JP2011167586A - Liquid cleaning apparatus, liquid control valve including the same, and liquid supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid cleaning apparatus that can remove a minute amount of organic matter such as bacteria contained in a highly pure liquid and is easily installable. <P>SOLUTION: A flow-path block 21 constituting the liquid cleaning apparatus 12 is formed transparent. A photocatalyst layer 36 is disposed on the inner face of a liquid flow-path 32 formed in the flow-path block 21. A base plate 42 whereon a LED 41 is attached is disposed on a tubular member 37 of the flow-path block 21. A light radiating member 22 is integrally attached to the flow-path block 21. The photocatalyst layer 36 is irradiated with and activated by an ultraviolet ray radiated by the LED 41 and passing through the transparent tubular member 37. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid purification apparatus that performs purification such as sterilization on a high-purity liquid using a photocatalyst, a fluid control valve including the same, and a liquid supply system.

  In manufacturing processes of semiconductors, flat panel displays (FPDs), solar cells, and the like, processing on wafers, panels, and the like is performed using liquids such as various chemicals and pure water. In this case, since the presence of fine particles (particles) impedes the circuits formed on the wafer or panel, the liquid used is required to have a very high purity.

  By the way, the particles include not only inorganic substances such as dust but also organic substances such as bacteria. Such organic matter such as bacteria starts breeding by stopping the flow of pure water and retaining it in the flow path. And even if such organic substance exists in pure water even if a trace amount, the problem that it becomes impossible to maintain the required purity arises. Such a problem can occur in the same manner depending on the concentration of a chemical solution instead of pure water.

  Therefore, conventionally, in order to avoid the problem of an increase in organic substances in a high-purity liquid such as pure water, in a liquid supply system for supplying a high-purity liquid to a use point, a bypass flow is provided as an on-off valve provided in the middle of the liquid passage. The thing provided with the path is used (refer patent documents 1-3). As a result, even when the main flow path of the on-off valve is closed, high-purity liquid continues to flow through the bypass flow path even though the amount is small, so that the high-purity liquid is prevented from staying in the liquid passage, and organic substances such as bacteria are An increase in a minute amount can be suppressed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-40365 JP-A-6-221457 JP 2007-46725 A

  However, if the high-purity liquid is circulated through the bypass channel as in the prior art, liquid supply such as a pump for sending out the high-purity liquid even when the high-purity liquid is not used as a process for the wafer or the panel. It is necessary to drive various devices constituting the system. That is, it is necessary to constantly drive these various devices. In addition, the high-purity liquid consumed in the meantime is collected and reused, but an extra cost is required for the reuse. For this reason, the conventional technique has a problem of increasing the running cost.

  Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid purification apparatus that removes organic substances such as bacteria contained in a very small amount in a high-purity liquid and can be easily installed, so that a high-purity liquid is not used. In such a case, the distribution is completely stopped to reduce the running cost.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

  That is, in the first invention, the liquid purification apparatus is provided in the liquid flow path, a liquid flow path for circulating a high-purity liquid, a flow path block having an inlet and an outlet for the liquid flow path, and the liquid flow path. And a photocatalyst portion that is in contact with the high-purity liquid in the liquid flow path, and a light irradiation section that is assembled integrally with the flow path block and includes a light source that generates light to irradiate the photocatalyst section.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, when the high-purity liquid that has flowed in from the inlet flows through the liquid channel and reaches the outlet, the high-purity liquid contacts the photocatalyst portion provided in the liquid channel. In the photocatalyst part, when the light of the light irradiation part is irradiated, a photocatalytic action (photocatalytic decomposition action) is caused. By this action, if light is irradiated to the photocatalyst portion during the distribution of the high purity liquid, a trace amount of organic substances such as bacteria contained in the flowing high purity liquid is decomposed and removed in contact with the photocatalyst portion.

  Therefore, if this liquid purification apparatus is used in a situation where a high-purity liquid is used, such as a semiconductor manufacturing process, even if a trace amount of organic matter is contained in the liquid that has been high-purity due to retention, Organic substances can be decomposed and removed, and purified to the original high purity state. As a result, when the high-purity liquid is not used, the circulation can be completely stopped, which helps to reduce the running cost.

  In addition, the flow path block in which the liquid flow path is formed and the light irradiation section for irradiating light to the photocatalyst section are assembled together to complete a single device. For this reason, unlike installing a flow path block and a light irradiation part separately, respectively, installation of a liquid purification apparatus can be performed easily.

  In the second invention, at least downstream of the photocatalyst portion in the liquid channel, the photocatalyst portion is formed to have the same cross section as the cross section of the channel.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least on the downstream side of the photocatalyst portion, the photocatalyst portion installation portion and the flow path cross section are formed the same, so that a liquid pool can be formed in the liquid flow channel after passing through the photocatalyst portion. It is difficult. As a result, the liquid purified by the photocatalyst section is retained again, and the factors that increase organic substances such as bacteria can be eliminated.

  In a third aspect of the invention, the flow path block has a tubular portion in which a part in the extending direction of the liquid flow path is thinned, and the light irradiation portion is an outer peripheral portion of the tubular portion formed in a concave shape. And at least the tubular portion is a light transmitting portion that transmits the light so that the light of the light irradiation portion is irradiated onto the photocatalyst portion.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the light irradiation part is installed on the outer peripheral part of the tubular part formed in a concave shape, this apparatus in which the flow path block and the light irradiation part are assembled together is compact. Can be In addition, since the tubular portion is at least a light transmitting portion and light is transmitted through the thin portion of the tube wall and irradiated to the photocatalyst portion, the amount of light emitted by the light emitted from the light emitting portion is transmitted through the light transmitting portion. Reduction can be suppressed. Thereby, the decomposition | disassembly effect | action in a photocatalyst part can be accelerated | stimulated. In addition, it is preferable that the said photocatalyst part is provided in the range of this tubular part at least.

  In the fourth invention, a plurality of light sources of the light irradiation unit are provided in the circumferential direction of the liquid flow path.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the photocatalyst portion is irradiated with light from a plurality of directions in the circumferential direction of the liquid flow path, the light amount sufficient for activating the photocatalyst compared to light irradiation from a single direction Can be secured.

  In 5th invention, the light source of the said light irradiation part is a light emission sheet | seat which has an organic EL element, The light emission sheet | seat is provided in the outer peripheral surface of the said tubular part so that a cylindrical shape may be made.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the photocatalyst portion provided in the liquid flow path is irradiated with light all over the entire circumferential direction of the tubular portion, the photocatalyst portion can be evenly irradiated with light. Thereby, a photocatalytic decomposition action is obtained in the entire photocatalyst portion provided in the liquid flow path.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, as the photocatalyst portion, a thin-film photocatalyst layer is provided on the inner surface of the liquid channel over the entire cross section of the channel.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the photocatalyst layer provided on the inner surface of the liquid channel is the photocatalyst portion, which is preferable in that the configuration can be simplified. In addition, since the photocatalyst layer is formed in a thin film shape, it is preferable in that the flow of the liquid is not hindered even if the photocatalyst portion is provided in the liquid channel.

  In the seventh invention, a screw member having a rotation axis as a rotation axis center is rotatably provided in the liquid channel, and a photocatalyst layer is provided on the outer surface of the screw member as the photocatalyst portion. Is provided.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the screw member rotates as the liquid flows, and the liquid is stirred by the rotation. Therefore, organic substances such as bacteria contained in the liquid come into contact with the photocatalytic layer on the screw surface. Opportunities increase. Thereby, the purification effect in a photocatalyst layer can be improved. Further, when used in combination with the above-described configuration in which the photocatalyst layer is provided on the inner surface of the flow path, the surface area of the photocatalyst layer increases. Thereby, photocatalytic decomposition is performed in a wider range, and the purification effect of the liquid can be improved.

  In addition, you may employ | adopt the structure provided with the rotational drive mechanism which rotates this screw member. Thus, if the screw member is positively rotated, the liquid stirring effect can be improved or the liquid flow can be promoted depending on the rotation speed.

  In an eighth aspect of the invention, an optical fiber that is supplied with light from a light source outside the flow path and emits side light is provided in the liquid flow path, and a thin film is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber as the photocatalytic portion. It is assumed that a photocatalyst layer is provided.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, light is emitted not only from the light emitted from the light irradiator but also from the side surface (outer peripheral surface) of the optical fiber. To do. Thereby, the photocatalytic decomposition action in the photocatalyst layer is further promoted, and the liquid purification effect can be improved. In this case as well, when used in combination with the above-described structure in which the photocatalyst layer is provided on the inner surface of the flow path, the purification effect can be improved by increasing the surface area of the photocatalyst layer.

  As the installation configuration of the optical fiber, the elongated optical fiber is disposed along the direction in which the liquid channel extends, and is provided in the liquid channel at both ends in the direction. It is preferably supported by an optical fiber support, and a flow hole is preferably formed in the optical fiber support. This makes it possible to support the optical fiber and ensure liquid circulation in the flowing liquid.

  In a ninth aspect of the invention, the flow path block has a valve connection structure with a liquid control valve that controls the flow of the liquid at an end portion where the inflow port or the outflow port is provided. An H-shaped seal member is used.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the liquid purification apparatus can be connected to the fluid control valve using the valve connection structure and integrated with the fluid control valve. Thereby, since the liquid control valve which integrated the liquid purification apparatus is obtained, connection piping is not required between the two, which can contribute to space saving. In addition, since an H-shaped seal member is used in the valve connection structure, unlike other seal members such as an O-ring, no liquid pool is formed at the connection portion. As a result, the connection structure is effective in preventing the generation of organic substances such as trace amounts of bacteria.

  As in the tenth aspect, pure water is mainly used as the high-purity liquid. In a semiconductor manufacturing process or the like, pure water that is a high-purity liquid with respect to particle content is used, but the pure water is likely to generate organic substances such as bacteria. Therefore, it is preferable to use this pure water as a purification target of the liquid purification apparatus that removes a trace amount of organic substances.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid control valve that controls the flow of liquid by opening and closing a valve body, the valve side outlet connected to the inlet in the liquid purification device as described above, and a purification device connection structure And provided.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, a liquid control valve integrated with the liquid purification device using the purification device connection structure is obtained. If such a purifying device is an integral-type liquid control valve, it can be easily installed in a liquid supply system or the like.

  In a twelfth aspect of the invention, a liquid passage for allowing a high-purity liquid to flow from a liquid supply source to a liquid supply destination, the liquid control valve according to the eleventh aspect of the invention provided in the middle of the liquid passage, and the liquid supply destination The liquid supply system includes a purification device control unit that controls the light irradiation unit in the liquid purification device so that light irradiation is performed in accordance with the start of liquid supply.

  According to the twelfth aspect, since the liquid control valve according to the eleventh aspect is installed in the liquid supply system that supplies the high-purity liquid to the supply destination, a trace amount of bacteria or the like is contained in the high-purity liquid. Even if the organic substance is contained, it is supplied to the liquid supply destination in a state where it is decomposed and removed. Thereby, when a high purity liquid is not used, the distribution | circulation of the liquid in a liquid supply system may be stopped completely, and a running cost can be reduced.

Sectional drawing which shows purification apparatus integrated on-off valve. The circuit diagram which shows the basic composition of a liquid supply system. Sectional drawing which shows another form of a liquid purification apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows another form of a liquid purification apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows another form of a liquid purification apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows another form of a liquid purification apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The liquid purification apparatus in this embodiment is an apparatus that purifies liquid using photocatalysis. The photocatalytic action means that a photocatalytic activator such as titanium oxide (TiO2) is irradiated with ultraviolet light to decompose organic substances in contact therewith. Using this action, organic substances such as bacteria contained in the circulating liquid are decomposed and removed, and the liquid is purified.

  Such a liquid purification apparatus is installed in a liquid supply system that supplies a high-purity liquid such as pure water or a chemical solution to a use point in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor or the like. The liquid passage of the liquid supply system is provided with an open / close valve that opens and closes the liquid passage in the middle thereof. The liquid purification apparatus in the present embodiment is integrated with the on-off valve and is installed in the middle of the liquid passage. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the purification device integrated on-off valve.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the purification device integrated open / close valve 11 is integrated by connecting the liquid purification device 12 and the open / close valve 13 as described above. Among these, the liquid purification apparatus 12 is equipped with the flow path block 21 and the light irradiation part 22, and becomes the structure assembled | attached integrally.

  The flow path block 21 has a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is made of a fluororesin such as PFA as a material to be transparent so as to impart light (particularly, ultraviolet light) transparency. The channel block 21 is provided with channel openings 31a and 31b on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and the liquid channel 32 communicating with both channel openings 31a and 31b is straight along the longitudinal direction. It is formed in a shape. The liquid channel 32 has the same channel cross section along the direction in which the channel 32 extends. One end of the longitudinal ends of the flow path block 21 is formed with a valve connection end face 33 on the flow path block 21, and the flow path opening 31 a is provided on the valve connection end face 33. . The opening cross section of the flow path opening 31a is the same as the cross section of the liquid flow path 32, and an accommodation groove 34 for the H-shaped seal member 14 is formed at the opening edge. On the other hand, on the other side, a pipe-like pipe connection part 35 is provided on the side of the flow path opening 31b. A pipe connected to the liquid flow path 32 is connected to the pipe connection portion 35.

  The liquid flow path 32 is provided with a photocatalyst layer 36 as a photocatalyst portion on the inner surface thereof. The formation region is a region including at least the installation portion of the light irradiation unit 22 in the entire direction in the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the flow channel and in the direction in which the liquid flow channel 32 extends. In the drawing, a photocatalyst layer 36 is formed over the entire area from the liquid flow path 32 to the pipe connection portion 35 from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture. The photocatalyst layer 36 is a thin film and is coated on the inner surface of the flow path by an appropriate method such as vapor deposition. In FIG. 1, the ratio is neglected and a predetermined thickness is shown. The photocatalyst layer 36 is formed using a photocatalyst activating substance such as titanium oxide (TiO 2) as a material, and exhibits a photocatalytic decomposition action in which an organic substance is decomposed into carbon dioxide and water on the surface by irradiation with ultraviolet light. .

  Most of the flow path block 21 in the extending direction of the liquid flow path 32 is thinned. By reducing the thickness of the flow path block 21, the surface of the portion becomes concave so as to approach the liquid flow path 32 over the entire outer periphery, thereby forming a tubular portion 37. The outer peripheral portion having a concave shape of the tubular portion 37 is an accommodation recess 38, and the light irradiation portion 22 is provided in the accommodation recess 38.

  The light irradiation part 22 has LED41 used as a light source, and the attachment board | substrate 42 with which the LED41 was attached. For the LED 41, an LED that emits ultraviolet light is used in order to cause the photocatalytic activation material of the photocatalytic layer 36 to cause a photocatalytic decomposition action. The mounting substrate 42 is housed in the housing recess 38 with the LED mounting surface 42a to which the LED 41 is mounted inside, and the LED 41 faces the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 37 in the housing state. A plurality (four in the drawing) of LEDs 41 are attached to the attachment substrate 42 along the direction in which the liquid flow path 32 extends, and a plurality of LEDs 41 are also attached along the circumferential direction of the tubular portion 37. For this reason, even in the circumferential direction of the tubular portion 37, ultraviolet light is emitted from a plurality of directions (for example, four directions or eight directions) toward the liquid flow path 32. Further, a cable connecting portion 43 is provided on the outer surface of the mounting substrate 42, and power is supplied to the LED 41 through a circuit formed on the mounting substrate 42 and lighting control thereof is performed. Cable 44 is connected.

  As described above, since the entire flow path block 21 is provided with light transmission, the tubular portion 37 also has light transmission. For this reason, when ultraviolet light is emitted from the LED 41 arranged on the outer peripheral side of the tubular portion 37, the ultraviolet light passes through the tubular portion 37 and is irradiated to the photocatalyst layer 36 provided on the inner surface of the liquid flow path 32. The Thereby, the photocatalyst activating substance of the photocatalyst layer 36 is activated and causes a photocatalytic decomposition action. When the liquid flowing through the liquid flow path 32 contains a small amount of organic substances such as bacteria, the organic substances are decomposed by this photocatalytic decomposition action. By the way, since carbon dioxide and water are generated by the decomposition of the organic matter, the decomposition product does not become particles. Thereby, the flowing liquid can be purified.

  Next, the configuration of the on-off valve 13 to which the liquid purification apparatus 12 having the above configuration is connected will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the on-off valve 13 includes a flow path block 51, a diaphragm valve body 52, and a valve body drive unit 53 that drives the diaphragm valve body 52, and these are integrally assembled. It becomes the composition.

  The flow path block 51 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is made of a fluororesin such as PFA, as in the flow path block 21 of the liquid purification device 12. Note that the light transmission need not be the same as that of the liquid purification device 12. The channel block 51 is provided with outer openings 61a and 61b on a pair of side portions, respectively, and a liquid channel 62 communicating with the outer openings 61a and 61b is formed. The liquid flow path 62 is provided with the diaphragm valve body 52 in the middle thereof, and is divided into a first flow path 62a and a second flow path 62b with the diaphragm valve body 52 as a boundary.

  In the 1st flow path 62a, the pipe-shaped piping connection part 63 is provided in the side of the outer opening part 61a, and the piping connected to the 1st flow path 62a is connected. On the other hand, the outer opening 61 b of the second flow path 62 b is formed with a connection end face 64 in the flow path block 51, and is open at the connection end face 64. The opening cross section of the outer opening 61b is the same as the cross section of the second flow path 62b, and an accommodation groove 65 for the H-shaped seal member 14 is formed at the opening edge.

  As for the 1st flow path 62a and the 2nd flow path 62b, the flow path end (flow path end on the opposite side to the outer opening part 61) of the diaphragm valve body 52 side is opened by the valve drive part attachment surface 51a. In the valve drive unit mounting surface 51a, the valve body side opening 66a of the first flow path 62a is provided at the center of the surface, and the valve body side opening 66b of the second flow path 62b is formed so as to surround the periphery of the opening. Has been. And the said flow-path edge part of the 1st flow path 62a is formed so that it may become the cylindrical part 67, The front-end | tip part serves as the valve seat 68. FIG. When the boss portion 71 of the diaphragm valve body 52 contacts or separates from the valve seat 68, the flow paths are communicated or blocked.

  Note that the cross section of the flow path is the same as that of the liquid flow path 32 of the liquid purification apparatus 12 in the portion of the first flow path 62a excluding the bent portion and the portion of the second flow path 62b excluding the valve element side opening 66b. It is formed as follows.

  Here, the diaphragm valve body 52 is made of a fluororesin such as PTFE, and includes a boss portion 71, a peripheral edge portion 72, and a diaphragm film portion 73 formed therebetween. As described above, the boss portion 71 is a portion that contacts or separates from the valve seat 68 to open and close between the flow paths, and the peripheral edge portion 72 includes the flow path block 51 and the valve element driving portion 53. It is the part that is held between.

  The valve body driving unit 53 is a structural unit that drives the diaphragm valve body 52, and includes a cylinder body 81 and a cover 82. A piston rod 83 is accommodated in the cylinder body 81. The piston rod 83 is disposed so that its central axis is coaxial with the cylindrical portion 67 forming the valve element side flow path end of the first flow path 62a, and is slidable along the axial direction. Yes. The valve element side end of the piston rod 83 is connected to the boss 71 of the diaphragm valve element 52. For this reason, when the diaphragm valve body 52 is driven as the piston rod 83 slides, the boss portion 71 contacts or separates from the valve seat 68. A coil spring 84 is disposed between the piston rod 83 and the cover 82. For this reason, the piston rod 83 is always urged in a direction (downward in the drawing) in which the boss 71 is brought into contact with the valve seat 68 to close the valve. Therefore, the on-off valve 13 of this embodiment is a normally closed type.

  Of the space in the cylinder body 81 defined by the piston portion 83 a of the piston rod 83, the valve body side is a pressure control chamber 85, and an air introduction port 86 and an air flow path 87 are provided in the pressure control chamber 85. Thus, the operation air is introduced from an external air supply source. In this case, when the air pressure in the pressure control chamber 85 increases, the piston rod 83 moves against the urging force of the coil spring 84 (moves upward in the figure). Note that the airtightness of the pressure control chamber 85 is held by the seal member 88. For this reason, when operating air is introduced into the pressure control chamber 85, the piston rod 83 moves and the boss portion 71 of the diaphragm valve body 52 moves away from the valve seat 68. Thereby, the first flow path 62a and the second flow path 62b communicate with each other through the gap between the boss portion 71 and the valve seat 68, and the liquid flows between both flow paths.

  The on-off valve 13 having the above configuration and the liquid purification apparatus 12 described first are connected and integrated. With the H-shaped seal member 14 interposed in the seal housing grooves 34 and 65, the valve connection end face 33 of the liquid purification device 12 and the connection end face 64 of the on-off valve 13 are brought into contact with each other, and are not shown. The contact state is maintained by fixing means such as bolts.

  For this reason, in the liquid purification apparatus 12, the structure of the flow path block 21 including the valve connection end face 33, the seal housing groove 34, and the H-shaped seal member 14 is a valve connection structure. Similarly, in the on-off valve 13, the structure of the flow path block 51 including the connection end face 64, the seal housing groove 65, and the H-shaped seal member 14 is a purification device connection structure. In addition, as a connection structure between the liquid purification device 12 and the on-off valve 13, other connection structures such as providing an engaging part and an engaged part may be adopted.

  In this case, as described above, the second flow path 62b of the on-off valve 13 and the liquid flow path 32 of the liquid purification device 12 have the same flow path cross section. And also in the connection part of both the flow paths 32 and 62b, a flow path is formed by the internal peripheral surface of the H-shaped sealing member 14, and the identity of a flow path cross section is maintained. For this reason, the entire region from the second flow path 62b of the on-off valve 13 to the liquid flow path 32 of the liquid purification device 12 has the same flow path cross section.

  Next, the basic configuration of the liquid supply system using the purification device integrated on-off valve 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the liquid supply system. It should be noted that the system configuration described here is only a basic portion necessary for explaining the function of the purifier integrated valve 11. In addition to this basic configuration, an actual liquid supply system is appropriately configured by installing various devices such as a filter device and other liquid control valves, or by providing a branch passage.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid supply system 91 includes a liquid passage 92 through which a high-purity liquid flows, a pump device 93, and the purification device integrated opening / closing valve 11. It also has a controller 94 that controls the operation of these devices.

  As the pump device 93, for example, a well-known device such as a pressure pump using a flexible film such as a diaphragm is used, and the high-purity liquid is sent out from the liquid supply source LK toward the use point 95 that is a liquid supply destination. The pump device 93 is controlled to be driven or stopped by a control signal from the controller 94. The purification device integrated on-off valve 11 is provided on the secondary side (downstream side) of the pump device 93 and in the vicinity of the use point 95 so that the on-off valve 13 is on the primary side (upstream side).

  Therefore, the first flow path 62a of the on-off valve 13 is a primary flow path, and the second flow path 62b is a secondary flow path. The high-purity liquid that has circulated through the second flow path 62b reaches the liquid flow path 32 of the liquid purification apparatus 12. In this case, in the on-off valve 13 and the liquid purification device 12, the outer opening 61a and the channel opening 31a that are primary sides are the inlets, and the outer opening 61b and the channel opening 31b are the outlets. ing. The outer opening 61b corresponds to a valve-side outlet serving as an outlet provided in the on-off valve 13.

  Further, since the purifier integrated open / close valve 11 is provided in the vicinity of the use point 95, the liquid passage 92 between them is a relatively short path. For this reason, the liquid that has been purified by passing through the liquid purification device 12 to become a high-purity liquid is supplied to the use point 95 while maintaining the freshness of the purification. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of organic substances, such as bacteria, is suppressed.

  The air introduction port 86 of the on-off valve 13 is connected to an air supply source AK via an electromagnetic switching valve 96 and a pressure control valve 97. The electromagnetic switching valve 96 is normally in a state where the air introduction port 86 is opened to the atmosphere, and receives a control signal from the controller 94 to switch to a state where operating air is introduced into the air introduction port 86. In a normal atmosphere open state, the liquid passage 92 is blocked by the normally closed on-off valve 13. On the other hand, when the operation air is introduced into the air introduction port 86, the on-off valve 13 is switched from the closed state to the open state, and the high-purity liquid can be circulated.

  As described above, in the liquid supply system 91, the high-purity liquid from the liquid supply source LK is guided to the use point 95 via the pump device 93, the on-off valve 13, and the liquid purification device 12. Further, in the liquid purification apparatus 12, the light irradiation unit 22 is connected to the controller 94 through the cable 44, and the LED 41 of the light irradiation unit 22 is controlled to be turned on by a control signal from the controller 94. This controller 94 corresponds to the purification device control means.

  In the liquid supply system 91, the controller 94 performs the following control.

  First, when the liquid supply to the use point 95 is stopped, the transmission of the switching signal to the electromagnetic switching valve 96 is stopped and the stop signal is transmitted to the pump device 93. As a result, the liquid passage 92 is blocked by the on-off valve 13 and the high-purity liquid delivery by the pump device 93 is stopped. In this state, the high-purity liquid in the liquid passage 92 stays, and an organic substance such as bacteria can grow.

  Subsequently, when the supply of liquid to the use point 95 is resumed, a switching signal is transmitted to the electromagnetic switching valve 96 and a driving signal is transmitted to the pump device 93. Thereby, the high purity liquid is sent out from the liquid supply source LK by the pump device 93, and the liquid is supplied to the use point 95.

  Here, when the liquid supply has been stopped for a long time (for example, about one day), organic substances such as bacteria increase in the high-purity liquid in the liquid passage 92 that has stayed. , Its purity is reduced and it is no longer a high purity liquid. Such a liquid cannot be used as it is in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor or the like. Therefore, in order to restore the liquid to the original high purity state, the controller 94 transmits a lighting signal to the light irradiation unit 22 of the liquid purification device 12 in accordance with the transmission of each signal described above. Then, in the liquid purification apparatus 12, the photocatalyst layer 36 is irradiated with ultraviolet light by the LED 41, and the photocatalyst activating substance is activated in the photocatalyst layer 36 to cause a photocatalytic decomposition action. By this photocatalytic decomposition action, organic substances such as bacteria contained in the liquid are decomposed into carbon dioxide and water. For this reason, the liquid flowing through the liquid flow path 32 provided with the photocatalyst layer 36 is purified and flows out of the liquid purification apparatus 12 as a high-purity liquid. Therefore, the liquid whose purity is reduced by the retention is supplied to the use point 95 as a high-purity liquid that can be used in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor or the like.

  The liquid staying in the liquid passage 92 on the secondary side of the liquid purification apparatus 12 is supplied to the use point 95 without passing through the liquid purification apparatus 12 after the liquid supply is resumed, so that the purity is recovered. I can't let you. This liquid is a collection target without being used in the manufacturing process. However, as described above, since the liquid purification apparatus 12 is installed in the vicinity of the use point 95, only a small amount can be collected.

  When the supply of the high-purity liquid is stopped again after the liquid supply is resumed, the controller 94 transmits a turn-off signal to the light irradiation unit 22 and turns off the LED 41 in addition to the control of the pump device 93 and the like described above.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

  (1) In the liquid purification apparatus 12, the photocatalyst layer 36 is formed on the inner surface of the liquid channel 32 formed in the channel block 21. The photocatalyst layer 36 causes a photocatalytic action (photocatalytic decomposition action) when the light emitted from the light irradiating part 22 is irradiated through the transparent tubular part 37. Organic substances such as bacteria contained in the inflowing liquid are decomposed and removed by this photocatalytic action, so that the liquid can be purified.

  In the liquid supply system 91 using the liquid purifier 12, even if a trace amount of organic matter such as bacteria is contained in the liquid that has been highly purified due to the stagnation and the purity is lowered, the trace amount of organic matter is not removed from the liquid purifier 12. It can be decomposed and removed in order to purify the original high-purity liquid. Then, this high-purity liquid is supplied to the use point 95. Thereby, when a high purity liquid is not used, the distribution | circulation can be stopped completely and it helps a running cost reduction.

  In the semiconductor manufacturing process and the like, pure water which is a high-purity liquid with respect to the particle content is used. In particular, the pure water is likely to generate organic substances such as bacteria. Therefore, it is suitable when pure water is used as the high purity liquid.

  (2) The liquid purification apparatus 12 includes a flow path block 21 in which the liquid flow path 32 having the photocatalyst layer 36 is formed, and a light irradiation unit 22 that irradiates the photocatalyst layer 36 with light, and is integrated into one unit. It is completed as a device. For this reason, unlike the case where the flow path block 21 and the light irradiation unit 22 are individually installed in the liquid supply system 91, the liquid purification device 12 can be easily installed.

  (3) In the liquid purification device 12, the liquid flow path 32 has the same flow path cross section in the entire region along the direction in which the flow path 32 extends, and the flow path openings 31a and 31b have the same opening cross section. Have For this reason, it is difficult for the liquid flow path 32 to accumulate liquid before and after passing through the photocatalyst layer 36. As a result, the liquid can be smoothly introduced into the formation region of the photocatalyst layer 36, and the liquid purified by the photocatalyst layer 36 and having a high purity can be retained again to eliminate the factor of increasing organic substances such as bacteria. Can do.

  (4) In the liquid purification device 12, a part of the flow path block 21 is thinned to form the tubular portion 37, and the light irradiation unit 22 is installed on the outer peripheral portion of the tubular portion 37 that is concave. Thus, since the light irradiation part 22 is integrated | assembled integrally using a concave-shaped part, an apparatus can be reduced in size. In addition, since light passes through the thin tubular portion 37 of the tube wall and is irradiated to the photocatalyst layer 36, a decrease in the amount of light when the light emitted from the light irradiation portion 22 passes through the tube wall is suppressed, and the photocatalyst layer 36 Can promote the decomposition action.

  (5) In the liquid purification apparatus 12, a thin-film photocatalyst layer 36 is provided on the inner surface of the liquid flow path 32 over the entire cross section of the flow path. For this reason, when providing a photocatalyst part in the liquid flow path 32, it is suitable at the point that the structure can be simplified. Moreover, since the photocatalyst layer 36 is formed in a thin film shape, it is also preferable in that it does not hinder the flow of the liquid.

  (6) In the liquid purification device 12, the flow path block 21 is provided with a valve connection structure including the valve connection end face 33 and the H-shaped seal member 14, and can be connected to the on-off valve 13. On the other hand, the on-off valve 13 is also provided with a purification device connection structure including the connection end face 64 and the H-shaped seal member 14 in the flow path block 51, and can be connected to the liquid purification device 12. By using these connection structures, since both are integrated, it is possible to save space by eliminating the need for connection piping between them.

  In addition, since the H-shaped seal member 14 is used in the connection structure between the liquid purification device 12 and the on-off valve 13, a liquid pool is formed at the connection portion, unlike when another seal member such as an O-ring is used. Not formed. As a result, the connection structure is effective in preventing the generation of organic substances such as trace amounts of bacteria.

  (7) In the purification device integrated on-off valve 11, the flow passage opening 31 a and the liquid passage on the inflow side of the liquid purification device 12 from the second passage 62 b and the outer opening 61 b on the outflow side of the on-off valve 13. The flow path cross section is the same up to 32. For this reason, the liquid that has passed through the diaphragm valve body 52 can smoothly flow from the second flow path 62b of the on-off valve 13 to the liquid flow path 32 of the liquid purification device 12 without forming a liquid pool on the way. Therefore, in this respect, the structure can suppress the generation of trace amounts of organic substances such as bacteria.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be implemented, for example, in the form shown as another example below.

[Another form of liquid purifier]
Other embodiments of the liquid purification device 12 among the purification device integrated on-off valve 11 can be considered. Some examples will be described with reference to cross-sectional views of the liquid purification apparatus shown in FIGS. Since the basic configuration is the same, different configurations will be mainly described.

  (A1) As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid purification apparatus 101 as a first alternative embodiment is configured such that a screw member 102 is disposed in a liquid flow path. Here, it is assumed that the on-off valve 13 is on the primary side.

  The flow path block 21 is provided with a partition wall 103 that partitions the liquid flow path 32 at the end on the pipe connection portion 35 side that is the downstream side. A flow hole 104 is formed in the partition wall 103 so as not to block the liquid flow path 32, and the flow of the liquid in the liquid flow path 32 is ensured through the flow hole 104. A screw shaft support portion is provided at the center of the upstream end face of the partition wall portion 103, and a screw member 102 having a rotation axis in the direction in which the liquid channel 32 extends is rotatably supported. The screw member 102 has a length over almost the entire region within the light irradiation range by the light irradiation unit 22, and a photocatalyst layer 102a as a photocatalyst unit is provided on the surface thereof. And the photocatalyst layer 36 provided in the inner surface of the liquid flow path 32 is a thin film, and itself has a light transmittance. For this reason, the ultraviolet light of the LED 41 transmitted through the tubular portion 37 is irradiated not only on the photocatalyst layer 36 on the inner surface of the flow path but also on the photocatalyst layer 102 a on the surface of the screw member 102.

  In the liquid purification apparatus 101 of this form, the surface area of the photocatalyst layers 36 and 102a that come into contact with the liquid is increased by the presence of the photocatalyst layer 102a in the screw member 102 in the liquid flow path 32 as well. Thereby, photocatalytic decomposition is performed in a wider range, and the purification effect of the liquid can be improved. Further, since the liquid is agitated by the rotation of the screw member 102 accompanying the circulation of the liquid, the chance that organic substances such as bacteria contained in the liquid come into contact with the photocatalyst layers 36 and 102a is increased, and the purification effect is thereby expected to be improved. it can. Furthermore, although it is possible to circulate the liquid even if the screw member 102 is installed in a non-rotatable state, the circulation of the liquid is also promoted by rotating it.

  (A2) As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid purification apparatus 111 as a second alternative form is provided with a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the screw member 102 in the liquid purification apparatus 101 of the first alternative form. It is provided. The rotation drive mechanism includes a permanent magnet 112 provided on the blade portion of the screw member 102 and a coil portion 113 provided on the LED mounting surface 42a of the light irradiation unit 22 and disposed outside the permanent magnet 112. ing. A driving current is supplied to the coil portion 113 from the cable 44 connected to the cable connecting portion 43 through the circuit of the mounting substrate 42, thereby generating a rotating magnetic field. When the permanent magnet 112 receives this rotating magnetic field, the screw member 102 actively rotates.

  In the liquid purification apparatus 111 of this embodiment, the screw member 102 is positively rotated by the rotation drive mechanism, thereby not only obtaining the same effect as the liquid purification apparatus 101 of the first different form but also the liquid stirring effect depending on the rotation speed Can be improved, or the flow of liquid can be promoted.

  (A3) Although the liquid purification apparatus 12 of the above embodiment uses the LED 41 as the light source of the light irradiation unit 22, other light sources may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a light purification sheet 121 having an organic EL element is used in a liquid purification apparatus 121 as a third alternative form. As the light emitting sheet 122, one that emits ultraviolet light is used. The light emitting sheet 122 is installed in a state of being wound around the entire area along the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 37.

  In the liquid purification apparatus 121 of this form, the ultraviolet light is irradiated by the light emitting sheet 122 over the entire outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 37, so that the entire area in the circumferential direction of the photocatalyst layer 36 provided over the entire inner surface of the liquid flow path 32. Can be irradiated with ultraviolet light. As a result, there is no portion where the amount of irradiated ultraviolet light is small, and the entire photocatalyst layer 36 is activated to obtain a sufficient photocatalytic decomposition action.

  (A4) As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid purification apparatus 131 as the fourth alternative embodiment has a photocatalyst in the liquid flow path 32 in order to increase both the surface area of the photocatalyst layer and the amount of ultraviolet light. A side-emitting optical fiber 132 having a photocatalyst layer 132a as a part is installed. The straight optical fiber 132 emits light from its outer peripheral surface. The longitudinal direction is arranged along the liquid flow path 32, and both end portions are supported by the optical fiber support portion 133. A flow hole (not shown) is formed in the optical fiber support 133 to ensure the liquid flow. The optical fiber 132 has a length over almost the entire area within the light irradiation range by the light irradiation section 22, and the photocatalyst layer 132a is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof as described above. Since the photocatalyst layer 132a on the surface is a thin film and has optical transparency, the light emitted from the outer peripheral surface is transmitted through the photocatalyst layer 132a and generated around.

  Ultraviolet light is supplied to the optical fiber 132 from the light source unit provided outside the liquid flow path 32 through the light supply cable 134. The light source unit may be the LED 41 of the light irradiation unit 22, or an ultraviolet light generation unit (not shown) may be provided outside the liquid purification apparatus 12 and supplied from there through the cable 44. Note that the number of optical fibers 132 to be installed may be plural as shown in the figure (three of the four are shown in the figure) or one.

  In the liquid purification apparatus 131 of this embodiment, the optical catalyst layer 132a also exists in the optical fiber 132 in the liquid flow path 32, so that the surface area of the photocatalyst layers 36 and 132a in contact with the liquid is increased, and the liquid purification effect is improved. Can be made. In addition, since the ultraviolet light is emitted not only from the LED 41 of the light irradiation unit 22 but also from the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 132, the amount of light applied to the photocatalyst layers 36 and 132a also increases. Thereby, the photocatalytic decomposition action in the photocatalyst layers 36 and 132a is further promoted, and the liquid purification effect can be improved.

  (A5) In addition, in order to increase the possibility that the flowing liquid comes into contact with the photocatalyst layer 36 on the inner surface of the flow channel, the length of the liquid channel 32 having the photocatalyst layer 36 formed on the inner surface is extended, The cross section may be formed small. In addition, when extending the flow path length of the liquid flow path 32, it is conceivable that the liquid flow path 32 is meandered or spirally formed instead of being linear as in the above embodiment.

[Other alternative forms]
(B) In the above-described embodiment, the liquid purification device 12 and the on-off valve 13 are integrated as the purification device-integrated on-off valve 11. It may be a device. In that case, the liquid purification device 12 and the on-off valve 13 are configured as pipe connection portions on the side where the connection end faces 33 and 64 are provided, similarly to the opposite side, and both of them are connected to a liquid passage such as a pipe. Connected through.

  (C) In the above embodiment, the on-off valve 13 has been described as an example of the liquid control valve connected to the liquid purification device 12, but the check valve, the suck back valve, the flow control valve, the pressure may be used as the liquid control valve. Other control valves such as a control valve may be used. Further, the on-off valve 13 may be a normally open type instead of a normally closed type as in the above embodiment.

  (D) In the above embodiment, the purification device integrated on-off valve 11 in the liquid supply system 91 is installed such that the on-off valve 13 is on the primary side, but conversely, the liquid purification device 12 is on the primary side. It may be installed to be. The flow path block 51 of the on-off valve 13 has a connection end face 64 formed on the outer opening 61b side of the second flow path 62b, to which the liquid purification device 12 is connected. You may employ | adopt the structure by which the end surface 64 for a connection was formed in the outer opening part 61a side of the flow path 62a.

  (E) In the above-described embodiment, there is a member for which a constituent material is specified, but this is an explanation of an optimal material, and other materials can be used. For example, the flow purification blocks 12 and 51 of the liquid purification device 12 and the on-off valve 13 may be formed of other resin such as light-transmitting vinyl chloride instead of fluororesin. This is because it is not necessary to use a fluororesin if it is not used in a manufacturing process that requires chemical resistance.

  (F) In the embodiment described above, the flow path block 21 of the liquid purification device 12 is provided with light transmittance, but it is sufficient that at least the tubular portion 37 has a light transmittance. In this case, a portion of the flow path block 21 to which light transmission is given becomes a light transmission portion.

  (G) In the above embodiment, the light irradiation unit 22 is configured to emit ultraviolet light. However, if the photocatalytic activator used in the photocatalyst layer 36 is of a visible light-compatible type, the light irradiation unit 22 is configured accordingly. Alternatively, the light irradiation unit 22 that emits visible light may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Purification device integrated on-off valve, 12 ... Liquid purification device, 13 ... On-off valve (liquid control valve), 14 ... H-shaped sealing member, 21 ... Channel block, 22 ... Light irradiation part, 31a, 31b ... Channel Opening part, 32 ... Liquid flow path, 33 ... End face for valve connection (valve connection structure), 36, 102a, 132a ... Photocatalyst layer (photocatalyst part), 37 ... Tubular part, 61b ... Outer opening part (valve outlet) 62 ... Liquid flow path, 64 ... End face for connection (purification device connection structure), 91 ... Liquid supply system, 94 ... Controller (purification device control means), 102 ... Screw member, 104 ... Distribution hole, 122 ... Luminescent sheet, 132: Optical fiber.

Claims (12)

A liquid channel for circulating a high-purity liquid, a channel block having an inlet and an outlet to the liquid channel;
A photocatalyst portion provided in the liquid flow path and in contact with the high-purity liquid in the liquid flow path;
A light irradiation unit that is assembled integrally with the flow path block and has a light source that generates light to be applied to the photocatalyst unit;
A liquid purification apparatus comprising:   2. The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the liquid channel, at least on the downstream side of the photocatalyst unit, the section of the photocatalyst unit and the channel cross-section are formed to be the same. .   The flow path block has a tubular portion in which a part of the extending direction of the liquid flow path is thinned, and the light irradiation portion is installed on an outer peripheral portion of the tubular portion formed in a concave shape, 3. The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the tubular portion is a light transmitting portion that transmits light so that light from the light irradiation portion is irradiated onto the photocatalyst portion. 4. .   4. The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of light sources of the light irradiation unit are provided in a circumferential direction of the liquid channel. 5.   The light source of the said light irradiation part is a light emission sheet | seat which has an organic EL element, The light emission sheet | seat is provided in the outer peripheral surface of the said tubular part so that a cylindrical shape may be made. Liquid purification device.   The thin film-like photocatalyst layer is provided on the inner surface of the liquid channel as the photocatalyst portion over the entire channel cross section of the channel. Liquid purification equipment.   In the liquid channel, a screw member having a rotation axis in the extending direction of the channel is rotatably provided, and a photocatalyst layer is provided on the outer surface of the screw member as the photocatalyst portion. The liquid purification apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   In the liquid channel, there is provided an optical fiber that emits side light when light is supplied from a light source outside the channel, and a thin-film photocatalyst layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber as the photocatalyst portion. The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid purification apparatus is a liquid purification apparatus.   The flow path block has a valve connection structure with a liquid control valve that controls the flow of liquid at an end portion where the inflow port or the outflow port is provided, and an H-shaped seal member is used as the valve connection structure. The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid purification apparatus is provided.   The liquid purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-purity liquid is pure water. A liquid control valve that controls the flow of liquid by opening and closing a valve body,
A valve-side outlet connected to the inlet in the liquid purification apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A purification device connection structure;
A liquid control valve comprising: A liquid passage for distributing a high-purity liquid from a liquid supply source to a liquid supply destination;
The liquid control valve according to claim 11 provided in the middle of the liquid passage;
Purification device control means for controlling the light irradiation unit in the liquid purification device so that light irradiation is performed in accordance with the start of liquid supply to the liquid supply destination;
A liquid supply system comprising:

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