JP2009142717A - Method and apparatus for concentrating solution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the concentration of a mixed fluid by reduced energy by efficiently recovering the mist of the mixed fluid while enhancing the atomization efficiency of the mist. <P>SOLUTION: The concentration of a solution is composed of the atomization process for atomizing the solution containing a target substance by an atomizer 1 to prepare the mixed fluid of the mist containing the target substance and a feed gas and the recovery process for recovering the mist from the mixed fluid obtained in the atomization process. In this concentration method, a gas containing either one of hydrogen and helium is used as the feed gas. Further, this concentration method is characterized in that a feed gas permeable membrane 7 having a pore size not permitting the target substance contained in the mist to pass but permitting the feed gas containing either one of hydrogen and helium to pass is used in the recovery process, and the feed gas is permeated through the feed gas permeable membrane 7 to be separated from the mixed fluid containing the mist. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a solution concentration method and a concentration apparatus for atomizing a solution containing a target substance to make a mist, collecting the mist, and separating a solution containing a high concentration target substance.

  The present inventor has developed a concentrating device for atomizing a solution to separate a high concentration alcohol. (See Patent Document 1) This concentrating device fills an ultrasonic atomizing chamber with an alcohol solution into a closed structure, and ultrasonically vibrates the alcohol solution in the ultrasonic atomizing chamber with an ultrasonic vibrator to atomize it into a mist. The atomized mist is agglomerated and recovered to separate a high concentration alcohol solution. This concentrator concentrates the alcohol by utilizing the fact that the alcohol concentration of the atomized mist is higher than that of the stock solution. This concentrator separates a high-concentration alcohol solution without heating the solution. For this reason, since it does not heat, concentrating alcohol to high concentration, it can isolate | separate, without changing target substances, such as alcohol.

  Furthermore, the present inventor has developed an apparatus for concentrating more effectively at a high concentration by combining an air permeable membrane with the above concentration apparatus. (See Patent Document 2)

The concentrating device of Patent Document 2 includes an atomization chamber that contains a solution containing a target substance, an atomizer that generates a mixed fluid of the mist and air of the solution by scattering the solution in the atomization chamber as mist in air. And an air separator connected to the atomizing chamber for separating air from the mixed fluid. The air separator partitions the interior with a pore-size air permeable membrane that does not allow the target substance to pass but allows the air to pass, and contains a primary side passage that allows the mixed fluid to pass through and a secondary side exhaust passage that exhausts the air inside. Provided. In this air separator, the pressure on the primary side surface of the air permeable membrane is made higher than that on the secondary side surface, the air contained in the mixed fluid is permeated through the air permeable membrane, and the air is passed from the mixed fluid passing through the primary side passage. To separate.
JP 2001-314724 A JP 2005-279457 A

  The above concentrator separates the air contained in the mixed fluid with the air permeable membrane, so that the target substance can be efficiently concentrated to a high concentration. However, an apparatus that atomizes a solution containing a target substance into a mist and collects it to concentrate it to a high concentration needs to increase the amount of carrier gas in order to increase the efficiency of atomizing into a fine mist. . However, when the amount of the carrier gas is increased, the mist recovery efficiency is lowered. This is because the concentration of mist contained in the carrier gas decreases, and the mist is separated from a large amount of carrier gas. For this reason, if the efficiency of atomizing the solution into mist is increased by increasing the flow rate of the carrier gas, the efficiency of recovering the mist from the mixed fluid decreases. Thus, the atomization efficiency of the solution and the mist recovery process are mutually contradictory properties, and it is difficult to satisfy both.

  The present invention has succeeded in solving this difficult problem that conflicts with each other in a unique manner. An important object of the present invention is to provide a solution concentration method and apparatus capable of efficiently recovering mist from a mixed fluid and concentrating it to a higher concentration with less energy while increasing the atomization efficiency of mist. .

  In the solution concentration method of the present invention, a solution containing a target substance is atomized into a mist by the atomizer 1, and an atomizing process using a mixed fluid of the mist containing the target substance and a carrier gas is performed. A recovery step of recovering mist from the obtained mixed fluid. In this concentration method, a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium is used as a carrier gas. Furthermore, this concentration method uses a carrier gas permeable membrane 7 having a pore size that does not allow the target substance contained in the mist to pass but allows the carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium to pass through the recovery step. The carrier gas is permeated through the membrane 7 to separate the carrier gas from the mixed fluid containing mist.

  In the method for concentrating a solution according to claim 2 of the present invention, the atomizer 1 atomizes the solution into mist by ultrasonically vibrating the solution.

  In the method for concentrating a solution according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the recovery step, the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is cooled to recover the mist.

  In the method for concentrating the solution according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the recovery step, the mixed fluid containing the mist atomized in the atomization step is cooled to recover the mist, and then the mixed fluid is transferred to the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. The carrier gas is separated by permeation, and the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated is cooled to recover the mist component.

  According to the solution concentration method of claim 5 of the present invention, in the recovery step, the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated is cooled by the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 to recover the mist, and the recovered fluid of the mist is atomized. Supply to machine 1.

  In the method for concentrating a solution according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the recovery step, the mixed gas from which the carrier gas is separated is cooled by the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 to recover the mist, and the mixed fluid from which the mist has been recovered is the carrier gas. Circulate to the supply side of the permeable membrane 7.

  The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 7 of the present invention recovers the mist by cooling the mist of the mixed fluid separated from the carrier gas by the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 while being conveyed by the second carrier gas in the recovery step. The second carrier gas from which the mist has been collected is circulated to the supply side of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. As the second carrier gas, a gas having a molecular weight larger than that of the carrier gas is used. Furthermore, in the solution concentration method of claim 8 of the present invention, the second carrier gas is argon.

  In the method for concentrating a solution according to claim 9 of the present invention, in the recovery step, the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid is separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 and supplied to the atomizer 1.

  Furthermore, in the solution concentration method of claim 10 of the present invention, the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is heated in the recovery step.

  The apparatus for concentrating a solution of the present invention includes an atomizing chamber 4 for storing a solution containing a target substance, and a solution obtained by scattering the solution in the atomizing chamber 4 as a mist in a carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium. An atomizer 1 that generates a mixed fluid of mist and carrier gas, and a carrier gas separator 6 that is connected to the atomization chamber 4 and separates the carrier gas from the fluid mixture. The carrier gas separator 6 divides the inside with a pore-size carrier gas permeable membrane 7 that does not pass the target substance but passes the carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium, and allows the mixed fluid to pass therethrough. And a secondary side exhaust passage 9 for exhausting the carrier gas. The carrier gas separator 6 is configured such that the pressure on the primary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is higher than that on the secondary side surface, and the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid is transferred from the primary side passage 8 to the secondary side exhaust passage 9. Permeate to separate carrier gas from mixed fluid.

  In the solution concentrating device according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the carrier gas separator 6 has a forced exhaust device 11 connected to the secondary exhaust passage 9, and the secondary exhaust passage 9 is connected to the forced exhaust device 11. The carrier gas is forcibly exhausted to make the pressure on the primary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 higher than that on the secondary side surface.

  In the solution concentration apparatus according to claim 13 of the present invention, the carrier gas separator 6 is connected to the primary passage 8 with a compressor 12 that pressurizes and supplies the mixed fluid in the atomization chamber 4. The machine 12 presses the mixed fluid of the atomization chamber 4 into the primary side passage 8 so that the pressure on the primary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is higher than that on the secondary side surface.

  In the solution concentrating device according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is a filter medium formed by coating a ceramic surface with zeolite.

  In the solution concentration apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the carrier gas separator 6 includes a heater 30 for heating the carrier gas permeable membrane 7.

  In the solution concentrating device according to claim 16 of the present invention, the atomizer 1 includes an ultrasonic vibrator 2 for atomizing the solution into a mist by ultrasonic vibration, and an ultrasonic vibration connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 2. An ultrasonic power source 3 for supplying high-frequency power to the child 2 and ultrasonically vibrating the child 2 is provided.

  The solution concentrating device according to claim 17 of the present invention is formed by connecting any of a cyclone, a punching plate, a demister, a chevron, a scrubber, a spray tower, and an electrostatic recovery machine to the discharge side or suction side of the carrier gas separator 6. Mist is collected.

  In the solution concentrating device according to claim 18 of the present invention, the recovery chamber 5 for condensing and recovering the mist from the mixed fluid is connected to the discharge side of the primary side passage 8 provided in the carrier gas separator 6.

  The apparatus for concentrating a solution according to claim 19 of the present invention is provided with a cooling heat exchanger 13 in the recovery chamber 5. The mixed fluid is cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 13 to aggregate and recover the mist. Yes.

  In the solution concentrating device according to claim 20 of the present invention, the collection chamber 5 is connected to the atomization chamber 4, the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6, and the mist is separated by the collection chamber 5. A fluid is supplied to the atomization chamber 4.

  The solution concentrating device of claim 21 of the present invention connects the primary side passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6 to the recovery chamber 5 and has a molecular weight larger than that of the carrier gas in the primary side passage 8 and the recovery chamber 5. A second carrier gas that is a gas is circulated. This concentrator conveys the mist of the mixed gas from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6 to the collection chamber 5 with the second carrier gas, and aggregates and collects the mist in the collection chamber 5. The recovered second carrier gas is supplied to the primary passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6. Further, in the solution concentration apparatus according to claim 22 of the present invention, the second carrier gas is argon.

  The solution concentrator according to claim 23 of the present invention connects the secondary side exhaust passage 9 of the carrier gas separator 6 to the atomization chamber 4, and the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 of the carrier gas separator 6 removes the mixed fluid from the mixed fluid. The separated carrier gas is supplied to the atomization chamber 4.

  The solution concentration method and concentration apparatus of the present invention are characterized in that the mist can be efficiently recovered and concentrated to a higher concentration with less energy while increasing the atomization efficiency of the mist. That is, according to the present invention, the carrier gas is a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium, so that the carrier gas is more effectively removed from the mixed fluid with the carrier gas permeable membrane while increasing the atomization efficiency of the mist. The solution can be efficiently concentrated to a higher concentration for two reasons of separation. The efficiency with which the solution atomizes into the mist in the carrier gas is affected by the molecular weight of the carrier gas. The maximum amount of mist vaporization that the dried carrier gas can contain increases as the molecular weight of the carrier gas decreases. For example, the air used for the conventional carrier gas has a molecular weight of about 29, but the molecular weight of hydrogen is 2 and the molecular weight of helium is 4, which is very small compared to air. For this reason, the maximum mist vaporization weight which hydrogen and helium can contain in 1 kg of dry gas becomes very large compared with air. That is, hydrogen and helium can contain a large amount of solution in a gaseous state. This carrier gas is extremely efficient in atomizing the solution into a mist. Therefore, this invention can make the efficiency which can atomize a solution into mist high by making carrier gas into gas containing at least any one of hydrogen and helium. This mixed fluid can efficiently recover the mist using the carrier gas permeable membrane. This is because the amount of carrier gas that permeates through the carrier gas permeable membrane can be reduced and mist can be recovered. Furthermore, the carrier gas permeable membrane can separate hydrogen and helium more efficiently than air. This is because hydrogen and helium are small compared to air and thus smoothly pass through the carrier gas permeable membrane. The molecular weight of the gas is one parameter that specifies the size of the molecule. Hydrogen and helium having a low molecular weight are smaller than air, and pass through the carrier gas permeable membrane more smoothly than air. For this reason, the present invention using the carrier gas as a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium can efficiently separate the carrier gas from the mixed fluid with the carrier gas permeable membrane. In the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane, the target substance contained in the mist is in a supersaturated state, so that the target substance can be recovered to a high concentration very efficiently. As described above, the present invention can efficiently permeate the carrier gas permeable membrane while efficiently atomizing the solution into a mist, and further reduce the amount of the carrier gas of the mixed fluid separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane. The efficiency can be improved considerably.

  In particular, the concentrating method according to claims 3 to 6 and the concentrating device according to claim 19 of the present invention cools and recovers the mixed fluid obtained by separating a part of the carrier gas by the carrier gas permeable membrane to aggregate the mist. The target substance can be efficiently recovered while reducing energy consumption for cooling. This is because the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is removed by the carrier gas permeable membrane has a small amount of carrier gas, and when cooling, the target substance can be efficiently recovered with a small amount of cooling.

  Furthermore, the concentration method according to claim 5 of the present invention and the concentration apparatus according to claim 20 atomize the separated mixed fluid by aggregating mist by cooling after separating a part of the carrier gas with the carrier gas permeable membrane. Since it is circulated in the room, mist can be generated efficiently while reducing energy consumption. This is because the mixed fluid with a small amount of cooling is circulated in the atomization chamber, so that in the atomization chamber, the solution can be atomized into mist while reducing the energy consumption for heating the solution.

  Furthermore, the concentrating method according to claim 9 of the present invention and the concentrating device according to claim 23 supply the carrier gas separated from the mixed fluid by the carrier gas permeable membrane to the atomization chamber, so that the mist can be efficiently atomized in the atomization chamber. There is a feature that can be made. This is because the carrier gas separated from the mixed fluid does not contain the target substance. In addition, the carrier gas separated from the mixed fluid by the carrier gas permeable membrane is a carrier gas that is controlled to an optimum temperature for generating mist in the atomization chamber. Can often occur.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following examples illustrate a solution concentration method and a concentration device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention provides a solution concentration method and a concentration device as follows. Not specified.

  Further, in this specification, for easy understanding of the scope of claims, numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are indicated in the “claims” and “means for solving problems” sections. It is added to the members. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.

  The solution concentration method and concentration apparatus of the present invention atomize a solution containing a target substance into a mist, then collect the mist and concentrate the solution of the target substance. The present invention obtains a highly concentrated solution of a target substance from a solution in which the target substance is dissolved in the mother liquor, that is, concentrates the target substance at a high concentration. It does not specify. The mother liquor is mainly a solvent such as water or alcohol. For example, an aqueous alcohol solution that is a solution uses water as a mother liquor and alcohol as a target substance. In a solution in which a fragrance is dissolved in alcohol, the mother liquor is alcohol and the target substance is fragrance. Furthermore, for gasoline containing volatile petroleum fractions with various boiling points, the target substance is a volatile petroleum fraction with a low boiling point, and a volatile petroleum fraction with a higher boiling point than this volatile petroleum fraction is used as the mother liquor. And That is, in this specification, the target substance means a substance whose concentration is increased by atomizing the solution into a mist and recovering it. Further, in the present specification, “mist” is used to mean not only atomized fine particles but also those in a state in which atomized fine particles are vaporized.

Examples of the solution containing the target substance are as follows. In the following solutions, the mother liquor is mainly water or a solvent. The target substance is a substance that atomizes the solution into a mist and recovers it to increase the concentration.
(1) Biomass alcohol
(2) Sake, beer, wine, vinegar, mirin, spirits, shochu, brandy, whiskey, liqueur.
(3) A solution containing a fragrance such as pinene, linalool, limonene or polyphenols, a fragrance component or a fragrance component. In these solutions, the mother liquor is a solvent such as water or alcohol.
(4) Alkane, cycloalkane, which is a saturated hydrocarbon, alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, which is an unsaturated hydrocarbon, or an organic compound belonging to any of ethers, thioethers, or aromatic hydrocarbons, or a substance obtained by combining them Containing solution.
(5) Saturated hydrocarbon alkane, cycloalkane, unsaturated hydrocarbon alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, or an organic compound belonging to any of ether, thioether or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by halogen.
(6) Saturated hydrocarbon alkane, cycloalkane, unsaturated hydrocarbon alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, or an organic compound belonging to any of ether, thioether or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a hydroxyl group. In these solutions, the mother liquor is a solvent.
(7) Saturated hydrocarbons of alkanes, cycloalkanes, unsaturated hydrocarbons of alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkynes, or organic compounds belonging to any of ethers, thioethers or aromatic hydrocarbons, or their conjugates A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by an amino group.
(8) Saturated hydrocarbon alkane, cycloalkane, unsaturated hydrocarbon alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, or an organic compound belonging to any of ether, thioether or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a carbonyl group.
(9) Saturated hydrocarbon alkane, cycloalkane, unsaturated hydrocarbon alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, or an organic compound belonging to any of ether, thioether or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a carboxyl group.
(10) Saturated hydrocarbons of alkanes, cycloalkanes, unsaturated hydrocarbons of alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkynes, or organic compounds belonging to any of ethers, thioethers or aromatic hydrocarbons, or their conjugates A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a nitro group.
(11) Saturated hydrocarbons of alkanes, cycloalkanes, unsaturated hydrocarbons of alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkynes, or organic compounds belonging to any of ethers, thioethers or aromatic hydrocarbons, or their conjugates A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a cyano group.
(12) Saturated hydrocarbon alkane, cycloalkane, unsaturated hydrocarbon alkene, cycloalkene, alkyne, or an organic compound belonging to any of ether, thioether or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof A solution containing a substance in which at least one hydrogen atom or functional group is replaced by a mercapto group.
(13) A solution containing a substance obtained by substituting any one or more atoms contained in the target substance of (4) to (12) with a metal ion.
(14) Substance in which any hydrogen atom, carbon atom or functional group in the molecules contained in the target substance in (4) to (12) is replaced with any molecule in (4) to (12) Solution containing

  A solution in which the target substance is dissolved in the mother liquor can be atomized as a mist in the carrier gas, and then aggregated and recovered to increase the concentration of the target substance. That is, a solution containing a high concentration target substance can be separated from the solution. The present invention does not specify an atomizer that atomizes the solution on the surface into a mist, but this atomizer excites the solution ultrasonically, discharges the solution from the capillary, and uses this as an electrode. Those that are electrostatically atomized can be used.

  Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method for obtaining high-concentration alcohol by generating mist by ultrasonic vibration from an aqueous alcohol solution in which the mother liquor is water and the target substance is alcohol will be described. However, the present invention does not specify the target substance as alcohol, but can atomize all the target substances that can be atomized into mist and recovered to increase the concentration. Moreover, the atomizer which atomizes a solution into mist is not specified as the atomizer by an ultrasonic vibration, For example, electrostatic atomization etc. can be used.

  The concentration apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 includes an atomizing chamber 4 having a closed structure to which a solution is supplied, an atomizer 1 that atomizes the solution in the atomizing chamber 4 into a mist, and a mist in the atomizing chamber 1. The carrier gas separator 6 that separates the carrier gas from the mixed fluid of the gasified mist and carrier gas, and the recovered fluid that further aggregates and collects the mixed fluid from which part of the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6 The chamber 5 and the forced conveyance machine 10 which transfers mixed fluid are provided.

  The carrier gas is hydrogen or helium. However, the carrier gas may be a gas in which hydrogen and helium are mixed, a gas mixture of hydrogen and air, a gas mixture of helium and air, or a gas mixture of hydrogen, helium and air. Thus, hydrogen or helium is used as the carrier gas, or a mixed gas of hydrogen and helium is used, or alternatively, a mixed gas of hydrogen or helium and air is used. It can be used as an anti-explosion measure since the oxygen concentration can be reduced.

  The solution is supplied to the atomization chamber 4 by a pump 20 as shown in FIG. The atomization chamber 4 does not atomize all the supplied solutions as mist. This is because when all the solutions are atomized and collected in the collection chamber 5, the concentration of the target substance such as alcohol in the solution supplied to the atomization chamber 4 and the solution collected in the collection chamber 5 becomes the same. The solution supplied to the atomization chamber 4 is atomized as mist, and the concentration of the target substance decreases as the volume decreases. For this reason, the density | concentration of the target substance contained in mist also falls gradually. The solution in the atomization chamber 4 is replaced with a new one when the concentration of the target substance decreases.

  For example, the atomization chamber 4 atomizes a solution having a target substance concentration of 10 to 50% by weight, and after the concentration of the target substance is reduced, replaces the solution with a new one. After a certain period of time, the solution is replaced with a new one, that is, the solution is replaced in a batch manner. However, the stock solution tank 21 storing the solution can be connected to the atomization chamber 4 via the pump 20, and the solution can be continuously supplied from the stock solution tank 21. This apparatus supplies the solution from the stock solution tank 21 while discharging the solution in the atomizing chamber 4 to prevent the concentration of the target substance such as alcohol in the solution in the atomizing chamber 4 from being lowered. Further, as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 6, the solution in the atomization chamber 4 is discharged outside without being circulated to the stock solution tank 21 to prevent the concentration of the target substance contained in the stock solution tank 21 from being lowered. You can also.

  The solution in the atomization chamber 4 is atomized into mist by the atomizer 1. The mist atomized by the atomizer 1 has a higher target substance concentration than the solution. Therefore, a high-concentration solution can be efficiently separated by atomizing the solution into mist with the atomizer 1 and aggregating and collecting the mist.

  The atomizer 1 includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 2 and an ultrasonic power source 3 that supplies high-frequency power to the ultrasonic transducers 2. The atomizer 1 is preferably ultrasonically vibrated at a frequency of 1 MHz or more to atomize the solution. When this atomizer 1 is used, the solution can be atomized into an extremely fine mist and concentrated to a higher concentration. The present invention does not specify an atomizer by ultrasonic vibration, but in an atomizer by ultrasonic vibration, the vibration frequency can be made lower than 1 MHz.

  The atomizer 1 that ultrasonically vibrates the solution scatters the solution from the solution surface W as a mist having a higher concentration than the solution in the atomization chamber 4. When the solution is vibrated ultrasonically, a liquid column P is formed on the solution surface W, and mist is generated from the surface of the liquid column P. In the atomizer 1, the ultrasonic vibrator 2 of the atomizer 1 is disposed upward at the bottom of the atomization chamber 4 filled with the solution. The ultrasonic vibrator 2 emits ultrasonic waves upward from the bottom toward the solution surface W, and ultrasonically vibrates the solution surface W to generate the liquid column P. The ultrasonic transducer 2 emits ultrasonic waves in the vertical direction. Although not shown, the atomizer is equipped with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and these ultrasonic transducers are ultrasonically vibrated with an ultrasonic power source to atomize the solution containing the target substance into the mist more efficiently. it can.

  When the solution in the atomizing chamber 4 is heated to a high temperature by the ultrasonic vibrator 2 or the ultrasonic power source 3, the quality may be deteriorated. This problem can be solved by forcibly cooling the ultrasonic transducer 2. Furthermore, the ultrasonic power source 3 is preferably cooled. The ultrasonic power source 3 does not directly heat the solution, but indirectly heats the solution by heating the surroundings. The ultrasonic vibrator 2 and the ultrasonic power source 3 can be arranged and cooled in a state in which the cooling pipe is thermally coupled thereto, that is, in a state in which the cooling pipe is brought into contact therewith. The cooling pipe cools the ultrasonic vibrator and the ultrasonic power source by flowing liquid or refrigerant cooled by a cooler, or cooling water such as ground water or tap water.

  Furthermore, the atomization chamber 4 shown in FIG. 6 includes a temperature control mechanism 22 that controls the temperature of the solution. The temperature control mechanism 22 includes a cooler 23 that cools the solution so that the temperature of the solution becomes a predetermined temperature. The temperature control mechanism 22 detects the temperature of the solution stored in the atomization chamber 4 with the temperature sensor 24 and controls the cooler 23 to keep the temperature of the solution at 30 ° C. or lower. Thus, the atomization chamber 4 provided with the temperature control mechanism 22 manages the temperature of a solution, and can reduce deterioration of quality. However, the atomizer does not necessarily need to have a temperature control mechanism in the atomization chamber.

  The temperature of the solution affects the efficiency of atomizing the solution into mist by ultrasonic vibration. When the temperature of a solution becomes low, the efficiency which atomizes to mist will fall. The solution can be lowered in temperature to reduce quality degradation. However, if the solution temperature is low, the efficiency of atomizing into the mist is lowered. Therefore, the temperature of the solution is set to a temperature at which the target substance can be efficiently atomized into the mist while considering the characteristic that the target substance changes with temperature. A target substance that has little deterioration in quality even when the temperature is high or does not cause a problem can be efficiently atomized into a mist by increasing the temperature of the solution.

  Furthermore, although not shown, the concentrating device can also be provided with a blowing mechanism that blows the carrier gas to the liquid column that is ultrasonically vibrated to form the solution surface in the atomization chamber. For this blower mechanism, for example, a fan that blows carrier gas onto the liquid column can be used. Thus, the concentrating device that blows the carrier gas onto the liquid column with the blower mechanism has the advantage that it can be efficiently atomized into the mist from the surface of the liquid column. However, the concentrating device does not necessarily need to be provided with a blower mechanism and spray the carrier gas onto the liquid column.

  The carrier gas separator 6 separates the carrier gas from the mixed fluid supplied from the atomization chamber 4. The carrier gas separator 6 is divided by a carrier gas permeable membrane 7 into a primary side passage 8 and a secondary side exhaust passage 9. The primary side passage 8 is connected to the atomizer 1 and allows the mixed fluid to pass therethrough. The secondary side exhaust passage 9 exhausts the carrier gas that has been transmitted through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 and separated from the mixed fluid.

  The carrier gas permeable membrane 7 allows only the carrier gas to pass therethrough and prevents the target substance from passing therethrough. Therefore, the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 uses a molecular sieve that is a pore-size membrane that does not pass the target substance but allows the carrier gas to pass. In the apparatus for concentrating the target substance as alcohol, the pore size of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is preferably 0.4 nm to 0.5 nm. The carrier gas permeable membrane 7 does not allow a target substance such as ethanol larger than the pore size to pass, but allows a carrier gas made of a gas containing hydrogen, helium, or at least one of hydrogen and helium to be smaller than the pore size. The pore-sized carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is manufactured, for example, by coating a ceramic surface with zeolite.

  Furthermore, the carrier gas separator 6 preferably heats the gas separation surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. The carrier gas separator 6 in FIG. 2 includes a heater 30 that heats the gas separation surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. The heater 30 shown in the drawing is an infrared heater that irradiates and heats the surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 with infrared rays. However, a planar heater that is heated by being thermally coupled to the surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane can also be used as the heater. As described above, the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 that heats the gas separation surface with the heater 30 allows the carrier gas to pass more efficiently and efficiently separates the carrier gas from the mixed fluid. Furthermore, this concentrator circulates the carrier gas passed through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 heated by the heater 30 to the atomization chamber 4, so that the temperature of the carrier gas supplied to the atomization chamber 4 is increased. There is also a feature that the content of ethanol in the carrier gas in the atomization chamber 4 can be increased.

  The carrier gas separator 6 connects the primary side passage 8 to the atomization chamber 4 to bring the mixed fluid into contact with the primary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5, the secondary exhaust passage 9 is connected to the forced exhauster 11, and the devices of FIGS. 2 and 4 are connected to the primary passage 8 with the compressor 12. Then, the pressure on the primary side surface is made higher than that on the opposite secondary side surface, and the carrier gas of the mixed fluid is permeated through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 to separate part or all of the carrier gas of the mixed fluid. ing.

  The forced exhauster 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5 is a suction pump such as a vacuum pump that forcibly sucks and discharges the carrier gas. The forced exhauster 11 connects the suction side to the secondary side exhaust path 9 to forcibly exhaust the carrier gas in the secondary side exhaust path 9. The secondary side exhaust passage 9 through which the carrier gas is exhausted has a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the primary side passage 8. That is, the pressure in the primary side passage 8 is relatively higher than that in the secondary side exhaust passage 9. In this state, the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid passes through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7, passes from the primary side passage 8 to the secondary side exhaust passage 9, and is separated from the mixed fluid.

  2 and 4 press the mixed fluid into the primary passage 8 by the compressor 12. The compressor 12 is connected to the atomization chamber 4 on the suction side. The apparatus shown in FIG. 4 opens the secondary side exhaust passage 9 of the carrier gas separator 6 to the atmosphere. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a forced exhauster 11 is connected to the secondary exhaust passage 9 of the carrier gas separator 6 to reduce the pressure in the secondary exhaust passage 9 to atmospheric pressure or less. The compressor 12 pressurizes the mixed fluid to atmospheric pressure or higher and press-fits it into the primary side passage 8 so that the pressure in the primary side passage 8 is higher than that in the secondary side exhaust passage 9. In this state, the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid passes through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 due to a pressure difference between the primary side surface and the secondary side surface. The carrier gas that permeates the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 is transferred from the primary side passage 8 to the secondary side exhaust passage 9 and separated from the mixed fluid. This structure can increase the pressure difference between the primary side surface and the secondary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane 7. For this reason, the carrier gas of the mixed fluid can be quickly separated. This is because the compressor 12 can press-fit the mixed fluid into the primary passage 8 at a high pressure.

  As the compressor 12, a piston type compressor, a rotary type compressor, a diaphragm type compressor, a Rishorum type compressor or the like can be used. The compressor 12 is preferably of a type that can feed the mixed fluid to a pressure of 0.2 to 1 MPa.

  The carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 is a carrier gas that does not contain a target substance. The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 supplies the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 to the atomization chamber 4. The device that supplies the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 to the atomization chamber 4 can efficiently atomize the mist in the atomization chamber 4. This is because the carrier gas separated from the mixed fluid by the carrier gas separator 6 does not contain a target substance. Moreover, since the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 is a carrier gas that is controlled in the atomization chamber 4 at an optimum temperature for generating mist, the carrier gas is supplied to the atomization chamber 4 so that the mist can be efficiently used. Can often occur. Furthermore, since the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 is supplied to the atomization chamber 4, the carrier gas composed of hydrogen, helium, or a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium is not exhausted outside the apparatus. It can be used repeatedly by circulating through the atomization chamber 4 and the carrier gas separator 6. For this reason, it can be used safely without deteriorating the work environment, and there is also a feature that the running cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 opens the secondary side exhaust passage 9 of the carrier gas separator 6 to the atmosphere. Since this apparatus exhausts the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6, the carrier gas for transporting the mixed fluid is replenished. The illustrated apparatus is provided with a carrier gas supply unit 25 that supplies carrier gas to the atomization chamber 4. The carrier gas supply unit 25 includes a carrier gas generator 26 and a gas carrier 27. The carrier gas generation unit 26 is, for example, a hydrogen generator. The gas carrier 27 is a blower or a compressor that forcibly blows the carrier gas generated by the carrier gas generator 26 into the atomization chamber 4. The carrier gas supply unit 25 supplies the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator which is the carrier gas generation unit 26 to the atomization chamber 4, or mixes the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator with air and atomizes the hydrogen. Supply to chamber 4.

  The mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6 has a small carrier gas content. In other words, the amount of mist with respect to the carrier gas increases and the target substance of the mist becomes supersaturated. Mist can be efficiently collected in the chamber 5. Since the mixed fluid supplied to the recovery chamber 5 is separated from the carrier gas by the carrier gas separator 6, the amount of carrier gas is smaller than that of the mixed fluid discharged from the atomization chamber 4.

  The mixed fluid from which a part of the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6 is transferred to the recovery chamber 5. The mixed fluid is supplied to the recovery chamber 5 by a forced transfer machine 10 including a blower or a compressor. The forced transfer machine 10 is connected between the transfer gas separator 6 and the recovery chamber 5 in order to supply the mixed fluid from the transfer gas separator 6 to the recovery chamber 5. The forced transfer machine 10 supplies the mixed fluid obtained by separating a part of the transfer gas with the transfer gas separator 6 to the recovery chamber 5.

  The apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 uses a compressor 16 for the forced transfer machine 10. The compressor 16 can be of the same type as the compressor 12 described above. When the compressor 16 is used for the forced conveying machine 10, the mixed fluid can be pressurized to the atmospheric pressure or higher and supplied to the recovery chamber 5. This concentrator can collect and recover mist more effectively in the recovery chamber 5 by lowering the saturated vapor partial pressure of the target substance in the gas phase below the saturated vapor partial pressure under atmospheric pressure.

  A device that uses the compressor 16 in the forced transfer machine 10 to increase the pressure in the recovery chamber 5 connects a throttle valve 17 to the discharge side of the recovery chamber 5. However, when the flow rate of the mixed fluid supplied to the recovery chamber by the compressor is large, it is not always necessary to provide a throttle valve on the discharge side of the recovery chamber. This is because when the passage resistance on the discharge side of the recovery chamber is large, the compressor can supply a large amount of mixed fluid to the recovery chamber, and the pressure in the recovery chamber can be increased to atmospheric pressure or higher. However, it is possible to efficiently pressurize the recovery chamber above atmospheric pressure by connecting a throttle valve to the discharge side of the recovery chamber. The throttle valve 17 increases the passage resistance of the mixed fluid discharged from the recovery chamber 5 and increases the pressure of the recovery chamber 5. The throttle valve 17 is a valve that can adjust the opening resistance of the mixed fluid to adjust the passage resistance of the mixed fluid, or a pipe that increases the passage resistance of the mixed fluid with a thin tube such as a capillary tube, or the mixed fluid in the pipe. What filled the resistance material which enlarges passage resistance etc. can be used. As the throttle valve 17 increases the passage resistance, the pressure in the recovery chamber 5 increases.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the amount of ethanol of the target substance contained in the carrier gas, which is a mixed fluid, decreases as the recovery chamber 5 is pressurized to atmospheric pressure or higher. As can be seen from this graph, the amount of ethanol that can be contained in the gaseous state increases as the temperature of the carrier gas of the mixed fluid increases. However, as the pressure increases, the amount of ethanol that can be contained in the gaseous state decreases rapidly. For example, at 30 ° C., the amount of ethanol that can be contained in the dry carrier gas is remarkably reduced to about 1/5 when the pressure is increased from 0.1 MPa of atmospheric pressure to 0.5 MPa. When the maximum amount of ethanol that can be contained in the gaseous state is reduced, all of the ethanol larger than the maximum amount of ethanol becomes a supersaturated mist and can be efficiently recovered. Ethanol contained in the gaseous state cannot be recovered by aggregation unless it is made into mist. Further, even if the ultrasonic vibration atomizes the target substance into a mist state, if it is vaporized into a gas state, it cannot be collected and collected. For this reason, it is important to recover the target substance that has become mist by ultrasonic vibration as a mist without vaporizing it. Moreover, even if the mist is vaporized, it can be liquefied and recovered again in a supersaturated state. That is, in order to efficiently recover the target substance, it is important to reduce as much as possible the amount by which the target substance that has become mist is vaporized into the mixed fluid. In the present invention, the mixed fluid containing mist is pressurized to atmospheric pressure or higher to lower the saturated vapor partial pressure of the target substance, whereby the target substance contained in the mixed fluid is efficiently converted into a mist state instead of a gas state. Collect well. Although the saturated vapor partial pressure can be lowered by cooling the mixed fluid, the method of pressurizing is very simple with a compressor and has a feature that the saturated vapor partial pressure can be efficiently reduced with less energy. Further, by applying pressure while cooling, it is possible to further reduce the saturated vapor partial pressure of the target substance and recover the target substance more efficiently.

  When the compressor 16 compresses the mixed fluid, the mixed fluid is adiabatically compressed and generates heat. Further, when the mixed fluid passes through the throttle valve 17, it is adiabatically expanded and cooled. The mixed fluid supplied from the compressor 16 to the recovery chamber 5 is preferably cooled in order to efficiently recover the mist, and the recovery efficiency deteriorates if heat is generated. In order to reduce this adverse effect, the apparatus of FIG. 5 includes a heat exchanger 18 for exhaust heat that exchanges heat between the discharge side of the throttle valve 17 and the discharge side of the compressor 16 and the inflow side of the recovery chamber 5. Provided. The heat exchanger 18 for exhaust heat cools the mixed fluid heated by adiabatic compression by the compressor 16 with a mixed fluid that is adiabatically expanded and cooled on the discharge side of the throttle valve 17.

  The heat exchanger 18 for exhaust heat circulates a refrigerant inside the circulation pipe 19. One of the circulation pipes 19 is thermally coupled to the discharge side of the throttle valve 17 and the other is thermally coupled to the discharge side of the compressor 16. The refrigerant circulating in the circulation pipe 19 is cooled on the discharge side of the throttle valve 17. The refrigerant cooled here cools the discharge side of the compressor 16. Although not shown, the circulation pipe 19 has a double pipe structure as a portion to be thermally coupled, and the mixed fluid and the refrigerant are thermally coupled.

  Furthermore, the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes a second exhaust heat exchanger 28 that connects the discharge side of the throttle valve 17 to a condenser 29 that cools the cooling heat exchanger 13. The second heat exhaust heat exchanger 28 has the same structure as the heat exhaust heat exchanger 18 described above, cools the refrigerant on the discharge side of the throttle valve 17, and cools the condenser 29 with the cooled refrigerant. Thus, the refrigerant circulating in the condenser 29 is liquefied.

  The recovery chamber 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 incorporates a cooling heat exchanger 13 that cools and aggregates the mist. Although not shown, the cooling heat exchanger 13 has fins fixed to the heat exchange pipe. A cooling refrigerant or cooling water is circulated through the heat exchange pipe to cool the cooling heat exchanger 13. A part of the mist atomized in the atomization chamber 4 is vaporized into a gas, but the gas is cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 13 in the recovery chamber 5, condensed, condensed and collected. The mist that flows into the recovery chamber 5 collides with the cooling heat exchanger 13 or collides with each other and greatly aggregates, or collides with the fins of the cooling heat exchanger 13 and greatly aggregates and collects as a solution. Is done. The fluid mixture obtained by aggregating and recovering the mist and gas in the cooling heat exchanger 13 is circulated again to the atomization chamber 4 via the circulation duct 14 or circulated to the primary side passage 6 of the carrier gas separator 6. Alternatively, it is circulated between the atomization chamber 4 and the carrier gas separator 6.

  1, 4, and 5, the atomization chamber 4, the carrier gas separator 6, and the recovery chamber 5 are connected by a circulation duct 14, and the mixed fluid is connected to the atomization chamber 4 and the recovery chamber 5. Circulate. In these apparatuses, the discharge side of the recovery chamber 5 is connected to the atomization chamber 4 via a circulation duct 14. These devices cool the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator 6 in the collection chamber 5 to collect the mist, and further supply the mixed fluid from which the mist has been collected to the atomizer 1.

  2 and 3 connects the discharge side of the atomization chamber 4 and the supply side of the carrier gas separator 6 by a circulation duct 14, and further, the discharge side of the carrier gas separator 6 and the recovery chamber 5 are connected. However, the discharge side of the recovery chamber 5 and the supply side of the atomization chamber 4 are not connected by a circulation duct. These apparatuses circulate the carrier gas separated by the carrier gas separator 6 to the atomization chamber 4 and circulate the mixed gas from which the carrier gas has been separated by the carrier gas separator 6 to the recovery chamber 5.

  In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the discharge side of the recovery chamber 5 is connected to the primary side passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6 via the circulation duct 14. This apparatus supplies the mixed fluid from which the mist has been recovered in the recovery chamber 5 to the supply side of the primary side passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6 again. The mixed fluid circulated through the primary side passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6 is separated by passing the carrier gas through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7, and then transferred to the collection chamber 5 to further collect the mist.

  Further, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the discharge side of the recovery chamber 5 is connected between the atomization chamber 4 and the carrier gas separator 6 via the circulation duct 14. In particular, this apparatus is provided with a recovery chamber 15 between the atomization chamber 4 and the carrier gas separator 6, and the recovery chamber 5 is disposed between the recovery chamber 15 and the atomization chamber 4 via a circulation duct 14. The discharge side is connected. In this apparatus, the mixed fluid from which the mist has been collected in the collection chamber 5 is circulated again to the collection unit 15 and the primary passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6.

  3 and 4 includes a recovery chamber 15 between the atomization chamber 4 and the primary passage 8 of the carrier gas separator 6. The recovery chamber 15 also has a built-in cooling heat exchanger 13 that cools and aggregates the mist, similarly to the above-described recovery chamber 5. These apparatuses cool the mixed fluid containing the mist atomized in the atomization chamber 4 in the recovery chamber 15 to recover the mist. That is, these devices collect the mist contained in the mixed fluid in the collection chamber 15 as a pre-process for separating the carrier gas from the mixed fluid transferred from the atomization chamber 4. These apparatuses supply the mixed fluid obtained by collecting a part of the mist in the collection chamber 15 to the carrier gas separator 6 and separate the carrier gas from the mixed fluid.

  Further, the apparatus of FIG. 2 fills the inside of the carrier gas separator 6 with a gas having a molecular weight larger than that of hydrogen or helium, and circulates this gas into the recovery chamber 5 through the mixed gas from which the carrier gas is separated. It can also be circulated through the collection chamber 5 as the second carrier gas. For example, this apparatus circulates a carrier gas composed of hydrogen, helium, or a mixed gas of hydrogen and helium to the atomization chamber 4 and the carrier gas separator 6, and a gas having a molecular weight larger than the carrier gas, for example, A gas such as argon is circulated between the carrier gas separator 6 and the recovery chamber 5 as the second carrier gas. This apparatus can separate the gas to be circulated in each circulation path by the specific gravity difference between the carrier gas composed of hydrogen or helium and the second carrier gas such as argon. That is, in FIG. 2, as indicated by an arrow A, the carrier gas circulated through the first circulation path 31 is a gas composed of hydrogen or helium having a small specific gravity, and as indicated by an arrow B, the carrier gas is circulated in the second circulation path 32. The second carrier gas to be circulated can be circulated in a state where these gases are separated from each other as a gas such as argon having a large specific gravity.

  This apparatus circulates hydrogen or helium, which is a gas having a low molecular weight, as a carrier gas in the atomization chamber 4 to increase the mist vaporization weight that can be contained in the carrier gas, so that the solution can be atomized very efficiently into the mist. In the carrier gas separator 6, hydrogen and helium, which are particles smaller than air, can be smoothly permeated through the carrier gas permeable membrane 7 and separated from the mixed gas. The mist component separated from the carrier gas by the machine 6 can be efficiently recovered by being transported to the recovery chamber 5 by the second carrier gas. In particular, since the second carrier gas is composed of a gas having a molecular weight greater than that of the carrier gas, the recovery chamber 5 can be used without vaporizing or reducing the amount of vaporized mist separated and liquefied from the carrier gas. The recovery efficiency in the recovery chamber 5 can be increased. That is, a carrier gas made of hydrogen or helium having a small molecular weight is circulated in the atomization chamber 4, and a second carrier gas made of a gas having a molecular weight larger than that of the carrier gas is circulated in the recovery chamber 5. By effectively utilizing these characteristics, the solution can be transported while being atomized very efficiently, and can be recovered more efficiently.

  The above-described concentrators have a structure in which the collection chambers 5 and 15 collect and collect the mist by cooling the mixed fluid. However, the recovery chamber is not necessarily specified as a mechanism that cools and aggregates the mist. The concentrator of the present invention is any one of a cyclone, a punching plate, a demister, a chevron, a scrubber, a spray tower, and an electrostatic collector as a recovery chamber for recovering mist in the previous step of separating the carrier gas by the carrier gas separator 6. The mist can also be collected by connecting. Further, although not shown, the concentrator is connected between the discharge side of the carrier gas separator 6 and the collection chamber 5 with any of a cyclone, punching plate, demister, chevron, scrubber, spray tower, and electrostatic collector. The mist can also be recovered.

  Furthermore, the concentration apparatus of the present invention is provided with a nozzle for spraying the solution as the recovery chamber, sprays the recovered solution from this nozzle, drops it in contact with the mist floating in the recovery chamber, and efficiently and quickly. It can also be recovered. In addition, the collection chamber is provided with a plurality of baffle plates arranged vertically inside and a fan that forcibly blows and stirs the mixed fluid so that the mists that are stirred collide with each other or agglomerate. It can collide with the surface of the plate and agglomerate to recover quickly. Furthermore, the collection chamber can be provided with a mist vibrator that vibrates the mist and increases the probability of colliding with each other, and the mist is vibrated vigorously with the mist vibrator to efficiently collide and quickly collect the mist. .

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the concentration apparatus of the solution concerning one Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the concentration apparatus of the solution concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the concentration apparatus of the solution concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the concentration apparatus of the solution concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the concentration apparatus of the solution concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of an ultrasonic atomization chamber and an ultrasonic atomizer. It is a graph which shows the absolute ethanol amount in the carrier gas under pressure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Atomizer 2 ... Ultrasonic vibrator 3 ... Ultrasonic power source 4 ... Atomization chamber 5 ... Recovery chamber 6 ... Carrier gas separator 7 ... Carrier gas permeable membrane 8 ... Primary side passage 9 ... Secondary side exhaust passage 10 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Forced conveying machine 11 ... Forced exhaust machine 12 ... Compressor 13 ... Heat exchanger 14 for cooling 14 ... Circulation duct 15 ... Collection chamber 16 ... Compressor 17 ... Throttle valve 18 ... Heat exchanger 19 for exhaust heat 19 ... Circulation pipe 20 ... Pump 21 ... Stock solution tank 22 ... Temperature control mechanism 23 ... Cooler 24 ... Temperature sensor 25 ... Carrier gas supply unit 26 ... Carrier gas generation unit 27 ... Gas carrier 28 ... Second heat exchanger for exhaust heat 29 ... Condenser 30 ... Heater 31 ... First circuit 32 ... Second circuit W ... Solution surface P ... Liquid column

Claims (23)

An atomizing process in which a solution containing a target substance is atomized into a mist by an atomizer (1) to form a mixed fluid of the mist containing the target substance and a carrier gas, and the mist from the mixed fluid obtained in this atomizing process A collection process to collect,
As the carrier gas, a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium is used, and in the recovery process, the target substance contained in the mist is not allowed to pass but the carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium is allowed to pass. A method for concentrating a solution using a carrier gas permeable membrane (7), and allowing the carrier gas to permeate the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) to separate the carrier gas from a mixed fluid containing mist.   The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer (1) atomizes the solution into mist by ultrasonic vibration.   The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1, wherein in the recovery step, the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is cooled to recover the mist.   In the recovery step, after cooling the mixed fluid containing the mist atomized in the atomization step and recovering the mist, the mixed fluid is transmitted through the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) to separate the carrier gas, and The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1, wherein the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated is cooled to recover the mist component.   In the recovery step, the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated is cooled by the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) to recover the mist, and the mixed fluid from which the mist has been recovered is supplied to the atomizer (1). A method for concentrating the solution described in 1.   In the recovery step, the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) cools the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated to recover the mist, and the mist recovered mixed fluid is circulated to the supply side of the carrier gas permeable membrane (7). The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1.   In the recovery step, the mist of the mixed fluid from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is cooled while being conveyed by the second carrier gas to collect the mist, and the second carrier from which the mist has been collected. The solution concentration method according to claim 1, wherein a gas is circulated to the supply side of the carrier gas permeable membrane (7), and a gas having a molecular weight larger than that of the carrier gas is used as the second carrier gas.   The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1, wherein the second carrier gas is argon.   The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1 or 7, wherein in the recovery step, the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid is separated by a carrier gas permeable membrane (7) and supplied to the atomizer (1).   The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is heated in the recovery step. An atomization chamber (4) for containing a solution containing the target substance, and the solution in the atomization chamber (4) is dispersed as a mist in a carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium, and the solution mist and carrier gas An atomizer (1) that generates a mixed fluid, and a carrier gas separator (6) that is connected to the atomization chamber (4) and separates the carrier gas from the fluid mixture,
The carrier gas separator (6) partitions the inside with a pore-size carrier gas permeable membrane (7) that does not allow the target substance to pass but allows the carrier gas containing at least one of hydrogen and helium to pass, and allows the mixed fluid to pass. The primary side passage (8) and the secondary side exhaust passage (9) for exhausting the carrier gas are provided inside,
This carrier gas separator (6) makes the pressure of the primary surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) higher than that of the secondary surface so that the carrier gas contained in the mixed fluid is fed from the primary passage (8) to the secondary gas. A solution concentrating device configured to separate a carrier gas from a mixed fluid by permeating through a secondary exhaust passage (9).   The carrier gas separator (6) has a forced exhauster (11) connected to the secondary exhaust passage (9), and the secondary exhaust passage (9) is transported by the forced exhauster (11). The apparatus for concentrating a solution according to claim 11, wherein the gas is forcibly exhausted so that the pressure on the primary surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is higher than that on the secondary surface.   The carrier gas separator (6) is connected to the primary side passage (8) by a compressor (12) that pressurizes and supplies the mixed fluid in the atomization chamber (4), and this compressor (12) The pressure of the primary side surface of the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is made higher than that of the secondary side surface by press-fitting the mixed fluid of the atomization chamber (4) into the primary side passage (8). The solution concentration apparatus described.   The solution concentrating device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) is a filter medium obtained by coating a ceramic surface with zeolite.   The solution concentration apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the carrier gas separator (6) includes a heater (30) for heating the carrier gas permeable membrane (7).   The atomizer (1) is an ultrasonic vibrator (2) for atomizing the solution into a mist by ultrasonic vibration, and the ultrasonic vibrator (2) connected to the ultrasonic vibrator (2) has a high frequency. An apparatus for concentrating a solution according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: an ultrasonic power source (3) for supplying electric power to ultrasonically vibrate.   The mist is recovered by connecting any of a cyclone, a punching plate, a demister, a chevron, a scrubber, a spray tower, and an electrostatic recovery machine to the discharge side or the suction side of the carrier gas separator (6). The solution concentration apparatus described in any one of the above.   The recovery chamber (5) for aggregating and recovering mist from the mixed fluid is connected to the discharge side of the primary passage (8) provided in the carrier gas separator (6). An apparatus for concentrating a solution as described above.   The solution according to claim 18, wherein a cooling heat exchanger (13) is provided in the recovery chamber (5), and the mixed fluid is cooled in the cooling heat exchanger (13) to aggregate and recover the mist. Concentration device.   The recovery chamber (5) is connected to the atomization chamber (4), the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator (6), and the carrier gas from which the mist is separated is further collected by the recovery chamber (5). The apparatus for concentrating a solution according to claim 18, which is supplied to (4).   The primary passage (8) of the carrier gas separator (6) is connected to the recovery chamber (5), and the primary passage (8) and the recovery chamber (5) are filled with a gas having a molecular weight larger than that of the carrier gas. A second carrier gas is circulated, and the mist of the mixed gas from which the carrier gas is separated by the carrier gas separator (6) is conveyed to the recovery chamber (5) by the second carrier gas, and the recovery chamber (5 14), the mist is condensed and collected, and the second carrier gas from which the mist has been collected is supplied to the primary side passage (8) of the carrier gas separator (6). Solution concentrator.   The apparatus for concentrating a solution according to claim 21, wherein the second carrier gas is argon.   Conveyance separated from the mixed fluid by the carrier gas permeable membrane (7) of the carrier gas separator (6) by connecting the secondary side exhaust passage (9) of the carrier gas separator (6) to the atomization chamber (4) The apparatus for concentrating a solution according to any one of claims 11 to 13 and 21, wherein gas is supplied to the atomization chamber (4).

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