JP6512656B2 - Liquid transfer method and liquid transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid transfer method and a liquid transfer apparatus, and is useful, for example, when suppressing the generation of air bubbles when liquid transfer from a preparation tank to a storage tank.

  In a plant that processes beverages, liquid pharmaceuticals, etc., the preparation tank, the storage tank and the filling machine are connected by piping respectively, and compressed air at a predetermined pressure is supplied into the piping, so that the preparation tank is connected to the storage tank. The liquid product is pumped to the filling machine.

  In particular, in a plant that processes pharmaceuticals, a storage tank and a filling machine may be installed in a clean room, and a preparation tank may be installed in another room. When the clean room and the separate room are on the same floor, the piping connected to the preparation tank is extended toward the ceiling, bent horizontally at the ceiling and extended to the next room, and extended downward into the clean room and storage tank May use a configuration to connect to That is, the piping connecting the preparation tank and the storage tank includes a portion in which the piping extends upward and a portion in which the piping extends downward.

  When the inside of the preparation tank is pressurized to start pumping the liquid product, the liquid product may trap gas in the pipe, particularly when flowing down the downwardly extending pipe portion, which may cause bubbles in the liquid product. It is not desirable that bubbles are generated in the liquid product sent to the filling machine in terms of management of the liquid product, and it is possible to send the liquid product from the preparation tank to the storage tank without generating the bubbles in the liquid product. It is desired. On the other hand, a liquid delivery apparatus has been proposed in which generation of air bubbles is suppressed in the pipe having such a configuration (for example, Patent Document 1). According to the liquid transfer device according to Patent Document 1, when flowing down a pipe extending downward, entrainment of gas in the pipe can be prevented, and air bubbles can be prevented from being mixed in the liquid product.

  However, there is a need for measures to more reliably prevent the gas originally present in the storage tank from being supplied to the filling machine side together with the liquid product. Moreover, although the liquid feeding apparatus which concerns on patent document 1 controls pumping of a liquid product by opening and closing a valve | bulb and a 2nd valve, respectively, it tends to be complicated and it is desired that it can liquid-feed by more simple control. .

Patent No. 5582626

  This invention is made in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the liquid feeding method and liquid feeding apparatus which can suppress that air bubbles generate | occur | produce when liquid feeding.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, a first tank, a second tank, and a first tank connected to the first tank and extended so as to rise toward the downstream side of the flow path A pipe, a second pipe connected to the first pipe and extending horizontally, and a third pipe connected to the second pipe and extending down toward the downstream side of the flow path A fourth pipe connected to the third pipe and the second tank, a valve provided to the first pipe, and a filling means for supplying a chemical solution from the second tank and filling the vessel with the chemical solution with the door, said drug solution is pumped into the first from said tank second tank, and a liquid feeding method for feeding an apparatus for pumping a drug solution to said filling means from said second tank, the first tank The liquid in the first pipe is opened by opening the valve to the first opening without pressurizing. It meets chemical within the first pipe until but equal to the liquid surface of the first tank, the first tank by pressure continuously pressurized to a first pressure, the first inner pipe and full liquid The second pipe by continuously pressurizing the inside of the first tank until the valve reaches a second pressure which is a second opening degree which is more closed than full opening and which is the maximum value of the pressure in the first tank It was a full liquid, pumping the chemical with pushing the air out of the second and the third pipe and the fourth in the pipe a chemical liquid from the pipe by causing to flow into the third inner pipe in the second tank to the second tank And the pressure of the gas in the second tank in a state in which the second tank does not supply the chemical solution from the second tank until the second opening reaches a predetermined amount of the chemical solution in the second tank. and opening the pressure of the chemical solution is higher than the second tank When the chemical liquid reaches a predetermined amount, certain chemical in the second tank to the liquid feed method and supplying to said filling means.

In the first aspect, in a liquid delivery apparatus in which the first tank and the second tank are connected by piping including a portion in which the first tank and the second tank extend upward and a portion in which the first tank and the second tank extend downward, the valve is opened from the first opening. By controlling the temperature to a certain degree, it is possible to store a predetermined amount of chemical solution in the empty second tank without mixing gas as air bubbles. And, in this state, the second tank holds the predetermined amount of chemical solution , so that the chemical solution can be supplied without mixing the gas into the filling means. That is, it is possible to more reliably prevent the gas originally present in the second tank from being supplied to the filling means together with the chemical solution .
In addition, immediately after the supply of the chemical solution to the filling means is started, the chemical solution in the second tank is not depleted at once. That is, it is possible to supply the chemical solution to the filling means while storing a sufficient amount of the chemical solution in the second tank.
And it is prevented more reliably that air bubbles are mixed in a chemical | medical solution, and a high quality chemical | medical solution can be manufactured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid transfer method according to the first aspect, after the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the valve is used as a location of the chemical solution in the second tank. The third aspect of the present invention is a liquid feeding method characterized in that the third opening is at which the determination is maintained.

In the second aspect, after the liquid chemical in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the liquid surface of the liquid chemical can be made substantially constant. Therefore, it is suppressed that a chemical | medical solution fluctuates within a 2nd tank, etc., fluctuation | variation will be engulfed in the chemical | medical solution in connection with the fluctuation | variation, and the risk of bubble generation can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first pipe, a second tank, a first pipe connected to the first tank, and extending to rise to the downstream side of the flow path, and the first pipe 1) a second pipe connected to the pipe and extended in the horizontal direction; a third pipe connected to the second pipe and extended to descend toward the downstream side of the flow path; Piping, a fourth piping connected to the second tank, a valve provided to the first piping, and a filling unit which is supplied with a chemical solution from the second tank and fills the container with the chemical solution , opening and closing the valve, the chemical liquid is pumped into the second tank from the first tank, and includes that and is configured to be able to control apparatus for pumping the chemical solution into the filling means from the second tank, the control device By opening the valve without pressurizing the inside of the first tank, 1 satisfies the chemical to the liquid surface of the pipe is equal to the liquid surface of the first tank within the first pipe, the first tank by pressure continuously pressurized to a first pressure, said first The inside of the pipe is filled up, the valve is closed to a second opening degree which is more closed than full opening, and the inside of the first tank is continuously pressurized until the second pressure which is the maximum value of the pressure in the first tank is reached. As a result, the second pipe is filled with liquid, and the chemical solution is made to flow from the second pipe into the third pipe, thereby pushing out the air in the third pipe and the fourth pipe to the second tank side and simultaneously with the chemical liquid . The pressure is sent to the second tank, and the second opening degree is set in a state where the chemical solution is not supplied from the second tank to the filling means until the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount. and opening the pressure of the chemical solution is higher than the pressure of the gas in the tank, When the chemical liquid of the serial second tank reaches a predetermined amount, certain chemical in the second tank to the liquid supply device and supplying to the filling means.

In the third aspect, the valve is connected from the first opening to the second opening in the liquid delivery apparatus connected by the piping including the portion in which the first tank and the second tank extend upward and the portion extending downward. By controlling it, it is possible to store a predetermined amount of chemical solution in the empty second tank without mixing gas as air bubbles. And, in this state, the second tank holds the predetermined amount of chemical solution , so that the chemical solution can be supplied without mixing the gas into the filling means. That is, it is possible to more reliably prevent the gas originally present in the second tank from being supplied to the filling means together with the chemical solution .
Further, immediately after the supply of the liquid to the filling means is started, the liquid chemical in the second tank is not depleted at a stretch. That is, it is possible to supply the chemical solution to the filling means while storing a sufficient amount of the chemical solution in the second tank.
And it is prevented more reliably that air bubbles are mixed in a chemical | medical solution, and a high quality chemical | medical solution can be manufactured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid delivery apparatus according to the third aspect, after the liquid chemical in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the valve is used to control the liquid chemical in the second tank. The third aspect of the present invention is a liquid transfer apparatus characterized in that the third opening is a position at which a fixed amount is maintained.

In the fourth aspect, after the liquid chemical in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the liquid level of the liquid chemical can be made substantially constant. Therefore, the liquid level is prevented from fluctuating or fluctuating in the second tank, and the risk of bubbles being generated due to the gas being engulfed in the drug solution along with the fluctuation can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid feeding method and a liquid feeding apparatus capable of suppressing the generation of air bubbles during liquid feeding.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid transfer device according to Embodiment 1. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described. The description of the embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the following description.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a liquid delivery apparatus according to the present embodiment. The liquid delivery device 1 is installed in a plant that produces, for example, a chemical solution as a liquid, adjusts the chemical solution in the preparation tank 2 which is an example of the first tank, and stores the chemical solution as an example of the second tank. It is pumped to 3 and stored.

  Specifically, the liquid delivery device 1 includes the preparation tank 2, the storage tank 3, the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, the third pipe 13, the fourth pipe 14, and the first pipe 11. A valve 21 provided and a control device (not shown) such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the liquid transfer process of the liquid transfer apparatus 1 are provided.

  The preparation tank 2 is a tank for adjusting a chemical solution. Although not shown in the figure, the preparation tank 2 is provided with an inlet for feeding the raw material of the chemical solution to be manufactured, and an outlet for discharging the manufactured chemical solution, and can be opened and closed by a control signal from the control device. . In addition, the preparation tank 2 is provided with a compressed air supply device (not shown) for supplying compressed air therein. The compressed air supply device can supply air to the preparation tank 2 at a pressure designated by a control signal from the control device.

  The storage tank 3 is a tank for storing a chemical solution pressure-fed from the preparation tank 2 through the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13. Although not shown in the figure, the storage tank 3 is provided with an inlet for receiving the pumped chemical solution and an outlet for discharging the chemical solution, and can be opened and closed by a control signal from the control device. Further, the filling machine 4 is connected to the discharge port of the storage tank 3.

  Such preparation tank 2 is arranged in the conditioning chamber of the plant and the storage tank 3 is arranged in the filling chamber of the plant. The preparation room and the plant room are both on the same floor, and the preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3 are disposed at substantially the same height from the floor. Of course, the positional relationship between the preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3 in the height direction (vertical direction) is not particularly limited.

  The filling machine 4 is an example of a filling means, and is an apparatus for filling the chemical solution supplied from the storage tank 3 into individual containers. For example, a known device such as a rotary filling machine can be used as the filling means. As described later, since the chemical solution is supplied from the storage tank 3 without air bubbles being mixed, the filling machine 4 can seal only the chemical solution in the container.

  The preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3 are connected by the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, the third pipe 13, and the fourth pipe 14, and the chemical solution in the preparation tank 2 is stored in the storage tank 3 via these pipes. It is fed to the

  The first pipe 11 is a pipe connected to the preparation tank 2 and extended so as to ascend toward the downstream side of the flow path. That is, one end of the first pipe 11 is connected to the preparation tank 2 and the other end is extended so as to rise.

  In the present embodiment, the first pipe 11 is connected to the discharge port provided at the lower part of the preparation tank 2 and extends downward, and is bent to the upstream pipe 11a and the upstream pipe 11a bent and extended in a substantially horizontal direction. A first pipe 11 is configured from the downstream pipe 11 b connected and extending in the vertical direction (vertical direction).

  The second pipe 12 is a pipe connected to the first pipe 11 and extended in the horizontal direction. The piping extended in the horizontal direction in the present invention is not limited to only the horizontal direction, and may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the second pipe 12 is disposed to extend horizontally along the ceiling beyond the top of the wall separating the adjustment chamber and the filling chamber of the plant.

  The third pipe 13 is a pipe connected to the second pipe 12 and extended to be processed toward the downstream side of the flow path. That is, one end of the third pipe 13 is connected to the second pipe 12 and the other end is extended so as to descend. In the present embodiment, the third pipe 13 is a pipe extending in the vertical direction. Of course, the third pipe 13 is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

  The fourth pipe 14 is a pipe connected to the third pipe 13 and extended in the horizontal direction and connected to the storage tank 3. The piping extending in the horizontal direction is not limited to only the horizontal direction, and may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The fourth pipe 14 may include a pipe extending in the horizontal direction, and may include a portion extending in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the fourth pipe 14 is composed of a horizontal pipe 14a extending in the horizontal direction and a vertical pipe 14b extending in the vertical direction. One end of the horizontal pipe 14a is connected to the third pipe 13, and the other end is connected to the vertical pipe 14b. One end of the vertical pipe 14b is connected to the discharge port provided at the lower part of the storage tank 3, and the other end is connected to the horizontal pipe 14a.

  The first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, the third pipe 13 and the fourth pipe 14 have substantially the same diameter, and they are integrally connected, whereby the chemical solution from the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3 is obtained. Constitute the flow path of the Hereinafter, the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, the third pipe 13, and the fourth pipe 14 are collectively referred to as a pipe group. The piping group may be configured by joining individual pipings, or may be configured as one piping. Further, the bore diameter of each of the pipes constituting the pipe group may be the same or different. Moreover, although a piping group can use a metal, a plastic, etc. as a material, there is no limitation in particular.

  The valve 21 is a valve for opening and closing the first pipe 11 (downstream pipe 11 b), and the second valve 22 is a valve for opening and closing the fourth pipe 14. The valve 21 and the second valve 22 are so-called flow control valves, and can control the flow rate of the chemical solution flowing through the first pipe 11 and the fourth pipe 14. Further, the valve 21 and the second valve 22 can be opened and closed so that the flow rate of the chemical solution becomes a desired amount by a control signal from the control device.

  Here, in the liquid delivery apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, an operation of pressure-feeding the chemical solution prepared in the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3 will be described. In the pumping operation, the chemical solution is stored in the preparation tank 2, and the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, the third pipe 13, the fourth pipe 14, and the storage tank 3 become empty in the initial stage. In the state, the chemical solution is pressure-fed from the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3 and then pressure-fed from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4.

  2-9 is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the liquid feeding apparatus at the time of liquid feeding. The hatch in the figure represents a chemical solution.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the initial state, the control device of the liquid transfer device 1 opens the valve 21 to set the first opening degree. Further, the control device opens the discharge port of the preparation tank 2 without pressurizing the inside of the preparation tank 2 (does not introduce compressed air into the preparation tank 2 by the compressed air supply device).

  By such control, the first pipe 11 (downstream pipe 11 b) is filled with the chemical solution until the liquid level of the first pipe 11 and the liquid level of the preparation tank 2 become equal. The first opening degree of the valve 21 at this time is not particularly limited, but is preferably fully open. By fully opening the valve 21, the time required for the liquid level of the first pipe 11 and the liquid level of the preparation tank 2 to be equal can be shortened.

  Examples of means for detecting such a state include the following.

  First of all, the time required for the liquid level of the first pipe 11 and the liquid level of the preparation tank 2 to be visually confirmed after opening the discharge port of the preparation tank 2 experimentally. It measures and stores the time (referred to as time A) in a control device. The control device opens the discharge port of the preparation tank 2 and measures an elapsed time from the opening time of the discharge port when starting the operation of pressure-feeding the chemical solution from the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3. It is determined whether or not the elapsed time has reached time A, and if they match, it is considered that the liquid level of the first pipe 11 and the liquid level of the preparation tank 2 become equal, and for the next operation control Move.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device fills the inside of the first pipe 11 with a chemical solution by continuously pressurizing the inside of the preparation tank 2 to the first pressure. To continuously pressurize the inside of the preparation tank 2 means to gradually increase the pressure in the preparation tank 2 and, for example, to increase the pressure value by the compressed air from the compressed air supply device at a constant speed. . The first pressure will be described later.

  Whether or not the inside of the preparation tank 2 has reached the first pressure uses the output value of the pressure gauge that measures the pressure in the preparation tank 2 as the input value of the control device, and the control device obtains the preparation tank obtained as the input value It can be determined by whether or not the pressure value of 2 is equal to the preset first pressure.

  By pressurizing the pressure value in the preparation tank 2 to the first pressure, the liquid level in the first pipe 11 (downstream pipe 11 b) rises, and the entire first pipe 11 can be filled with the chemical solution. On the other hand, the air in the first pipe 11 is pushed out to the second pipe 12 side as the chemical solution rises.

  As a means for detecting that the entire first pipe 11 is filled with the chemical solution, for example, the following can be mentioned.

  First, experimentally, the time required for visually confirming that the first pipe 11 is filled with the chemical solution after measuring the pressure in the preparation tank 2 has been measured in advance, and the time (time B) is stored in the control device. The control device measures an elapsed time from the start of pressurization in the preparation tank 2 when starting the operation of pressure-feeding the chemical solution from the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3. It is determined whether or not the elapsed time has reached time B. If they match, it is considered that the first pipe 11 is filled with the chemical solution, and the next operation control is performed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller sets the valve 21 to a second opening degree that is more closed than full opening, and continuously applies pressure until the pressure in the preparation tank 2 reaches the second pressure. The second pressure is the maximum pressure in the preparation tank 2. The first pressure described above is a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and smaller than the second pressure.

  Whether or not the inside of the preparation tank 2 has reached the second pressure, the output value of the pressure gauge that measures the pressure in the preparation tank 2 is used as the input value of the control device, and the control device obtains the preparation tank obtained as the input value It can be determined by whether or not the pressure value of 2 is equal to the preset second pressure.

  By pressurizing the pressure in the preparation tank 2 further from the state where the first pipe 11 is filled with the chemical liquid, the chemical liquid can be made to flow into the second pipe 12. At this time, since the chemical solution gently flows into the lower portion of the second pipe 12 by continuously pressurizing, generation of air bubbles can be suppressed.

  Further, the air in the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13 is pushed out by the chemical solution, and is transferred to the fourth pipe 14 and the storage tank 3 side.

  Also, if the chemical solution is simply sent at a low pressure to suppress the generation of air bubbles, the time required for sending the solution will increase. However, in the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the second inside of the preparation tank 2 is By continuously pressurizing to the pressure, the flow rate of the chemical solution flowing through the second pipe 12 can be increased, and the time for liquid transfer can be shortened. In addition, by continuously performing this pressurization, it is possible to quietly feed the chemical solution without sharply increasing the flow rate of the chemical solution. That is, since the liquid can be sent while maintaining the interface between the chemical solution and the air, it is possible to suppress the air from being mixed into the chemical solution and becoming bubbles.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the chemical solution flowing into the second pipe 12 reaches the third pipe 13 and flows down along the side wall thereof. At this time, the second pipe 12 is not filled with the chemical solution, and the chemical solution is on the lower side and the air is on the upper side.

  By continuously pressurizing the inside of the preparation tank 2 to the second pressure, the chemical solution travels along the side wall portion of the third pipe 13 and reaches the fourth pipe 14. In the third pipe 13, since the chemical solution flows down along the side wall portion, air is not caught in the chemical solution, and the generation of air bubbles can be suppressed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the control device continuously pressurizes the pressure in the preparation tank 2 to the second pressure, whereby the inside of the second pipe 12 is gradually filled with the chemical solution and becomes full.

  The control device controls the pressure in the preparation tank 2 so that the inside of the preparation tank 2 reaches the second pressure when the inside of the second pipe 12 is filled with the chemical solution. By performing such pressure control, it is possible to cause the large amount of chemical solution that has filled the inside of the second pipe 12 to flow into the third pipe 13 in the state where the pressure is maximized.

  Note that the speed at which the pressure is increased is adjusted in advance so that the pressure in the preparation tank 2 will reach the second pressure in advance, and the second pipe 12 will be filled with the chemical solution in advance. deep.

  As shown in FIG. 7, air flowing in the third pipe 13 can be pushed downward of the third pipe 13 by flowing a large amount of chemical solution under high pressure into the third pipe 13. That is, it is possible to suppress the air from becoming bubbles in the chemical solution and staying in the upper part of the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13.

  Incidentally, if the pressure in the preparation tank 2 is pumped along the side wall of the third pipe 13 without continuously increasing the pressure in the preparation tank 2, the air in the third pipe 13 moves upward, and the second pipe 12 Stay in the upper part of the

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the horizontal pipe 14a which is the horizontal portion of the fourth pipe 14 becomes full, and then, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the storage tank of the fourth pipe 14 The vertical piping 14b connected to 3 becomes full. In the process of the fourth pipe 14 becoming full, the gas in the horizontal pipe 14 a and the vertical pipe 14 b is pushed by the chemical solution and flows into the storage tank 3.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the control device maintains the pressure in the preparation tank 2 at the second pressure until the chemical solution reaches the storage tank 3 to a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount mentioned here means a sufficient amount that the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 is not depleted immediately even if the chemical solution is discharged to the filling machine 4 by opening the discharge port of the storage tank 3.

  As described above, the preparation tank 2 is at the second pressure (maximum pressure), and the valve 21 remains at the second opening degree, so that the chemical solution flows into the storage tank 3 at a constant flow rate. Thereby, the chemical solution is gradually stored in the bottom portion of the storage tank 3 from the inlet of the storage tank 3. Therefore, when the chemical solution is initially filled in the empty storage tank 3, it is possible to suppress the generation of air bubbles due to the air being caught in the chemical solution.

  If the pressure of the preparation tank 2 is changed or the opening degree of the valve 21 is changed before and after the chemical solution flows into the storage tank 3, the chemical solution may pulsate and flow into the storage tank 3; The gas in the storage tank 3 may be entrained as air bubbles.

  The second opening degree is preferably set such that the flow rate A of the chemical solution flowing into the storage tank 3 is equal to or higher than the flow rate B flowing out of the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4. Strictly speaking, at the stage where the chemical solution is not supplied from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4, if the chemical solution is supplied from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4, the flow rate A A flow rate B 2 opening degree. By setting such a second opening degree, immediately after the supply of the liquid to the filling machine 4 is started as described later, the chemical solution is not depleted at a stretch. That is, the chemical solution can be supplied to the filling machine 4 while storing a sufficient amount of the chemical solution in the storage tank 3.

  The specific second opening degree is preferably, for example, about 10% to 50%. In addition, since the second opening degree in which the valve 21 is squeezed from the full opening is set as described above, the pressure of the chemical solution can be increased, and therefore, the chemical solution can be pumped faster.

  Next, the control device supplies the liquid medicine in the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4 when the liquid medicine in the storage tank 3 reaches a predetermined amount. Specifically, a liquid level gauge is provided in the storage tank 3, and the control device is configured to obtain an output value of the liquid level gauge. Then, the control device opens the discharge port of the storage tank 3 if the liquid level obtained by the liquid level gauge is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Thereby, when the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 reaches a predetermined amount, the chemical solution is supplied from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4.

  As described above, since the chemical solution is supplied from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4 in a state where the predetermined amount of chemical solution is stored in the storage tank 3, the gas originally existing in the storage tank 3 is filled with the chemical solution. It is prevented that it mixes in 4.

  Then, after the chemical solution reaches the predetermined amount in the storage tank 3, the control device adjusts the opening degree of the valve 21 so that the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 is maintained at the predetermined amount. This adjusted opening is referred to as a third opening. Specifically, the third opening degree is set so that the flow rate A of the chemical flowing into the storage tank 3 from the third piping 13 is substantially the same as the flow rate B of the chemical flowing out from the storage tank 3 into the filling machine 4 .

  As described above, by setting the valve 21 to the third opening degree, the predetermined amount is maintained even after the liquid chemical once reaches the predetermined amount in the storage tank 3. Therefore, the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 is reduced, and the gas originally existing in the storage tank 3 is prevented from being mixed with the chemical solution in the filling machine 4.

  Further, by setting the third opening degree as described above, the liquid level of the chemical solution can be made substantially constant after the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 has reached a predetermined amount. Therefore, the liquid level is prevented from fluctuating or fluctuating in the storage tank 3, and the gas is entrained in the liquid along with the fluctuation, and the risk of air bubbles can be reduced.

  Here, when the chemical solution is pressure-fed into the storage tank 3, the gas in the storage tank 3 is compressed by the chemical solution and becomes high pressure. When the pressure in the storage tank 3 becomes high, it becomes difficult to pressure-feed the chemical solution into the storage tank 3. However, since the second opening or the third opening of the valve 21 is narrower than the full opening, the pressure of the chemical solution can be increased, and the pressure can be easily fed into the storage tank 3. The structure for increasing the pressure of the chemical solution pumped into the storage tank 3 is not limited to the valve 21 alone. For example, a valve whose opening degree can be freely set may be provided at the inlet to which the fourth pipe 14 of the storage tank 3 is connected. By reducing the opening degree of the valve, the pressure of the chemical solution pressure-fed into the storage tank 3 can be increased, and the pressure can be easily transported into the storage tank 3.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the controller maintains the pressure in the preparation tank 2 at the second pressure until the medicine in the preparation tank 2 is reduced to a predetermined amount, whereby the control device is present in the medicine and piping group The air that has been discharged can be pumped to the storage tank 3. The predetermined amount of the chemical in the preparation tank 2 is a state in which the chemical in the preparation tank 2 is empty, or a state in which the chemical does not reach the storage tank 3 even if pumping is continued. Say. When the chemical solution in the preparation tank 2 is reduced to a predetermined amount, the supply of the chemical solution from the storage tank 3 to the filling machine 4 is stopped.

  In addition, since the inside of the preparation tank 2 is maintained at the second pressure and pressure-fed, the chemical solution can be pressure-fed from the preparation tank 2 to the storage tank 3 at the maximum pressure (second pressure) without generating air bubbles. The time required for the solution can be shortened.

  As described above, in the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, by controlling the valve 21 from the first opening degree to the second opening degree, the gas is not mixed in the form of air bubbles and is thus empty. A predetermined amount of chemical solution can be stored in the storage tank 3. And since it was set as the state by which the chemical | medical solution of predetermined amount was stored by the storage tank 3 in this way, a chemical | medical solution can be supplied to the filling machine 4 without mixing gas. That is, it is possible to more reliably prevent the gas originally present in the storage tank 3 from being supplied to the filling machine 4 together with the chemical solution.

  In addition, the liquid delivery apparatus 1 performs such pumping of the chemical solution by opening and closing control of the valve 21. The control can be performed more simply because it is not necessary to control the two valves in cooperation as in the prior art. Since one valve is not necessary even in the component configuration, the time and cost required for the maintenance for removing and cleaning can be reduced.

  As described above, the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present invention can prevent generation of air bubbles more reliably when delivering liquid from the preparation tank 2 to the filling machine 4 with a simple configuration.

  In addition, the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a first pipe 11 (downstream pipe 11 b) rising between the preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3 toward the downstream side. Because such a first pipe 11 is provided, when air bubbles stay in the upper part of the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13, the air bubbles can not countercurrent the gravity and can not flow back the first pipe 11, so It does not reach the tank 2 side.

  As described above, since the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the first pipe 11, the air bubbles can not escape to the preparation tank 2 side.

  However, according to the liquid transfer device 1 according to the present embodiment, by continuously pressurizing the inside of the preparation tank 2 to the first pressure, in the first pipe 11, the air in the first pipe 11 along with the rise of the chemical solution. Can be pushed out to the second pipe 12 side, and generation of air bubbles can be suppressed in the first pipe 11.

  Then, by continuously pressurizing the inside of the preparation tank 2 to the second pressure, in the second pipe 12, the air in the second pipe 12 is made to flow through the lower portion of the second pipe 12 by the liquid chemical flowing quietly. It can be pushed out to the side, and the generation of air bubbles can be suppressed in the second pipe 12.

  In the third pipe extending in the vertical direction, when the chemical solution is simply pumped, air tends to be caught to generate air bubbles. However, according to the liquid transfer device 1 according to the present embodiment, before the second pipe 12 is full, the chemical solution is pumped along the side wall of the second pipe 12, so the generation of air bubbles is sufficiently suppressed. can do. Then, when the second pipe 12 is full, the inside of the preparation tank 2 is at the second pressure which is the maximum pressurization, so that the chemical solution having the highest pressure can be poured into the third pipe 13 and air bubbles are generated. It can push out to the 4th piping 14 side at a stretch.

  Thus, in the liquid transfer apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the first pipe 11 must be provided to rise toward the ceiling side to cross the wall separating the preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3. Even in the case of a plant having a configuration, the preparation tank 2 can transfer the liquid to the storage tank 3 without generating bubbles in the chemical solution in the piping group.

  Moreover, the liquid feeding apparatus which does not produce a bubble in a chemical | medical solution is also considered by slowing down the pressure feeding speed of a chemical | medical solution sufficiently. However, in such a liquid transfer device, the time required for pressure-feeding the chemical solution increases, which makes efficient operation difficult.

  On the other hand, in the liquid delivery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the pressure adjustment of the preparation tank 2 as described above can increase the pumping speed by applying pressure without generating air bubbles. it can. That is, both suppression of air bubbles and improvement of pumping speed can be achieved.

Other Embodiments
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above.

  In the first embodiment, the timing at which the pressure of the preparation tank 2 reaches the second pressure is when the second pipe 12 is full, but the present invention is not limited to such an aspect. For example, it may be timing when the third pipe 13 is full or timing when the fourth pipe 14 is full. Even at such a timing, the chemical solution that has become high pressure by pressurization of the preparation tank 2 flows into the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13 and pushes out the air bubbles to the storage tank 3 side. Occurrence can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the liquid which a liquid feeding apparatus sends liquid is not limited to a chemical | medical solution, This invention is applicable to arbitrary liquids.

  In Embodiment 1, the preparation tank 2 which prepares a chemical | medical solution was illustrated as a 1st tank, and the storage tank 3 which stores a chemical | medical solution was illustrated as a 2nd tank. However, the 1st tank and the 2nd tank should just be a container which can store a liquid, and are not limited to the mode and the use which were illustrated to Embodiment 1.

  The preparation tank 2 and the storage tank 3 are not limited to one each, and may be plural. In this case, the present invention is applied by combining the pipes connected to the plurality of preparation tanks 2 to form a first pipe, and combining the pipes connected to the plurality of storage tanks 3 to form a third pipe. can do.

  In the first embodiment, the number of the first pipe 11, the second pipe 12, and the third pipe 13 is one. However, the number is not limited to one, and may be plural. Moreover, although the 4th piping 14 had horizontal piping 14a and vertical piping 14b, it is not limited to such an aspect. The fourth pipe 14 may have at least a horizontal portion, and may not include the vertical pipe 14 b. In this case, the fourth pipe 14 is connected to the side surface and the upper surface of the storage tank 3. Even with such a configuration, the chemical solution is supplied into the storage tank 3 along the inner surface of the storage tank 3 from the fourth piping, so the chemical solution in the storage tank 3 from the fourth piping 14 without generating air bubbles. Can be supplied.

  As a filling means, in Embodiment 1, although it was filling machine 4 directly connected to storage tank 3, it is not limited to such an aspect. For example, a buffer tank, a valve for controlling the flow rate, or the like may be provided between the storage tank 3 and the filling machine 4. That is, the filling device 4 may be indirectly connected to the storage tank 3 as the filling means.

  Moreover, although the storage tank 3 was an example of a 2nd tank, when a buffer tank is provided in the filling machine itself and the filling machine is directly connected to the 3rd piping 13, the buffer tank of the filling machine is It corresponds to the 2nd tank.

  In the first embodiment, the liquid delivery is performed under the control of the control device, but it is not limited to such an aspect, and may be manual.

  In the first embodiment, the valve 21 is closed more than fully open after the first pipe 11 is full, but the present invention is not limited to such timing. At the latest, the valve 21 may be closed more than fully open until the second pipe 12 is full.

  In the first embodiment, the valve 21 is provided in the downstream pipe 11b of the first pipe 11. However, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and the valve 21 may be provided in the upstream pipe 11a.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid sending apparatus 2 Preparation tank 3 Storage tank 11 1st piping 11a Upstream piping 11b Downstream piping 12 2nd piping 13 3rd piping 14 4th piping 21 valve

Claims (4)

With the first tank,
With the second tank,
A first pipe connected to the first tank and extended to rise toward the downstream side of the flow path;
A second pipe connected to the first pipe and extended in the horizontal direction;
A third pipe connected to the second pipe and extended downward toward the downstream side of the flow path;
A fourth pipe connected to the third pipe and the second tank;
A valve provided in the first pipe;
Chemical liquid supplied from the second tank, and a filling means for filling the drug solution into a vessel and pumping the chemical solution into the second tank from the first tank, and the chemical to said filling means from said second tank It is a liquid feeding method in a liquid feeding apparatus for pressure feeding,
By opening the valve to the first opening without pressurizing the inside of the first tank, the inside of the first pipe is continued until the liquid level in the first pipe becomes equal to the liquid level in the first tank meet the chemical liquid,
By continuously pressurizing the inside of the first tank to a first pressure, the inside of the first pipe is filled with liquid.
The second pipe is continuously pressurized to increase the pressure in the first tank until the valve reaches a second pressure, which is a second opening degree that is more closed than full opening, and the maximum value of the pressure in the first tank. It is filled with liquid and by flowing the chemical solution from the second piping into the third piping, the air in the third piping and the fourth piping is pushed out to the second tank side and the chemical solution is pressure-fed to the second tank. And the pressure of the gas in the second tank in a state in which the second tank does not supply the chemical solution from the second tank until the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount until the second opening degree reaches a predetermined amount. Also, the pressure of the chemical solution increases,
Feeding wherein the supply when the liquid medicine of the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, a chemical solution in the second tank to said filling means. In the liquid transfer method according to claim 1 ,
After the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the valve is set to a third opening at which a predetermined amount of the chemical solution in the second tank is maintained. With the first tank,
With the second tank,
A first pipe connected to the first tank and extended to rise toward the downstream side of the flow path;
A second pipe connected to the first pipe and extended in the horizontal direction;
A third pipe connected to the second pipe and extended downward toward the downstream side of the flow path;
A fourth pipe connected to the third pipe and the second tank;
A valve provided in the first pipe;
The chemical solution is supplied from the second tank, and filling means for filling the chemical solution into the container is provided, the valve is opened and closed, the chemical solution is pressure-fed from the first tank to the second tank, and from the second tank A controller configured to be capable of pressure-feeding the chemical solution to the filling means;
The controller is
By opening the valve without pressurizing the inside of the first tank, the chemical solution is filled in the first pipe until the liquid level in the first pipe becomes equal to the liquid level in the first tank,
By continuously pressurizing the inside of the first tank to a first pressure, the inside of the first pipe is filled with liquid.
The second pipe is continuously pressurized to increase the pressure in the first tank until the valve reaches a second pressure, which is a second opening degree that is more closed than the valve is fully opened, and reaches the maximum value of the pressure in the first tank. It is filled with liquid and by flowing the chemical solution from the second piping into the third piping, the air in the third piping and the fourth piping is pushed out to the second tank side and the chemical solution is pressure-fed to the second tank. And the pressure of the gas in the second tank in a state in which the second tank does not supply the chemical solution from the second tank until the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount until the second opening degree reaches a predetermined amount. Also, the pressure of the chemical solution increases,
Wherein when the liquid chemical in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, liquid transfer apparatus characterized by supplying a chemical solution of the second tank to said filling means. In the liquid delivery apparatus according to claim 3 ,
After the chemical solution in the second tank reaches a predetermined amount, the valve is set to a third opening at which a predetermined amount of the chemical solution in the second tank is maintained.

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