A fluid flow diverter is provided that includes a diverter body having four ports, a rotating plenum located within the diverter body, and a purge fluid assembly that supplies a purge fluid to the plenum. The plenum has two stop positions that each define a fluid flow path through the diverter. In the first fluid flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and second ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and third ports. In the second flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and third ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and second ports. The purge fluid supplied to the plenum creates a positive pressure fluid barrier that prevents or minimizes cross-contamination of the two fluid streams through the diverter. Also provided is a regenerative thermal oxidizer that includes such a fluid flow diverter.

A regenerator is provided, which may a hollow pipe body, a first mesh portion, a second mesh portion and a third mesh portion. The first mesh portion may be disposed inside the hollow pipe body and at the rear portion of the hollow pipe body. The second mesh portion may be disposed inside the hollow pipe body and at the central portion of the hollow pipe body, and connected to the first mesh portion. The third mesh section may be disposed inside the hollow pipe body and at the front portion of the hollow pipe body, and connected to the second mesh portion. The mesh number of the first mesh portion, the mesh number of the second mesh portion and the mesh number of the third mesh portion may be increased from the rear portion to the front portion of the hollow pipe body.

A method may produce a heat regenerating material particle, including: preparing a slurry by adding a powder of the heat regenerating substance to an alginic acid aqueous solution and mixing the powder of the heat regenerating substance and the aqueous alginic acid solution; and forming a particle by gelling the slurry by dropping the slurry into a gelling solution. The gelling solution may include a metal element including calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) beryllium (Be), strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). The forming may involve controlling the gelation time so that a concentration of the metal element in a first region of the particle becomes lower than a concentration of the metal element in a second region. The second region may be closer to an outer edge of the particle compared to the first region.

A method may produce a heat regenerating material particle, including: preparing a slurry by adding a powder of the heat regenerating substance to an alginic acid aqueous solution and mixing the powder of the heat regenerating substance and the aqueous alginic acid solution; and forming a particle by gelling the slurry by dropping the slurry into a gelling solution. The gelling solution may include a metal element including calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) beryllium (Be), strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). The forming may involve controlling the gelation time so that a concentration of the metal element in a first region of the particle becomes lower than a concentration of the metal element in a second region. The second region may be closer to an outer edge of the particle compared to the first region.

A method may produce a two-stage heat regenerating cryogenic refrigerator including a vacuum vessel, first and second cylinder disposed in the vessel, the second cylinder coaxially connected to the first cylinder, and first and second regenerator respectively disposed in the first and second cylinder. The method may include: accommodating a first heat regenerating material (HRM) in the first regenerator; and filling a plurality of HRM particles in the second regenerator. The HRM particles may be a second HRM, each of the HRM particles including an oxide or oxysulfide heat regenerating substance having a maximum value of specific heat at a temperature of 20 K of 0.3+ J/cm3.Math.K and Ca, Mn, Mg, Be, Sr, Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, and/or Co. Each of the HRM particles may include a first and second region, the second region being closer to an HRM particle outer edge than the first region.

A method may produce a two-stage heat regenerating cryogenic refrigerator including a vacuum vessel, first and second cylinder disposed in the vessel, the second cylinder coaxially connected to the first cylinder, and first and second regenerator respectively disposed in the first and second cylinder. The method may include: accommodating a first heat regenerating material (HRM) in the first regenerator; and filling a plurality of HRM particles in the second regenerator. The HRM particles may be a second HRM, each of the HRM particles including an oxide or oxysulfide heat regenerating substance having a maximum value of specific heat at a temperature of 20 K of 0.3+ J/cm3.Math.K and Ca, Mn, Mg, Be, Sr, Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, and/or Co. Each of the HRM particles may include a first and second region, the second region being closer to an HRM particle outer edge than the first region.

A heat storage reactor, comprising: a plurality of heat storage layers including first flow paths through which a first fluid can flow, each of the first flow paths being filled with heat storage materials; and a plurality of heat exchange layers including second flow paths through which a second fluid can flow. In the heat storage reactor, the plurality of heat storage layers and the plurality of heat exchange layers are alternately stacked. Further, open ends for the second flow paths are formed on a surface different from a surface on which open ends of the first flow paths are formed. Furthermore, at least a part of the second flow paths is formed in parallel to the first flow paths.

A heat storage reactor, comprising: a plurality of heat storage layers including first flow paths through which a first fluid can flow, each of the first flow paths being filled with heat storage materials; and a plurality of heat exchange layers including second flow paths through which a second fluid can flow. In the heat storage reactor, the plurality of heat storage layers and the plurality of heat exchange layers are alternately stacked. Further, open ends for the second flow paths are formed on a surface different from a surface on which open ends of the first flow paths are formed. Furthermore, at least a part of the second flow paths is formed in parallel to the first flow paths.

A compact heat recovery unit which includes separate and distinct thermal cores housed in their own channels. Each thermal core and its respective channel is moved at intervals. When a thermal core and its channel is inserted into a high temperature fluid flow, the thermal core absorbs the heat. When this heated thermal core and its channel is then later inserted into a low temperature fluid flow, the low temperature fluid is preheated by the heated thermal core. This operation is repeated with at least two independent thermal cores and their respective channels to maintain substantially continual pre-heating of received low temperature fluid. Similarly, the compact heat recovery unit can be used in a cooling application where pre-cooling of received higher temperature fluid is executed.

A compact heat recovery unit which includes separate and distinct thermal cores housed in their own channels. Each thermal core and its respective channel is moved at intervals. When a thermal core and its channel is inserted into a high temperature fluid flow, the thermal core absorbs the heat. When this heated thermal core and its channel is then later inserted into a low temperature fluid flow, the low temperature fluid is preheated by the heated thermal core. This operation is repeated with at least two independent thermal cores and their respective channels to maintain substantially continual pre-heating of received low temperature fluid. Similarly, the compact heat recovery unit can be used in a cooling application where pre-cooling of received higher temperature fluid is executed.