This division is responsible for the research planning and coordination of HNIRI.

General affairs, personnel, welfare, patents, public relation, library, account, contract, supply and administration

・Functional Materials Laboratory

Synthesis of new functional material by immediate melting and solidify, heavy metal thin film deposition and new glass synthesis under microgravity have been mainly promoted.
These researches are performed with specific technical methods for manufacturing novel materials such as amorphous compounds, metal-based composites and porous materials under vacuum, high pressure and microgravity, with taking advantage of computer simulation.

・Silicon Materials Laboratory

Silicon atom is a same group of carbon atom and exists on the earth in large amount. Silicon has a big potential to be used as high performance materials in various fields. In our section, we are researching on the silicon-based materials and fluorescence materials and analytical techniques. Recently, we started to the research on the materials syntheses under micro gravity circumstance.

・Cold Region Technology Laboratory

This laboratory is studying the characteristic of the packed snow road which disturbs stream of traffic in winter. The efficient utilization of cool heat energy is also the important subject for us.
We carries out these researches in collaboration with universities and private enterprise. In addition, we have been studying on basic analysis and evaluation method of material characteristic, a new sensing technique and unused resources fitted for the environment.

・Microgravity Research Laboratory

Under the microgravity environment, there is not natural convection that sometimes causes unexpected disturbance for measurement. Making homogeneous dispersion or mixing of material in the air become possible under this circumstance. The research on the combustion mechanism of fuel has been carried out. The major purpose of this subject is to provide the basic data for the development of advanced boiler and engine.
The research on development of thermoelectric device is carried out by way of fulfill compound of heavy metal's function and the optimization of structure of device.
The coal gasification is studying in cooperation with other sections (Particle Engineering Section and Cold Region Technology Section).

・Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

Separation and analytical chemistry is widely studied in this section as basic technology for material sciences, biotechnology and resources and energy engineering. The keywords for the studies in this section are analysis, separation, interface and adsorbent.

・Organic Chemistry Laboratory

A goal of our project is to design a novel organic compound and/or bio-material so as to contribute to the low-temperature related industry. Special attentions have been paid currently for biodegradable polymer, prochiral substrates, liquid crystals, and proteins. Their synthesis/purification methods and the molecular structure are examined extensively by employing some modern powerful techniques, such as multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.

・Biochemistry Laboratory

Biochemistry Section deals with search for novel enzymes and bioactive substances, expression of novel functions in a different type of cell by gene handling technique, and elucidation of physiological function of living things concerning to low temperature environment.

・Bioengineering Laboratory

The object of our study is to search the psychrophilic microorganisms from the soil, sea water, etc., which accumulate useful products. Various methods are also developed to utilize the products.　We are also studying to　apply the psychrophilic microorganisms to solve environmental problems.
Moreover, Separation of useful elements which become the departure raw material such as the physiology activator from organic resources by irradiating the microwave to plant body.

・Macromolecular Science Laboratory

Macromolecular Science Section is aiming at the development of advanced conversion process through fundamental researches in the fields of catalyst, structure and reaction, in order to produce liquid fuels from carbonaceous resources such as coal and heavy oil.

・Resource Chemistry Laboratory

It is important to use unused resources for the energy conservation and the global environmental protection. In this section, we are carrying out fundamental studies on innovative chemical reaction and its understandings.
Main scope of researches are written below.

1. To clarify the physical and chemical properties of unused resources.
2. To understand and to interpret reaction system.
3. To control the reaction based on the properties of objects and the understanding of reaction

・Heat Engineering Laboratory

The laboratory has regarded the research on heat and mass transfer in heterogeneous systems such as gas-solid, liquid-solid and so on, under a high temperature and also low temperature around the freezing point. The research on flow dynamics and heat transfer in a riser of circulating fluidized bed and application of fluidized bed technology for energy and waste treatment systems have conducted in our laboratory since the late 1980's. One of the recent topics is the research on process development for utilization of cold energy.

・Particle Engineering Laboratory

Multi-phase flow with particulate material has been applied in various fields. Since their flow behaviors are extremely complex phenomena, the flow mechanism is still not elucidated scientifically, and empirical methods have been practically used in these fields. For this reason, the fundamental and engineering researches are strongly required for the multi-phase flow and particulate processes.
In our laboratory, the basic and engineering researches on fluidization of fine particles and wide range applications of fluidized beds have been carried out to elucidate the mechanism and to develop the new processes.

Procedure for joint research, contract research, analysis and tests upon request, technological advice and guidance.

Organization of HNIRI

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