JP2011230344A - Steam heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam heating device that efficiently increases the temperature of an object to be treated internally and externally and significantly reduces heating time.SOLUTION: The steam heating device includes a steam generating source and a steam supply tube 33 supplying steam of high temperature and high pressure in a vulcanizer 30, and a microwave circuit 35 and a microwave power source 44 supplying microwave power in the vulcanizer 30. In the steam heating device, rubber products 46 such as an unvulcanized rubber, a semi-vulcanized rubber and the like housed in the vulcanizer 30 are exposed to heating mediums including the steam of high temperature and high pressure and the microwave power, and temperature can be increased in a short time for vulcanizing the rubber products 46 by the synergistic effect of the steam of high temperature and high pressure and the microwave power.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam heating apparatus that supplies high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power to a heat treatment container, and heats the treatment object contained in the heat-treatment container by exposing it to high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power. .

As the steam heating device, high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied into a vulcanization can which is a heat treatment container, and unvulcanized rubber incorporated in the vulcanization can is heated with high-temperature and high-pressure steam and vulcanized. Widely known.
FIG. 5 is a simplified configuration diagram showing this type of steam heating apparatus.
The steam heating apparatus includes a vulcanizing can 10 as a heat treatment container, and a steam supply pipe 13 is connected to the vulcanizing can 10 via a valve 11 and a control valve 12, and a valve 14 and a control valve. A cooling medium supply pipe 16 is connected via 15.

Further, an exhaust pipe 17 for discharging residual air inside the vulcanizing can is connected to the vulcanizing can 10 through a valve 18 and a control valve 19, and condensate condensed with steam inside the vulcanizing can is externally connected. Are connected to an external communication pipe 24 having two steam traps 20 and 21 and control valves 22 and 23 for communicating or blocking the inside and outside of the vulcanizing can.
In addition, the pressure sensor 25 for detecting the pressure inside the vulcanizing can and the temperature sensor 26 for detecting the temperature are provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 as an enlarged cross-sectional view, the vulcanized can 10 described above can be opened and closed at the cylindrical can body 10a made of a metal material and at both ends in the cylinder axis direction of the can body 10a. A configuration including the provided lids 10b and 10b is widely known.
The vulcanized can 10 is provided with flange portions 10c and 10c along the outer periphery of both ends of the can main body 10a in the cylinder axis direction, and the packings 27 and 27 are fitted into recesses formed in the flange portions 10c and 10c. It is.

Then, the lids 10b and 10b are attached so that the mating surfaces 10d and 10d of the lids 10b and 10b are in contact with the flange portions 10c and 10c, and the inside of the vulcanizing can 10 is sealed with the packings 27 and 27. It has become.
Reference numeral 28 shown in FIG. 6 indicates an external communication pipe portion including the above-described steam traps and control valves 22 and 23, and reference numeral 29 indicates unvulcanized rubber stored in the vulcanizing can 10.

In the steam heating device described above, the unvulcanized rubber 29 is accommodated in the vulcanizing can 10, and then the air in the vulcanizing can 10 is exhausted by the exhaust pipe 17, and subsequently, necessary for vulcanization by the steam supply pipe 13. Vapor having a proper temperature and pressure is supplied into the vulcanizing can 10 and the unvulcanized rubber 29 is heated and vulcanized.
Then, after vulcanization of the unvulcanized rubber 29, the cooling medium is supplied into the vulcanizing can 10 by the cooling medium supply pipe 16 to forcibly cool the vulcanized rubber, and then vulcanized by the external communication pipe 24. The fluid in the can 10 is discharged to the outside.

JP 2002-336676 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-226969

  As the vulcanizing can 10 provided in the steam heating apparatus described above, a high pressure vulcanizing can that can be used up to a maximum pressure of 2000 kPa (about 20 atm) is known. Unvulcanized rubber is put and vulcanized by injecting steam at 180 ° C. (1000 kPa).

Incidentally, since the rubber vulcanization reaction time is generally according to the 10 ° C. rule, if the high pressure vulcanizing can 10 as described above is used, the rubber vulcanized with 120 ° C. (200 kPa) steam is vulcanized. When the rubber is vulcanized with water vapor at 180 ° C. (1000 kPa) with respect to the reaction time, there is an advantage that the vulcanization reaction time can be shortened to about 3/200.
The relationship between the pressure and the boiling point of water is as shown in the scientific chronological data shown in FIG. 7. The boiling point of water at 200 kPa is about 120 ° C., and the boiling point of water is 180 ° C. at 1000 kPa.

However, in the case of the steam heating apparatus for rubber vulcanization as described above, the high temperature steam is brought into contact with the surface of the unvulcanized rubber, and the temperature inside the unvulcanized rubber is raised by heat conduction. It took a long time to raise the temperature.
Originally, rubber products have poor heat conduction. For example, even if the temperature of water vapor is increased to 180 ° C., the time required for the unvulcanized rubber to rise to 180 ° C. is long, so the vulcanization reaction time can be shortened. Even if it was possible, the time required for the entire vulcanization process could not be greatly shortened.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a steam heating apparatus that can efficiently raise the temperature from the inside and outside of the processed material and can significantly reduce the processing time of the heat treatment.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, in the present invention, in the steam heating apparatus for supplying a high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the heat treatment container, and subjecting the treatment object incorporated in the heat treatment container to the heat treatment, the heat treatment is performed. A steam comprising a microwave circuit for supplying microwave power and a microwave power source in a container, and subjecting the processed material to a heating medium comprising high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power for heat treatment A heating device is proposed.

  In the steam heating device of the present invention described above, a rubber product such as unvulcanized rubber or semi-vulcanized rubber is provided in a heat treatment container, and the rubber product is a heating medium composed of high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power. It can be used as a steam heating device that is vulcanized by exposure to water.

In the above-described steam heating apparatus, the processing object housed in the heat processing container is exposed to high-temperature and high-pressure steam, and thus is heated from the surface and conducts heat toward the inside.
In addition, when exposed to microwave power, the microwave power penetrates into the processed material, and each molecule constituting the processed material absorbs the microwave power and heats it from the inside to conduct heat toward the outside. .

  As a result, the processed material is heated from the inside and outside, and further conducts heat from the surface to the inside, and also conducts heat from the inside to the outside. Can be made.

Therefore, if a rubber product such as unvulcanized rubber or semi-vulcanized rubber is stored in a heat treatment container and heated, the temperature rise efficiency of the rubber product is extremely high, and the temperature rise time required for the vulcanization treatment is greatly reduced. can do.
Therefore, it can be used as a steam heating device effective for rubber vulcanization.

  On the other hand, since water is a substance that absorbs microwave power well, it is considered that water vapor should also absorb microwave power well, and the above-described steam heating apparatus employs microwave heating means. There wasn't.

  However, since the density of water gas is only 7 / 10,000 of the density of liquid, the microwave power absorption performance of water vapor is estimated to be less than 1/1000 of water, and the amount of absorption of microwave power by water vapor is small. .

  As a result, a rubber product that absorbs a larger amount of microwave power than water vapor absorbs the microwave power well and rises in temperature, which is effective for this type of steam heating apparatus.

It is a simplified lineblock diagram of a steam heating device showing one embodiment which vulcanizes a rubber product. It is sectional drawing of the vulcanization can with which the steam heating apparatus of FIG. 1 was equipped. FIG. 3 is a partial view showing a state in which a lid body of the vulcanizing can shown in FIG. 2 is opened and closed. It is sectional drawing of the microwave window provided in the vulcanization can with which the steam heating apparatus of FIG. 1 was equipped. It is a simplified block diagram of the steam heating apparatus shown as a prior art example. It is sectional drawing which shows the vulcanization can as a heat processing container which can be equipped with the steam heating apparatus of FIG. It is a figure showing the scientific chronological data which showed the boiling point of water.

Next, an embodiment of a steam heating apparatus suitable for rubber product vulcanization will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a simplified configuration diagram showing a steam heating apparatus. As shown in the figure, a steam supply pipe 33 is connected to a vulcanizing can 30 via a valve 31 and a control valve 32 as in the conventional example.

The steam supply pipe 33 supplies high-temperature and high-pressure steam generated by a boiler (steam generator) or the like into the vulcanizing can 30, and the steam supply pipe 33 has a drain for removing moisture. A separator can be provided.
Further, as shown in the figure, a steam trap 34 for discharging drain (fluid such as water) generated in the vulcanizing can 30 to the outside is provided at the lower portion of the vulcanizing can 30.

On the other hand, this embodiment is characterized in that a microwave circuit 35 for supplying microwave power to the vulcanizing can 30 is connected.
The microwave circuit 35 includes a microwave introduction tube 36, a connection waveguide 37, an EH tuner 38, a connection waveguide 39, a power monitor 40, an isolator 41, a connection waveguide 42, a high frequency coupler 43, and the like. The microwave power output from the microwave power source 44 is supplied into the vulcanizing can 30.

Note that the EH tuner 38 is a matching device that matches the impedance of the heat-treated product as a load, and can be replaced with a stub tuner.
The power monitor 40 measures the traveling wave of the microwave power from the microwave power source 44 toward the vulcanizing can 30 and the reflected wave of the microwave power from the vulcanizing can 30 toward the microwave power source 44 on the contrary. It is a monitor.

The isolator 41 absorbs the reflected wave of the microwave power directed to the microwave power source 44 and prevents a failure of the microwave power source 44 (magnetron) due to the reflected wave.
The high frequency coupler 43 connects a magnetron antenna provided in the microwave power source 44 and guides the microwave power output from the microwave power source 44 to the microwave circuit 35.

  The microwave power source 44 includes a magnetron and its drive circuit, and outputs microwave power (for example, an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 2.45 GHz band) according to the oscillation operation of the magnetron.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vulcanization can 30 described above. The vulcanization can 30 is configured in the same manner as the vulcanization can 10 of the conventional example, and a cylindrical can body 30a made of a metal material, It is comprised from the cover bodies 30b and 30b which consist of metal materials attached to the both ends of the cylinder axis direction of the can main body 30a.
Then, the outer periphery of both ends of the can body 30a is formed with flange portions 30c, 30c, and lid bodies 30b, 30b are attached so as to be in pressure contact with the packing 45 fitted in the recesses of the flange portions 30c, 30c, The inside of the vulcanizing can 30 is sealed.

  The lids 30b and 30b are opened and closed by motor drive, cylinder drive or manual operation, and a rubber product (for example, rubber roll, rubber hose) 46 such as unvulcanized rubber or semi-vulcanized rubber is cured in the vulcanized can 30. Although it has comprised so that it may mount on the tool 47 and store, about these lid bodies 30b and 30b, it can be set as the structure provided with either one lid body.

  Further, as shown in the figure, a clamp ring 48 is provided for fitting the flange portions 30c, 30c of the can body 30a and the peripheral portions of the lid bodies 30b, 30b so that the pressure in the vulcanizing can 30 increases. Also, the lids 30b and 30b are held in close contact with the can body 30a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the clamp ring 48 described above is formed of a semicircular arc-shaped upper clamp portion 48a fixed to the lid 30b and a semicircular arc-shaped lower clamp portion 48b fixed to the can body 30a. .
The upper clamp part 48a and the lower clamp part 48b have a U-shaped cross section, and the upper clamp part 48a is provided with a groove part 48c into which the upper half of the flange part 30c provided in the can body 30a is fitted. The side clamp portion 48b is provided with a groove portion 48d into which the lower half peripheral portion of the lid body 30b is fitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vulcanizing can 30 provided with the clamp ring 48 as described above is pulled out from the lid 30b and opened, and the lid 30b is lowered so that the top of the flange portion 30c of the can main body 30a is lowered. The lid 30b is attached to the can body 30a and the lid is closed so that the half is fitted into the groove 48c of the upper clamp 48a and the lower half of the periphery of the lid 30b is fitted into the groove 48d of the lower clamp 48b.
Although FIG. 3 shows the left lid 30b, the right lid 30b has the same configuration.

  In this embodiment, the steam supply pipe 33, the microwave circuit 35, the microwave power source 44, and the steam trap 34 are provided. However, as in the conventional example, the cooling medium supply pipe, the exhaust pipe, and the pressure sensor are provided. In addition, the microwave circuit 35 can be connected to the lid body 30b without necessarily being connected to the can body 30a.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the microwave introduction tube 36 described above.
As shown in the figure, the first window frame 51, the second window frame 52, a rectangular waveguide 53, an insulator 54, and an O-ring 55 are included.
Both the first window frame 51 and the second window frame 52 are formed of a metal material, and their outer diameters are circular with the same diameter. The first window frame 51 is a ring-shaped frame, and the second window frame 52 is It is formed into a bottomed circular container.

The first window frame 51 is fitted into the can body 30a and is fixed by welding or the like so as to withstand high pressure, and the second window frame 52 is screwed to the first window frame with bolts or the like. And is removably fixed.
The rectangular waveguide 53 is fixed to the bottom outer surface (the upper surface side in FIG. 4) of the second window frame 52 by screws or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in the figure, the first window frame 51 is formed with an inner hole 51a on the inside of the vulcanizing can and an inner hole 51b on the outside of the vulcanizing can, and these inner holes 51a, 51b. The inner hole 51a (diameter r1) is formed larger than the inner hole 51b (diameter r2), and a ring groove for fitting the O-ring 55 is formed in the stepped portion 51c between the inner holes 51a and 51b. is there.
The second window frame 52 is formed with an inner hole 52a having a diameter r3 that satisfies the relationship r1 <r3 <r2 with respect to the diameters r1 and r2 of the inner holes 51a and 51b of the first window frame 51.

The insulator 54 described above is made of a material that absorbs less microwave power and can withstand high pressure, such as tempered glass (quartz glass, borosilicate glass, etc.), ceramic (alumina, silicon nitride, etc.), and the like. The inner hole 51b is formed in a disc shape having a diameter r2 and a depth width of the inner hole 51b.
The insulator 54 is fitted into the inner hole 51b of the first window frame 51, and then the second window frame 52 is screwed to the first window frame 51, whereby the opening edge 52b of the second window frame 52 is secured. The insulator 54 is held in pressure contact.

The O-ring 55 is placed in the recessed groove of the stepped portion 51c in advance before the insulator 54 is fitted, so that the first window frame 51 and the insulator 54 are kept airtight.
The O-ring 55 is formed of a silicon-based material in order to minimize the effects of high-pressure steam deterioration and microwave power heating. However, the O-ring 55 is affected by high-pressure steam deterioration and microwave power heating. Any other material can be used as long as the material can minimize the thickness.

A square hole 52 c is provided at the bottom of the second window frame 52, and the square hole 52 c communicates with the inner hole of the rectangular waveguide 53.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the inner hole of the rectangular waveguide 33 communicates directly with the inner hole 52a of the second window frame 52 without providing the rectangular hole 52c.

  In the steam heating apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above, after the rubber product 46 is accommodated in the vulcanizing can 30, high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied from the steam supply pipe 33 into the vulcanizing can 30, and the microwave circuit. 35, microwave power is supplied into the vulcanizing can 30 respectively, and the inside of the vulcanizing can 30 is heated to a high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power.

Therefore, the rubber product 46 is heated by the high-temperature water vapor in contact with the surface, conducts heat from the surface toward the inner surface, and has a temperature distribution in which the surface is high and decreases toward the inside.
The microwave power penetrates into the rubber product 46 and vibrates the polar groups of the molecules constituting the rubber product 46 to raise the temperature of the molecule. Conducts heat from the surface to the surface.

For this reason, the rubber product 46 is heated to the vulcanization temperature in a short time due to the synergistic effect of the high temperature steam and the microwave power.
As a result, the time required for the temperature increase can be greatly shortened, so that the time required for the vulcanization process can be roughly halved.

In general, water has a high dielectric loss angle tan δ and relative dielectric constant ε _{r and} good microwave power absorption performance. However, since the density of water vapor is 1 / 1,000 or less of water, water vapor is 1 of water tan δ. Since it is considered that the tan δ is 1 / 1,000 or less, it can be estimated that water vapor has only a microwave absorption performance comparable to that of Teflon (registered trademark) or quartz glass that does not absorb microwave power.
Therefore, since the microwave power is not absorbed by the water vapor, the rubber product 46 is effectively heated by the synergistic effect of the high temperature water vapor and the microwave power, and the temperature rise time is shortened.

  On the other hand, the microwave introduction pipe 36 provided in the steam heating apparatus of the present embodiment is a first in which the diameter r1 of the inner hole 51a inside the vulcanizing can 30 is made smaller than the inner hole 51b outside the vulcanizing can 30. Since the window frame 51 is provided, a concave groove is provided in the stepped portion 51c between the inner hole 51a and the inner hole 51b to fit the O-ring 55, and the insulator 54 is provided in the inner hole 51b. And can be joined to the stepped portion 51c.

Therefore, the microwave window can be kept airtight and the total pressure applied to the insulator 54 can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the distance to the O-ring 55 into which high-temperature water vapor enters can be minimized, the area where rust is generated on the window frame surface is reduced, and the steam heating apparatus including the highly reliable microwave introduction pipe 36 is obtained. .

  Applying as a steam heating device that heats the processed material by exposing it to high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power, for example, a steam heating device that heats and vulcanizes rubber products such as unvulcanized rubber and vulcanized rubber Can do.

30 Vulcanization can 33 Steam supply pipe 35 Microwave circuit 36 Microwave introduction pipe 44 Microwave power source 46 Rubber product 51 First window frame 51a, 51b Inner hole 51c Stepped part 52 Second window frame 52a Inner hole 53 Rectangular guide Wave tube 54 Insulator 55 O-ring

Claims (2)

In a steam heating device that supplies high-temperature and high-pressure steam into a heat treatment container, and heat-treats the processed material built in the heat treatment container by exposing it to water vapor.
A microwave circuit for supplying microwave power into the heat treatment container and a microwave power source;
A steam heating apparatus, wherein the processed product is exposed to a heating medium composed of high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power to perform heat treatment. The steam heating apparatus according to claim 1,
The heat treatment container is provided with a rubber product such as unvulcanized rubber or semi-vulcanized rubber, and the rubber product is exposed to a heating medium composed of high-temperature and high-pressure steam and microwave power to be vulcanized. A steam heating device.

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