JP2020044515A - Fluid sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a fluid sterilizer capable of exchanging a component easily.SOLUTION: The fluid sterilizer of the embodiment is equipped with a channel housing chamber, a light source housing chamber, and a cooling water passage. The channel housing chamber accommodates a channel pipe for flowing a fluid and a channel part provided at an outer periphery of a channel pipe including a reflector plate for reflecting ultraviolet ray toward the channel pipe. The light source housing chamber accommodates a light source for irradiation of ultraviolet ray toward the inside of the channel pipe. The cooling water passage is provided around the light source housing chamber and a cooling water flows therein. Also, the channel housing chamber and the light source housing chamber respectively include a connection port for flowing a dry fluid from the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid sterilization apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a fluid sterilizer that sterilizes a fluid by irradiating ultraviolet rays emitted from a light emitting element serving as a light source into a flow path of a flow path member through which a fluid such as water or gas flows. In this type of fluid sterilization apparatus, a light source accommodating chamber accommodating an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits ultraviolet light as a light source and a cooling water channel for suppressing heat generation of the LED are formed around the light source accommodating chamber. There is something.

JP 2014-233646 A

  By the way, when the temperature of the fluid flowing through the cooling water passage or the temperature of the fluid to be sterilized is lower than that of the light source storage chamber, dew condensation may occur in the light source storage chamber or the processing chamber for sterilizing the fluid. For this reason, there is a concern that a light source may fail or sterilization performance may deteriorate in the processing chamber.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fluid sterilization apparatus that can maintain sterilization performance.

  The fluid sterilization apparatus according to the embodiment includes a flow path storage chamber, a light source storage chamber, and a cooling water passage. The flow passage accommodating chamber houses a flow passage portion having a flow passage tube for flowing a fluid and a reflection plate provided on an outer periphery of the flow passage tube and reflecting ultraviolet light toward the flow passage tube. The light source accommodating chamber accommodates a light source for irradiating the inside of the flow path tube with ultraviolet light. The cooling water passage is provided around the light source accommodating chamber, through which cooling water flows. Further, the flow channel storage chamber and the light source storage chamber each have a connection port for flowing a drying fluid from the outside.

  According to the present invention, sterilization performance can be maintained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the entire fluid sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the fluid sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the fluid sterilization apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  The fluid sterilizers 1 and 1A according to the embodiments described below include a channel storage chamber 20, a light source storage chamber 30, and a cooling water passage 35. The flow passage accommodating chamber 20 houses a flow passage portion 21 having a flow passage tube 22 for flowing a fluid and a reflection plate 23 provided on an outer periphery of the flow passage tube 22 and reflecting ultraviolet light toward the flow passage tube 22. . The light source accommodating chamber 30 accommodates a light source 31 for irradiating the inside of the flow path tube 22 with ultraviolet rays. The cooling water passage 35 is provided around the light source accommodating chamber 30, and the cooling water flows. The channel storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30 have connection ports C1 and C2 for flowing a drying fluid from outside.

  In the fluid sterilizers 1 and 1A according to the embodiments described below, the cooling water passage 35 communicates with the flow pipe 22.

  In addition, the fluid sterilizers 1 and 1A according to the embodiments described below include a communication pipe 40 that allows the flow path housing chamber 20 and the light source housing chamber 30 to communicate with each other.

  Further, the fluid sterilizers 1 and 1A according to the embodiments described below are provided in a flow path through which the drying fluid flows, and include a sensor Sc for measuring the pressure of the drying fluid.

  In addition, the fluid sterilization apparatuses 1 and 1A according to the embodiments described below include a control unit 50 that controls on-off valves V1 and V2 provided in a path through which a drying fluid flows based on a measurement result of the sensor Sc.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fluid sterilizer 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, configurations having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. In the following, a case where the fluid is a liquid will be described, but the fluid may be a gas. In the following, a fluid to be sterilized by the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 may be referred to as a processing fluid.

  First, an outline of the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the entire fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid sterilizer 1 is connected to the water supply tank 2 via an upstream flow path member 4 and is connected to a recovery tank 7 via a downstream flow path member 5.

  That is, the fluid sterilizer 1 sterilizes the liquid supplied from the water supply tank 2 and supplies the liquid to the recovery tank 7. One end of the upstream channel member 4 is connected to the water supply tank 2, and the other end is connected to the fluid sterilizer 1.

  The pump 3 has a function of sending the liquid stored in the water supply tank 2 to the fluid sterilizer 1 via the upstream channel member 4. The downstream side flow path member 5 has one end connected to the fluid sterilizer 1 and the other end connected to the collection tank 7, and a flow rate adjusting mechanism 6 for adjusting the flow rate of the liquid sent from the fluid sterilizer 1 to the collection tank 7. Is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 includes a flow path storage chamber 20, a light source storage chamber 30, a communication pipe 40, a control unit 50, and a sensor Sc.

  In addition, the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 includes a first connection member 10 connected to one end of the flow path 21, a second connection member 11 connected to the other end of the flow path 21, and a first connection member 10. A housing 24 for connecting the two connection members 11 is provided.

  The channel housing chamber 20 is a space in which the channel 21 is housed, and is formed between the channel 21 and the housing 24. In addition, the flow path accommodating chamber 20 includes a connection port C1 for flowing a drying fluid from the outside.

  The flow path unit 21 includes a flow path pipe 22 through which a fluid flows, and a reflector 23 provided on an outer periphery of the flow path pipe 22 and reflecting ultraviolet light into the flow path pipe 22.

  It is preferable that the flow path tube 22 be formed of a material having a high transmittance of ultraviolet rays and being suppressed from being deteriorated by ultraviolet rays. In the present embodiment, a transparent quartz tube is used as the flow path tube 22, and a reflector 23 as a reflecting surface having a high ultraviolet reflectance is used on the entire outer peripheral surface of the quartz tube.

  The reflection plate 23 reflects the ultraviolet rays emitted from the light source 31 to the processing chamber 25 in the flow pipe 22 into the processing chamber 25. For example, an aluminum plate material is used for the reflection plate 23. Thereby, the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 31 can be efficiently returned to the processing chamber 25. That is, the fluid can be efficiently sterilized.

  In addition, as the reflection plate 23, a quartz tube in which a reflection film as a reflection surface having a high ultraviolet reflectance is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface of the quartz tube may be used. As the reflection film, for example, a silica film is used. Further, the reflection film is not limited to the silica film, and may be an aluminum vapor-deposited film. The channel tube 22 is not limited to a transparent quartz tube, and may be formed of a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene) having high reflectivity. Further, the reflection film may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the flow pipe 22 instead of being formed on the outer peripheral face of the flow pipe 22.

  The light source accommodating chamber 30 is disposed, for example, at the downstream end of the flow path tube 22, accommodates the light source 31, and has a connection port C2 connected to the outside. In addition, a cover 32 is provided on the flow path tube 22 side of the light source storage chamber 30. The cover 32 is, for example, an ultraviolet transmitting member formed of a glass material, and has a role of protecting the light source 31 from a fluid while transmitting ultraviolet light.

  The light source 31 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode), which is a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light and is installed on a substrate (not shown). The light source 31 emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 nm or less, which has a high germicidal action. The light source 31 preferably has a peak wavelength near 275 nm. However, the light source 31 may be any wavelength band that exhibits a bactericidal action, and does not limit the wavelength of ultraviolet light.

  A cooling water passage 35 is provided around the light source accommodating chamber 30. Cooling water for cooling the light source 31 flows through the cooling water passage 35. Thereby, the light source 31 and the substrate on which the light source 31 is mounted can be cooled.

  Note that the example shown in FIG. 2 shows a case where the cooling water passage 35 and the processing chamber 25 communicate with each other. That is, the case where the processing fluid also serves as the cooling water flowing through the cooling water passage 35 is shown. Thus, it is not necessary to separately prepare cooling water, so that the light source 31 can be efficiently cooled. Note that the cooling water passage 35 and the processing chamber 25 need not always be in communication with each other, and the cooling water passage 35 and the processing chamber 25 may be provided independently.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the flow path housing chamber 20 and the light source housing chamber 30 are respectively provided with a connection port C1 and a connection port C2 for flowing a drying fluid from the outside.

  Specifically, the connection port C1 of the flow path storage chamber 20 is connected to the flow path member 60a, and the connection port C2 of the light source storage chamber 30 is connected to the flow path member 60b. Opening / closing valves V1, V2 are provided in the flow path members 60a, 60b, respectively.

  In addition, the channel housing chamber 20 and the light source housing chamber 30 communicate with each other through a communication pipe 40. Thereby, it becomes possible to share and use the dry gas in both the flow channel storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30. Hereinafter, a flow path through which the drying fluid passes is referred to as a drying flow path.

  For example, a cylinder or a pump for sending out a drying fluid is arranged outside the on-off valve V1 of the flow path member 60a, passes through the drying flow path, and is sent out from the on-off valve V2 of the flow path member 60b. The drying fluid may flow in from the on-off valve V2 side and may discharge the drying fluid from the on-off valve V1 side.

  Here, the drying fluid is a drying gas obtained by removing water vapor from air, but may be a liquid having an insulating property such as silicon oil. When the drying fluid is a liquid, it is preferable to use one having a high ultraviolet transmittance. Further, the temperature of the drying fluid is preferably equal to or lower than the dew point temperature of the air around the fluid sterilizer 1. More specifically, the temperature of the drying fluid flowing through the flow channel storage chamber 20 is preferably equal to or lower than the temperature of the processing fluid flowing through the processing chamber 25. The temperature is preferably equal to or lower than the temperature of the flowing cooling water.

  Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation in the flow channel storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30. In this case, the light source 31 can be cooled by the drying fluid. In addition, the temperature of the drying fluid is not limited to the above example, and may be set to a temperature that promotes evaporation of the dew condensation when dew condensation occurs.

  The control unit 50 controls the on-off valve V1 and the on-off valve V2 based on the measurement result by the sensor Sc. The sensor Sc is provided in the flow path of the dry gas and is a sensor for measuring the pressure of the dry fluid. For example, the sensor Sc is a pressure sensor, but may be another sensor as long as it can be converted into a pressure, such as a flow rate sensor that measures the flow rate of a drying fluid.

  Further, the example illustrated in FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the sensor Sc is provided in the flow path housing chamber 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sensor Sc may be provided in the light source accommodating chamber 30 and the flow path members 60a and 60b, or may be provided in the on-off valves V1 and V2.

  The opening / closing valve V1 and the opening / closing valve V2 are valves whose opening and closing are controlled by a solenoid valve and an electric valve, respectively. The on / off operation of the on / off valve V1 and the on / off valve V2 is controlled by the control of the control unit 50, respectively. Thereby, the flow rate of the drying fluid flowing through the flow path member 60a and the flow path member 60b can be adjusted.

  Specifically, the control unit 50 controls the on-off valve V1 and the on-off valve V2 based on the measurement result of the sensor Sc so that the inside of the flow path housing chamber 20 and the light source housing chamber 30 always has a positive pressure. In other words, the on-off valve V1 and the on-off valve V2 are controlled so that the inside of the flow path housing chamber 20 and the light source housing chamber 30 is sufficiently filled with the drying fluid.

  More specifically, for example, when the pressure in the drying flow path is reduced, the control unit 50 opens the on-off valve V1 so that more drying fluid flows into the drying flow path, or the on-off valve V2 By closing, the drying gas can be kept inside the drying channel.

  Thereby, the drying fluid can be filled in the drying channel, so that the occurrence of dew condensation can be suppressed. Although FIG. 2 illustrates the case where the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 includes two on-off valves, the on-off valve V1 and the on-off valve V2, the number of on-off valves may be one. Further, in FIG. 2, the case where the channel accommodating chamber 20 and the light source accommodating chamber 30 communicate with each other through the communication pipe 40 in the fluid sterilizing apparatus 1 has been described. It may be a configuration that is not provided.

  As described above, the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment suppresses the occurrence of dew condensation in the flow path storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30 by filling the flow path storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30 with the drying fluid. It becomes possible.

  That is, in the flow channel accommodating chamber 20, the occurrence of dew condensation on the outer peripheral surface of the flow channel tube 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the reflection plate 23 can be suppressed. It is possible to do. Further, in the light source housing chamber 30, it is possible to suppress the failure of the light source 31 due to dew condensation and the substrate on which the light source 31 is mounted. That is, the sterilization performance of the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 can be maintained.

  As described above, the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes the flow channel storage chamber 20, the light source storage chamber 30, and the cooling water passage 35. The flow passage accommodating chamber 20 houses a flow passage portion 21 having a flow passage tube 22 for flowing a fluid and a reflection plate 23 provided on an outer periphery of the flow passage tube 22 and reflecting ultraviolet light toward the flow passage tube 22. . The light source accommodating chamber 30 accommodates a light source 31 for irradiating the inside of the flow path tube 22 with ultraviolet rays. The cooling water passage 35 is provided around the light source accommodating chamber 30, and the cooling water flows. The channel storage chamber 20 and the light source storage chamber 30 have connection ports C1 and C2 for flowing a drying fluid from outside. Therefore, according to the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the sterilization performance can be maintained.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the flow pipe 22 has a single-pipe structure has been described, but the flow pipe 22 may have a multi-pipe structure of a double-pipe structure or more. Next, a fluid sterilizer 1A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a fluid sterilization apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the on-off valves V1, V2, the control unit 50, and the like shown in FIG. 2 is omitted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid sterilization apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment mainly differs from the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the flow path pipe 22 of the flow path unit 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the second embodiment, the flow path unit 21 a includes the first flow path pipe 22-1 and the second flow path pipe 22-2. Having.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first flow pipe 22-1 and the second flow pipe 22-2 have different flowing directions of the processing fluid. That is, in the fluid sterilization apparatus 1A, the flow path pipe has a multiple pipe structure in which the flow direction of the processing fluid is different between the inside and the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processing fluid flowing from the upstream flow path member 4 passes through the first processing chamber 25-1 formed on the inner periphery of the first flow path pipe 22-1, and then flows through the second connection member 11. -1 and is returned downstream through the second processing chamber 25-2 formed by the first flow path pipe 22-1 and the second flow path pipe 22-2. It is discharged from the side channel member 5.

  That is, in the fluid sterilization apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment, by making the flow path pipe have a multi-tube structure, the overall length of the fluid sterilization apparatus 1A can be shortened. Here, the case where the flow pipe is a multi-pipe having a double pipe structure has been described, but the flow pipe may be a multi-pipe structure having a triple pipe structure or more.

  Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is provided by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Fluid sterilizer 2 Water supply tank 3 Pump 4 Upstream flow path member 5 Downstream flow path member 6 Flow rate adjustment mechanism 7 Recovery tank 20 Flow path storage chamber 21 Flow path section 22 Flow path pipe 23 Reflection plate 24 Housing 25 Processing chamber 30 Light source storage chamber 31 Light source 32 Cover 40 Communication pipe 50 Control unit C1, C2 Connection port Sc sensor V1, V2 Open / close valve

Claims (5)

A channel housing chamber for housing a channel portion having a channel tube for flowing a fluid and a reflection plate provided on an outer periphery of the channel tube and reflecting ultraviolet light toward the channel tube;
A light source accommodating chamber for accommodating a light source for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the flow path tube;
A cooling water passage provided around the light source accommodating chamber and through which cooling water flows;
With
The flow channel storage chamber and the light source storage chamber,
Each having a connection port for flowing a drying fluid from the outside,
Fluid sterilizer. The cooling channel is
Communicating with the flow channel tube,
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1. A communication pipe for communicating the flow channel housing chamber and the light source housing chamber;
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: A sensor provided in a flow path through which the drying fluid flows, for measuring a pressure of the drying fluid;
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A control unit that controls an on-off valve provided in a path through which the drying fluid flows based on a measurement result of the sensor;
The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 4, comprising:

Images