers, or molded from a single resin.

There is no clear difference between a hose and a tube, but those with metal connections or synthetic resin or metal fibers used as reinforcement are often referred to as hoses, while those made of a single material are called tubes.

Uses of Hoses & Tubes

Hoses and tubes are used for a wide variety of purposes, but the following three are the main ones. 

1. Transportation of Fluids

The purpose of a hose and a tube is to pass fluids through them. Regardless of the nature of the fluid, the purpose remains the same: to transport the fluid from point A to point B.

2. Pressure Transmission

When operating pneumatic or hydraulic equipment, pressurized air or hydraulic oil is supplied from the power source to the actuator via hoses or tubes to make the actuator work.

3. Fluid Release

For example, when washing a car, you attach a rubber hose to a faucet and run water through it, releasing water from the end of the hose to hit the car and wash off dirt. Similarly, there is a work process called air blowing, in which compressed air is released from the end of a hose to blow away dust and debris.

Types of Hoses and Tubes

The type of a hose or tube should be selected according to its intended use in terms of material, reinforcement, and shape of the connection port. Here are some examples:

1. For Compressed Air

Used as a pathway for compressed air to operate pneumatic equipment. Plastic or polyurethane tubing is used when the supply pressure is low, while hoses with braided synthetic resin fibers and metal fittings are often used when the supply pressure is high.

2. For Hydraulic Fluid

Since the pressure of hydraulic fluid that operates hydraulic equipment is basically high, synthetic resin braided hoses are often used. The connection part must be tightened firmly with metal fittings.

3. For Water And Oil

Nylon tubing is generally used for water and oil. Generally, connections are simply plugged in as is for low pressure, but for high supply pressure, connections may be made with metal fittings.

4. For Chemicals And Pharmaceuticals

Fluorine tubing has excellent chemical resistance and will not be altered by the flow of chemicals and agents such as alcohol. It also has excellent heat resistance.

What Are Protective Materials?

Protective materials are cushioned material that can be protect against sharp edges, and other areas that may cause injury, as well as cushioned material that protect products from breakdown or damage during transportation.

Protective materials range from spongy materials to air caps, which are sheets filled with air.

Protective equipment can also be equipment that has the function of releasing shock or shutting off power to prevent malfunction or damage to equipment or devices when they malfunction.

There are various types of equipment, such as mechanical and electrical equipment, depending on the equipment you want to protect.

Types of Protective Materials

Protective materials are mainly used to protect people and objects from shocks. Typical items include the following:

1. Safety Covers

These covers are attached to corners and sharp edges to protect people from injury in the event of a collision. Materials include sponge, rubber, and resin.

2. Air Cap

A sheet of plastic filled with air. This type of protective material is widely used in shipping in general. 

3. Paper Packing

Paper packing is a cushioning material that protects goods from shocks by covering them with shredded paper. It is used for packing gift items.

Types of Protective Equipment

Protective equipment is used to protect facilities and equipment from malfunction or damage. Typical examples include the following:

1. Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers are used to protect electrical equipment from damage by interrupting the electrical circuit when a certain amount of current (overcurrent) flows through the circuit or in the event of electrical leakage. 

2. Surge Protection Equipment

Surge protection devices protect electrical equipment from surge voltages when large voltages or surge voltages occur instantaneously.

3. Torque Limiter

A torque limiter is a device used in conveyors to disconnect the motor from the conveyor when it is overloaded, thereby preventing the motor from burning out due to overcurrent.

What Are Cleaning Agents

Cleaning Agents are equipment that remove dirt and make parts clean to meet requirements.

If contamination does not occur and adhere during the manufacturing process of a part, or if the part’s requirement level is met in terms of cleanliness, no cleaning agent or equipment is needed.

Types of Cleaning Agents

Cleaning methods can be broadly divided into the following two categories:

1. Wet Cleaning

Wet cleaning is a method in which the object to be cleaned is doused with a wet liquid cleaning agent and the dirt is wiped off. Typical equipment used for this are ultrasonic cleaning equipment, which are often used to remove contaminants such as machining oil that have adhered to parts during the production process. Cleaning is usually done in batches, with the parts to be cleaned placed in a bath filled with solvent and the equipment operated for a certain period of time. Test washes are performed to determine the vibration frequency and duration, depending on the type and degree of contamination.

The cleaning solution is usually selected based on the type of contamination and the material of the workpiece. For machined parts, the majority of cleaning is for degreasing, chips, and dust, so aqueous solutions are generally neutral to alkaline with surfactants as the main ingredient. Non-aqueous systems include solvent- and hydrocarbon-based systems. Solvent-based systems include fluorinated, brominated, and alcohol-based systems. There are four types of hydrocarbon systems: normal paraffinic, isoparaffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic.

In wet cleaning, the drying process of the wet media as a post-cleaning treatment is also an important factor in the finished product.

2. Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning is a process using plasma or vacuum ultraviolet light. Dry cleaning has the advantage of requiring no solvent and no drying process. For accuracy, gases are used as media, but these processes are not required.

Cleaning Agents and Semiconductors

In the semiconductor manufacturing process, both wet and dry cleaning methods are used, but dry cleaning is most commonly done.

What Are Converters?

A converter is a device for converting voltage and forms of data.

A converter that converts AC to DC is called an AC-DC converter. If the same DC is used to increase or decrease voltage, it is called a DC-DC converter.

Converting data when outputting CAD data to a 3D printer, or converting a file format such as photos or music from one computer to another is also a form of converter.

Types of Converters

A converter is a device that converts the rotational motion of a machine into electric power, such as a bicycle generator, or a device that converts analog signals into digital signals, such as an AD converter.

Piezoelectric devices such as load cells are also converters that convert pressure into electricity. Thermocouples are converters that convert temperature into an electrical signal by electromotive force between two different metals. Compressors are converters that use electricity to generate compressed air and convert it into power using a pneumatic cylinder. Solar cells are converters that convert light energy into electricity.

Difference Between A Converter And An Inverter

In common parlance, an AC-DC converter that converts AC to DC is called a converter, and a DC-AC converter that converts the opposite is called an inverter, but these terms are used to refer to circuits.

The role of an inverter is to convert normal alternating current, which is a sine wave, into direct current, and then pulse-width modulate the direct current and turn it on and off repeatedly to control the output and create a pseudo-AC.

An inverter consists of a converter circuit, capacitors, and an inverter circuit. The merit of an inverter is that it can control output and save electricity, while its demerit is that it tends to generate noise.

What Is a Filter?

Filters are pieces of equipment that remove or reduce the function of specific parts of a substance.

Familiar examples include water filtration systems and vacuum cleaner exhaust vents. Filters are also used to reduce sunlight, intensity, and blue light from computer screens.

How Filters Work

Filters used for air, water, and other fluids basically function as filtration devices, and most of them are made of woven fibers or metal mesh, called elements, through which the fluid passes.

The smaller the gap between the elements, the cleaner the fluid, the more small particles can be removed, but the greater the resistance, the lower the flow rate. Also, if the element becomes clogged, the flow itself will stop. Conversely, if the gap is enlarged to increase the flow rate, small particles will pass through the element.

In selecting an element, it is important to determine how much foreign matter can be tolerated and to calculate how much flow must be maintained.

To detect clogging of an element, install pressure gauges on the IN and OUT sides of the filters and look at the pressure difference to see if there is any clogging. If the IN side pressure is high and the OUT side pressure is low, this indicates that clogging has occurred and no fluid is flowing to the OUT side.

Types of Filters

The following is a list of typical types of filters, divided into those for liquids and those for air.

Filters for Liquid

• Bag Filters
  Filters with a bag-shaped cloth element set inside a metal case. It can filter a large volume of fluid.
• Filters Wound With Thread
  Filters made of fiber that is made into thread, and then the thread is wound around a core to form a roll. Even the smallest foreign matter can be removed.
• Y-shaped Strainer
  Filters with a metal mesh set in a Y-shaped metal case. It can remove larger foreign matter.

Filters for Air

• Air Filters
  Filters to remove foreign matter in the air. Filters include line filters with large capacity to remove larger foreign objects and mist collectors to remove oil in the air.
• Exhaust Filters
  Filters that filter used air when it is released to the atmosphere. There are exhaust cleaners that filter large volumes of waste and silencers that reduce exhaust noise.