JP3915598B2 - Sterilization liquid vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to an apparatus for vaporizing a sterilizing liquid, and in particular, to sterilize an object to be sterilized or to sterilize an inner surface of a sealed chamber that is accommodated for sterilizing the object to be sterilized, The present invention relates to a sterilizing liquid vaporizer for obtaining contained air.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) gas may be used as a sterilizing agent for sterilizing the object to be sterilized. In sterilization with hydrogen peroxide gas, a desired sterilization effect is obtained by bringing the object to be sterilized into contact with air containing hydrogen peroxide gas at a predetermined concentration for a predetermined time.
[0003]
A method and an apparatus for obtaining air containing hydrogen peroxide gas have been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-224669, Japanese Patent No. 2529909). The sterilizing liquid gasifier described in the first publication (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-224669) includes a sterilizing liquid tank, a main tube having an inlet end connected to the sterilizing liquid tank, and an outlet end of the main tube. A plurality of branch tubes, each having an inlet end connected via a distributor, and a heating element are built in, and an outlet end of the branch tube is connected so as to face a plurality of different locations on the top surface of the heating element from above. And a gasification tank.
[0004]
In the sterilizing liquid gasifier having the above configuration, the hydrogen peroxide solution in the sterilizing liquid tank is sent to the distributor through the main tube by the operation of the pump. Air is fed into the distributor together with the hydrogen peroxide solution. In the distributor, the hydrogen peroxide solution sent through the main tube is distributed to each branch tube together with air. The hydrogen peroxide solution in each branch tube is dropped onto the heating element via the dropping nozzle. Since air is mixed in the hydrogen peroxide solution, the dropped hydrogen peroxide solution is in the form of fine particles, which are evaporated by the heating element and gasified.
[0005]
Further, the sterilization apparatus described in the second publication (Japanese Patent No. 2529909) is provided with a hydrogen peroxide source, which directs fine sprays of liquid particles of hydrogen peroxide to the vaporization chamber. It is arranged to erupt. The vaporization chamber is also supplied with pressurized hot air. After passing through the supply nozzle, the pressurized air is introduced into the vaporizing chamber through a heating device. The pressurized air entrains liquid particles of hydrogen peroxide in the vaporizing chamber, and the hydrogen peroxide is vaporized by the heat of the pressurized air.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the configuration of the invention described in the first publication, the amount of evaporation per gas generator is small, and a large amount of air containing hydrogen peroxide gas of a predetermined concentration cannot be obtained. Further, in the configuration of the invention described in the second publication, since there is no means for confirming whether or not all the hydrogen peroxide has been vaporized, it is difficult to accurately control the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide gas.
[0007]
As described above, when the object to be sterilized is sterilized with air containing hydrogen peroxide gas, it is determined that the complete sterilization has been performed if the concentration of hydrogen peroxide gas and the sterilization time are less than the predetermined amount. I can't. There has been no apparatus that can obtain a large amount of sterilizing gas-containing air for performing complete sterilization at a precise concentration.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing liquid vaporizer that can easily control the concentration of sterilizing gas contained in air and can supply a large amount of sterilizing gas. Is.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to the present invention includes an air supply means for controlling pressurized air to a predetermined flow rate and supplying the air into the air supply passage, a heating means provided in the air supply passage, and heating the air supply passage. A sterilizing liquid spraying means provided on the downstream side of the means, and a sterilizing liquid supplying means for supplying a predetermined amount of the sterilizing liquid to the spraying means, and the sterilizing liquid is introduced into the heated air flowing in the air supply passage. Further, two temperature detection means are provided on the downstream side of the spray means in the air supply passage with an appropriate interval in the flow direction, and the temperature detected by these temperature detection means is provided. A sterilizing gas having a predetermined concentration is obtained by keeping the difference within a predetermined value.
[0010]
In the sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to the present invention, when the temperature difference detected by the at least two temperature detecting means provided on the downstream side of the spraying means is within a predetermined range, the sterilizing liquid sprayed by the spraying means is sprayed. Since it can be determined that the gas is completely vaporized by the heated air, the amount of air supplied controlled to a predetermined amount from the air supply means and the sterilizing liquid supplied controlled by the sterilizing liquid supply means From the amount, the concentration of the sterilizing gas contained in the air can be accurately calculated.
[0011]
In the sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the temperature difference detected by the temperature detecting means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the temperature of the air is raised by the heating means.
[0012]
In the sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to the present invention, when the difference in temperature detected by the plurality of temperature detection means is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the vaporization is not completed and the vaporization is further advanced, so the temperature is lowered due to the heat of vaporization. Therefore, the temperature of the air is raised by the heating means so that the vaporization is completely performed.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a simplified overall configuration of a sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this apparatus, compressed air is supplied to the air supply passage 4 by a blower 2 as air supply means. A dehumidifying means 6 is provided at the inlet of the air supply passage 4, and the compressed air is dehumidified. The air supply passage 4 is provided with an enlarged diameter portion 8 having an enlarged cross-sectional area, and a flow rate adjusting valve 10 and a flow meter 12 are provided in front of the enlarged diameter portion 8. The valve 10 and the flow meter 12 are controlled so that the flow rate of air supplied into the enlarged diameter portion 8 becomes a predetermined flow rate.
[0014]
An electric heater 14 as air heating means is provided in the enlarged diameter portion 8, and the air that has been sent to the enlarged diameter portion 8 and adiabatically expanded to atmospheric pressure is heated by the electric heater 14. The electric heater 14 is provided with a temperature sensor 16 so as to maintain the temperature of the heater within a predetermined range. In this embodiment, for example, the heater temperature is set to 200 ° C. to 220 ° C., and the air temperature is maintained at 105 ° C. to 110 ° C.
[0015]
On the downstream side of the electric heater 14, a fine spray nozzle 18 is installed as a spraying means for a sterilizing liquid (hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) liquid). The spray nozzle 18 is connected to a hydrogen peroxide solution tank 22 through a pipe (hydrogen peroxide solution supply pipe) 20, and the hydrogen peroxide solution in the tank 22 is supplied to the spray nozzle 18 by a pump 24. And sprayed into the stream of heated air. In this way, the hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized by spraying into the heated air flowing through the air supply passage 4. A flow meter 26 is provided on the downstream side of the pump 24, and the amount of the hydrogen peroxide solution supplied from the pump 24 to the spray nozzle 18 is controlled to a predetermined amount.
[0016]
A portion (flushing zone) 28 in which the spray nozzle 18 on the downstream side of the electric heater 14 is installed in the enlarged diameter portion 8 is sufficiently long so that fine particles of the hydrogen peroxide solution can be completely evaporated. Have The flushing zone 28 has a cylindrical shape or a trumpet shape, and is preferably installed horizontally or vertically. Needless to say, the flushing zone 28 may have other configurations and arrangements.
[0017]
A branch pipe 30 is connected in front of the flow meter 12 provided in the air supply passage 4, and air is supplied to the spray nozzle 18 through the branch pipe 30 to form a hydrogen peroxide solution in droplets. Yes. By sending air to the spray nozzle 18 that sprays the hydrogen peroxide solution in this way, the hydrogen peroxide solution becomes fine droplets and is easily vaporized.
[0018]
A plurality (three in this embodiment) of temperature sensors (first temperature sensor 32, second temperature sensor 34, and third temperature sensor 36) are installed at an appropriate interval downstream of the flushing zone 28. The temperature of the air stream containing the hydrogen peroxide gas vaporized in the flushing zone 28 is sequentially measured. These temperature sensors 32, 34, and 36 are disposed at positions that are considered to be completely vaporized by the flow rate of the sprayed hydrogen peroxide and air and the evaporation rate of hydrogen peroxide.
[0019]
The plurality of temperature sensors 32, 34, and 36 can confirm whether hydrogen peroxide has actually evaporated. For example, the measured temperatures of two adjacent sensors (the first temperature sensor 32 and the second temperature sensor 34) are compared, and the downstream side second temperature sensor 34 is compared to the temperature measured by the upstream side first temperature sensor 32. If the measured temperature is within the predetermined range, it can be determined that the hydrogen peroxide has completely evaporated. However, when the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor 34 on the downstream side falls below a predetermined range with respect to the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor 32 on the upstream side, the hydrogen peroxide is not completely vaporized. I can judge. This is a state in which hydrogen peroxide is not completely vaporized and mist remains when the temperature is measured by the first temperature sensor 32 on the upstream side, and then further vaporization proceeds. This is because it is considered that the decrease has occurred.
[0020]
Further, when the three temperature sensors 32, 34, and 36 are provided as in this embodiment, the difference in temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 32 and the second temperature sensor 34 exceeds a predetermined range. However, if the temperature difference detected by the second temperature sensor 34 and the third temperature sensor 36 is within a predetermined range, it can be finally determined that the gas has completely evaporated.
[0021]
If the difference between the detected temperatures of the upstream temperature sensor (for example, the second temperature sensor 34) and the downstream temperature sensor (for example, the third temperature sensor 36) is larger than a predetermined amount, the electric heater 14 Control the temperature to rise. By raising the temperature of the air supplied in this way, the hydrogen peroxide solution can be completely vaporized. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the third temperature sensor 36 arranged on the most downstream side also detects whether or not the temperature of the air containing the hydrogen peroxide gas is within the set range.
[0022]
In the sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to this embodiment, the three temperature sensors 32, 34, and 36 can confirm that the supplied hydrogen peroxide liquid is completely vaporized. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the air containing hydrogen oxide gas can be accurately determined by calculation from the amount of air supplied controlled to a predetermined flow rate and the amount of hydrogen peroxide supplied controlled to a predetermined flow rate. it can. Accordingly, it becomes possible to supply a large amount of hydrogen peroxide gas having a desired concentration, and it is possible to easily cope with a large capacity facility. Further, since the entire amount of the hydrogen peroxide solution fed by the pump 24 evaporates, it is possible to quickly respond to the request for concentration change. The number of the temperature sensors 32, 34 and 36 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the air supply means for controlling the pressurized air to a predetermined flow rate and supplying it into the air supply passage, the heating means provided in the air supply passage, and the air supply passage A sterilizing liquid spraying means provided downstream of the heating means and a sterilizing liquid supplying means for supplying a predetermined amount of sterilizing liquid to the spraying means, and the sterilizing liquid in the heated air flowing in the air supply passage In the sterilizing liquid vaporizing apparatus for spraying and vaporizing, two temperature detecting means are provided at an appropriate interval in the flow direction on the downstream side of the spraying means of the air supply passage, and the temperature detected by these temperature detecting means is provided. By keeping the difference within a predetermined value, it can be confirmed that the sterilizing liquid has completely vaporized, so that a predetermined concentration of sterilizing gas can be obtained and the concentration of the sterilizing gas contained in the air can be accurately controlled. The desired concentration It has become possible to mass supply of sterilizing gas-containing air.
[0024]
In the invention according to claim 2, when the temperature difference detected by the temperature detecting means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the temperature of the air is raised by the heating means, so that the sterilizing liquid is completely vaporized. Even if not, it can be immediately adjusted to vaporize all the sterilizing liquid, and the concentration of the sterilizing gas contained in the air can be accurately controlled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a simplified configuration of a sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Air supply means 4 Air supply passage 14 Heating means (electric heater)
18 Spraying means (spray nozzle)
22 Disinfectant supply means (disinfectant tank)
24 Disinfectant supply means (pump)
32 Temperature detection means (first temperature sensor)
34 Temperature detection means (second temperature sensor)
36 Temperature detection means (third temperature sensor)

Claims (2)

Air supply means for controlling the pressurized air to a predetermined flow rate and supplying it into the air supply passage, heating means provided in the air supply passage, and sterilization provided downstream of the heating means in the air supply passage In a sterilizing liquid vaporizer comprising a liquid spraying means and a sterilizing liquid supplying means for supplying a predetermined amount of sterilizing liquid to the spraying means, and spraying and vaporizing the sterilizing liquid in the heated air flowing in the air supply passage ,
Two temperature detection means are provided on the downstream side of the spray means in the air supply passage with an appropriate interval in the flow direction, and the difference between the temperatures detected by these temperature detection means is kept within a predetermined value, thereby sterilizing at a predetermined concentration. A sterilizing liquid vaporizer characterized by obtaining gas. 2. The sterilizing liquid vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature difference detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the temperature of the air is increased by the heating unit.

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