JP2019146500A - Liquid medicine spray system and operation method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid medicine spray system that reduces a time required for washing a nozzle or the like.SOLUTION: A liquid medicine spray system 100 comprises: at least one two-fluid nozzle 40 to which a gas and a liquid are supplied and sprays the gas and the liquid; air paths (11, 12) for supplying air to the two-fluid nozzle 40; water paths (21, 22) for supplying water to the two-fluid nozzle 40; liquid medicine paths (31, 32) for supplying a liquid medicine to the two-fluid nozzle 40; and a switching mechanism for switching between supply of water and supply of the liquid medicine to the two-fluid nozzle 40. The air path, the water path and the liquid medicine path are provided for each two-fluid nozzle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a chemical liquid spray system for spraying chemical liquids such as agricultural chemicals and liquid fertilizers, and an operation method thereof.

  In a cultivation room or the like for growing crops, a system for spraying a chemical solution is used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a control apparatus for controlling pests in a cultivation room. In the apparatus, a chemical liquid tank and a water tank are connected to a common liquid supply pipe so that one of them can be switched by a three-way solenoid valve, and a plurality of chemical liquids or water are supplied through a path (piping header) branched from the common liquid supply pipe. It has a structure for supplying to the nozzle. After spraying the chemical solution from the nozzle, the nozzle is cleaned by supplying water to the nozzle.

International Publication No. 2017/081887

  In the conventional control apparatus, there is a problem that it takes time to clean the nozzle after spraying the chemical. Therefore, an object of the chemical spray system of the present disclosure is to shorten the time required for the nozzle cleaning process.

  In order to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present application focused on the following points. That is, in the conventional control apparatus, both the chemical liquid and water are sent to the nozzle through the common liquid supply pipe and the pipe header branched from this and connected to each nozzle. As a result, in the cleaning process, it is necessary to clean all the common liquid supply pipe and the piping header, and the piping distance of the cleaning portion is long. This is one of the causes of the time required for the cleaning process.

  Therefore, the chemical spray system of the present disclosure is supplied with gas and liquid, and at least one two-fluid nozzle that sprays the gas and liquid, an air path for supplying air to the two-fluid nozzle, and the two-fluid nozzle A water path for supplying water, a chemical path for supplying chemical liquid to the two-fluid nozzle, and a switching mechanism for switching between supply of water to the two-fluid nozzle and supply of the chemical liquid are provided. An air path, a water path, and a chemical liquid path are provided for each two-fluid nozzle.

  Further, an operation method of the chemical spray system according to the present disclosure includes an air supply unit that supplies air to the two-fluid nozzle, a water supply unit that supplies water to the two-fluid nozzle, and a two-fluid nozzle in the chemical spray system of the present disclosure. The system operation method further includes a chemical liquid supply unit that supplies the chemical liquid to the air supply unit, and an air supply unit, a water supply unit, a chemical liquid supply unit, and a control unit that controls the switching mechanism. The operating method includes a cleaning operation for cleaning at least the two-fluid nozzle. In the cleaning operation, the control unit stops the operation of the chemical solution supply unit, operates the water supply unit, and then stops the water supply unit.

  According to the chemical spray system of the present disclosure, the chemical liquid remaining in the two-fluid nozzle can be washed away with water, and the chemical liquid can be prevented from leaking from the two-fluid nozzle after the spraying of the chemical liquid is stopped. At this time, since only the portion through which the chemical solution passes needs to be cleaned, the number of cleaning portions is small and the time required for the cleaning process is shortened.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an exemplary chemical spray system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an exemplary chemical spray system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an exemplary chemical spraying system according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning operation of the chemical spray system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another cleaning operation for the chemical spray system of the present disclosure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an exemplary chemical spray system 100 according to the first embodiment. The chemical spray system 100 includes a plurality (six in FIG. 1) of two-fluid nozzles 40. The two-fluid nozzle 40 is a nozzle that is supplied with liquid and gas and sprays the liquid and gas.

  In order to supply air as a gas to the two-fluid nozzle 40, an air supply unit 10 is provided. The air supply unit 10 may include, for example, an air compressor. In addition, as an air path for supplying air from the air supply unit 10 to the two-fluid nozzle 40, the air manifold 12 and a plurality of branched air paths that branch from the air manifold 12 and supply air to each of the two-fluid nozzles 40. 11 is provided. Further, an air valve 13 for adjusting the supply of air may be provided between the air supply unit 10 and the branch air path 11.

  Further, in order to supply water as a liquid to the two-fluid nozzle 40, a water supply unit 20 is provided. The water supply unit 20 may include a water tank and a water pump, for example. In addition, as a water path for supplying water from the water supply unit 20 to the two-fluid nozzle 40, a plurality of branched water paths that branch from the water manifold 22 and supply water to each of the two-fluid nozzles 40. 21 is provided. Further, a water valve 23 for adjusting the supply of water may be provided between the water supply unit 20 and the branch water passage 21.

  Furthermore, in order to supply a chemical liquid as a liquid to the two-fluid nozzle 40, a chemical liquid supply unit 30 is provided. The chemical solution supply unit 30 may include, for example, a chemical solution tank and a chemical solution pump. In addition, as a chemical solution path for supplying a chemical solution from the chemical solution supply unit 30 to the two-fluid nozzle 40, a plurality of chemical solution paths that branch from the chemical solution manifold 32 and supply the chemical solution to each of the two-fluid nozzles 40. 31 is provided. Further, a chemical liquid valve 33 that adjusts the supply of the chemical liquid may be provided between the chemical liquid supply unit 30 and the branch chemical liquid path 31.

  Further, the branched water path 21 and the branched chemical liquid path 31 are connected to the liquid path 41 at the connection portion 42. The liquid path 41 is connected to the two-fluid nozzle 40 and supplies water supplied from the branch water path 21 or a chemical liquid supplied from the branch chemical liquid path 31 to the two-fluid nozzle 40 as a liquid. The liquid supplied to the two-fluid nozzle 40 can be switched between water and the chemical solution by the water supply unit 20 and the chemical solution supply unit 30, and the water valve 23 and the chemical solution valve 33.

  Moreover, the control part 50 which controls the air supply part 10, the air valve 13, the water supply part 20, the water valve 23, the chemical | medical solution supply part 30, and the chemical | medical solution valve 33 is provided.

  Although illustration is omitted, each part of the path may be further provided with a valve or the like to adjust the flow of air, water, or chemical liquid (increase / decrease the flow rate, open / close the path, prevent backflow, etc.). Moreover, you may provide the drain hole for extracting water or a chemical | medical solution from a path | route, and a chemical | medical solution drain port.

  With the chemical solution spray system 100 as described above, air and a chemical solution can be supplied to the two-fluid nozzle 40 using the air supply unit 10 and the chemical solution supply unit 30 to spray the chemical solution. For example, agrochemicals, fertilizers, disinfectants and the like can be sprayed in a cultivation room (greenhouse, vinyl house, etc.) for cultivating outdoor fields or vegetables. As the chemical solution, a solution or a dispersion may be used. As a disinfectant, hypochlorous acid water may be used. Air and water can be supplied to the two-fluid nozzle 40 using the air supply unit 10 and the water supply unit 20 to spray water. For example, watering for cultivating crops, fine fog cooling, humidification, and the like can be performed.

  Here, after spraying the required amount of the chemical solution, the spraying is stopped. Immediately after the spraying of the chemical solution is simply stopped, the chemical solution remains in the two-fluid nozzle 40 and the liquid path 41. If such a residual chemical is left as it is, there is a possibility that the two-fluid nozzle 40 may leak out. For example, when an operator is near the two-fluid nozzle 40, it is conceivable that agrochemicals may leak unexpectedly, and this should be prevented.

  Therefore, the two-fluid nozzle 40 and the liquid passage 41 are washed after the chemical liquid is sprayed. Thereby, even if the liquid leaks from the two-fluid nozzle 40, the leaked liquid is water, and no harm occurs when the agricultural chemical leaks.

  In order to perform cleaning, water is supplied from the water supply unit 20 to the two-fluid nozzle 40. At this time, if the liquid path 41 and the two-fluid nozzle 40 on the downstream side of the connecting portion 42 where the branched chemical liquid path 31 and the branched water path 21 merge are washed, the chemical liquid is prevented from leaking from the two-fluid nozzle 40. it can. Accordingly, there are few places to be cleaned, and water and time required for cleaning can be reduced. In particular, there are far fewer places to be cleaned than in the prior art where it is necessary to clean all of the common liquid supply pipe and the pipe header.

  Further, when cleaning the two-fluid nozzle 40 and the like, the chemical solution in the branched chemical solution path 31 and the chemical solution manifold 32 can be left as they are. Therefore, the cleaning can be performed without excessive discharge of the chemical solution compared to the prior art in which it is necessary to discharge all the chemical solution contained in the common liquid supply pipe and the pipe header from the nozzle for cleaning. As a result, the amount of agricultural chemicals used can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 shows the cleaning operation (cleaning step). When stopping the spraying of the chemical liquid from the two-fluid nozzle 40, first, the chemical liquid supply unit 30 is stopped. Thereafter, the water supply unit 20 is operated. Thereby, water is passed through the liquid path 41 and the two-fluid nozzle 40 to perform cleaning. Thereafter, the water supply unit 20 is stopped and the cleaning operation is terminated.

  Such a cleaning operation can naturally be performed by a person directly operating the water supply unit 20, the chemical solution supply unit 30, etc., but may be automatically performed by the control unit 50. That is, a series of processes as shown in FIG. 4 is set, and when the spraying of the chemical solution is finished, the control unit 50 controls the water supply unit 20, the chemical solution supply unit 30 and the like to automatically perform the process. Also good. Alternatively, although the cleaning operation itself is executed by a human instruction, the control unit 50 may automatically perform each operation in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows another cleaning operation. In this case, the air supply unit 10 is operated during the cleaning operation of FIG. Specifically, when the spraying of the chemical solution from the two-fluid nozzle 40 is stopped, the air supply unit 10 is put into an operating state before stopping the chemical solution supply unit 30 (that is, if it has been stopped, it is operated). If it was in operation, continue operation). Next, the chemical solution supply unit 30 is stopped. Thereafter, the water supply unit 20 is operated. Thereby, water is passed through the liquid path 41 and the two-fluid nozzle 40 to perform cleaning. Thereafter, the water supply unit 20 is stopped. After this, the air supply unit 10 is stopped and the process ends.

  If it does in this way, air will be supplied to the two fluid nozzle 40 during washing | cleaning by water, and water and a chemical | medical solution can be discharged | emitted from the two fluid nozzle 40 more reliably. That is, it is difficult for water to remain in the two-fluid nozzle 40 after the cleaning process. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress leakage of water from the two-fluid nozzle 40 after the cleaning process. Also, the water at the time of cleaning is sprayed, which may be preferable to the fact that the water drops from the two-fluid nozzle 40 as a liquid.

  In addition, the connection part 42 of the branch water path | route 21 and the branch chemical | medical solution path | route 31 may have a function which controls the direction through which a liquid passes.

  For example, water may flow only from the branch water path 21 toward the liquid path 41, and may not flow conversely. Similarly, the chemical liquid may flow only from the branch water path 21 toward the liquid path 41 and may not flow conversely. This may be realized by using a backflow prevention valve or the like. By preventing the backflow in this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the chemical liquid from entering the branched water path 21 from the liquid path 41 and contaminating the branched water path 21 with the chemical liquid.

  Moreover, in the connection part 42, the direction of flow may be switched and water may be allowed to flow from the branched water path 21 to the branched chemical liquid path 31. In this way, the chemical path (branched chemical path 31 and chemical manifold 32) can be washed with water. This is useful when changing the chemical solution to be sprayed. Such switching of the flow can be realized, for example, by providing a switching valve in the connection portion 42.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an exemplary chemical spray system 101 according to the second embodiment. Since the chemical spray system 101 includes the same components as the chemical spray system 100 of the first embodiment, such components are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  The chemical spray system 101 includes a plurality of two-fluid nozzles 40. In order to supply air to the two-fluid nozzle 40, the air supply part 10, the air manifold 12 as an air path, and the branched air path 11 are provided similarly to 1st Embodiment. Further, in order to supply water to the two-fluid nozzle 40, a water supply unit 20, a water manifold 22 as a water path, and a branch water path 21 are provided. Furthermore, in order to supply a chemical solution, a chemical solution supply unit 30, a chemical solution manifold 32 and a branched chemical solution path 31 as a chemical solution path are provided.

  However, in the chemical spray system 101 of the present embodiment, both the branched water path 21 and the branched chemical path 31 are directly connected to the two-fluid nozzle 40. In this respect, the chemical spray system 100 of the first embodiment (the branched water path 21 and the branched chemical path 31 are connected at the connection portion 42, and the liquid path 41 extends from the connection portion 42 to be connected to the two-fluid nozzle 40. Is different).

  About the air valve 13, the water valve 23, the chemical | medical solution valve 33, and the control part 50, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment.

  With such a chemical liquid spray system 101, air and chemical liquid can be supplied to the two-fluid nozzle 40 using the air supply unit 10 and the chemical liquid supply unit 30 to spray the chemical liquid.

  Also in the chemical solution spraying system 101, cleaning is performed after the chemical solution is sprayed. Here, since the branched chemical solution path 31 is directly connected to the two-fluid nozzle 40, the chemical solution remains only in the two-fluid nozzle 40. Therefore, the place to be cleaned is the two-fluid nozzle 40, and the time and water required for cleaning can be further reduced as compared with the case of the first embodiment, and also discharged at the time of cleaning. Excess chemicals can also be reduced.

  The cleaning method may be the same as in the first embodiment. For example, the process shown in FIG. 4 or 5 can be performed, and may be automatically performed by the control unit 50.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an exemplary chemical spray system 102 according to the third embodiment. The chemical spray system 102 includes the same components (denoted by the same reference numerals) as those of the chemical spray system 100 of the first embodiment, and further includes additional components. In the following, an additional configuration with respect to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  The chemical spray system 102 of the present embodiment further includes a water circulation path 43 with respect to the chemical spray system 100 of the first embodiment. This is a water path in the water manifold 22 that is connected further downstream than the most downstream branch water path 21 when viewed from the water supply unit 20 and returns to the water supply unit 20. Accordingly, the water supplied from the water supply unit 20 to the water manifold 22 can flow into the water circulation path 43 and return to the water supply unit 20 in addition to flowing into the branch water path 21 toward the two-fluid nozzle 40. it can.

  In the example of FIG. 3, six two-fluid nozzles 40 are provided, but this number varies depending on necessity. Here, when there is no water circulation path 43, it is necessary to change the capability of the water supply unit 20 according to the number of the two-fluid nozzles 40. For example, it is necessary to use a pump that delivers water with a desired output. However, preparing a number of pumps for various systems leads to an increase in cost. On the other hand, by providing the water circulation path 43, the range of the number of the two-fluid nozzles 40 that can be handled by the water supply unit 20 having the same capacity is widened, the flexibility of the system design is increased, and the cost increase is suppressed. be able to.

  Further, in the chemical spray system 100 of the first embodiment that does not include the water circulation path 43, in an actual piping configuration, a dead end pipe extends further downstream than the most downstream branch water path 21. May be. At such dead ends, problems such as water staying and algae are likely to occur. On the other hand, by providing the water circulation path 43, water can be prevented from staying and algae can be prevented from being generated.

  Further, a sensor 44 for measuring properties of water flowing through the water circulation path 43 may be provided. For example, a pH sensor that measures the pH of water may be used. When the pH sensor is used, it is possible to detect the mixing of foreign matters into the water flowing through the water circulation path 43. For example, in the connecting portion 42, the inflow of the chemical liquid from the branched chemical liquid path 31 to the branched water path 21 is prevented. However, when such a backflow occurs, the pH of the water flowing through the water path depends on the type of the chemical liquid. Fluctuate. By detecting this with the sensor 44, it is possible to detect the mixing of the chemical liquid into the water path.

  The sensor 44 may be a sensor that measures water temperature, flow rate, transparency, EC (Electrical Conductivity) value and the like in addition to pH. Also by measuring these, it is possible to detect the state of water such as contamination of foreign matter in the water circulation path 43.

  In the present embodiment, the spraying of the chemical liquid and the cleaning after the spraying are the same as in the first embodiment. The cleaning method can be performed, for example, by the process shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 similarly to the first embodiment, and may be automatically performed by the control unit 50.

  In the above description, the system for spraying chemicals such as agricultural chemicals and fertilizers has been described as an example for crop cultivation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It can be applied to a system for spraying a chemical solution regardless of the use, indoors or outdoors.

  The chemical spray system of the present disclosure can be used as a chemical spray system for spraying chemical liquids such as agricultural chemicals and fertilizers because the time required for cleaning nozzles and the like can be shortened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air supply part 11 Branch air path 12 Air manifold 13 Air valve 20 Water supply part 21 Branch water path 22 Water manifold 23 Water valve 30 Chemical liquid supply part 31 Branch chemical liquid path 32 Chemical liquid manifold 33 Chemical liquid valve 40 Two-fluid nozzle 41 Liquid path 42 Connection unit 43 Water circulation path 44 Sensor 50 Control unit 100 Chemical spray system 101 Chemical spray system 102 Chemical spray system

Claims (11)

At least one two-fluid nozzle supplied with gas and liquid and spraying the gas and liquid;
An air path for supplying air to the two-fluid nozzle;
A water path for supplying water to the two-fluid nozzle;
A chemical solution path for supplying a chemical solution to the two-fluid nozzle;
A switching mechanism for switching between the supply of water and the supply of chemicals to the two-fluid nozzle,
The said air path, the said water path | route, and the said chemical | medical solution path | route are the chemical | medical solution spraying systems provided for every said 2 fluid nozzle. In the chemical spray system of claim 1,
A plurality of the two-fluid nozzles are provided;
The air path includes an air manifold and a plurality of branch air paths that branch from the air manifold and supply air to each of the two fluid nozzles,
The water path includes a water manifold and a plurality of branch water paths that branch from the water manifold and supply water to the two fluid nozzles,
The chemical solution path includes a chemical solution manifold and a branched chemical solution path that branches from the chemical solution manifold and supplies the chemical solution to each of the two fluid nozzles. The chemical spray system according to claim 2,
The branch water path and the branch chemical liquid path provided for each of the two fluid nozzles are both connected to a liquid path through which water and chemical liquid pass, and the liquid path is connected to the two fluid nozzle. Chemical spray system. The chemical spray system according to claim 2,
Each of the branch water path and the branch chemical liquid path provided for each of the two fluid nozzles is directly connected to the corresponding two fluid nozzle. In the chemical spray system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The said water path | route is a chemical | medical solution spraying system provided with the water circulation path | route which collect | recovers without supplying a part of said water to the said 2 fluid nozzle. The chemical spray system according to claim 5,
A chemical spray system comprising a sensor for measuring properties of water flowing through the water circulation path. In any 1 chemical | medical solution spraying system of Claims 1-6,
A chemical spray system having a backflow mechanism for supplying water from the water path to the chemical path. In the chemical spray system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An air supply unit for supplying air to the two-fluid nozzle;
A water supply unit for supplying water to the two-fluid nozzle;
A chemical supply section for supplying a chemical to the two-fluid nozzle;
A control unit for controlling the air supply unit, the water supply unit, the chemical solution supply unit, and the switching mechanism;
When the spraying of the chemical liquid is stopped, the control section stops the operation of the chemical liquid supply section, then operates the water supply section, and then performs a cleaning operation for stopping the water supply section. system. The chemical spray system according to claim 8,
In the cleaning operation, the control unit puts the air supply unit into an operating state before stopping the operation of the chemical solution supply unit, and stops the air supply unit after stopping the water supply unit. system. A method for operating the chemical spray system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The chemical spray system is
An air supply unit for supplying air to the two-fluid nozzle;
A water supply unit for supplying water to the two-fluid nozzle;
A chemical supply section for supplying a chemical to the two-fluid nozzle;
A control unit for controlling the air supply unit, the water supply unit, the chemical solution supply unit, and the switching mechanism;
A cleaning operation for cleaning at least the two-fluid nozzle;
In the cleaning operation, the control unit operates the water supply unit after stopping the operation of the chemical solution supply unit, and then stops the water supply unit. The operation method of the chemical spray system according to claim 10,
In the cleaning operation, the control unit causes the air supply unit to be in an operating state before the cleaning operation, and stops the air supply unit after the cleaning operation.

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