JP2019063752A - Liquid separator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology enabling continuous use of a liquid separator for separating a first liquid and a second liquid.SOLUTION: The present specification discloses a liquid separator for separating a first liquid and a second liquid. The liquid separator comprises a first flow passage, a second flow passage having a portion adjacent the first flow passage, and a partition wall member provided in the portion in which the first flow passage is adjacent the second flow passage and partially blocking between the first flow passage and the second flow passage. A surface of the partition wall member comprises a corner of an acute angle. A contact angle between the surface of the partition wall member and the first liquid is larger than a contact angle between the surface of the partition wall member and the second liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The technology disclosed herein relates to a liquid separation device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid separation apparatus for separating a first liquid and a second liquid. The liquid separation apparatus includes a first flow path, a second flow path connected in series to the first flow path, and a filter provided at a location where the first flow path and the second flow path are connected. . In this liquid separation device, the contact angle between the surface of the filter and the first liquid is larger than the contact angle between the surface of the filter and the second liquid.

JP, 2016-64385, A

  In the liquid separation device of Patent Document 1, although the second liquid flows out of the first flow path into the second flow path, the first liquid can not flow into the second flow path from the first flow path, It will be accumulated in the first channel. For this reason, the user of the liquid separation apparatus needs to periodically perform the operation of removing the first liquid accumulated in the first flow path, and the liquid separation apparatus can not be used continuously.

  The present specification provides a technique for solving the above-mentioned problems. The present specification provides a technology that enables the liquid separation device that separates the first liquid and the second liquid to be used continuously.

  This specification discloses a liquid separation device that separates a first liquid and a second liquid. The liquid separation device is provided in a first flow path, a second flow path having a portion adjacent to the first flow path, and a portion where the first flow path and the second flow path are adjacent to each other. And the second flow path are partially shielded. The surface of the bulkhead member is provided with sharp corners. The contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the first liquid is larger than the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the second liquid.

  In the liquid separation device described above, when the mixed liquid of the first liquid and the second liquid flows in the first flow path, the first flow path and the second flow path pass through adjacent places. At this time, since the first liquid has a large contact angle with the surface of the partition member, the first liquid can not flow from the first channel into the second channel due to the pinning effect at the corner of the partition member. It flows through the first flow path. On the other hand, since the second liquid has a small contact angle with the surface of the partition member, it flows from the first channel into the second channel without receiving the pinning effect at the corner of the partition member. . As described above, according to the liquid separation device described above, when the mixed liquid flows through the portion adjacent to the second flow path of the first flow path, only the second liquid flows out into the second flow path. Only the first liquid flows in one flow path, and the first liquid and the second liquid can be separated. In the liquid separation device described above, since the separated first liquid or second liquid does not accumulate inside the liquid separation device, the liquid separation device can be used continuously.

  In the liquid separation device described above, the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the first liquid may be an obtuse angle, and the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the second liquid may be an acute angle.

  According to the above configuration, the first liquid having an obtuse contact angle with the surface of the partition member exerts a large pinning effect at the acute corner of the partition member, and the contact angle with the surface of the partition member is The second liquid, which has an acute angle, hardly has a pinning effect at the sharp corner of the partition member. According to the above configuration, the separation of the mixed liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid can be further promoted.

  In the liquid separation device described above, the surface of the partition wall member facing the first flow path may be substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow path.

  The pinning effect of the corners of the partition member for the first liquid acts not only on the flow from the first flow passage to the second flow passage, but also on the flow along the flow direction of the first flow passage Do. Therefore, when the first liquid flows in the direction along the flow direction of the first channel, the first liquid receives resistance from the partition member. In the liquid separation device described above, since the surface of the partition wall member facing the first flow path is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow path, the first liquid is the first flow path. The resistance when flowing along the flow direction can be reduced.

  In the liquid separation device described above, the surface of the first flow channel opposite to the side on which the partition member is disposed may have a shape substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow channel.

  The pinning effect of the corners of the partition member for the first liquid acts not only on the flow from the first flow passage to the second flow passage, but also on the flow along the flow direction of the first flow passage Do. Therefore, when the first liquid flows in the direction along the flow direction of the first channel, the first liquid receives resistance from the partition member. In the liquid separation device described above, since the surface of the first flow channel on the side opposite to the side on which the partition member is disposed is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow channel, The resistance when the liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow path can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the liquid separation apparatus 2 of an Example typically. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of an Example. In the liquid separation apparatus 2 of an Example, it is a figure which shows the behavior of the 1st liquid L1 which contacts the partition member 14. FIG. In the liquid separation apparatus 2 of an Example, it is a figure which shows the behavior of 2nd liquid L2 which contacts the partition member 14. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of a modification. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of another modification. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of another modification. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of another modification. It is sectional drawing of the silicon substrate 4 of another modification. It is sectional drawing seen by the XX cross section of FIG.

(Example)
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment. The liquid separation device 2 receives the mixed liquid of the first liquid and the second liquid from the inlet 2a, separates the mixed liquid into the first liquid and the second liquid, and delivers the first liquid to the first outlet 2b. , And the second liquid to the second outlet 2c. The first liquid is, for example, oil, and the second liquid is, for example, water. The liquid separation device 2 includes a silicon substrate 4, a first glass substrate 6 bonded to one surface of the silicon substrate 4, and a second glass substrate 8 bonded to the other surface of the silicon substrate 4. In the following description, the thickness direction of the silicon substrate 4 is referred to as the X direction, and the directions orthogonal to the X direction are referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction. In the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the first outlet 2b is located in the Z direction negative direction as viewed from the inlet 2a. Further, in the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the gravitational acceleration g acts in the negative direction in the Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the silicon substrate 4, a first flow passage 10 and a second flow passage 12 are formed by etching such as deep etching (DRIE). The first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12 penetrate the silicon substrate 4 in the thickness direction (X direction) of the silicon substrate 4, and are sealed by the first glass substrate 6 and the second glass substrate 8. ing. The second flow passage 12 is disposed adjacent to the first flow passage 10. The upstream end of the first flow path 10 is connected to the inlet 2 a of the liquid separation device 2, and the downstream end of the first flow path 10 is connected to the first outlet 2 b of the liquid separation device 2. The upstream end of the second flow passage 12 is located inside the silicon substrate 4, and the downstream end of the second flow passage 12 is connected to the second outlet 2 c of the liquid separation device 2.

  A partition member 14 that partially shields the space between the first flow passage 10 and the second flow passage 12 is provided at a position where the first flow passage 10 and the second flow passage 12 are adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, the partition wall member 14 is formed by partially leaving silicon when etching the silicon substrate 4 to form the first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12. In the present embodiment, the partition members 14 are a plurality of columnar members extending along the thickness direction (X direction) of the silicon substrate 4, and the respective columnar members are arranged at intervals of about 10 μm to 100 μm, The cross-sectional shape of each columnar member is an equilateral triangle having a side of about 10 μm to 100 μm. That is, in the partition member 14, all the corners are acute angles (for example, 60 degrees).

  In the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the contact angle with the first liquid on the surface of the partition member 14 is larger than the contact angle with the second liquid. In particular, in the liquid separation device 2 of this embodiment, the surface of the partition member 14 has a contact angle with the first liquid larger than 90 degrees (that is, the contact angle with the first liquid is obtuse), and the second liquid Contact angle with the second liquid is smaller than 90 degrees (that is, the contact angle with the second liquid is acute). For example, when the first liquid is oil and the second liquid is water, the surface of the partition member 14 has a contact angle with the first liquid by forming a silicon oxide film on the surface of the partition member 14 Becomes larger than 90 degrees, and the contact angle with the second liquid becomes smaller than 90 degrees.

  In the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the gravitational acceleration g in the direction (hereinafter also referred to as the flow direction of the first channel 10) flowing in the first channel 10 from the inlet 2a to the first outlet 2b. Is working. For this reason, the mixed liquid which flowed in from the inflow port 2a flows through the 1st flow path 10 toward the 1st outflow port 2b.

  When the mixed liquid flows through the first flow path 10, the mixed liquid passes through a portion where the first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12 are adjacent to each other. At this time, the first liquid of the mixed liquid is blocked by the partition member 14 and can not flow into the second flow path 12 and flows in the first flow path 10 as it is. On the other hand, the second liquid in the mixed liquid flows from the first flow path 10 to the second flow path 12 without being blocked by the partition member 14. This is because the contact angles of the first liquid and the second liquid with the partition member 14 are different, and the partition member 14 has sharp corners.

  FIG. 3 shows the behavior of the first liquid L <b> 1 flowing in contact with the partition member 14 among the first liquid flowing in the first flow passage 10. The first liquid L1 has a large contact angle with the surface of the partition member 14. For this reason, the pinning effect acts on the first liquid L1 at the sharp corner of the partition wall member 14. This pinning effect makes it difficult for the first liquid L1 in the vicinity of the partition wall member 14 to flow in the direction from the first flow passage 10 to the second flow passage 12. Therefore, the first liquid flowing through the first flow passage 10 flows through the first flow passage 10 as it is without flowing into the second flow passage 12 from the first flow passage 10. In particular, when the contact angle between the first liquid and the partition member 14 is larger than 90 degrees, a large pinning effect is exerted at the sharp corner of the partition member 14.

  FIG. 4 shows the behavior of the second liquid L <b> 2 flowing in contact with the partition member 14 among the second liquid flowing in the first flow passage 10. The second liquid L2 has a small contact angle with the surface of the partition member 14. For this reason, the second liquid L2 in the vicinity of the partition member 14 does not act so much on the second liquid L2 at the acute angle corner of the partition member 14, so that the second liquid L2 in the vicinity of the partition member 14 It can easily flow in the direction towards 12. Therefore, the second liquid flowing in the first flow path 10 flows from the first flow path 10 into the second flow path 12. In particular, when the contact angle between the second liquid and the surface of the partition member 14 is smaller than 90 degrees, the pinning effect hardly acts on the acute corner of the partition member 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, when the mixed liquid flows through the first flow channel 10, the second liquid flows to the second flow channel 12 at the portion where the partition member 14 is provided. While flowing in, the first liquid can not flow into the second flow passage 12 and flows in the first flow passage 10 as it is. Then, as the second liquid flowing through the second flow passage 12 increases, the second liquid flowing through the first flow passage 10 decreases. As a result, only the first liquid flows out from the first outlet 2b, and only the second liquid flows out from the second outlet 2c. Thus, according to the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the mixed liquid can be separated into the first liquid and the second liquid with a simple configuration.

  As described above, the pinning effect acts on the first liquid flowing in the first flow path 10 at the corner of the partition wall member 14. The pinning effect also works when the first liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow passage 10. In order to improve the throughput per unit time of the liquid separation device 2, it is preferable to reduce the resistance when the first liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow path 10 as much as possible.

  In the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the surface 14 a of the partition wall member 14 facing the first flow path 10 has a shape substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow path 10. With such a configuration, the resistance when the first liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow path 10 can be reduced.

  Further, in the liquid separation device 2 of the present embodiment, the surface 10 a of the first flow passage 10 opposite to the side where the partition member 14 is disposed is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow passage 10. It is a shape. With such a configuration, the resistance when the first liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow path 10 can be reduced.

  In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the partition member 14 is not restricted to the above-mentioned regular triangle shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the partition member 14 may have a trapezoidal cross section. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the partition member 14 may have a rhombic cross section. The partition member 14 may have any cross-sectional shape as long as the corner portion in contact with the liquid flowing in the direction from the first flow channel 10 toward the second flow channel 12 has an acute angle.

  Although the case where one second flow passage 12 adjacent to the first flow passage 10 is provided has been described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, two second flow passages 12 adjacent to the first flow passage 10 are provided. It is good also as composition provided by providing the partition member 14 corresponding to each 2nd channel 12. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, a plate-like member 16 may be provided at the center of the first channel 10 along the flow direction of the first channel 10. In the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the surface 16 a of the plate-like member 16 is a surface on the side opposite to the side on which the partition member 14 is disposed in each of the first channels 10 divided by the plate-like member 16. Since the surface 16 a of the plate-like member 16 is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow passage 10, the resistance when the first liquid flows along the flow direction of the first flow passage 10 is reduced. be able to.

  Although the case where the partition wall member 14 is a plurality of columnar members extending along the thickness direction (X direction) of the silicon substrate 4 has been described above, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. A plurality of beam members may be extended along the flow direction (Z direction) of the first flow passage 10.

  In the above embodiment, although the case where the gravitational acceleration g acts on the liquid separation device 2 along the flow direction (Z direction) of the first flow path 10 has been described, the present invention is not limited to the gravitational acceleration g. You may make it act. Alternatively, the mixed liquid may be flowed into the inflow port 2 a of the liquid separation device 2 at a large inflow pressure by using an external device (not shown) such as a pump.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12 are formed by etching the silicon substrate 4 has been described. Unlike this, the first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12 may be formed by performing nanoimprinting on the silicon substrate 4. Alternatively, instead of the silicon substrate 4, the first flow path 10 and the second flow path may be formed by performing laser processing on a glass block or a metal block. Alternatively, instead of the silicon substrate 4, a resin block in which the first flow path 10 and the second flow path 12 are formed by 3D printing technology may be used.

  As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was described in detail, these are only an illustration and do not limit a claim. The art set forth in the claims includes various variations and modifications of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness singly or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of application. In addition, the techniques exemplified in the present specification or the drawings can simultaneously achieve a plurality of purposes, and achieving one of the purposes itself has technical utility.

2: liquid separation device; 2a: inlet; 2b: first outlet; 2c: second outlet; 4: silicon substrate; 6: first glass substrate; 8: second glass substrate; 10: first flow passage 10a: surface; 12: second flow path; 14: partition member; 14a: surface; 16: plate member; 16a: surface

Claims (4)

A liquid separation apparatus for separating a first liquid and a second liquid, comprising:
The first flow path,
A second flow path having a location adjacent to the first flow path;
A partition member is provided at a location where the first channel and the second channel are adjacent to each other and partially shields the space between the first channel and the second channel,
The surface of the bulkhead member is provided with sharp corners;
A liquid separation device in which the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the first liquid is larger than the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the second liquid.   The liquid separation device according to claim 1, wherein the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the first liquid is an obtuse angle, and the contact angle between the surface of the partition member and the second liquid is an acute angle.   The liquid separation device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the partition member facing the first flow path has a shape substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow path.   The liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface of the first flow channel opposite to the side on which the partition member is disposed has a shape substantially parallel to the flow direction of the first flow channel. Separation device.

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