JP3504825B2 - Switching valve for stirring processing and stirring processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching valve for stirring treatments, capable of realizing excellent stirring treatment by a circulation flow and simultaneously improving the ability for cleaning the treating tank by simplification of the structure of the treating tank. SOLUTION: The switching valve 14 connected to the lowest discharge port 11 of a treating tank 12 can switch the connection states of two pipes comprising a discharge pipe 16 and a return pipe 17 for the treating tank 12 into a discharge state wherein both the pipes are connected to the discharge port 11 of the treating tank 12 or into a circulation state wherein the discharge pipe 6 is connected to the discharge port 11 of the treating tank 12, while the return pipe 17 is opened at a deep place in the treating tank 12 through the discharge port 11. A circulated treating liquid stream circulated from the return pipe 17 to the discharge pipe 16 through the treating tank 12, in which the flow is stirred, is formed by a pump 21 disposed in a circulation route 19 for linking the tip of the discharge pipe 16 to the tip of the return pipe 17, thus circulating and stirring the liquid.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can realize excellent agitation treatment by a circulation flow, and further, improve the cleaning performance of the treatment tank by simplifying the structure of the treatment tank to facilitate hygiene management of the treatment tank. The present invention relates to an agitation processing switching valve and an agitation processing system that can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a method for culturing brewer's yeast, a method is known in which a seed solution containing a predetermined yeast is introduced into a treatment tank and agitated in the treatment tank while supplying clean air. There is. As a stirring processing system that realizes such stirring processing, those having the structures shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have been widely used so far. The system shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a rotary blade 2 for stirring and an air feeding means 3 for supplying air bubbles of clean air in the treatment tank 1, and further yeast is provided above the treatment tank 1. The seed liquid supply means 4 for feeding the seed liquid containing bacteria is provided, and the stirring flow 5 is generated by the rotation of the rotary blade 2 to perform the stirring process.

On the other hand, the system shown in FIG.
An air pressure feeding means 7 for feeding clean compressed air is branched and connected via an opening / closing valve 8 to the discharge pipe 6 connected to the lowermost discharge port of the above, and the seed liquid is sent above the processing tank 1. A seed liquid supply means 4 for supplying is provided, and a stirring process is performed by causing a stirring flow by an air jet 9 injected into the processing tank 1 by the air pressure feeding means 7.

[0004]

However, in the system as described above, in order to achieve good agitation in the entire area of the large-capacity processing tank 1, the rotating blades 2 and the air that generate the agitation flow are generated. Since the injection nozzles must be installed at a plurality of locations in a distributed manner, the structure of the processing tank becomes complicated. Then, as the structure of the processing tank becomes complicated, it becomes difficult to clean the processing tank, and it becomes difficult to manage hygiene.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to realize excellent agitation treatment by a circulation flow while having a simple structure, and further, to clean the treatment tank by simplifying the structure of the treatment tank. It is an object of the present invention to provide an agitation treatment switching valve and an agitation treatment system capable of improving hygiene and facilitating hygienic management of a treatment tank.

[0006]

The above object of the present invention is to provide a discharge pipe having a base end connected to a discharge port at the bottom of a processing tank and a communication port formed in a pipe wall near the discharge port. A return pipe whose base end is connected to the communication port, and a tubular valve body which is inserted into the discharge port so that the base end opening faces the communication port and the front end opening faces the inner depth of the processing tank, Valve body drive means for moving the tubular valve element forward and backward to separate and seat the proximal end opening of the tubular valve element with respect to the valve seat formed in the communication port, the proximal end of the tubular valve element A discharge state in which the discharge pipe and the return pipe are communicated with each other through the communication port by separating the opening from the valve seat, and both the discharge pipe and the return pipe are connected to the discharge port of the processing tank; By seating the base end opening of the tubular valve body on the valve seat, the discharge pipe and the return pipe by the communication port are connected. Without communication, the return pipe by stirring treatment for switching valve to be switched and a circulation state in which communication with the inner back of the processing tank through the tubular valve body is achieved.

Further, the above object of the present invention is to equip the lowermost discharge port of the processing tank with the aforesaid agitation processing switching valve, and to provide the tip of the exhaust pipe and the end of the return pipe of the agitation processing switching valve. This is achieved by a stirring treatment system characterized in that the circulation flow path communicating with each other is equipped with a pump or the like that forms a circulating flow from the discharge pipe side to the return pipe.

In the above-mentioned agitation treatment switching valve, the connection state of the two pipe lines of the discharge pipe and the return pipe to the treatment tank is such that both are connected to the discharge port of the treatment tank, or the discharge pipe is treated. Although connected to the discharge port of the tank, the return pipe can be switched to either the circulation state in which the discharge port is inserted and the inside of the processing tank is opened. Therefore, the stirring process switching valve is provided at the discharge port of the processing tank, and the circulation passage connecting the tip of the discharge pipe of the stirring process switching valve with the tip of the return pipe is connected to the circulation pipe from the discharge pipe side. In an agitation processing system equipped with a pump or the like that forms a circulation flow toward the return pipe, the liquid to be treated is sent from the return pipe to the treatment tank by operating the pump etc. with the agitation treatment switching valve in a circulating state. To create a circulating flow that flows around the tank to the discharge pipe,
The stirring process can be realized by circulation. And
Since the stirring action is received not only in the processing tank but also while circulating in the circulation path, it is possible to realize an excellent stirring process evenly with respect to the total amount of the liquid to be treated.

Further, for example, when it is necessary to contact with clean air at the time of agitation processing, such as when culturing brewer's yeast, it is possible to equip an air mixing means for mixing clean air in the middle of the circulation path. For example, the contact between the liquid to be processed and the air can be achieved not only in the processing tank but also in the circulation path, and the necessary contact time with the air can be gained, thus promoting the action by contact with the air. Then, the stirring efficiency can be improved.

When the necessary stirring process is completed, the operating state of the stirring process switching valve is switched to the discharge state,
For example, if the discharge on-off valve provided in the middle of the circulation path is opened, both the discharge pipe and the return pipe can be used for discharging the treated liquid.

In the case of cleaning, if the operation state of the agitation processing switching valve is set to the circulation state and the cleaning liquid injected into the processing tank is circulated in the same manner as during the stirring processing, the cleaning tank and The switching valve for agitation processing and the circulation path connected to the processing tank can be cleaned all at once.
Similarly to the case of discharging the liquid after the stirring process, if the operating state of the stirring process switching valve is set to the discharging state, the discharging / collection of the cleaning liquid can be promptly completed.

Further, since the treatment tank itself is only equipped with the above-mentioned simple structure switching valve for stirring treatment, it is possible to prevent the structure of the treatment tank from becoming complicated, and therefore, the structure of the treatment tank is simple. To improve the cleaning performance of the processing tank,
It is also possible to facilitate hygiene management of the processing tank.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a stirring treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a stirring treatment system using a stirring treatment switching valve according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve main body mounted on the proximal end portion of the tubular valve body in the stirring processing system of FIG.
[Fig. 2] is a sectional view of a key portion showing the operation in the stirring treatment system according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

The stirring treatment system 10 of this embodiment
Is used for culturing brewer's yeast, and has a treatment tank 12 equipped with a discharge port 11 at the lowermost portion, a stirring process switching valve 14 assembled to the discharge port 11, and the stirring process switching valve. The configuration is provided with a circulation flow path 19 that connects the tip of the discharge pipe 16 of 14 and the tip of the return pipe 17.

In the middle of the circulation flow path 19, a pump 21 that forms a circulating flow of the liquid to be treated, which flows from the discharge pipe 16 side to the return pipe 17 around the treatment tank 12, is circulated. 22 for detecting the temperature of the liquid, a densitometer 23 for detecting the concentration of the circulating liquid to be treated, a flow meter 24 for detecting the flow rate of the liquid to be treated in the circulation flow passage 19, a circulation flow passage 19 for a test or the like. A sampling station 25 for extracting a liquid to be treated from the static mixer 26, a static mixer 26 for stirring and mixing clean air into the liquid to be treated flowing in the circulation flow path 19,
Open / close valves 27, 28 for controlling the inflow of clean air into the static mixer 26, pressure gauge 37 for detecting the pressure in the circulation flow path 19, open / close valves 29, 34 for opening / closing the circulation flow path 19, A seed liquid supply pipe 31, which is connected to the circulation flow path 19 between the on-off valves 29 and 34 via an on-off valve 30;
A processed liquid discharge pipe 33 connected to the circulation flow path 19 between the opening / closing valves 29 and 34 through an opening / closing valve 32 for use in discharging the liquid to be treated or the cleaning liquid flowing in the circulation flow path 19 is provided. ing. Further, a cleaning liquid supply path 35 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the processing tank 12 is provided above the processing tank 12.

The agitation processing switching valve 14 has a base end connected to the discharge port 11 of the processing tank 12 and a communication port 40 on the pipe wall facing the discharge port 11 near the discharge port 11.
Through the discharge pipe 16, the return pipe 17 having a base end connected to the communication port 40, a base end opening 42 facing the communication port 40, and a tip opening 43 of the processing tank 12. A valve having a tubular valve element 44 inserted through the discharge port 11 so as to face the inner depth and a proximal end opening 42 of the tubular valve element 44 which is moved forward and backward to equip the communication port 40 with the proximal end opening 42. Valve body drive means 48 for separating / seating from the seat 46
And a jet tube 49 mounted on the tip side of the tubular valve element 44.

In the case of this embodiment, the valve body driving means 48 is an air cylinder, and the tip end of the cylinder rod 50 is located at the center of the valve body 52 fixedly attached to the base end opening of the tubular valve body 44. It is connected. The valve body 52 is
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a rod fitting hole 54 into which the cylinder rod 50 is fitted is provided at the center of the substantially disc, and a liquid to be treated or the like is circulated around the rod fitting hole 54. A plurality of openings 55 are formed for this purpose.
When the valve body 52 is seated on the valve seat 46, its peripheral edge is in close contact with the valve seat 46, and the communication port 40 is covered with the proximal end opening of the tubular valve body 44. That is, the valve body 52
When seated on the valve seat 46, is connected to the base end portion of the return pipe 17 through the communication port 40, and substantially the base end of the return pipe 17 is extended to the inner depth of the processing tank 12. Take the form.

As shown in the figure, the jet tube 49 is covered on the tip of the tubular valve element 44 in a state where a clearance for the liquid to be treated is secured around the outer periphery of the tubular valve element 44, and is not shown. It is fixed to the tubular valve element 44 by a support structure. The jet pipe 49 has a reduced diameter in the middle portion, and the jet force of the liquid to be treated ejected from the tip opening 43 of the tubular valve body 44 is utilized to make an arrow (a) in FIG. As shown by, part of the liquid to be treated flowing down from the treatment tank 12 to the discharge pipe 16 is drawn into the jet pipe 49 to strengthen the stirring flow in the treatment tank 12.

In the agitation processing switching valve 14 described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximal end opening 42 of the tubular valve element 44 is separated from the valve seat 46, so that the discharge pipe 16 and the return pipe 17 are separated from each other. To communicate with each other through the communication port 40,
It is possible to form a discharge state in which both 6 and the return pipe 17 are connected to the discharge port 11 of the processing tank 12. In this state, the liquid to be treated in the treatment tank 12 can flow down to both the discharge pipe 16 and the return pipe 17, as shown by the arrow in the figure.

Further, in the stirring processing switching valve 14, as shown in FIG. 1, the base end opening 42 of the tubular valve element 44 is seated on the valve seat 46, so that the discharge pipe by the communication port 40 is formed. It is possible to form a circulation state in which the return pipe 17 communicates with the inner depth of the processing tank 12 via the tubular valve body 44 by eliminating communication between the return pipe 17 and the return pipe 17. In this state, as shown by the arrow in the figure, the liquid to be treated that has flowed up through the return pipe 17 can flow into the treatment tank 12 through the tubular valve element 44, and the treatment liquid goes around the treatment tank 12 and is treated. The liquid to be treated flowing down to the lower part of the tank 12 can flow down to the discharge pipe 16 through the discharge port 11.

That is, in the agitation processing switching valve 14 described above,
The connection state of the two pipes of the discharge pipe 16 and the return pipe 17 to the processing tank 12 is the discharge state in which both are connected to the discharge port 11 of the processing tank 12, or the discharge pipe 16 is connected to the discharge port 11 of the processing tank 12. However, the return pipe 17 can be switched to either the circulation state in which the discharge port 11 is inserted and the inside of the processing tank 12 is opened. Therefore, in the stirring processing system 10 according to the embodiment, the stirring processing switching valve 14 is used.
The liquid to be treated is sent from the return pipe 17 to the treatment tank 12 and circulates inside the tank to the discharge pipe 16 by operating the pump 21 and the like in a circulating state, and stirring treatment is performed by circulation. Can be realized. Since the stirring action is received not only in the processing tank 12 but also during the circulation in the circulation path, it is possible to realize the excellent stirring process evenly with respect to the total amount of the liquid to be treated.

When brewing brewer's yeast, clean air is fitted into the liquid to be treated flowing in the circulation passage 19 by the static mixer 26 provided in the circulation passage 19, so that only in the treatment tank 12. Not only that, the contact between the liquid to be treated and the air can be realized even during the circulation in the circulation path, and the required contact time with the air can be obtained.

When the required stirring process is completed, the operating state of the stirring process switching valve 14 is switched to the discharging state shown in FIG. 4, and, for example, the discharging on-off valve 32 installed in the middle of the circulation path. When opened, the discharge pipe 16 and the return pipe 1
7 can be used for discharging the treated liquid, and the discharging of the treated liquid can be completed quickly.

In the case of cleaning, if the operating state of the agitation processing switching valve 14 is set to the circulation state and the cleaning liquid injected into the processing tank 12 is circulated in the same manner as during the agitation processing, the processing tank 12 and the stirring processing switching valve 14 and the circulation path connected to the processing tank 12 can be washed all at once,
After the cleaning process is completed, the discharge / collection of the cleaning liquid can be promptly completed by setting the operating state of the stirring process switching valve 14 to the discharge state, as in the case of discharging the liquid after the stirring process. .

Although the above-described one embodiment has been used for culturing brewer's yeast, the switching valve for stirring treatment and the stirring treatment system of the present invention are widely applicable to stirring and mixing treatment of various liquids. Is. In addition, the instrument and the branch path provided on the circulation flow path 19 are not limited to the illustrated examples, but may be changed depending on the property of the liquid to be stirred and the processing purpose.
The design can be changed appropriately.

[0026]

In the agitation treatment switching valve of the present invention, the connection state of the two pipe lines of the discharge pipe and the return pipe with respect to the treatment tank is
Either the discharge state is connected to the discharge port of the treatment tank, or the discharge pipe is connected to the discharge port of the treatment tank but the return pipe is inserted through the discharge port and opened inside the treatment tank. It can be switched to. Therefore, the stirring process switching valve is provided at the discharge port of the processing tank, and the circulation passage connecting the tip of the discharge pipe of the stirring process switching valve with the tip of the return pipe is connected to the circulation pipe from the discharge pipe side. In the agitation processing system of the present invention equipped with a pump or the like that forms a circulation flow toward the return pipe, the liquid to be treated is transferred from the return pipe to the treatment tank by operating the pump or the like with the agitation treatment switching valve in a circulation state. It is possible to realize a stirring process by creating a circulating flow that is sent into the tank and flows around the tank to the discharge pipe. Since the stirring action is received not only in the processing tank but also while circulating in the circulation path, it is possible to realize an excellent stirring process evenly with respect to the total amount of the liquid to be treated.

Further, when contact with clean air is required at the time of agitation treatment, for example, when brewing brewer's yeast, an air mixing means for mixing clean air in the middle of the circulation path may be provided. For example, the contact between the liquid to be processed and the air can be achieved not only in the processing tank but also in the circulation path, and the necessary contact time with the air can be gained, thus promoting the action by contact with the air. Then, the stirring efficiency can be improved.

When the necessary stirring process is completed, the operating state of the stirring process switching valve is switched to the discharge state,
For example, if the discharge on-off valve provided in the middle of the circulation path is opened, both the discharge pipe and the return pipe can be used for discharging the processed liquid, and the discharge of the processed liquid can be completed quickly. You can

In the case of cleaning, the operating state of the agitation processing switching valve is set to the circulation state, and the cleaning liquid injected into the processing tank is circulated in the same manner as during the stirring processing, so that The switching valve for agitation processing and the circulation path connected to the processing tank can be cleaned all at once.
Similarly to the case of discharging the liquid after the stirring process, if the operating state of the stirring process switching valve is set to the discharging state, the discharging / collection of the cleaning liquid can be promptly completed.

[0030]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a stirring processing system using a stirring processing switching valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a valve body mounted at a proximal end portion of a tubular valve body in the stirring treatment system of FIG.

3 is a view on arrow A in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an operation in the stirring processing system according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional stirring processing system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of another conventional stirring processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Stirring system 11 outlet 12 treatment tanks 14 Switching valve for stirring processing 16 discharge pipe 17 Return tube 19 Circulation channel 21 pumps 22 Thermometer 23 Densitometer 24 flow meter 25 sampling station 26 Static mixer 27,28,29,30,32,34 Open / close valve 31 seed liquid supply pipe 33 Treated liquid discharge pipe 35 Cleaning liquid supply path 37 Pressure gauge 40 contact 42 Base end opening 43 Tip opening 44 Tubular valve body 46 seat 48 Valve body driving means 49 jet tube 50 cylinder rod 52 valve body

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A discharge pipe having a base end connected to a lowermost discharge port of a processing tank and a communication port formed in a pipe wall near the discharge port, and a return pipe having a base end connected to the communication port. A pipe, a tubular valve body having a base end opening facing the communication port, and a distal end opening inserted into the discharge port so as to face the inner depth of the processing tank; Valve body drive means for separating and seating the base end opening of the valve body with respect to the valve seat formed in the communication port, and by separating the base end opening of the tubular valve body from the valve seat, A discharge state in which a discharge pipe and a return pipe are communicated with each other through the communication port, and both the discharge pipe and the return pipe are connected to the discharge port of the processing tank, and the base end opening of the tubular valve element is the valve seat. The communication between the discharge pipe and the return pipe by the communication port is eliminated by allowing the return pipe to Stirred processing switching valve and a circulation state in which communication was switchable to the inner back of the processing tank through the Jobentai. 2. The agitation processing switching valve according to claim 1 is provided at the lowermost discharge port of the processing tank, and the tip of the discharge tube and the tip of the return tube of the agitation processing switching valve are communicated with each other. The circulation passage is equipped with a pump or the like that forms a circulation flow from the discharge pipe side to the return pipe.