JP6799780B2 - Wood processing equipment and wood processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wood treatment apparatus and a wood treatment method for treating wood to be treated.

Conventionally, there has been known a wood treatment apparatus that supplies high-pressure high-temperature steam into a container to color or the like the wood to be treated such as a flitch material contained in the container. In such a wood processing apparatus, it is necessary to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam to heat the wood and then cool it. However, if the pressure is suddenly lowered, the moisture inside the treated wood suddenly boils and vaporizes. It is conceivable that the wood dries rapidly and cracks are likely to occur.
For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses an apparatus having a configuration in which wood is subjected to high-pressure steam treatment inside a high-pressure steam kettle, water is supplied to submerge the wood, and then the temperature is lowered and lowered.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-285875

However, in the coloring device as described in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to supply water for submerging the wood into the high-pressure steam kettle, it is necessary to supply pressurized water. Improvement is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wood treatment apparatus and a wood treatment method capable of effectively suppressing cracking of wood after treatment.

In order to achieve the above object, the wood processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a container that can accommodate the wood to be treated in a state of being immersed in water, a steam supply unit that supplies high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container, and an outside. The water vapor supply unit is provided with a cooling passage for passing a cooling medium so that at least a part of the surface is located in the gas phase portion in the container and passes through the container. It is characterized in that it is configured to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam into the water in which the wood to be treated is immersed in the container .

Further, in order to achieve the above object, in the wood treatment method according to the present invention, the wood to be treated is immersed in water in a container, and high-pressure high-temperature steam is supplied into the container to obtain the above-mentioned high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. After processing the wood to be treated, the cooling medium is circulated through a cooling path provided so that at least a part of the outer surface is located in the vapor phase portion in the container and passes through the container. It is characterized in that the later wood is cooled in a state of being immersed in water.

The wood treatment apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, and according to the wood treatment method according to the present invention, cracking of wood after treatment can be effectively suppressed.

(A) and (b) are both schematic side views showing an example of a wood processing apparatus according to the present invention, and (a) is a schematic side view schematically showing an example of a system configuration including the wood processing apparatus. (B) is a schematic vertical sectional view of a partially broken wood processing apparatus. It is a schematic flowchart which shows typically an example of the wood processing method which concerns on this invention which is executed using the example of the wood processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following embodiment, the vertical direction and the like will be described with reference to the state in which the wood processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed.

1 and 2 are diagrams schematically showing an example of a wood processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and an example of a wood processing method according to the present embodiment executed by using the same.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the wood processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a container 10 capable of accommodating the wood 2 to be treated in a state of being immersed in water, and a high pressure and high temperature inside the container 10. It includes a steam supply unit 15 for supplying steam.

As the wood 2 to be heat-treated by the wood treatment apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a fluff material having a long prismatic shape may be used. The wood 2 to be treated may be various tree species, for example, a tree species such as oak, which is relatively susceptible to cracking due to drying. Further, the length, thickness and width of the wood 2 to be treated may be appropriately set in consideration of dimensional adjustment by polishing or the like performed after heat treatment or assembly. The wood 2 to be treated is not limited to a long prismatic shape, but may be a flat plate shape or a wood having various shapes.

The container 10 has pressure resistance and includes a horizontally long cylindrical container body 11 that opens in one direction, and an opening / closing lid 12 that closes the opening of the container body 11 so as to seal it. The container body 11 is provided with a plate-shaped mounting portion 13 on which the wood 2 to be treated is placed. In the illustrated example, an example is shown in which the mounting portion 13 is freely moved in and out via the roller 14.
The opening / closing lid 12 seals the container body 11 airtightly (watertightly) by an appropriate tightening means, and is detachable or openable / closable with respect to the container body 11.

Further, the container 10 can accommodate a plurality of woods 2 to be treated. For example, a plurality of woods 2 to be treated may be arranged so as to follow the longitudinal direction of the container body 11. In the illustrated example, a plurality of woods 2 to be treated are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows in the container main body 11 and arranged so as to be stacked in a plurality of stages. Further, an example is shown in which the woods 2 to be treated are arranged so as to form a gap between the adjacent woods to be treated. In the illustrated example, a plurality of timbers 2 to be treated are arranged at intervals in the lateral direction and with the crosspiece members 3 interposed in the vertical direction. Further, an example is shown in which the crosspiece member 3 is interposed between the wood to be treated 2 at the bottom and the mounting portion 13. The arrangement mode of the wood 2 to be treated in the container 10 is not limited to such a mode, and various other modifications are possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the container 10 itself has a structure capable of storing water for immersing the wood 2 to be treated. That is, the lower layer side in the container 10 is the water reservoir portion 4 which is the liquid phase, and the upper layer side in the container 10 is the gas phase portion 6 which is filled with water vapor or the like. In the illustrated example, an example is shown in which water is stored in the container 10 so that the volume of the water storage portion 4 is larger than that of the gas phase portion 6. That is, an example is shown in which the water surface 5 in the container 10 is located in the upper region in the container 10. Water may be supplied into the container 10 so that the water surface 5 in the container 10 has an appropriate level (predetermined water level), and an appropriate level sensor or water level for detecting a predetermined water level may be supplied. It may be configured to provide a meter or the like. Further, instead of using the container 10 itself as the water storage portion 4, a water tank capable of storing water for immersing the wood 2 to be treated may be housed in the container 10.

The steam supply unit 15 has a configuration in which a steam supply pipe for supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam from a high-pressure high-temperature steam supply source into the container 10 is connected to the container 10. In the present embodiment, the steam supply unit 15 is configured to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam into the water in which the wood 2 to be treated is immersed in the container 10. Further, the supply port 16 of the steam supply pipe connected to the container 10 is opened in the water storage portion 4 in the container 10. In the illustrated example, the supply port 16 is opened along the longitudinal direction of the container body 11, but it may be configured to be opened upward, and a plurality of supply ports 16 are provided. May be. In addition to the supply port 16 that opens in the water storage portion 4 in the container 10, a supply port 16 that opens in the gas phase portion 6 may be provided. Further, a check valve or the like for preventing the inflow of water into the steam supply pipe may be provided at an appropriate position such as near the supply port 16 of the steam supply pipe. Further, the high-pressure high-temperature steam supply source of the steam supply unit 15 may be a high-pressure boiler or the like.

Further, a drain pipe or the like for discharging the water in the container 10 is connected to the lower part of the container body 11. When the above-mentioned water tank is provided in the container 10, a drain pipe or the like provided with a steam trap, a filter, or the like may be connected to the lower part of the container body 11 or the like.
Further, a water supply pipe for supplying water from the water supply source 17 into the container 10 is connected to the upper part of the container main body 11. The water supply source 17 may be a water supply tank, a water pipe, or the like. Further, an exhaust pipe or the like for discharging water vapor or gas from the inside of the container 10 is connected to the upper part of the container body 11.
The container 10 is provided with a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature inside the container 10 (the temperature of both or one of the gas phase portion 6 and the water storage portion 4), a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure, and the like.

Further, the wood processing device 1 is provided so as to pass through the container 10 and includes a cooling passage 19 through which a cooling medium is circulated. The cooling passage 19 is provided so that at least a part of the outer surface is located in the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10. That is, the cooling passage 19 is provided so that a gas such as water vapor comes into contact with at least a part of the outer surface of the cooling passage 19 without being completely submerged in the water reservoir 4.
Further, the cooling passage 19 does not directly supply the cooling medium or the like into the container 10 to directly cool the inside of the container 10, but the inside of the container 10 is provided by the cooling medium distributed in the cooling passage 19. So to speak, it functions as a heat exchange unit that indirectly cools.
A medium supply pipe connected to a cooling medium supply unit 18 outside the container 10 is connected to the cooling passage 19. An on-off valve (ON / OFF valve) is provided in each of the medium supply pipe and each of the above-mentioned pipelines (steam supply pipe, water supply pipe, drain pipe, exhaust pipe).

Such a cooling medium supply unit 18 may be configured to be able to circulate and supply a temperature-controlled cooling medium to the cooling passage 19. For example, the cooling medium supply unit 18 may include a circulation pump that circulates the cooling medium, a gas-type, air-cooled, or water-cooled cooler that cools the circulated cooling medium to a predetermined temperature.
The temperature of the cooling medium may be about room temperature, for example, about 5 ° C to 50 ° C, and preferably about 10 ° C to 40 ° C.
Further, the cooling medium may be water or the like, other fluids such as oil-based and alcohol-based, and further, the cooling medium is not limited to the fluid and may be a gas.
The cooling medium supply unit 18 is not limited to the one having a configuration capable of circulating supply as described above, and may be, for example, a cooling tower installed in a factory or the like, and further, a water supply (industrial water supply, The water supply) may be used as the cooling medium supply unit 18. In this case, the cooling medium that has passed through the cooling passage 19 may be drained.

Further, the cooling passage 19 is substantially cylindrical and long, and the upstream end is connected to the medium sending side of the cooling medium supply unit 18, and the downstream end is connected to the return side of the cooling medium supply 18. It is connected.
In the present embodiment, the cooling passage 19 is provided so as to be located above the water surface 5 in the container 10. That is, the cooling passage 19 located on the upper side of the water surface 5 is configured such that the outer peripheral surface thereof comes into contact with a gas such as water vapor over the entire circumference. In the illustrated example, an example is shown in which the cooling passage 19 along the longitudinal direction of the container 10 is provided so as to be located substantially at the center of the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10 in the vertical direction. The cooling passage 19 is not limited to the configuration provided so that the entire cooling passage 19 is located above the water surface 5 in the container 10, and most of the cooling passage 19 arranged in the container 10 in the longitudinal direction is inside the container 10. It may be configured so as to be located on the upper side of the water surface 5. That is, a part of the cooling passage 19 in the container 10 in the longitudinal direction may be submerged in the water reservoir 4.

Further, in the illustrated example, an example in which a single straight tubular cooling passage 19 having a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the container 10 is provided in the container 10, but the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, a plurality of cooling passages 19 may be provided in parallel in the container 10, or a single or a plurality of cooling passages 19 may be provided in a meandering shape in the container 10. Various other modifications are possible as the piping mode (piping pattern) of the cooling passage 19.
Further, the length dimension and the diameter of the cooling passage 19 may be appropriately set so that effective cooling can be performed in the cooling step described later. Further, the cooling passage 19 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical cooling passage, and may be a substantially polygonal tubular cooling passage 19 or a relatively large flat plate-shaped cooling passage 19. Further, the outer periphery of the cooling passage 19 may be provided with a protrusion, a flange, or the like protruding in the radial direction. Further, the cooling passage 19 may be formed of a metal-based material or the like.

Further, the wood processing apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 20 which is connected to the steam supply unit 15, the cooling medium supply unit 18, each on-off valve, etc. via a signal line or the like and controls the operation thereof.
The control unit 20 is provided with, for example, a storage unit composed of a control circuit such as a CPU, a memory, or the like, and storing various operation programs and the like including a basic operation example described later.
Each unit is controlled by the control unit 20 to execute the following basic operations (wood processing method according to the present embodiment).

The wood treatment method according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the wood 2 to be treated is immersed in water in the container 10 and high-pressure high-temperature steam is supplied into the container 10 to treat the wood 2 to be treated under high pressure and high temperature. It is said that. Further, in the same wood treatment method, after the wood 2 to be treated is treated under high pressure and high temperature, a cooling medium is circulated through the cooling passage 19 to cool the treated wood (treated wood) 2A in a state of being immersed in water. It is configured.
Hereinafter, an example of a specific process of the wood treatment method will be described.

First, as described above, the wood 2 to be treated is placed in the container 10, and water is supplied into the container 10 to immerse the wood 2 to be treated in water (step 100). At this time, the on-off valve of the water supply pipe connected to the water supply source 17 may be opened until the inside of the container 10 reaches a predetermined water storage level to supply water, and the water is opened and closed by detecting the water storage level by an appropriate sensor. The valve may be closed. In addition, a floating prevention member may be provided to keep the wood 2 to be treated soaked in water in a submerged state. For example, the wood 2 to be treated may be pressed from above by a weight as a lifting prevention member or an appropriate crosspiece, or the wood 2 to be treated may be pressed by a metal basket, a wire or the like as a lifting prevention member. It may be a restraining mode.
Further, the water for immersing the wood 2 to be treated may be tap water (fresh water), but for example, an aqueous solution in which a dimensional stabilizing component such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate (PEGMA) is dissolved. May be used.

Next, with the wood 2 to be treated immersed in water in the closed container 10, a heat treatment step of supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container 10 to raise the temperature inside the container 10 is executed (step 101). ). That is, the on-off valve of the steam supply pipe connected to the steam supply unit 15 is opened, and high-pressure high-temperature steam is supplied into the water through the supply port 16 opened in the water storage unit 4 in the container 10 as described above. As a result, the water temperature gradually rises while the water in the water reservoir 4 in the container 10 is agitated, and the gas phase portion 6 is also filled with steam (saturated steam).
Further, in this heat treatment step, high-pressure high-temperature steam may be supplied so that the inside of the container 10 has a predetermined temperature. Further, high-pressure high-temperature steam may be supplied so that the water temperature in the container 10 becomes a predetermined temperature.
The target treatment temperature (water temperature in the container 10) in this heat treatment step may be 105 ° C. or higher, and for example, this treatment temperature may be about 105 ° C. to 160 ° C., preferably around 120 ° C. Further, the container 10 may be configured to intermittently supply high-pressure high-temperature steam.

Further, when the pressure inside the container 10 is gradually increased by this heat treatment step and the pressure inside the container 10 reaches the final target set pressure value, or when the predetermined target treatment temperature is reached, the heat treatment is performed until a predetermined time elapses. A holding step may be performed to continue the step. In addition, this heat treatment step may be carried out until a predetermined heat treatment time elapses so that the wood 2 to be treated is uniformly colored up to the core. Further, the degree of coloring of the treated wood 2A may be adjusted by appropriately changing the above-mentioned treatment temperature and heat treatment time.
Further, when supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container 10, the on-off valve of the exhaust pipe may be opened intermittently, or the on-off valve may be controlled to open and close to increase the temperature while adjusting the pressure. .. Alternatively, a flow rate adjusting valve may be provided in the exhaust pipe to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container 10 while slightly exhausting (leaking).

Next, in a state where the heat-treated treated wood 2A is immersed in water, a cooling step is executed in which a cooling medium is circulated through the cooling passage 19 to cool the treated wood 2A (step 102). That is, the on-off valve of the steam supply pipe connected to the steam supply unit 15 is closed to stop the supply of high-pressure high-temperature steam, and the on-off valve of the medium supply pipe connected to the cooling medium supply unit 18 is opened to open the cooling medium. Is circulated in the cooling passage 19. As a result, the water vapor filling the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10 condenses (condenses) on the outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the cooling passage 19 exposed in the gas phase portion 6, and the vapor phase portion 6 in the container 10 Pressure drops. The boiling point drop accompanying this pressure drop causes the high temperature water in the container 10 and the water contained in the treated wood 2A to boil and vaporize, and the heat of vaporization cools the high temperature water and the treated wood 2A in the container 10. Further, the steam that has boiled and vaporized due to the boiling point drop condenses on the outer peripheral surface of the cooling passage 19, and thereafter, the high temperature water in the container 10 and the treated wood 2A are cooled in the same manner as described above.

It is preferable that this cooling step is performed in a state where the inside of the container 10 is sealed, that is, without exhausting or draining.
Further, in this cooling step, the cooling medium may be circulated in the cooling passage 19 until at least the atmospheric pressure in the container 10 becomes atmospheric pressure or less, and the inside of the container 10 becomes a predetermined cooling target temperature. The cooling medium may be circulated through the cooling passage 19 up to. Further, the cooling medium may be circulated in the cooling passage 19 until the water temperature in the container 10 reaches a predetermined cooling target temperature. That is, when the predetermined cooling target temperature is reached, the on-off valve of the medium supply pipe connected to the cooling medium supply unit 18 may be closed to end the cooling process. The cooling target temperature may be appropriately set from the viewpoint of suppressing cracking of the treated wood 2A taken out from the container 10 and according to the tree species, the treatment conditions, the temperature outside the container 10, and the like. .. For example, the cooling target temperature may be about 70 ° C. to 20 ° C., preferably about 60 ° C. to 30 ° C., and more preferably 50 ° C. or lower. Further, the cooling target temperature may be set so that the temperature difference from the temperature outside the container 10 is 40 ° C. or less, and preferably the temperature difference from the temperature outside the container 10 is 20 ° C. or less. It may be set so as to be.

Then, after performing the cooling step in this way, drainage or the like may be appropriately performed to open the container 10 and take out the treated wood 2A. The treated wood 2A that has been subjected to such treatment may be subjected to a smoothing treatment such as a slicer or polishing on the surface, or other processing as appropriate according to the intended use. For example, a plurality of treated woods 2A may be assembled and sliced into a thin plate to be used as a sliced single plate or the like. Further, the laminated board in which such a sliced single board is laminated on an appropriate base material, or the treated wood 2A itself is used as a building material such as a floor material, a wall material, a ceiling material, a construction material, a furniture material, a craft, etc. It may be used.
Instead of flowing the cooling medium through the cooling passage 19 until the predetermined cooling target temperature is reached, for example, after the pressure inside the container 10 is lowered to atmospheric pressure and cooled, or at an appropriate temperature. If so, the treated wood 2A may be left in a soaked state. That is, the cooling medium may be circulated through the cooling passage 19 to cool the cooling only at the initial stage of the cooling step, and various other modifications are possible.

The wood treatment apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and according to the wood treatment method according to the present invention, cracking of the treated wood (treated wood) 2A is effectively suppressed. can do.
That is, by supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container 10 and treating the wood 2 to be treated contained in the container 10 under high pressure and high temperature, coloring or imparting light resistance to the wood 2 to be treated can be obtained. It is possible to produce the treated wood 2A which has been subjected to such a treatment.
Further, the wood 2 to be treated can be treated under high pressure and high temperature by raising the temperature inside the container 10 while being immersed in water in the container 10. Therefore, in the heat treatment step, water comes into contact with substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the treated wood 2A, and cracking of the treated wood 2A can be effectively suppressed.

Further, as described above, the cooling medium is circulated through the cooling passage 19 provided so that at least a part of the outer surface is located in the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10 and passes through the inside of the container 10. In addition, the treated wood 2A can be cooled. As a result, in the cooling step after the heat treatment step, the cooling time can be shortened as compared with the mode in which the inside of the container 10 is gradually exhausted until the atmospheric pressure is reached, or the container 10 is left to cool. Further, for example, when the pressure in the container 10 is lowered by forced suction by a vacuum pump or the like, it is conceivable that the treated wood 2A may be cracked or suddenly boiled due to the sudden pressure drop. According to the configuration, such a thing can be suppressed.
Further, even in such a cooling step (at least at the initial stage), the treated wood 2A can be carried out in a state of being immersed in water in the container 10, and cracking of the treated wood 2A can be effectively suppressed. In addition, it is possible to prevent temperature unevenness from occurring. Further, as compared with the case where the pressurized water is directly supplied into the container 10 to cool it, a pump or the like for supplying the pressurized water is not required, and the heat generated by supplying the water into the high-pressure container 10 is not required. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of impact.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cooling passage 19 is provided so as to be located above the water surface 5 in the container 10. Therefore, the contact area of water vapor can be efficiently increased and the cooling path 19 is cooled more effectively as compared with the case where a part of the outer surface is submerged over the entire longitudinal direction. be able to. Further, the condensed water condensed on the outer surface of the cooling passage 19 can be dropped onto the high temperature water in the container 10. For example, a water tank for accommodating the wood 2 to be treated in a state of being immersed in water is provided in the container 10. It is possible to cool the water more effectively as compared with the case where the cooling passage 19 is provided on the side or the lower side of the water tank.

Further, in the present embodiment, the steam supply unit 15 is configured to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam into the water in which the wood 2 to be treated is immersed in the container 10. For example, in a case where high-pressure high-temperature steam is supplied to the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10, the temperature is gradually raised by heat exchange near the water surface 5, and it is considered that temperature unevenness is likely to occur. According to the above configuration, the water in the container 10 can be effectively heated. That is, by supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam to the water in the container 10, the water in the container 10 can be directly heated, and the water in the container 10 can be agitated, thereby causing temperature unevenness. It can be made less likely to occur. Instead of such an embodiment, the steam supply unit 15 may be configured to supply high-pressure high-temperature steam to the gas phase unit 6 in the container 10. Further, in addition to the embodiment of supplying high-pressure high-temperature steam into the container 10 to raise the temperature inside the container 10 to raise the temperature, a heat exchange pipe or a heater or the like through which a high-temperature medium is circulated is provided in the container 10. A heating source for heating 10 from the outside may be provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the cooling passage 19 is provided so as to be located on the upper side of the water surface 5 in the container 10 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the cooling passage 19 may be provided so that a part of the outer surface is submerged over the entire length direction. Further, when a water tank for immersing the wood 2 to be treated is provided in the container 10, a cooling passage 19 may be provided so as to be located on the side or the lower side of the water tank, and further. , A mode in which a cooling passage 19 is provided in a water jacket shape on a part of the side wall of the water tank may be used. Various other modifications are possible as a mode in which the cooling passage 19 is provided so that at least a part of the outer surface is located in the gas phase portion 6 in the container 10.

1 Wood processing equipment 10 Container 15 Steam supply unit 19 Cooling path 2 Processed wood 2A Treated wood (treated wood)
5 Water surface 6 Gas phase part

Claims (3)

A container that can accommodate the wood to be treated soaked in water,
A steam supply unit that supplies high-pressure, high-temperature steam into the container,
A cooling path provided so that at least a part of the outer surface is located in the gas phase portion in the container and passes through the container, and a cooling medium is circulated.
Equipped with a,
The steam supply unit is a wood processing apparatus characterized in that it supplies high-pressure high-temperature steam into the water in which the wood to be treated is immersed in the container . In claim 1,
A wood processing apparatus characterized in that the cooling passage is provided so as to be located on the upper side of the water surface in the container. After the wood to be treated is immersed in water in the container, high-pressure high-temperature steam is supplied into the container to treat the wood to be treated under high pressure and high temperature, and then at least a part of the outer surface is inside the container. Wood characterized in that a cooling medium is circulated through a cooling path provided so as to be located in a gas phase portion and to pass through the container, and the treated wood is cooled in a state of being immersed in water. Processing method.

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