(Abstract)

After the Meiji Restoration, Japan faced persistent challenges in securing stable supplies offossil fuels. Japan has almost no naturally occurring fossil fuel resources, and the need to procure them has influenced the countryʼs development. World War II, the two oil shocks, the Gulf War,and the Strait of Hormuz crisis had impacts on Japan that essentially differed from those on other countries. This article examines the beginning of the coal age in Japan following Commodore Perryʼs arrival and how coal contributed to the countryʼs industrial development. It also covers how Japanʼs military policy was strengthened and how electricity came into use in the Taisho era. In addition, it discusses Japanʼs unique history of dependence on oil resources from the United States and the Middle East, and the process of industrial development that occurred in association with that dependence. In particular, policies aimed at reducing dependence on the Middle East after the oil shocks played a significant role in the economic recovery of Japan through the subsequent development, commercialization and export of energy-saving equipment. This also illustrates how a national crisis can create opportunities for technological and industrial advancement. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Japan played a leading role in promoting nuclear energy policy and the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, especially in Asia, and that it played a fundamental role in securing stable supplies of energy. It can be said that the current power generation mix was formed as a result of these efforts. Overall, this article reviews the history of energy procurement and related industrial development in Japan.

(Abstract)

In order to expand the application range of the combustion gas purification system “t-CarVe®,” which has a proven track record in biomass power generation facilities, to municipal solid waste treatment facilities, our company conducted a demonstration test at the Machida City Bio-Energy Center. This equipment safely supplies CO₂ to greenhouses by removing harmful components instead of capturing and recovering CO₂ from combustion gas. Through continuous operation for approximately 400 days, it was demonstrated that combustion gas from municipal solid waste could be purified and CO, NOx, HCl, dioxins, and other harmful substances reduced to concentrations suitable for agricultural use. Analysis of the atmospheric environment in the greenhouse showed no significant difference between the purified gas enrichment and the liquefied carbon dioxide gas enrichment, and both were equivalent to the general atmosphere. In addition, no adverse effects were observed in animal experiments or trace component analyses using the strawberries cultivated. These results suggest that CO₂ recovered from municipal solid waste combustion gas using our companyʼs purification system can be put to agricultural use.

(Abstract)

While carbon dioxide capture and recovery using the chemical absorption method is suitable for treating combustion exhaust gas with large gas volumes and low CO₂ concentrations, there is the issue of a large amount of thermal energy being required for the CO₂ regeneration process. Aiming to achieve practical application of this energy-saving carbon dioxide capture and recovery technology, our company started a demonstration test in 2024 using a new non-aqueous absorption liquid capable of capturing CO₂ with low energy consumption, and has been collecting data necessary for practical application. This article describes two durability evaluation tests conducted on the absorption liquid at a biomass power generation facility and a municipal solid waste treatment facility. The results confirmed that the new absorption liquid is suitable for carbon dioxide capture and recovery in these facilities.

(Abstract)

An increasing number of fires caused by the ignition of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are occurring in recycling facilities. Such fires have a significant impact on public life, including the suspension of waste collection due to damage to recycling facilities or equipment, as well as substantial restoration costs. Urgent countermeasures are therefore required. Since FY2023, our company and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have jointly developed a LiB detection AI (Lithium-ion battery detection AI) that combines X-ray imaging and image recognition AI. A demonstration test simulating actual operating conditions confirmed that the AIʼs performance is now at a level suitable for practical application. In the future, we will work on optimizing the entire LiB detection system (Lithium-ion battery detection system) by combining the developed LiB detection AI (Lithium-ion battery detection AI) with an appropriate method of alerting operators when an LiB is detected.

(Abstract)

The Pressure Wave Boiler Dust Removal System (VSPS) developed and commercialized by our company has so far been operated using methane as fuel. In this study, we evaluated the operating characteristics of various fuels in the laboratory, and conducted a long-term continuous operation test with propane (LP gas) on an actual VSPS unit to determine whether city gas and propane can be used in VSPS since they are cheaper than methane to procure. The results confirmed that city gas and propane are suitable fuels for VSPS.

(Abstract)

Stoker-type sewage sludge incinerators emit low levels of nitrous oxide (N₂O) but tend to produce considerable concentration of other nitrogen oxides (NOx). The effect of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on NOx reduction was demonstrated in a previous study¹⁾. In this study, we developed a simulation model to elucidate the mechanisms of NOx reduction and validated it against experimental data. The simulation results successfully reproduced the NOx concentrations observed in the demonstration test. In addition, analysis of the simulated temperature distribution and gas flow in the incinerator showed that both the reduction of high-temperature regions and the enhancement of gas mixing depended on the EGR injection location. Selecting an appropriate EGR injection location reduces NOx emissions. The model is expected to serve as a simulation tool for design of new incinerators.

(Abstract)

Efforts are being made to increase boiler temperature and pressure in municipal solid waste treatment facilities to achieve power generation with efficiency improvement. However, increased corrosion of superheater tubes remains a major challenge. In the previous report¹⁾, corrosion behavior in superheater tubes was investigated at tube wall temperatures of 350℃ to 450℃ by installing test material (tubes) in an operating boiler for waste incineration power generation. This article reports the results of investigating corrosion behavior at tube wall temperatures of between 360℃ and 510℃ with the aim of further increasing the steam temperature. We confirmed that wall thinning of SUS310S steel tubes due to corrosion increased as both tube wall temperature and exhaust gas temperature rose. In addition, a comparison between a SUS310S steel tube and a high Cr and Mo Ni-based overlay welded tube showed that the latterʼs wall thinning was significantly smaller under all temperature conditions.

(Abstract)

The new Komaoka Incineration Plant was completed in July 2025 to replace the previous facility that had been in operation for more than 30 years and had deteriorated. The new facility has achieved stable operation by adopting the latest high-performance stoker-type incinerator combined with advanced combustion and operation control technologies, and has also achieved the highest level of power generation efficiency in Japan thanks to its high-efficiency power generation system. Commercial operation started in August of the same year. This article reports on the features and operational status of this facility.