CN111013174A

CN111013174A - Vacuum system and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN111013174A
Application number: CN201911407083.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 曾祥贤
Original assignee: Shanghai Zhaowei Bioengineering Co ltd; Shanghai Zhaowei Technology Development Co ltd
Current assignee: Shanghai Zhaowei Bioengineering Co ltd; Shanghai Zhaowei Technology Development Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-31
Filing date: 2019-12-31
Publication date: 2020-04-17
Also published as: WO2021135944A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a vacuum system comprising: each group of vacuum assemblies is used for providing corresponding vacuum degrees for the materials in the vacuum assemblies so as to meet the process requirements suitable for the materials; and the vacuum pump is respectively communicated with the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies through pipelines and is used for pumping gas or solvent vapor in the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies to provide required vacuum degree for each group of vacuum assemblies.

Description

Vacuum system and control method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to a vacuum system in the field of chemical engineering or pharmacy, in particular to a vacuum system comprising a plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies and a control method thereof.

Background

The vacuum system is widely applied to the fields of chemical industry, pharmacy and the like, and is used for the processes of decompression concentration of solution, vacuum drying of materials and the like.

At present, several common vacuum systems meet the vacuum degree required by the corresponding process by configuring vacuum systems with different vacuum degrees. With this configuration, the vacuum level of the monomer unit is limited by the parameters of the vacuum system itself and cannot be adjusted as desired. Different vacuum systems are required to be adopted when different vacuum degrees are required, so that the configuration of vacuum pipelines and vacuum equipment in a production site is complicated, the fixed investment is large, and the utilization rate of the equipment is low.

When various solvents are distilled, the vacuum degree needs to be accurately adjusted so as to ensure that the vacuum degree is matched with the boiling point of the distilled solvent and the temperature of the cooling liquid, and the gasified solvents are prevented from being brought into a vacuum system due to the fact that the gasified solvents cannot be condensed or are secondarily evaporated after being condensed, so that solvent gas is discharged, the recovery rate of the solvents is low, and environmental pollution is caused.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to a vacuum system including a plurality of vacuum assemblies to meet vacuum requirements of a plurality of processes.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum system, characterized by comprising: each group of vacuum assemblies is used for providing corresponding vacuum degrees for the materials in the vacuum assemblies so as to meet the process requirements suitable for the materials; and the vacuum pump is respectively communicated with the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies through pipelines and is used for pumping gas or solvent vapor in the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies to provide required vacuum degree for each group of vacuum assemblies.

Furthermore, each group of vacuum assemblies comprises a vacuum regulating valve which is arranged on a pipeline communicated with the vacuum assembly and the vacuum pump, and the vacuum degree of the vacuum assemblies is controlled by regulating the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve.

Furthermore, each group of vacuum assemblies further comprises a gas access switch valve, each group of vacuum assemblies is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve, and whether the vacuum assemblies access gas or not is controlled by controlling the opening or closing of the gas access switch valve.

Further, the gas delivery pipe is an inert gas delivery pipe or a compressed air delivery pipe.

Still further, each group of vacuum assemblies further comprises a pressure transmitter for detecting a pressure value in the vacuum assembly to indicate a vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly, and the vacuum regulating valve or the gas access switch valve is adjusted based on the vacuum degree indicated by the pressure transmitter.

Furthermore, the vacuum regulating valve and the gas access switch valve are electronic valves, and the vacuum system further comprises: the controller is coupled with the pressure transmitter of each group of vacuum assemblies and used for acquiring the vacuum degrees indicated by the pressure transmitters of the group of vacuum assemblies, and the controller adjusts the vacuum adjusting valves or the gas access switch valves of the group of vacuum assemblies based on the vacuum degrees indicated by the pressure transmitters of the group of vacuum assemblies so that the vacuum degrees of the group of vacuum assemblies meet the vacuum degree requirements of materials in the vacuum assemblies.

Further, in response to a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies simultaneously requiring use of the vacuum pumps, the controller satisfies a vacuum level of a later-on vacuum assembly while maintaining a vacuum level required by a first-on vacuum assembly.

Further, in response to the degree of vacuum in any vacuum module reaching a vacuum requirement, the controller closes or decreases the degree of opening or closing of the vacuum regulator valve in the vacuum module.

Still further, the vacuum assembly is used for realizing distillation or drying to the material, pressure transmitter includes first pressure transmitter and second pressure transmitter, and every group vacuum assembly includes: the distillation kettle is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the gas conveying pipeline, and the first pressure transmitter is arranged on the distillation kettle so as to detect the vacuum degree in the distillation kettle; the cooling device is communicated with the distillation kettle through a pipeline and is used for cooling the gaseous solvent in the pipeline; and the collecting tank is communicated with the cooling device and used for collecting the liquid solvent generated in the cooling device, the collecting tank is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve, the vacuum assembly is communicated with the vacuum pump, the second pressure transmitter is arranged on the collecting tank to detect the vacuum degree of the distillation kettle, and the controller is based on the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter to be regulated through the vacuum regulating valve and on the basis of the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter to be regulated through the gas access switch valve.

Still further, the vacuum assembly is used for realizing distillation or drying to the material, pressure transmitter includes first pressure transmitter and second pressure transmitter, and every group vacuum assembly includes: the distillation kettle is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the gas conveying pipeline, the distillation kettle is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the vacuum pump, and the first pressure transmitter is arranged on the distillation kettle so as to detect the vacuum degree in the distillation kettle; the cooling device is communicated with the distillation kettle through a pipeline and is used for cooling the gaseous solvent in the pipeline; and the collecting tank is communicated with the cooling device and used for collecting the liquid solvent generated in the cooling device, the second pressure transmitter is arranged on the collecting tank to detect the vacuum degree of the distillation kettle, the controller adjusts the vacuum adjusting valve based on the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter, and the gas access switch valve is adjusted based on the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of a vacuum system, the vacuum system including a vacuum pump and a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies, each set of vacuum assemblies being in communication with the vacuum pump through a pipe, the control method including: and controlling the conduction degree of a pipeline for communicating each group of vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump so as to enable each group of vacuum assemblies to reach the vacuum degree required by the materials in the vacuum assemblies.

Further, each group of vacuum assemblies comprises a vacuum regulating valve, the vacuum regulating valve is arranged on a pipeline for communicating the vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump, and the controlling of the conduction degree of the pipeline for communicating each group of vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump so that each group of vacuum assemblies reaches the required vacuum degree of the materials in the vacuum assemblies comprises: and controlling the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve in each group of vacuum assemblies to ensure that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assemblies reaches the required vacuum degree of the group of vacuum assemblies.

Furthermore, each group of vacuum assemblies further comprises a gas access switch valve, each group of vacuum assemblies is communicated with a gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve, and the controlling of the conduction degree of the pipeline for communicating each group of vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump to enable the vacuum degree in each group of vacuum assemblies to reach the required vacuum degree further comprises: judging the working state of each group of vacuum components; in response to a vacuum assembly being in a reduced-pressure concentration state, controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly; and responding to the liquid discharge state of a vacuum assembly, controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to open so that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

Still further, each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a pressure transmitter, and the controlling the degree of opening and closing of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly based on the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly to achieve the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly comprises: controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly; and the step of controlling the opening of a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps: and controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to open so that the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

Furthermore, the vacuum components are used for distilling or drying materials, each group of vacuum components also comprises a distillation still, a cooling device and a collecting tank, the pressure transmitter comprises a first pressure transmitter and a second pressure transmitter, the distillation kettle is communicated with the collecting tank through the cooling device, the distillation kettle is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve, the collection tank or the distillation kettle is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve, the first pressure transmitter detects the vacuum degree in the distillation still, the second pressure transmitter detects the vacuum degree in the collection tank, the controlling the degree of switching of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps: acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly; and controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly so that the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly; and the step of controlling the opening of a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps: acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by a second pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly; and controlling the gas access switch valve to be opened so that the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter is maintained within the liquid discharging set range.

Still further, the control method further includes: and responding to the fact that a plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies in the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies are in a decompression concentration state at the same time, and meeting the vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly which is started later on the premise of maintaining the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly which is started first.

Still further, the control method further includes: responding to a sealing test state of a vacuum assembly, and gradually opening a vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum assembly to an upper limit of the vacuum regulating valve; closing the vacuum regulating valve in response to the vacuum indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching a sealing pressure set value; responding to the fact that the loss of the vacuum degree indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly after the preset time is smaller than a preset threshold value, and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly is successful; and responding to the fact that the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly is larger than a preset threshold value at any time point in preset time, and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly fails.

Still further, the control method further includes: in response to a vacuum assembly being in a feed state, closing a vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum assembly; opening a gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly; and closing the gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly in response to the pressure value indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching the feed pressure set point.

Still further, the control method further includes: opening a vacuum regulating valve of a vacuum assembly in response to the vacuum assembly being in a dry state; and responding to the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching the drying set value, and keeping the opening degree of the vacuum regulating valve until the drying state is finished.

Still further, the control method further includes: in response to the vacuum level within any vacuum assembly reaching a vacuum demand value, closing or reducing the on-off of a vacuum regulator valve within the vacuum assembly such that the vacuum level of the vacuum assembly is at the vacuum demand value.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a control device of a vacuum system, comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory for executing a computer program stored on the memory, the processor implementing the steps of the control method of the vacuum device according to any one of the above when executing the computer program stored on the memory.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a computer storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program when executed implementing the steps of the method of controlling a vacuum apparatus as set forth in any of the above.

The invention achieves the purpose of controlling the vacuum degrees of different groups of vacuum assemblies by controlling the conduction degrees of the vacuum pipelines of different groups of vacuum assemblies, and realizes the effect of arranging the vacuum assemblies with different vacuum degrees in the same vacuum system; the invention achieves the purpose of monitoring the vacuum degree of each group of vacuum components in real time by arranging the pressure transmitter in each group of vacuum components, and realizes the effect of correspondingly controlling the vacuum degree of the vacuum components based on the condition of the vacuum degree in the vacuum components and the requirement of the vacuum degree; the invention can realize the purpose of correspondingly controlling the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly based on the vacuum degrees indicated by the pressure transmitters on different devices in different procedures by arranging the pressure transmitters on a plurality of different devices of the vacuum assembly, thereby improving the accurate control of the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly.

Drawings

The above features and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood upon reading the detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure in conjunction with the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a vacuum system according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vacuum assembly configuration of a vacuum system according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a vacuum assembly of another embodiment of a vacuum system according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to an embodiment of the present invention according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to one embodiment of the present invention in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to one embodiment of the present invention in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to one embodiment of the present invention in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to one embodiment of the present invention in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling a vacuum system according to one embodiment of the present invention in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a control apparatus of a vacuum system according to an embodiment shown in yet another aspect of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and is incorporated in the context of a particular application. Various modifications, as well as various uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the practice of the invention may not necessarily be limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Note that where used, the designations left, right, front, back, top, bottom, positive, negative, clockwise, and counterclockwise are used for convenience only and do not imply any particular fixed orientation. In fact, they are used to reflect the relative position and/or orientation between the various parts of the object. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; can be mechanically or electrically connected; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.

It is noted that, where used, further, preferably, still further and more preferably is a brief introduction to the exposition of the alternative embodiment on the basis of the preceding embodiment, the contents of the further, preferably, still further or more preferably back band being combined with the preceding embodiment as a complete constituent of the alternative embodiment. Several further, preferred, still further or more preferred arrangements of the belt after the same embodiment may be combined in any combination to form a further embodiment.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures and specific embodiments. It is noted that the aspects described below in connection with the figures and the specific embodiments are only exemplary and should not be construed as imposing any limitation on the scope of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the invention, a vacuum system is provided to facilitate the different requirements of different distillates on vacuum levels, while the same distillate can meet the different vacuum requirements at different stages during distillation.

It is understood that the normal pressure means an atmospheric pressure, i.e., a gas pressure generated from the atmosphere in which we usually live, and a standard atmospheric pressure is 101325Pa, so that the "standard atmospheric pressure" is generally expressed by 101 KPa. The positive pressure refers to a gas state higher than the atmospheric pressure. The degree of rareness of the gas is generally expressed by the pressure value of the gas, and obviously, the smaller the pressure value, the leaner the gas. Negative pressure means a gas state lower than atmospheric pressure, i.e., "vacuum", and vacuum means a degree of pressure lower than normal atmospheric pressure.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum system may include a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies 1-n (n being an integer greater than 1) and a vacuum pump 20.

The plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies 1 to n are n sets of devices, and the devices need to reach a certain vacuum degree when executing corresponding processes, so that the vacuum degrees in the vacuum assemblies need to be controlled. The vacuum component can be distillation equipment for realizing the functions of heating, stirring, cooling and collecting distillate, drying equipment for realizing the drying function of materials, and other equipment needing to control the vacuum degree.

The vacuum pump refers to a device or equipment for obtaining vacuum by pumping a pumped container by using a mechanical, physical, chemical or physicochemical method. In general terms, vacuum pumps are devices that use various methods to improve, create and maintain a vacuum in an enclosed space. As shown in fig. 1, vacuum pump 20 may be in communication with a main conduit 21 to draw gas or solvent vapor from main conduit 21. The main pipeline 21 can extend for a certain length, and the multiple groups of vacuum components 1-n can be respectively communicated with the main pipeline 21 through one pipeline 1-n. The vacuum degree in the group of vacuum assemblies can be controlled by controlling the conduction degree of the branch pipeline communicated with each group of vacuum assemblies so as to meet the requirement of the vacuum degree of materials placed in the vacuum assemblies.

Any several groups of the multiple groups of vacuum assemblies 1-n can simultaneously carry out the same or different procedures, namely, the multiple groups of vacuum assemblies can be respectively controlled without unified control. It will be appreciated that the vacuum pump is operational when there is any one set of vacuum assemblies in operation. When a group of vacuum components i (i is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) execute the corresponding working procedure, in order to meet the vacuum degree required by the materials in the vacuum components i during the corresponding working procedure, the conduction degree of a branch pipeline i communicated with the main pipeline 21 of the group of vacuum components i is adjusted, so that the power of gas extracted from the group of vacuum components i is adjusted to realize the effect of controlling the vacuum degree of the group of vacuum components i.

Furthermore, any group of vacuum assemblies i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) may include a vacuum regulating valve 11 disposed on the branch pipe i corresponding to the vacuum assembly i, and the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 corresponds to the conduction degree of the branch pipe i. And controlling the degree of opening and closing of the vacuum regulating valve on each branch pipeline to control the vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly corresponding to the branch pipeline.

Further, each set of vacuum assemblies may further include a gas access on-off valve 12, through which the gas access on-off valve 12 communicates with the gas delivery conduit. When it is required to increase the gas pressure in a vacuum module, the gas inlet switching valve 12 in the vacuum module may be opened to introduce a certain gas, thereby reducing the degree of vacuum in the set of vacuum modules or increasing the gas pressure in the set of vacuum modules. When the air pressure in a vacuum module needs to be reduced, the air access switch valve 12 is first closed to stop the access of air, and the vacuum regulating valve 11 in the vacuum module is further opened to gradually increase the vacuum degree in the vacuum module. Therefore, the effect of reducing or improving the vacuum degree in the group of vacuum assemblies can be realized by controlling the gas access valve or the vacuum regulating valve in the group of vacuum assemblies, so that the requirements of different procedures are met.

Further, when the vacuum assembly is used for distillation of a solvent that does not include water molecules, the gas delivery conduit may be an inert gas delivery conduit. When the vacuum assembly is used for distilling a solvent comprising water molecules, the gas delivery conduit may be a non-inert gas delivery conduit, such as a compressed air delivery conduit.

Further, each group of vacuum assemblies may further include a pressure transmitter 30, and the pressure transmitter 30 is configured to detect a vacuum degree in the vacuum assemblies, so as to adjust the vacuum adjusting valves 11 in the group of vacuum assemblies based on the vacuum degree indicated by the pressure transmitter 30 to achieve a vacuum degree required by the materials in the vacuum assemblies during the corresponding process.

Preferably, a pressure transmitter 22 may be further provided at any position of the main pipe between the output port of the vacuum pump 20 and the position where the main pipe 21 communicates with the branch pipe 1 to detect the degree of vacuum in the main pipe 21. The vacuum level indicated by the pressure transducer 22 can be used first to determine if the vacuum system is in a normal state when it is needed. When the vacuum degree indicated by the pressure transmitter 22 is within the normal vacuum degree range, it can be judged that the vacuum system can be used; when the vacuum level indicated by the pressure transducer 22 is outside the normal vacuum level range, the vacuum system needs to be serviced. In addition, the vacuum level indicated by the pressure transducer 22 may also be used to indicate the stability of the vacuum level within the vacuum system. When the vacuum system is in an operating state and the required vacuum levels of the plurality of sets of vacuum components need to be satisfied, the vacuum level indicated by the pressure transmitter 22 needs to be maintained in a stable state to ensure the stability of the vacuum system.

Further, the vacuum regulating valve 11 and the gas access switching valve 12 provided in each set of vacuum modules may be electronic valves. Correspondingly, the vacuum system may further include a controller (not shown) coupled to the vacuum regulating valve 11 and the gas access switch valve 12 in each set of vacuum assemblies for controlling the degree of opening, closing and opening of the vacuum regulating valve 11 and the gas access switch valve 12.

Still further, the controller may also be coupled with the

pressure transducers

30 and 22 to obtain the vacuum level in the vacuum assembly and the vacuum level in the main pipe as a reference for controlling the vacuum regulating valve 11 or the gas access switching valve 12 in the corresponding vacuum assembly.

It can be understood that when a plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies need to be opened, one group of vacuum assemblies can be opened preferentially, subsequent vacuum assemblies are opened one by one on the premise of ensuring the vacuum degree of the preferentially opened vacuum assemblies, and the vacuum assemblies which are opened afterwards do not influence the vacuum degree of the preferentially opened vacuum assemblies, so that the vacuum degrees in all the vacuum assemblies can meet the corresponding vacuum degree requirements.

Further, the controller may control the vacuum adjustment valves in any one set of vacuum assemblies to close or gradually decrease when the vacuum level in that set of vacuum assemblies reaches its corresponding vacuum demand value.

Further, the composition of a vacuum module i (1. ltoreq. i. ltoreq. n) is specifically described by taking the vacuum module for realizing distillation or drying of the material as an example.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum assembly i may include a still pot 13, a cooling device 14, and a collection tank 15.

The distillation still 13 is a device for containing distillate, and can realize the processes of liquid adding, heating, stirring and distillation. The distillation still 13 is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve 12, and after the gas access switch valve 12 is opened, gas in the gas conveying pipeline can enter the distillation still 13.

The cooling device 14 may be communicated with the still pot 13 through a pipe, and the gaseous solvent distilled out of the still pot 13 may be introduced into the cooling device 14 through the pipe to be condensed into a liquid state by the cooling device 14. When the gas access switch valve 12 is opened, the gas in the gas conveying pipeline can enter the distillation still 13 and then enter the cooling device 14 through the pipeline.

The collection tank 15 is a device for collecting the liquid solvent, and the collection tank 15 is communicated with the cooling device 14. It will be understood that the cooling device 14 includes a conduit for the passage of the gaseous solvent and a conduit for the passage of the cooling liquid, the gaseous solvent and the cooling liquid passing through the two conduits being cooled by heat exchange. The collection tank 15 may be connected directly to the pipe through which the gaseous solvent in the cooling device 14 passes, or connected to the pipe through which the gaseous solvent in the cooling device 14 passes through other connection pipes. The cooled liquid solvent in the cooling device 14 may flow into a collection tank 15.

Preferably, when the gas inlet switch valve 12 is opened, the distillation still 13 is communicated with the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15 through pipelines, and a gas conveying pipeline can convey gas into the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15 through the gas inlet switch valve 12 to increase the gas pressure in the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15.

The bottom of the collecting tank 15 can be provided with a liquid discharge channel, and whether the channel is conducted or not can be controlled by a switch valve. When the collection tank 15 is collecting the solvent, the on-off valve is closed; when the collection tank 15 is discharging the solvent, the on-off valve is opened to discharge the liquid solvent collected in the collection tank 15.

The collecting tank 15 can also be communicated with a branch pipeline i of the vacuum component i through the vacuum regulating valve 11, when the vacuum regulating valve 11 is in any open position, the collecting tank 15 is communicated with the cooling device 14 and the distillation still 13, and the vacuum pump 20 can pump the gas in the collecting tank 15, the cooling device 14 and the distillation still 13 through the main pipeline and the branch pipeline i so as to improve the vacuum degree in the vacuum components.

It can be understood that, during distillation, the requirement of the vacuum degree of the material in the distillation still 13 needs to be satisfied, so the vacuum degree in the distillation still 13 needs to be taken as the reference for controlling the vacuum regulating valve 11. During tapping, the requirement that the internal air pressure is greater than the external air pressure of the collecting tank 15 during tapping of the collecting tank 15 needs to be met. Preferably, a first pressure transducer 31 may be provided on the still pot 13 for indicating the vacuum level in the still pot, so as to adjust the vacuum regulating valve 11 to reach the vacuum level of the distillate demand in the still pot 13 based on the vacuum level indicated by the first pressure transducer 31. Preferably, a second pressure transducer 32 may be provided on the collection tank 15 for indicating the gas pressure within the collection tank 15, so as to adjust the gas access switch valve 12 to achieve the exhaust gas pressure of the solvent demand of the collection tank 15 based on the gas pressure indicated by the second pressure transducer 32.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each set of vacuum assemblies may include a still pot 13, a cooling device 14, and a collection tank 15.

The distillation still 13 is a device for containing distillate, and can realize the processes of liquid adding, heating, stirring and distillation. The distillation kettle 13 is communicated with a gas conveying pipeline through a gas access switch valve 12, and the distillation kettle 13 is communicated with a branch pipeline i through a vacuum regulating valve 11.

The cooling device 14 may be communicated with the still pot 13 through a pipe, and the gaseous solvent distilled out of the still pot 13 may be introduced into the cooling device 14 through the pipe to be condensed into a liquid state by the cooling device 14.

When the gas access switch valve 12 is opened, the distillation still 13 is communicated with the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15 through pipelines, and a gas conveying pipeline can convey gas into the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15 through the gas access switch valve 12 to increase the gas pressure in the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collecting tank 15.

When the vacuum regulating valve 11 is opened, the distillation still 13 is communicated with the cooling device 14 and the collection tank 15 through the pipeline, and the vacuum pump 20 can pump the gas in the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collection tank 15 through the main pipeline 21 and the branch pipeline i to reduce the gas in the distillation still 13, the cooling device 14 and the collection tank 15, so as to increase the vacuum degree.

It will be appreciated that the bottom of the collection tank 15 may be provided with a drain passage, which is controlled to open or close by a switch valve. When the collection tank 15 is collecting the solvent, the on-off valve is closed; when the collection tank 15 is discharging the solvent, the on-off valve is opened to discharge the liquid solvent collected in the collection tank 15.

It can be understood that, during distillation, the requirement of the vacuum degree of the material in the distillation still 13 needs to be satisfied, so the vacuum degree in the distillation still 13 needs to be taken as the reference for controlling the vacuum regulating valve 11. During tapping, the requirement that the internal air pressure is greater than the external air pressure of the collecting tank 15 when the collecting tank 15 is tapped needs to be met, so that the vacuum degree in the collecting tank 15 is used as a reference for controlling the gas to be switched into the switch valve 12. Preferably, a first pressure transducer 31 may be provided on the still pot 13 for indicating the vacuum level in the still pot, so as to adjust the vacuum regulating valve 11 to reach the vacuum level of the distillate demand in the still pot 13 based on the vacuum level indicated by the first pressure transducer 31. Preferably, a second pressure transducer 32 may be provided on the collection tank 15 for indicating the vacuum level within the collection tank 15, so as to adjust the gas access switching valve 12 to achieve the exhaust gas pressure of the solvent demand of the collection tank 15 based on the vacuum level indicated by the second pressure transducer 32.

It can be understood that when the vacuum module i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in a distillation state, the controller may obtain the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 in the set of vacuum module i, compare the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 with the required vacuum degree of the distillate in the set of vacuum module i, and when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 is less than the required vacuum degree of the distillate in the set of vacuum module i, the controller may control the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 in the set of vacuum module i to increase the vacuum degree in the distillation kettle 13 in the set of vacuum module i. Until the vacuum level indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 reaches the vacuum level required for the distillate in the set of vacuum modules i, i.e. the vacuum requirement value, the vacuum regulating valve 11 in the set of vacuum modules i can be controlled to be closed or the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 can be adjusted to be small based on the fluctuation of the vacuum level indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 so that the vacuum level indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 is stabilized within the range of the vacuum level required for the distillate in the vacuum modules i.

It can be understood that when any group of vacuum assemblies i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in the liquid discharging state, the controller can obtain the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 in the group of vacuum assemblies i, compare the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 with the air pressure required by the group of vacuum assemblies i during liquid discharging, and when the air pressure indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 is smaller than the required liquid discharging air pressure in the group of vacuum assemblies i, the controller can control the opening of the gas access switch valve 12 in the group of vacuum assemblies i to introduce gas so as to reduce the vacuum degree in the collection tanks 15 in the group of vacuum assemblies i. The gas access switch valve 12 in the set of vacuum modules i can be controlled to close until the vacuum level indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 reaches the tapping vacuum level required by the set of vacuum modules i.

Further, when there are any multiple sets of vacuum assemblies to be started simultaneously, the controller may first control the vacuum regulating valves of one set of vacuum assemblies to be opened, and obtain the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the set of vacuum assemblies for adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the vacuum regulating valves in the set of vacuum assemblies. When the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter in the group of vacuum components reaches the vacuum degree required by the distillate, the vacuum regulating valves of the next group of vacuum components can be opened on the premise of maintaining the stable vacuum degree in the vacuum components which are opened before.

Further, the vacuum module i may include various operating states, such as a seal test state, a reduced pressure concentration state, a liquid discharge state, a feeding state, a drying state, and other possible states of the process that the vacuum module may involve. In the following description, the vacuum module i (1. ltoreq. i.ltoreq.n) is taken as an example for describing the control process under different working conditions, wherein the various vacuum modules involved refer to the vacuum modules included in the vacuum module i (1. ltoreq. i.ltoreq.n).

To ensure the tightness of each group of vacuum assemblies, each group of vacuum assemblies may be subjected to a tightness test. When a vacuum component i (i is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in a sealing test state, the controller can firstly open the vacuum regulating valve 11 of the vacuum component i, gradually regulate the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 to be maximum, and close the vacuum regulating valve 11 until the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i reaches a sealing pressure set value. At this point, the vacuum module i begins to be tested for hermeticity.

Acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i within preset time, and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum component i is successful when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i is less than a preset threshold value after the preset time is exceeded; and when the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i is greater than a preset threshold value at any time point in the preset time, judging that the sealing test of the vacuum component i fails and needing to carry out sealing overhaul.

It is understood that vacuum loss may refer to the difference or degree of reduction in vacuum.

When the distillate to be distilled by a vacuum component i (i is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is conveyed into the distillation kettle 13 in the vacuum component i, the vacuum component i can start to perform the decompression concentration operation. In the reduced pressure concentration state, the controller can control the vacuum regulating valve 11 of the vacuum component i to open, and slowly regulate the vacuum degree of the vacuum component i. When the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i reaches the vacuum degree required by the distillate in the vacuum component i, the controller controls the vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum component i based on the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i so that the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i is maintained in the vacuum degree range required by the distillate in the vacuum component i until the operation required to be carried out under the condition of ensuring the vacuum degree in the vacuum component i is finished.

When the liquid discharging operation is executed, the controller firstly closes the vacuum adjusting valve of the vacuum component i, opens the gas access switch valve to introduce gas after the vacuum adjusting valve is closed, and closes the gas access switch valve when the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i reaches the liquid discharging vacuum degree, so that the liquid discharging is started.

In the process of tapping, the controller can monitor the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i in real time, and control the opening or closing of the gas access switch valve of the group of vacuum components i based on the pressure value indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i so as to maintain the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i within the set tapping set range until the tapping is finished.

After the liquid discharge is finished, if the concentration is continued, the gas access switch valve of the group of vacuum components i can be closed to continue to enter the reduced pressure concentration state. And if the concentration process is finished after the liquid discharge is finished, closing the gas access switch valve by the controller and then finishing.

When the vacuum module i is in the feeding operation, the controller closes the vacuum regulating valve 11, and after closing the vacuum regulating valve 11, opens the gas access switch valve 12 to introduce gas. Since the feeding operation is performed in the distillation still, when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum module i reaches the feeding vacuum set value, the controller closes the gas access switch valve, and then feeding is started. After the completion of the feed, if the concentration is continued, the controller may continue the control based on the reduced pressure concentration state.

When the vacuum component i is dried, the controller opens the vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum component i to obtain the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31, and when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 31 reaches the drying set value, the controller can maintain the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 unchanged until the drying state is finished.

It is understood that the vacuum regulating valve 11 and the gas access switch valve 12 may be other mechanical valves or manually controllable switch valves, and in such cases, the regulation process performed by the controller may be performed manually.

It can be understood that, when the vacuum component is other equipment having a requirement on the vacuum degree, the control process in the process of the working procedure can be executed based on the setting corresponding to the characteristic of the equipment, and the detailed description is not repeated herein.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a vacuum system is provided, so as to satisfy different requirements of different materials for vacuum degrees, and simultaneously, the same material can satisfy different requirements for vacuum degrees in different processes or different stages of the same process.

It is understood that the normal pressure means an atmospheric pressure, i.e., a gas pressure generated from the atmosphere in which we usually live, and a standard atmospheric pressure is 101325Pa, so that the "standard atmospheric pressure" is generally expressed by 101 KPa. The positive pressure refers to a gas state higher than the atmospheric pressure. The degree of rareness of the gas is generally expressed by the pressure value of the gas, and obviously, the smaller the pressure value, the leaner the gas. Negative pressure means a gas state lower than atmospheric pressure, i.e., "vacuum", and vacuum means a degree of pressure lower than normal atmospheric pressure. Therefore, in the present invention, the degree of vacuum and the air pressure value are actually two concepts, that is, the degree of vacuum is used for the representation below one atmosphere, and the air pressure value is used for the representation above one atmosphere.

First, a brief description of the vacuum system will be given. As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum system may include a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies 1-n (n being an integer greater than 1) and a vacuum pump 20.

The vacuum pump refers to a device or equipment for obtaining vacuum by pumping a pumped container by using a mechanical, physical, chemical or physicochemical method. In general terms, vacuum pumps are devices that use various methods to improve, create and maintain a vacuum in an enclosed space. As shown in fig. 1, vacuum pump 20 may be in communication with a main conduit 21 to draw gas or solvent vapor from main conduit 21. The main pipeline 21 can extend for a certain length, and the multiple groups of vacuum components 1-n can be respectively communicated with the main pipeline 21 through one pipeline 1-n.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, the method 400 for controlling a vacuum system may include the step S410: and controlling the conduction degree of a pipeline for communicating each group of vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump so as to enable each group of vacuum assemblies to reach the vacuum degree required by the materials in the vacuum assemblies.

It is understood that the degree of vacuum required by the vacuum module refers to the degree of vacuum required by the material within the vacuum module when performing the corresponding process. It can be understood that the size of the conduction degree of the pipeline communicated with the vacuum pump and the vacuum assembly affects the power of the gas in the vacuum assembly extracted by the vacuum pump, so that the vacuum degree in the group of vacuum assemblies can be controlled by controlling the size of the conduction degree of the branch pipeline communicated with each group of vacuum assemblies to meet the requirement of the material in the group of vacuum assemblies on the vacuum degree.

Furthermore, each vacuum module i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) may include a vacuum control valve 11 disposed on the branch pipe i corresponding to the vacuum module i, and the switching degree of the vacuum control valve 11 corresponds to the conduction degree of the branch pipe i. Step S410 can be embodied as: and controlling the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve in each group of vacuum assemblies to ensure that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assemblies reaches the required vacuum degree of the group of vacuum assemblies.

It will be appreciated that the amount of the degree of opening of the vacuum regulator valve may affect the power at which the gas within the vacuum assembly is pumped, but as long as the degree of opening of the vacuum regulator valve is not 0, the gas within the vacuum assembly is continually pumped by the vacuum pump, and thus any adjustment in any direction when the degree of opening of the vacuum regulator valve is not 0 is a reduction in the pressure within the vacuum assembly.

Further, each set of vacuum assemblies may further include a gas access on-off valve 12, through which the gas access on-off valve 12 communicates with the gas delivery conduit. When it is required to increase the gas pressure in a vacuum module, the gas inlet switch valve 12 in the vacuum module may be opened to introduce a certain amount of gas, so as to decrease the vacuum degree in the set of vacuum modules, i.e., increase the gas pressure in the set of vacuum modules.

The object to be conditioned can be judged based on the operating state of each group of vacuum assemblies. Correspondingly, step S410 may include steps S411-S413.

Step S411 is: and judging the working state of each group of vacuum components.

It is understood that the vacuum assembly may include a variety of operating conditions, such as a seal test condition, a reduced pressure concentration condition, a tapping condition, a feeding condition, a drying condition, and other conditions that may be involved in the process steps of the vacuum assembly. The required vacuum level in the vacuum module is different for different operating states. For example, in distilling distillate, the boiling points of the distillate are different under different vacuum degrees, so that the proper vacuum degree can be set to separate the solvent in the distillate, and other materials in the distillate can not be vaporized. Therefore, in distilling the distillate, it is necessary to reduce the vacuum degree in the vacuum module to achieve the vacuum degree in separating the distillate. The tapping action is typically after a vacuum concentration process, and thus the pressure inside the vacuum module is relatively low, while the pressure outside the vacuum module is significantly higher than inside the vacuum module, requiring an increase in the pressure inside the vacuum module to enable the solvent inside the vacuum module to flow out of the vacuum module.

Step S412 is: and in response to a vacuum assembly being in a reduced-pressure concentration state, controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly.

Step S413 is: and controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to open so that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly reaches the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly in response to the fact that the vacuum assembly is in a liquid discharging state.

Furthermore, as shown in fig. 1, each group of vacuum assemblies further includes a pressure transducer 30, and the pressure transducer 30 can detect the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly, so as to adjust the vacuum adjusting valve 11 in the group of vacuum assemblies based on the vacuum degree indicated by the pressure transducer 30 to achieve the required vacuum degree of the materials in the vacuum assemblies when performing the corresponding process.

Then, step S412 can be embodied as: in response to a vacuum assembly being in a reduced pressure concentration state, controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly so that the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

Step S413 can be embodied as: and in response to the fact that a vacuum assembly is in a liquid discharging state, controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to be opened so that the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

Further, as shown in fig. 2 or 3, each set of vacuum assemblies may include a still pot 13, a cooling device 14, and a collection tank 15.

The distillation still 13 or the collection tank 15 can be communicated with a branch pipeline i of the vacuum component i through the vacuum regulating valve 11, when the vacuum regulating valve 11 is in any open position, the collection tank 15 is communicated with the cooling device 14 and the distillation still 13, and the vacuum pump 20 can extract gas in the collection tank 15, the cooling device 14 and the distillation still 13 through the main pipeline and the branch pipeline i so as to improve the vacuum degree in the vacuum component.

Preferably, pressure transmitter 30 may include a first pressure transmitter 31 and a second pressure transmitter 32. A first pressure transducer 31 is provided on retort 13 for indicating the vacuum level within retort 13 and a second pressure transducer 32 is provided on collection tank 15 for indicating the vacuum level within collection tank 15.

Correspondingly, as shown in fig. 5, step S412 may include steps S510 to S520.

Step S510 is: and acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly.

Step S520 is: and controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly so that the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

It can be understood that when any group of vacuum components i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in a reduced pressure concentration state, the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16 in the group of vacuum components i can be obtained, the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16 is compared with the vacuum degree required by the distillate in the group of vacuum components i, and when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16 is less than the vacuum degree required by the distillate in the group of vacuum components i, the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 in the group of vacuum components i can be controlled to be increased so as to improve the vacuum degree in the reaction kettle 13 in the group of vacuum components i. Until the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16 reaches the vacuum degree required by the distillate in the set of vacuum components i, the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 in the set of vacuum components i can be controlled to be closed or the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 can be reduced based on the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16, so that the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter 16 is stabilized within the range of the vacuum degree required by the distillate in the vacuum components i, and the operation required to be carried out under the condition of ensuring the vacuum degree in the vacuum components i is ended.

Correspondingly, as shown in fig. 6, step S413 may include steps S610 to S620.

Step S610 is: and acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by a second pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly.

Step S620 is: and controlling the gas access switch valve to open so that the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter is maintained within the tapping set range.

For example, when any group of vacuum components i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in a liquid discharging state, the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 in the group of vacuum components i can be obtained, the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 is compared with the vacuum degree required by the group of vacuum components i during liquid discharging, and when the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 is smaller than the required liquid discharging vacuum degree in the group of vacuum components i, the opening of the gas access switch valve 12 in the group of vacuum components i can be controlled to introduce gas so as to reduce the vacuum degree in the collection tank 15 in the group of vacuum components i. The gas access switch valve 12 in the set of vacuum modules i can be controlled to close until the vacuum level indicated by the second pressure transmitter 32 reaches the tapping vacuum level required by the set of vacuum modules i.

Preferably, when the tapping operation is performed, the vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum module i is closed, the gas access switch valve is opened to introduce gas after the vacuum regulating valve is closed, and when the pressure value indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the vacuum module i reaches the tapping pressure value, the gas access switch valve is closed to start tapping.

Preferably, during the tapping process, the pressure value indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i can be monitored in real time, and the opening or closing of the gas access switch valve of the group of vacuum components i is controlled based on the pressure value indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i, so that the pressure value indicated by the second pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum components i is maintained within the set tapping set range until the tapping is finished.

After the liquid discharge is finished, if the concentration is continued, the gas access switch valve of the group of vacuum components i can be closed to continue to enter the reduced pressure concentration state. And if the concentration process is finished after the liquid discharge is finished, closing the gas access switch valve and then finishing.

Further, when any plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies need to be started simultaneously, the vacuum regulating valves of one group of vacuum assemblies can be controlled to be opened first, and the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the group of vacuum assemblies is obtained to be used for regulating the degree of opening and closing of the vacuum regulating valves in the group of vacuum assemblies. When the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter in the group of vacuum components reaches the vacuum degree required by the distillate, the vacuum regulating valves of the next group of vacuum components can be opened on the premise of maintaining the stable vacuum degree in the vacuum components which are opened before.

It can be understood that when a plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies need to be opened, one group of vacuum assemblies is opened preferentially, subsequent vacuum assemblies are opened one by one on the premise of ensuring the vacuum degree of the preferentially opened vacuum assemblies, and the vacuum assemblies which are opened afterwards do not influence the vacuum degree of the preferentially opened vacuum assemblies, so that the vacuum degrees in all the vacuum assemblies can meet the corresponding vacuum degree requirements.

Further, when the vacuum degree in any group of vacuum assemblies reaches the vacuum requirement value, the vacuum regulating valve in the group of vacuum assemblies can be controlled to be closed or reduced so as to reduce the vacuum resources occupied by the vacuum regulating valve.

Further, a control method of the vacuum system will be described in further detail based on different steps.

To perform the sealing test of each vacuum assembly, as shown in fig. 7, the control method 400 may further include steps S710 to S740.

Step S710 is: in response to a vacuum assembly being in a seal test state, gradually opening a vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum assembly to an upper limit of the vacuum regulating valve.

Step S720 is: closing the vacuum regulator valve in response to a vacuum level indicated by a first pressure transducer of the vacuum assembly reaching a sealing pressure set point.

As shown in FIG. 1, when a vacuum module i (i is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to n) is in a sealing test state, the vacuum regulating valve 11 of the vacuum module i is firstly opened, the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve 11 is gradually adjusted to the maximum, and the vacuum regulating valve 11 is closed until the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum module i reaches a sealing pressure set value. At this point, the vacuum module i begins to be tested for hermeticity.

Step S730 is: and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly is successful when the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly is smaller than a preset threshold value after responding to the preset time.

Vacuum loss refers to the difference or degree of reduction in vacuum. And acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i within preset time, and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum component i is successful when the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i is less than a preset threshold value after the preset time is exceeded.

Step S740 is: and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly fails in response to the fact that the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly is larger than a preset threshold value at any time point in preset time.

And when the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum component i is greater than a preset threshold value at any time point in the preset time, judging that the sealing test of the vacuum component i fails and needing to carry out sealing overhaul.

To achieve the feeding operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the control method 400 further includes steps S810 to S830.

Step S810 is: and closing a vacuum regulating valve of a vacuum assembly in response to the vacuum assembly being in a feeding state.

Step S820 is: and opening a gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly.

Step S830 is: and closing the gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly in response to the pressure value indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching the feed pressure set value.

It will be appreciated that when the vacuum module i is in a feed operation, the vacuum regulator valve is closed first. After the vacuum regulating valve is closed, the gas access switch valve is opened to introduce gas. Since the feeding operation is performed in the distillation still, when the pressure value indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum module i reaches the feeding pressure set value, the controller closes the gas access switch valve, and thus feeding is started. After the completion of the feed, if the concentration is continued, the controller may continue the control based on the reduced pressure concentration state.

To implement the drying operation, as shown in fig. 9, the control method 400 may further include steps S910 to S920.

Step S910 is: opening a vacuum regulator valve of a vacuum assembly in response to the vacuum assembly being in a dry state.

Step S920 is: and responding to the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching a drying set value, and keeping the opening degree of the vacuum regulating valve until the drying state is finished.

While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein or not shown and described herein, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a control apparatus for a vacuum system is provided.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the control device may include a memory 110 and a processor 120.

The memory 110 is used to store computer programs.

A processor 120 is coupled to the memory 110 for executing a computer program stored on the memory 110, the processor 120 realizing the steps of the method 400 of controlling a vacuum device in any of the embodiments described above when executing the computer program stored on the memory 110.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed, carries out the steps in the method 400 of controlling a vacuum apparatus in any of the embodiments described above.

The various illustrative logical modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software as a computer program product, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a web site, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk (disk) and disc (disc), as used herein, includes Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks (disks) usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs (discs) reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be defined by the appended claims and not by the specific constructions and components of the embodiments illustrated above. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and these changes and modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum system, comprising:

each group of vacuum assemblies is used for providing corresponding vacuum degrees for the materials in the vacuum assemblies so as to meet the process requirements suitable for the materials; and

and the vacuum pump is respectively communicated with the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies through pipelines and is used for pumping gas or solvent vapor in the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies to provide required vacuum degree for each group of vacuum assemblies.

2. The vacuum system of claim 1, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies comprises a vacuum regulating valve disposed on a conduit of the vacuum assembly in communication with the vacuum pump, and the degree of vacuum of the vacuum assembly is controlled by adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the vacuum regulating valve.

3. The vacuum system of claim 2, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a gas access switch valve, each set of vacuum assemblies is communicated with the gas delivery pipeline through the gas access switch valve, and whether the vacuum assemblies access gas is controlled by controlling the opening or closing of the gas access switch valve.

4. The vacuum system of claim 3, wherein the gas delivery conduit is an inert gas delivery conduit or a compressed air delivery conduit.

5. The vacuum system of claim 3, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a pressure transducer for detecting a vacuum level within the vacuum assembly, the vacuum regulator valve or the gas access switch valve being adjusted based on the vacuum level indicated by the pressure transducer.

6. The vacuum system of claim 5, wherein the vacuum regulator valve and the gas access switch valve are electronic valves, the vacuum system further comprising:

the controller is coupled with the pressure transmitter of each group of vacuum assemblies and used for acquiring the vacuum degrees indicated by the pressure transmitters of the group of vacuum assemblies, and the controller adjusts the vacuum adjusting valves or the gas access switch valves of the group of vacuum assemblies based on the vacuum degrees indicated by the pressure transmitters of the group of vacuum assemblies so that the vacuum degrees of the group of vacuum assemblies meet the vacuum degree requirements of materials in the vacuum assemblies.

7. The vacuum system of claim 6, wherein in response to a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies simultaneously requiring use of the vacuum pumps, the controller satisfies a vacuum level of a later-on vacuum assembly while maintaining a vacuum level required by a prior-on vacuum assembly.

8. The vacuum system of claim 6, wherein the controller closes or decreases the degree of opening of a vacuum regulator valve in any vacuum module in response to the vacuum level in the vacuum module reaching a vacuum demand value.

9. The vacuum system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vacuum assemblies are used for distillation or drying of a material, the pressure transmitter comprises a first pressure transmitter and a second pressure transmitter, each set of vacuum assemblies comprises:

the distillation kettle is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the gas conveying pipeline, and the first pressure transmitter is arranged on the distillation kettle so as to detect the vacuum degree in the distillation kettle;

the cooling device is communicated with the distillation kettle through a pipeline and is used for cooling the gaseous solvent in the pipeline; and

a collecting tank communicated with the cooling device and used for collecting the liquid solvent generated in the cooling device, wherein the collecting tank is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the vacuum pump, the second pressure transmitter is arranged on the collecting tank so as to detect the vacuum degree of the distillation kettle,

the controller adjusts the vacuum adjusting valve based on the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter, and adjusts the gas access switch valve based on the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter.

10. The vacuum system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vacuum assemblies are used for distillation or drying of a material, the pressure transmitter comprises a first pressure transmitter and a second pressure transmitter, each set of vacuum assemblies comprises:

the distillation kettle is communicated with the gas conveying pipeline through the gas access switch valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the gas conveying pipeline, the distillation kettle is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve so as to realize the communication between the vacuum assembly and the vacuum pump, and the first pressure transmitter is arranged on the distillation kettle so as to detect the vacuum degree in the distillation kettle;

a collecting tank communicated with the cooling device and used for collecting the liquid solvent generated in the cooling device, wherein the second pressure transmitter is arranged on the collecting tank to detect the vacuum degree of the distillation kettle,

11. A method of controlling a vacuum system, the vacuum system including a vacuum pump and a plurality of sets of vacuum assemblies, each set of vacuum assemblies being in communication with the vacuum pump via a conduit, the method comprising:

and controlling the conduction degree of a pipeline for communicating each group of vacuum assemblies with the vacuum pump so as to enable each group of vacuum assemblies to reach the vacuum degree required by the materials in the vacuum assemblies.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies includes a vacuum regulator valve disposed on a conduit of the vacuum assembly in communication with the vacuum pump, and wherein controlling the conductance of the conduit of each set of vacuum assemblies in communication with the vacuum pump such that each set of vacuum assemblies achieves a desired vacuum level of material within the vacuum assembly comprises:

and controlling the switching degree of the vacuum regulating valve in each group of vacuum assemblies to ensure that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assemblies reaches the required vacuum degree of the group of vacuum assemblies.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a gas access switch valve, each set of vacuum assemblies is communicated with a gas delivery pipeline through the gas access switch valve, and the controlling the connectivity of the pipeline of each set of vacuum assemblies communicated with the vacuum pump to enable the vacuum degree in each set of vacuum assemblies to reach the required vacuum degree further comprises:

judging the working state of each group of vacuum components;

in response to a vacuum assembly being in a reduced-pressure concentration state, controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly; and

and controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to open so that the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly reaches the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly in response to the fact that the vacuum assembly is in a liquid discharging state.

14. The control method of claim 13, wherein each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a pressure transducer,

the controlling the degree of opening and closing of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to achieve the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly based on the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly comprises:

controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly; and

the controlling the opening of a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps:

and controlling a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to open so that the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly reaches the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly.

15. The control method of claim 14, wherein the vacuum assemblies are used for distilling or drying materials, each set of vacuum assemblies further comprises a distillation still, a cooling device and a collection tank, the pressure transmitters comprise a first pressure transmitter and a second pressure transmitter, the distillation still is communicated with the collection tank through the cooling device, the distillation still is communicated with the gas transmission pipeline through the gas access switch valve, the collection tank or the distillation still is communicated with the vacuum pump through the vacuum regulating valve, the first pressure transmitter detects the vacuum degree in the distillation still, the second pressure transmitter detects the vacuum degree in the collection tank,

the controlling the degree of switching of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps:

acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly; and

controlling the switching degree of a vacuum regulating valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter to reach the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly; and

the controlling the opening of a gas access switch valve in the vacuum assembly to enable the vacuum degree indicated by a pressure transmitter in the vacuum assembly to reach the required vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly comprises the following steps:

acquiring the vacuum degree indicated by a second pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly; and

and controlling the gas access switch valve to open so that the vacuum degree indicated by the second pressure transmitter is maintained within the tapping set range.

16. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising:

and responding to the fact that a plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies in the plurality of groups of vacuum assemblies are in a decompression concentration state at the same time, and meeting the vacuum degree of the vacuum assembly which is started later on the premise of maintaining the vacuum degree required by the vacuum assembly which is started first.

17. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising:

responding to a sealing test state of a vacuum assembly, and gradually opening a vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum assembly to an upper limit of the vacuum regulating valve;

closing the vacuum regulating valve in response to the vacuum indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching a sealing pressure set value;

responding to the fact that the loss of the vacuum degree indicated by a first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly after the preset time is smaller than a preset threshold value, and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly is successful; and

and judging that the sealing test of the vacuum assembly fails in response to the fact that the vacuum degree loss indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly is larger than a preset threshold value at any time point in preset time.

18. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising:

in response to a vacuum assembly being in a feed state, closing a vacuum regulating valve of the vacuum assembly;

opening a gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly; and

and closing the gas access switch valve of the vacuum assembly in response to the pressure value indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching the feed pressure set value.

19. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising:

opening a vacuum regulating valve of a vacuum assembly in response to the vacuum assembly being in a dry state; and

and responding to the vacuum degree indicated by the first pressure transmitter of the vacuum assembly reaching a drying set value, and keeping the opening degree of the vacuum regulating valve until the drying state is finished.

20. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

in response to the vacuum level within any vacuum assembly reaching a vacuum demand value, closing or reducing the on-off of a vacuum regulator valve within the vacuum assembly such that the vacuum level of the vacuum assembly is at the vacuum demand value.

21. A control device of a vacuum system comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory, characterized in that the processor is adapted to carry out the steps of the method of controlling a vacuum device according to any of claims 11-20 when executing the computer program stored on the memory.

22. A computer storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program when executed implements the steps of a method of controlling a vacuum apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20.