JP2000316956A - Ozone sterilizer and ozone spraying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve ability of sterilization and so forth by leaps and bounds by dint of spraying two fluids, i.e., gas including ozone and liquid simultaneously by improving low ability of sterilization of a spraying method of ozone water which is made by dissolving ozone in water and used to sterilize and remove bacteria, deodorize, preserve freshness (sterilization and so forth). SOLUTION: An ozone sterilizer is composed of an air pump, an ozone generator and a spray nozzle 3 and the spray nozzle 3 provides a conducting passage 32 for gas including ozone and conducting passages 33, 33h for fluid, i.e., water and so forth in it. Sterilization and so forth is conducted by absorbing fluid in a conic groove 35 by fluid energy of gas including ozone which flows from a projecting edge 32a of the conducting passage 32 and jetting and spraying fluid from an opening 36 then spraying gas including gas and atomized flow of fluid to an object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus for pressurizing ozone and spraying and mixing it with a liquid such as feed water to mix and sterilize, or for sterilizing, deodorizing and maintaining freshness, and an ozone spray used in the apparatus. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ozone (O ₃ ) is sterilized or disinfected.
When used for deodorization and freshness maintenance (hereinafter referred to as sterilization, etc.), it is released directly into the air and sprayed (gas phase), or mixed with water or other liquid and used as ozone water (liquid phase). Ozone is harmful to the human body if it is directly inhaled, although it depends on the amount. Therefore, the latter is generally used as ozone water from the viewpoint of safety. Ozone water with a small amount of ozone dissolved in water can be used as it is for water in baths and pools, or it can be sprayed with a nozzle and sprayed on the target object to be used for sterilization, etc. Many are generally made with large equipment, the latter being made with small, medium and portable equipment.

[0003] A sterilization (deodorization) device by nozzle spraying is a water tank system in which ozone is fed into water stored in a water storage tank and ozone water mixed with ozone is sprayed by a spray nozzle from an injection nozzle or an outlet provided in the tank. There is also known a pressurized water system in which ozone is pressure-fed to processing water such as tap water by an air pump or the like to be dissolved in pressurized water, and the ozone water is sprayed by a spray nozzle. Since the water supply tank pressure is released to the atmospheric pressure in the water storage tank, ozone is easy to mix with water, but it takes a certain time to reach a predetermined concentration, and it becomes necessary to use the water sterilization device until it can be used. There is a time lag.

The pressurized water type sterilizer is of a direct connection type with tap water, and since ozone cannot be mixed in the pressurized state of tap water, ozone is supplied to pressurized water whose pressure has been reduced to below the pressure of an ozone delivery pump by a pressure reducing valve. Dissolves ozone,
Pressurized water has a poor ozone dissolving efficiency and does not easily dissolve.Therefore, in order to obtain high-concentration ozone water, an oxygen cylinder is used to increase the ozone generation rate of the ozone generator, and high-concentration ozone is pumped to the pressurized water. .

[0005]

Regardless of the sterilization apparatus using a nozzle spray of a water storage tank type or a pressurized water type, the concentration of ozone contained in water is generally about 0.5 ppm in a medium-sized and small-sized apparatus. Yes, ozone is extremely difficult to dissolve in water. When spraying ozone water containing such a very small amount of ozone with a spray nozzle to sterilize an object or the like, ozone is further diffused into the atmosphere from the spray water spread from the nozzle, and is thus sprayed on the object. The ozone concentration remaining in the spray water and effectively contributing to the action such as sterilization is further reduced.

The objects that can utilize the action of sterilization by ozone and the like are widespread in various fields, and the effect of ozone sterilization and the like is 0.1 ppm or less, but 0.05 ppm or less is said to be sufficiently effective. , Any of the above methods of sterilization by nozzle spray, also improved the generation efficiency of the ozone generator itself to ensure the effect of the sterilization and the like,
In addition, high-concentration oxygen from an oxygen cylinder is used as a gas to be sent to the ozone generator, or in a pressurized water system, the pressure of the pressurized water is reduced by a pressure reducing valve to increase the dissolution rate of ozone.

[0007] For this reason, the entire sterilizing apparatus is of a medium, small, and portable type, but it is quite large, and since the components of the apparatus are many and complicated, the cost is high. Not much. In addition, the efficiency of ozone generation due to the improvement of the ozone generator itself is close to the limit, and it is impossible to improve the efficiency of any of the above two conventional sterilization apparatuses.

The present invention is based on the above-mentioned problem of the conventional ozone water-based sterilizer, and mixes and sprays an ozone-containing gas when spraying a liquid with a nozzle without dissolving the gas containing ozone into the liquid. It is another object of the present invention to obtain an ozone sterilizer capable of dramatically improving the efficacy of sterilization using ozone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ozone spray device which is used in the above-mentioned ozone sterilization device and which is capable of dramatically increasing the effectiveness of ozone sterilization and the like by mixing and spraying an ozone-containing gas and a liquid.

[0010]

According to the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, air having a predetermined pressure and a flow rate is sent from an air pump to an ozone generator, and the gas containing ozone generated by the ozone generator is supplied to the ozone generator. The pump is fed to the spray nozzle by pump pressure, and connected so that the liquid can be supplied from the liquid supply source to the spray nozzle in parallel. The spray nozzle has gas and liquid channels inside each independently and flows out of each channel. The end is concentrically provided at a position facing the jet port, and the ozone-containing gas sent to the spray nozzle is sprayed from the jet port together with the liquid from the jet port to sterilize ozone.

In the ozone sterilizer of the present invention, the ozone generated by the ozone generator is sprayed as it is with the liquid by the spray nozzle of the two-fluid spray system, so that a strong sterilizing action is exerted on the object. In addition, this disinfection also includes actions of disinfecting, deodorizing, and maintaining freshness (hereinafter referred to as disinfection, etc.). While the air sent by the air pump passes between the electrodes of the ozone generator, silent discharge acts on oxygen in the air to generate ozone, and the gas containing this ozone is sent to the spray nozzle by the pump pressure sent. Sent. Ozone generator
Ozone generation rate may be of the conventional general level,
It is better if the ozone generation rate is improved and the efficiency is high.

In the spray nozzle, a gas such as ozone sent by the pump pressure and a separately supplied liquid such as water move to the outflow end through independent conduction paths, and are sprayed from the jet port. There are two driving methods for ejecting the gas and the liquid. The first is a method in which each of a gas and a liquid is fed to a spray nozzle at a different pressure and injected.
The second is a method in which when a gas is ejected from a spray nozzle, the liquid is sucked by the ejector effect using the fluid energy to make both the gas and the liquid a spray flow. In the first method, the liquid is pumped at tap water pressure or a corresponding pump pressure.

[0013] The spray nozzle of the present invention sprays gas and liquid from the jet port by any of the above-mentioned methods. The outflow end of each conduction path is provided concentrically at a position facing the jet port. After exiting the outflow end, the gas and the liquid are atomized with each other and ejected from the ejection port. Since the ozone-containing gas atomized in this manner is generated by the ozone generator and sent as it is by pressure feeding, the ozone-containing gas sent without passing through a step of dissolving ozone in water like ozone water is sent. Is sprayed from the spray nozzle. For this reason, the spray flow of the injected gas and liquid has a high ozone content, and the residual ozone concentration becomes high when sprayed on an object, so that the effectiveness of ozone sterilization and the like is dramatically increased.

In the case where the spray nozzle is formed so that the concentric outflow end of the conduction path is made to conduct gas containing ozone on the center side and liquid on the outer periphery side, the ozone-containing gas on the center side is jetted as it is. At the same time, the liquid is sprayed while being concentrically surrounded by the liquid spray flow on the outer peripheral side. For this reason, the ozone-containing gas on the center side is scattered to the target without being substantially diffused out of the liquid spray flow.

An ozone spray device according to a second aspect of the present invention for solving the second problem includes a container for storing a liquid, a liquid supplied through a connecting pipe connected to the container, and ozone supplied from the outside. And a spray nozzle for spraying a gas.The spray nozzle has gas and liquid conduction paths inside each independently, and the outflow end of each conduction path is provided concentrically at the ejection port position, and the concentric outflow end is An ejector for sucking the liquid by the fluid energy of the gas is formed with respect to the ejection port.

In order to make this spraying device small and portable, a liquid storage container is connected to a spray nozzle by a connecting pipe, and the spray nozzle is provided with a concentric outflow end in a conduction path. Means are formed, and the liquid is sucked by the fluid energy of the ozone-containing gas to form a spray flow.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the ozone sterilizing apparatus of this embodiment. The one shown is a small portable type,
This small portable ozone sterilizer includes an air pump 1 that sucks air in the atmosphere and sends it out as air at a predetermined pressure and flow rate, and oxygen (O) in the air based on the principle of silent discharge using the fed air as a working fluid. ₂ ) an ozone generator 2 for generating ozone (O ₃ ), and a spray nozzle 3 for sending a gas containing the generated ozone under the pressure of the pump to spray and spray two fluids of a gas and a liquid. Have.

The ozone generator 2 may be of a type that has been widely used in the past, and may be any type that can generate ozone as efficiently as possible. As shown in FIG. 1, a high-voltage power supply 4 for supplying high-voltage power to a high-voltage electrode is connected to the ozone generator 2, and an AC power is supplied from a commercial power supply 5. The power supply frequency may be the same as that of the commercial power supply 5, or may be a high-voltage power supply 4 with an inverter incorporated therein, for example, converted into a high-frequency high voltage of about several KHz and supplied.

In general, the conventional ozone generator 2 generally generates heat during the operation of generating ozone. Therefore, cooling fins are provided on the outer periphery of the two electrodes, and cooling fins 6 are provided on the outer periphery of the electrodes. The cooling device 6 is connected so that cooling air flows. If the ozone generator 2 does not generate high heat due to the improvement of the ozone generator 2, the cooling device 6 can be omitted. FIG. 2 shows a main sectional view of the spray nozzle 3 in detail. The spray nozzle 3 is connected to a pipe 2p for feeding a gas containing ozone and a supply pipe 3p for supplying water stored in a container 7. 7a is an air pipe for releasing the container 7 to the atmosphere.

The illustrated spray nozzle 3 includes a nozzle body 3a and a nozzle cap 3b, and the nozzle cap 3b is joined to a screw portion 31 formed at one end of the nozzle body 3a so as to be freely screwed. At the center of the nozzle body 3a, a conducting path 32 for passing gas containing ozone is provided. At a position slightly deviated from the center so as not to intersect with this, a vertical conducting path 33 is provided vertically in the state shown in the drawing, It is open at the opening 34.

The conduction path 33 is connected to the horizontal conduction path 33h at a position slightly higher than 32, and the end of the conduction path 33h is formed between one end of the nozzle body 3a and the inner periphery of the nozzle cap 3b in a sectional view. It is connected to a conical groove 35 formed with a taper having a constant inclination angle. Further, as shown in the figure, the protruding end 32a of the conduction path 32 is formed as an outflow end of the fluid so as to protrude from the end of the nozzle body 3a, and the protruding end is concentric with the ejection port 36 provided in the nozzle cap 3b. The tip of the protruding end 32 a is located slightly deeper than the ejection port 36. A gap 35a for jetting water is provided on the entire circumference by a predetermined length in parallel with the jetting direction between the outer circumference of the protruding end portion 32a concentric with the jet port 36 and the inner circumference of the jet port 36. ing.

The spray nozzle has two members, a nozzle body 3a and a nozzle cap 3b, which are detachable.
Since 33 and 33h are linear, the nozzle body 3a
Are easily machined, the fluid resistance of each of the conductive paths is small, and there is no portion where each of the conductive paths intersect. Therefore, the conductive paths can be manufactured without special processing. The features of these internal structures will be described later with reference to FIG.
The same applies to the spray nozzle of FIG.

In the actual apparatus, two sets of containers 7 are provided for easy replacement, and the supply pipe 3p is connected to the container cap 7
b. The container cap 7b is screwed 7c
Is detachable from the container 7 so that the container cap 7b is removed when the container 7 is replaced.
Is screw-engaged.

The ozone sterilizing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure exerts a sterilizing action by sucking and spraying a liquid such as water by a spray nozzle using the fluid energy of a gas containing ozone as a driving source, and spraying the sprayed liquid on an object. This sterilization includes sterilization, deodorization, and freshness maintenance (hereinafter referred to as sterilization, etc.). Air in the atmosphere is sent from the air pump 1 to the ozone generator 2 at a predetermined pressure and flow rate. In the ozone generator ₂ , electrons are generated in oxygen O ₂ contained in the air by silent discharge at a high voltage between two electrodes. The collision generates ozone, and the gas containing the ozone is sent to the spray nozzle 3 at the pressure sent by the pump.

The spray nozzle 3 uses the fluid energy of the gas flowing out from the protruding end 32a of the passage 32, which is the outflow end of the fluid, as a drive source to suck the liquid passage 33h communicating with the jet port 36 by the outflow gas. At this time, the vertical conduction path 3
If the opening 34 at the upper end of 3 is open, the suction pressure of the conduction path 33h only sucks the atmosphere and cannot suck the liquid. However, if the opening 34 is closed by a person's finger during the operation of the gas, communication with the atmosphere is cut off.
The suction pressure of h sucks the liquid to the vertical conduction path 33 and the container 7 and sprays the liquid from the jet port 36.

In this case, the protruding end 32a of the concentric conduction path
The gas containing ozone ejected from the nozzle is also sprayed in the form of a mist, but the gas containing ozone on the center side tends to spread somewhat as soon as it comes out of the protruding end 32a, but most of the gas becomes a thin mist-like flow. The aspirated liquid flows concentrically around the center side, and the aspirated liquid flows outside the center side. Sprayed on things.

Ozone (O ₃ ) is an unstable gas and changes into stable oxygen in the atmosphere in a short time. By utilizing its oxidizing power, effects such as sterilization, preservation, and insect repellency can be obtained. Therefore, it is used in various fields such as sterilization of fresh foods and cookers, but on the other hand, as is well known, high concentration ozone is extremely toxic and harmful to the human body. In such an environment, the concentration must be kept below a certain level.

Under the circumstances, when ozone is used for sterilization, conventionally, ozone water obtained by dissolving ozone in water is used as it is, or a one-fluid spray type nozzle which sprays and sprays with a nozzle is used. However, in this conventional method, the ratio of ozone that can be dissolved in water is a very small amount of a certain value or less (for example, 0.5 ppm or less). The ratio of residual ozone when sprayed on the target becomes extremely small,
Even if there is some effect such as sterilization, the effect of sterilization is weak,
To obtain a certain effect, it is necessary to lengthen the spraying time.

On the other hand, in the ozone sterilizer according to the above embodiment, the ozone is directly sprayed in large quantities from the nozzle directly without dissolving the content generated by the ozone generator into the water. Since it is sucked and sprayed at the same time, the spray amount of ozone is overwhelmingly larger than in the conventional method. Further, in the spray nozzle of this embodiment, the gas containing ozone is disposed at the center side of the concentric ejection port, and the water spray flow is disposed outside the gas nozzle. Around the outside.

Therefore, even if the gas containing ozone is slightly diffused before being scattered on the object, the rate of diffusion to the outside due to the spray of water surrounding the outside is very small, so that the nozzle is not provided. It hardly diffuses so as to come into direct contact with the operator who operates it, is extremely safe, and has a high residual ozone rate, so that the power of sterilization and the like is also strong. Further, in the case of removing odors from a trash box in a kitchen or the like, even if only ozone is injected, the ozone diffuses to the surroundings because the ozone is collected at the injection pressure.

FIG. 3 is a main sectional view of a modified example of the spray nozzle. This example is different from the first example in that the relationship between the gas containing ozone and water is reversed with respect to the arrangement of the protruding end at the ejection port that is the outflow end of the fluid. The same reference numerals are given to the same functional members. In this example, the vertical conduction path 33 of water and the horizontal conduction path 33h are arranged at the center of the nozzle body 3a, and the conduction path 32 of the gas containing ozone is located off the center and does not intersect with the vertical conduction path 33. I have. As in the first example, the protruding end 33a is located slightly behind the ejection port 36. One end of the conical groove 35 communicates with the end of the gas passage 32.

In the spray nozzle of this modified example having the above structure,
Since the ozone-containing gas passage 32 is arranged so as to be connected to the conical groove 35, when the ozone-containing gas is ejected from the ejection port 36, the water energy arranged at the center of the nozzle is guided by the fluid energy. Aspirate passage 33h,
Upper end opening 3 of vertical conduction path 33 communicating with this conduction path 33h
By closing the cover 4 with a finger, the water in the container 7 is sucked and sprayed together with the gas containing ozone from the protruding end 33a which is the outflow end of the fluid.

In this case, since the conical groove 35 has a tapered cross-section, the gas containing ozone advances toward the jet port 36, and when flowing out of the jet port 36, sucks the conduction path 33h from the protruding end 33a. The water that is sucked and flows out mixes with the gas as soon as it comes out of the protruding end 33a. Therefore, the spray flow spouted from the spout 36 is a mixed flow of a gas containing ozone and water.

However, even with a mixed spray flow, the total amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator 2 is jetted from the nozzle outlet 36 in the spray nozzle 3 'of this type. Compared to the conventional method of spraying ozone water, a much larger amount of ozone is included in the mixed spray flow. Therefore, the residual concentration of ozone that contributes to the action of sterilization when sprayed on the target object is naturally higher than that of the ozone water method, and the action of sterilization and the like becomes extremely high.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic view of an ozone sterilizer according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, it is fixedly installed as a facility slightly larger than the device of the first embodiment,
Tap water is directly connected to the spray nozzle 3 "to supply water. Tap water is sent to the spray nozzle 3" via a pipe 3e via a pressure reducing valve 9d, a flow switch 9c, and a water valve 9b. The pressure of tap water is reduced to a required low pressure by the pressure reducing valve 9d and sent. On the other hand, the air from the air pump 1 is sent to the ozone generator 2 via the dehumidifier 8. The basic functions of the high-voltage power supply 4, the commercial power supply 5, and the cooling device 6 are the same as those of the first embodiment except for the large size.

The gas containing ozone generated by the ozone generator 2 is sent to the spray nozzle 3 ″ via the pipe 2p via the solenoid valves 9a and 9e. The dehumidifier 8 sufficiently removes moisture from the air to dry air. Is provided to prevent the generation of nitrogen oxides due to humidity and prevent the ozone generation efficiency of the ozone generator 2 from decreasing.
It is desirable to provide the dehumidifier 8 also in the first embodiment. The pipe 2p is operated such that when the solenoid valve 9a is opened, the solenoid valve 9e (safety valve) is closed, and when the solenoid valve 9a is closed, the solenoid valve 9e is opened to open to the atmosphere. However, the solenoid valve 9e can be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the basic structure of the spray nozzle 3 ″ of this embodiment is the same as that of the nozzle of FIG.
The difference is that the vertical conduction path 33 and the opening 34 are not provided, and that the conduction path 32 for passing gas and the horizontal water conduction path 33h are linearly provided through the nozzle body 3a. Therefore, of course, the container 7 is not provided. Instead, tap water is directly connected to the inflow end of the conduction path 33h provided through the nozzle body 3a via the pipe 3e and is sent. Since both of the conduction paths 32 and 33h are straight, the pipe resistance is small and the processing is easy.

The ozone sterilizing apparatus of this embodiment has a large spraying capacity of the spray nozzle 3 ″ and can continuously spray.
It differs in that gas and water are independently sent and sprayed without using the fluid energy of gas containing ozone and water for water suction, but sterilization with ozone by spraying two fluids of gas and water simultaneously in parallel. Is similar to the apparatus of the first embodiment. The effect of sterilization by ozone and the like is also similar to the spray nozzle 3 of FIG. 2 because the conducting path 32 of the gas containing ozone is disposed on the center side of the nozzle.
The same is obtained in that the outer periphery of the ozone spray flow is sprayed by surrounding it with a water spray flow.

The spray nozzle 3 ″ of the second embodiment is
Although only the outflow end shape of the conduction path is the same as that of FIG. 2, a configuration may be employed in which the ozone-containing gas is disposed on the outer peripheral side and the liquid is disposed on the central side as in FIG. 3 (not shown).

[0040]

As described in detail above, the ozone sterilizer of the first invention sprays two fluids, an ozone-containing gas from an ozone generator and a liquid from a liquid supply source, and simultaneously sprays them in parallel. Therefore, all the ozone generated by the ozone generator is directly sprayed and sprayed on the target object in the spray flow,
Since the spray flow has an extremely high residual ozone concentration, there is an advantage that a strong effect such as ozone sterilization can be obtained.

The ozone spray device according to the second invention is used in the ozone sterilization device according to the first invention. In particular, the ejector means is formed at the concentric outflow end of the conduit to remove the liquid from the container with the fluid energy of the ozone-containing gas. Aspirating to a spray flow, the spray device can be small and portable,
In addition, there is obtained an advantage that a strong effect such as ozone sterilization is exerted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an ozone sterilizer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a main sectional view of an injection nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a main cross-sectional view of a modified example of the above nozzle.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an ozone sterilizer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a main cross-sectional view of an injection nozzle for the same device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air pump 2 Ozone generator 3, 3 ', 3 "spray nozzle 4 High voltage power supply 7 Container 32 Conductive path 33 Vertical conductive path 34 Opening 35 Conical groove 36 Spout

Claims (7)

[Claims] An air pump having a predetermined pressure and a flow rate is sent from an air pump to an ozone generator, a gas containing ozone generated by the ozone generator is sent to a spray nozzle at the pump pressure, and liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source in parallel. The spray nozzles are connected so that they can be supplied to the spray nozzles, and the spray nozzles have gas and liquid conduction paths inside each independently, and the outflow end of each conduction path is concentrically provided at a position facing the ejection port. An ozone sterilizer configured to spray ozone-containing gas sent from a jet port together with a liquid to sterilize ozone. 2. An ejector means for concentrically forming an outflow end of a conduction path of said spray nozzle and forming an ejector means capable of sucking a liquid by a fluid energy of a gas with respect to an ejection port. The ozone sterilizing apparatus according to item 1. 3. The ozone according to claim 1, wherein the concentric outflow end of the passage of the spray nozzle is formed so as to conduct a gas containing ozone at a center side and a liquid at an outer periphery side. Sterilizer. 4. An outer periphery of a concentric outflow end of a gas conducting path and an inner periphery of a liquid outflow end of a gas conducting path are provided at predetermined positions parallel to a jetting direction of a nozzle at a position facing the jetting port. Item 3. An ozone sterilizer according to item 3. 5. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the concentric outflow end of the passage of the spray nozzle is formed so as to conduct the liquid to the center and to conduct the gas containing ozone to the outer periphery.
Or the ozone sterilizer according to 2. 6. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle is formed of a nozzle body and a nozzle cap, and a concentric outflow end of the conduction path is provided facing a jet port of the nozzle cap. The ozone sterilizing apparatus according to item 1. 7. A container for storing a liquid, and a spray nozzle for spraying a liquid supplied through a connecting pipe connected to the container and a gas containing ozone supplied from the outside, wherein the spray nozzle is An ejector for independently providing gas and liquid conduction paths inside, and providing an outflow end of each conduction path concentrically at the ejection port, and a concentric outflow end for sucking the liquid to the ejection port by fluid energy of gas. An ozone spray device configured to form the means.