JP2007326050A - Liquid mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid mixer which enables the easy and reliable manufacture of a liquid mixture with a more consistent quality and requires only a mixing vessel of a relatively small capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid mixer has mixing vessels B1 and B2 which mix raw water and/or an aqueous solution(s) supplied through supply pipes S1 and S2 with chemicals to prepare a mixed liquid, and continuous injection pumps P1 and P2 are provided which can add the chemicals continuously to the raw water or the aqueous solution at an adjustable addition fllow rate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid mixing apparatus including a mixing tank for mixing a chemical solution with raw water or an aqueous solution supplied via a supply pipe to produce a mixed liquid.

  As an example of this type of liquid mixing apparatus, there is a sterilizing water generating apparatus described in Patent Document 1 shown below as information on prior art documents related to the present invention. In the sterilizing water generating apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the water is branched into two flow paths, ie, a first dilution mixing flow path and a second dilution mixing flow path each having a raw water supply flow path. A flow valve, an injection part for a chemical solution (one is sodium hypochlorite, the other is an acid such as acetic acid), and a mixer are provided in the order described above. The structure which mixes in the mixing flow path which made the path | route and the 2nd dilution mixing flow path merge again is taken. Furthermore, in the sterilizing water generating apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a diaphragm-type pump, which is a kind of pulse-type metering pump generally used for injecting a chemical solution, has a diaphragm breakage or near the diaphragm. As a countermeasure against a problem such as a chemical supply error due to the occurrence of airlock, a control means is provided for controlling the amount of each chemical solution added based on the measured value of the pH sensor arranged downstream of each dilution and mixing flow path. Regardless of the nature of the diaphragm pump, active water containing sodium hypochlorite having a predetermined concentration is obtained downstream of the mixing channel.

JP 2001-321778 (paragraph numbers 0010 to 0011, 0033 to 0038, 0046 to 0050, 0075, FIG. 1)

  However, in a conventional sterilizing water generating device (liquid mixing device) as described in Patent Document 1, as a general addition device for adding the chemical solution to raw water or an aqueous solution, a fixed amount for discharging the chemical solution in a pulsed manner. Since a diaphragm pump is used as a pump, the chemical efficiency tends to be intermittently added to the raw water or aqueous solution, so the mixing efficiency tends to be low. In order to obtain a good mixing effect, a large-capacity mixing tank tends to be required. In addition, when a metering pump that discharges in a pulse manner is used, the amount of chemical liquid that can be discharged by controlling the pump is limited to an integral multiple of the liquid volume discharged in one pulse. If used, an excessive number of pulse drives are required for a larger amount of discharge, and if a pump that can discharge a large amount with an appropriate number of pulse drives is used, the minimum discharge amount will be excessive. There is a possibility that the range of the amount of chemicals that can be properly discharged becomes narrow.

  Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the liquid mixing apparatus according to the prior art exemplified above, the object of the present invention is to easily and surely produce a liquid having a more stable quality and a relatively small volume of mixing. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid mixing apparatus that only requires a tank.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a liquid mixing apparatus including a mixing tank for preparing a mixed liquid by mixing a chemical with raw water or an aqueous solution supplied via a supply pipe,
A continuous infusion pump capable of continuously adding the chemical solution to the raw water or the aqueous solution at an adjustable addition flow rate is provided.

  Therefore, in the liquid mixing apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the chemical solution is added to the raw water or the aqueous solution by the continuous infusion pump in a continuous addition form without any pulse or pulsation. The mixing efficiency is increased, and a sufficient mixing effect can be obtained even in a mixing tank having a relatively small capacity. In addition, by using a continuous infusion pump, the range of the amount of drug solution that can be appropriately discharged by one pump is widened as compared to the case of using a metering pump that discharges in a pulse manner. It is difficult to cause troubles such as mechanical failure such as diaphragm breakage, supply error due to occurrence of air lock near the diaphragm, which is easy to be found in metering pumps that discharge the chemical solution used in the conventional technology in a pulsed manner, It becomes easy to obtain a mixed liquid having a desired pH value.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the continuous infusion pump includes a stator having a cylindrical or at least partially conical cavity, and an outer periphery that is slidably rotatable with respect to the inner surface of the cavity of the stator. A rotor having a surface, and driving means for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and a spiral groove continuous from a proximal end to a distal end with respect to the axial center of the rotor is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. A flow path communicating with a liquid tank storing the chemical solution is connected to the proximal end side of the spiral groove, and the distal end of the spiral groove according to the rotation of the rotor by the driving means It exists in the point from which the said chemical | medical solution is sent out from the side.

  With this configuration, the addition speed and the addition amount of the chemical solution are controlled by rotating a rotor having a continuous spiral groove at an appropriate rotation speed by a driving means such as an electric motor and by an appropriate rotation amount. It can be controlled freely. Moreover, since the chemical solution can be continuously added only by continuing the rotation operation of the rotor, the phenomenon that the chemical solution is intermittently added, which is seen when using a diaphragm pump, is eliminated, and the desired pH is obtained. A mixed liquid having a value can be obtained with high accuracy.

  According to another characteristic configuration of the present invention, the mixing tank mixes a first chemical solution composed of one of a hypochlorite aqueous solution and a pH adjusting solution with raw water supplied via a first supply pipe, thereby providing a primary aqueous solution. A second chemical solution comprising the other of the hypochlorite aqueous solution and the pH adjusting solution is mixed with the primary aqueous solution supplied from the primary mixing vessel via the second supply pipe. And a secondary mixing tank for obtaining a secondary aqueous solution.

  If it is this structure, the liquid mixing apparatus which can manufacture the hypochlorous acid water by which appropriate pH adjustment was made so that it would be easy to use in a general business or a general household by the effect | action of pH adjustment liquid is obtained. In the primary mixing tank, a primary chemical solution is formed by mixing raw water with a first chemical solution consisting of one of a hypochlorite aqueous solution and a pH adjusting liquid, and is obtained in the primary mixing tank in the next secondary mixing tank. Since it becomes the composition which mixes the 2nd chemical | medical solution which consists of the other of hypochlorite aqueous solution and pH adjustment liquid with the obtained primary aqueous solution, and obtains the secondary aqueous solution as a final liquid mixture, in a primary mixing tank Since the 1st chemical | medical solution mixed with raw | natural water will receive a mixing action again also in the following secondary mixing tank, the liquid mixture with which each component was distributed more uniformly is obtained.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hypochlorous acid water production apparatus constituting an embodiment of a liquid mixing apparatus according to the present invention.
This hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 1 mixes the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution from the 1st chemical | medical solution tank T1 and the 1st chemical | medical solution tank T1 which store the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution as a 1st chemical | medical solution with raw | natural water. Primary mixing tank B1, a second chemical liquid tank T2 for storing dilute hydrochloric acid as a second chemical liquid, and a secondary aqueous solution for mixing the dilute hydrochloric acid aqueous solution from the second chemical liquid tank T2 with the primary aqueous solution obtained in the primary mixing tank B1. It has a mixing tank B2. Here, the mixed liquid obtained in the secondary mixing tank B2 becomes acidic hypochlorous acid water and can be effectively used as sterilizing water. The dilute hydrochloric acid aqueous solution is an example of an acidic aqueous solution as a pH adjusting solution, and nitric acid, sulfuric acid, organic acid, and the like can also be used. It is assumed that 6% sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution is stored in the first chemical tank T1, and 6% dilute hydrochloric acid is stored in the second chemical tank T2.

  More specifically, the hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 1 includes a first liquid supply pipe S1 for supplying raw water such as tap water or well water to the primary mixing tank B1. The first supply pipe S1 includes a first filter F1, a pressure reducing valve RV for adjusting the downstream water pressure to a predetermined value or less, and an electromagnetic valve capable of turning on and off the inflow of raw water to the hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 1. EV, flow meter D, check valve CV1, and first injection portion J1 for injecting sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution from first chemical tank T1 into first conduit P1 are provided in the direction of water supply. Are provided in this order along. The first injection part J1 is provided with a first pump P1 (an example of a continuous injection pump) for continuously adding a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution in the first chemical tank T1 at a predetermined addition flow rate. . The raw water containing the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution injected by the first pump P1 is fed into the primary mixing tank B1, stirred and mixed while passing through the primary mixing tank B1, and is supplied to the second supply pipe S2 as a primary aqueous solution. Discharged.

  In the second liquid supply pipe S2 connected to the downstream side of the primary mixing tank B1, a check valve CV2, a second injection part J2 for injecting a dilute hydrochloric acid aqueous solution from the second chemical liquid tank T2 into the primary aqueous solution, and A secondary mixing tank B2 is provided. The second injection part J2 is provided with a second pump P2 (an example of a continuous injection pump) for continuously adding the dilute hydrochloric acid aqueous solution in the second chemical liquid tank T2 at a predetermined addition flow rate. The raw water containing the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution injected by the second pump P2 is fed into the secondary mixing tank B2, stirred and mixed while passing through the secondary mixing tank B2, and acidic hypochlorous acid having an appropriate pH value. It is discharged as a secondary aqueous solution consisting of water. The check valve CV1 arranged adjacent to the upstream side of the first injection part J1 and the check valve CV2 arranged adjacent to the upstream side of the second injection part J2 are the first supply pipe S1 and the second supply liquid. When the flow of the liquid inside the tube S2 stops, the liquid flows backward, and the chemical concentration of the solution located in the first injection part J1, the primary mixing tank B1, the second injection part J2, and the secondary mixing tank B2 It acts to regulate the change of

  Further, the third liquid supply pipe S3 connected to the downstream side of the secondary mixing tank B2 includes a check valve CV3, a buffer tank BT, a pH sensor K for measuring the pH of the secondary aqueous solution, and a second filter F2. They are provided in this order along the flow direction of the secondary aqueous solution. On the downstream side of the second filter F2, a take-out conduit S4 for taking out hypochlorous acid water as the obtained secondary aqueous solution as sterilizing water is connected. The buffer tank BT is equipment for further stirring and mixing the secondary aqueous solution obtained in the secondary mixing tank B2. By providing such a buffer tank B2, sterilized water in a good mixed state can be obtained from the extraction pipe S4 even in the initial water flow state before reaching a steady operation state.

  The primary mixing tank B1 and the secondary mixing tank B2 have basically the same shape and structure as each other, and have an inner diameter that is at least twice, preferably 3 to 4 times the inner diameter of each of the liquid supply pipes S1, S2. It is composed of a cylindrical container having a length at least twice, preferably 2 to 4 times the inner diameter. That is, at each upstream side end of the primary mixing tank B1 and the secondary mixing tank B2, the portion of the first liquid supply pipe S1 connecting the first injection section J1 and the primary mixing tank B1, or the second injection section. An inflow portion having a larger pipe diameter than the portion of the second liquid supply pipe S2 connecting J2 and the secondary mixing tank B2 is formed.

The first pump P1 and the second pump P2 described above have the same structure, and the first pump P1 will be described below as a representative.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first pump P <b> 1 has a container-like stator 2 having a conical cavity V that gradually increases in diameter upward, and a smooth inner surface of the cavity V of the stator 2. And a rotor 3 having an outer peripheral surface that can slide and rotate. On the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 3, a spiral groove 3a extending continuously from the base end to the front end with respect to the axis X of the rotor 3 is formed. Yes. Here, the spiral groove 3a has a right-hand thread shape. A first annular groove 3b communicating with the base end (upper end) of the spiral groove 3a is formed at the upper end of the rotor 3, and a through hole communicating with the distal end (lower end) of the spiral groove 3a is formed at the lower end of the rotor 3. 3c is formed vertically.

  The first annular groove 3b at the upper end of the rotor 3 is closed by a disk-like lid member 4 that closes the upper end of the stator 2 in a hermetically sealed manner. The inner surface of the second hollow portion V is pressed and biased with a small biasing force. By this pressing force, the cross section of the spiral groove 3 a is sealed by the inner peripheral surface of the stator 2.

A vertical hole 4a that communicates with the first annular groove 3b is formed at one location of the lid member 4, and the chemical liquid supply pipe 5 extending downward from the bottom surface of the first chemical liquid tank T1 is formed in the vertical hole 4a. Is connected.
Further, the through hole 3c at the lower end of the rotor 3 is closed by a double cylindrical boss member 6. A small constant pressure valve CV3 for restricting the natural fall of the liquid in the through hole 3c is interposed in the boss member 6. It is disguised. The constant pressure valve CV3 is opened only when a pressure exceeding a predetermined value is applied from the liquid positioned above, and allows the liquid to flow down.

  A drive shaft member 3 d is integrally provided at the center of the upper end of the rotor 3, extends upward from a second through hole 4 b formed in the lid member 4, and is disposed above the lid member 4. It is connected to a stepping motor M (an example of drive means). The stepping motor M rotates the rotor 3 based on a signal sent from a control / operation unit 50 (see FIG. 1) provided in the hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 1. When the rotor 3 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2), the chemical liquid filled in the spiral groove 3a by the hydraulic pressure acting from the chemical liquid in the first chemical liquid tank T1 is obtained. The constant pressure valve CV3 is opened based on the pressing pressure received from the downward side wall surface constituting the spiral groove 3a, and supplied downward from the opening 6a of the boss member 6. The supply amount of the chemical solution by the first pump P <b> 1 can be proportionally controlled by the rotation amount of the rotor 3. Further, the supply speed of the chemical solution by the first pump P1 can be continuously controlled by the rotation speed of the rotor 3.

Since the cavity V of the stator 2 and the rotor 3 have a conical shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward the supply direction (downward) of the chemical solution, the pressure acting on the chemical solution in the spiral groove 3a by the rotation of the rotor 3 is the first pump P1. The lower end of the valve becomes higher than the vicinity of the upper end, and a sufficient internal pressure for pushing out the chemical solution from the constant pressure valve CV3 is generated.
Note that the spiral groove 3a of the rotor 3 may have a left-hand thread shape opposite to that in FIG. 2, and in this case, the rotor 3 is rotated in the clockwise direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. The filled chemical solution can be supplied downward from the opening 6 a of the boss member 6.

  The operator can set the production rate of hypochlorous acid water and the pH value of the produced hypochlorous acid water from a control panel (not shown) provided in the control / operation unit 50. The control / operation unit 50 controls the inflow of raw water entering the hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 1 with the electromagnetic valve EV and the flow meter D, and the pH value of hypochlorous acid detected by the pH sensor K is The rotational speeds of the first pump P1 for sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and the second pump P2 for dilute hydrochloric acid are controlled so that the set values are obtained.

  As described above, since the continuous injection pump is used as the chemical injection means instead of a pulse pump such as a diaphragm pump that discharges the liquid, the mixing capacity required for the primary mixing tank B1 and the secondary mixing tank B2 can be obtained. It is small and it is possible to use a mixing tank with a smaller capacity than before.

  In addition, you may provide the magnetic processing apparatuses Q1 and Q2 which generate | occur | produce magnetic flux of about 4000 gauss or more as shown in a figure at each upstream edge part of primary mixing tank B1 and secondary mixing tank B2. The magnetic processing devices Q1 and Q2 make it easier to move water molecules and hypochlorite ions by generating an ion polarization current in the raw water and the aqueous solution. As the magnetic processing apparatus, for example, a magnetic processing apparatus including a pair of permanent magnets, a back yoke disposed on the back surface of each permanent magnet, and a connection plate disposed between legs of each back yoke is used. What is necessary is just to arrange | position a magnetic processing apparatus so that an inflow part may be located in the center of the magnetic closed circuit formed between these permanent magnets. The magnetic processing device is confined by built-in molding inside the constituent members of each inflow portion so that it is easy to remove solid components deposited on the surface with long-term use, or a simple shape such as a ring shape. It is preferable to confine in a resin protective container.

  Further, a baffle plate or a forced rotation type stirring blade that mechanically enhances the mixing action may be supplementarily provided in the primary mixing tank B1 and the secondary mixing tank B2. When such a baffle plate or a stirring blade is provided, the volume of the mixing tank can be made smaller.

[Another embodiment]
<1> The cavity portion of the stator and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor constituting the continuous infusion pump do not necessarily have a conical shape, and may have a truncated cone shape or a cylindrical shape, for example. FIG. 3 shows an example of a continuous infusion pump provided with a cylindrical rotor 13.

<2> It is good also as a mixing tank of the same internal diameter as a liquid supply pipe | tube by providing the baffle plate which assists stirring in the inner surface downstream from the chemical | medical solution injection | pouring position of 1st liquid supply pipe | tube S1 and 2nd liquid supply pipe | tube S2. Alternatively, the downstream side of the chemical liquid injection position of the first liquid supply pipe S1 and the second liquid supply pipe S2 has a shape meandering in a crank shape instead of a straight line, while having the same inner diameter as the liquid supply pipe. It is good also as a mixing tank provided with sufficient mixing action. It is also possible to provide a baffle plate on the inner surface of the liquid supply pipe portion meandered in this manner.

<3> Contrary to the above embodiment, the dilute hydrochloric acid aqueous solution as the first chemical liquid is mixed with the raw water in the primary mixing tank B1 to produce the primary aqueous solution, and the secondary chemical liquid is then used in the secondary mixing tank B2. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a sodium chlorite aqueous solution is mixed with a primary aqueous solution to produce a secondary aqueous solution.

<4> If an alkaline aqueous solution, that is, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or the like is used as the second chemical solution, the mixed liquid obtained in the secondary mixing tank B2 becomes alkaline hypochlorous acid water, which is sterilized water. It can be used more effectively as cleaning water than. It is a new finding obtained by the applicant that alkaline (especially pH 11 to 13) hypochlorous acid water has an excellent cleaning effect on proteins and the like.

<5> The present invention is not limited to a liquid mixing apparatus for generating hypochlorous acid water, but a mixing tank for preparing a mixed liquid by mixing a chemical with raw water or an aqueous solution supplied via a supply pipe It is applicable also to the more general liquid mixing apparatus provided with.

  It is effective as a rational and simple configuration of a liquid mixing apparatus and a liquid mixing method for mixing different kinds of liquids that are difficult to obtain a good mixing state. Especially, the bactericidal power against Legionella bacteria is more than that of sodium hypochlorite. It is used as a hypochlorous acid water production device with a rational configuration for producing sterilizing water consisting of strongly acidic hypochlorous acid water or alkaline washing water having a high detergency against proteins. .

Schematic configuration diagram of a liquid mixing apparatus according to the present invention Schematic configuration diagram showing a continuous infusion pump Schematic block diagram showing a continuous infusion pump according to another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

B1 Primary mixing tank B2 Secondary mixing tank BT Buffer tank CV1 Check valve CV2 Check valve CV3 Constant pressure valve D Flow meter EV Electromagnetic valve F1 First filter F2 Second filter J1 First injection part J2 Second injection part K pH sensor RV Pressure reducing valve M Stepping motor (drive means)
P1 1st pump (continuous infusion pump)
P2 Second pump (continuous infusion pump)
Q1, Q2 Magnetic processing apparatus S1 1st liquid supply pipe S2 2nd liquid supply pipe S3 3rd liquid supply pipe S4 Extraction pipe line T1 1st chemical liquid tank T2 2nd chemical liquid tank V Cavity part 1 Hypochlorous acid water production apparatus 2 Stator 3 Rotor 3a Spiral groove 3b First annular groove 3c Through hole 4 Lid member 5 Chemical solution supply pipe 6 Boss member 50 Control / operation part

Claims (3)

A liquid mixing apparatus including a mixing tank for mixing a chemical solution with raw water or an aqueous solution supplied via a supply pipe to produce a mixed liquid,
A liquid mixing apparatus provided with a continuous infusion pump capable of continuously adding the chemical solution to the raw water or aqueous solution at an adjustable addition flow rate.   The continuous infusion pump includes a stator having a cylindrical or at least partially conical cavity, a rotor having an outer peripheral surface that is slidably rotatable with respect to an inner surface of the cavity of the stator, and the rotor Driving means for rotating the stator with respect to the stator, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor is formed with a spiral groove continuous from the base end to the tip end with respect to the axial center of the rotor. A flow path communicating with a liquid tank storing the chemical liquid is connected to the base end side, and the chemical liquid is sent out from the distal end side of the spiral groove according to the rotation of the rotor by the driving means. 2. The liquid mixing apparatus according to 1.   The mixing tank is a primary mixing tank for obtaining a primary aqueous solution by mixing a first chemical solution composed of one of a hypochlorite aqueous solution and a pH adjusting solution into raw water supplied via a first supply pipe; For obtaining a secondary aqueous solution by mixing a second chemical solution composed of the other of the hypochlorite aqueous solution and the pH adjusting solution into the primary aqueous solution supplied from the primary mixing tank via a second supply pipe. The liquid mixing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary mixing tank.

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