JP7406800B2 - Superheated steam generator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a superheated steam generation device that heats steam to generate superheated steam.

BACKGROUND ART In recent years, superheated steam treatment apparatuses that use superheated steam to clean, dry, or sterilize objects to be treated have been considered (for example, Patent Document 1).

This superheated steam generation device includes a saturated steam generation section that heats water to generate saturated steam, and a superheated steam generation section that heats the saturated steam to generate superheated steam. Furthermore, some superheated steam generation devices do not have a saturated steam generation section and generate superheated steam by being supplied with saturated steam generated externally.

In these superheated steam generation devices, when steam is supplied while the superheated steam generation section is at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius or less, such as at the start of operation, the steam liquefies in the superheated steam generation section at 100 degrees Celsius or less, Water will be drawn out from the superheated steam generator.

However, some objects to be heat-treated with superheated steam are adversely affected by the discharged water.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-226561

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main object is to prevent liquefied water from being discharged from a superheated steam generator.

That is, the superheated steam generation device according to the present invention is a superheated steam generation device that heats a steam storage section having an introduction port and an outlet port, heats the steam introduced from the introduction port, and draws out superheated steam from the outlet port. and a water-flow prevention mechanism that prevents water in which the water vapor is liquefied from being drawn out from the outlet port, and the water-flow prevention mechanism includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the water vapor storage section, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the water vapor storage section; a control device for controlling heating of the water vapor storage portion, and the control device controls heating of the water vapor storage portion so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is 100° C. or higher before the water vapor is introduced into the introduction port. It is characterized by controlling heating.

In such a superheated steam generation device, the water vapor is introduced into the introduction port after the water vapor storage part is heated to 100°C or higher by the water release prevention mechanism, so that the water vapor does not flow out from the outlet port. It is possible to prevent liquefied water from being discharged. As a result, it is possible to suppress the adverse effects of liquefied water on the object to be heat-treated using superheated steam.

In order to prevent liquefied water from being led out from the outlet port, the temperature of the outlet port must be at least 100° C. or higher. Therefore, it is desirable that the temperature sensor is provided on the outlet port side in the water vapor storage section.

The superheated steam generation device of the present invention may be configured such that an on-off solenoid valve is provided on the introduction port side.
In order to automatically operate the water leakage prevention function in this configuration, the control device opens the opening/closing solenoid valve when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes 100° C. or more. It is desirable to introduce water vapor into the port. Further, even in the case of a separate device configuration from the saturated steam generation device, control can be performed on the introduction port side of the superheated steam generation device so that steam is not introduced before the temperature of the superheated steam generation device reaches 100 ° C. or higher.

In order to alleviate the heat shock of the superheated steam generating device, the opening/closing solenoid valve is an electric proportional valve, and the control device is configured to open the electric proportional valve so that the opening degree of the electric proportional valve gradually increases. desirable.

Moreover, it is preferable that the superheated steam generation device of the present invention further includes an outlet side trap mechanism that is provided on the outlet port side and traps water in which the steam has been liquefied.
With this configuration, it is possible to further prevent liquefied water from being drawn out from the superheated steam generator.

Further, it is preferable that the superheated steam generation device of the present invention further includes an introduction side trap mechanism that is provided on the introduction port side and traps water in which the steam has been liquefied.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent liquefied water from being introduced into the superheated steam generation device, and further prevent liquefied water from being drawn out from the superheated steam generation device.

According to the present invention configured in this way, since the superheated steam generation device has a water outflow prevention mechanism, it is possible to prevent liquefied water from being drawn out from the superheated steam generation device.

1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a superheated steam generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a specific configuration of the superheated steam generation device in the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a specific configuration of the superheated steam generation device in the same embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the specific structure of the conductor pipe in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation|movement from a stop state to introducing water vapor|steam into an introduction port of the same embodiment.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, one Embodiment of the superheated steam generation apparatus based on this invention is described with reference to drawings.

<1. Device configuration>
The superheated steam generation device 100 according to the present embodiment heats externally generated steam to generate superheated steam at a temperature of over 100° C. (200° C. to 2000° C.). Note that the device for generating steam externally (steam generating device) may be any device that can generate steam from water, and various boilers can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the superheated steam generation device 100 of this embodiment generates superheated steam by induction heating the steam introduced from the introduction port P1, and derives the superheated steam from the output port P2. .

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this superheated steam generation device 100 short-circuits a spirally wound cylindrical conductor tube 2 in the axial direction, thereby connecting the inside and outside of the conductor tube 2. Alternatively, the magnetic flux generating mechanism 3 provided on one side performs induction heating to heat the steam flowing through the conductor pipe 2 to generate superheated steam.

The conductor pipe 2 is a water vapor storage section having an inlet port P1 and an outlet port P2. This conductor tube 2 is made into a cylindrical shape by spirally winding a conductive tube and is short-circuited in the axial direction, and has an introduction port P1 into which water vapor is introduced and an inlet port P1 which leads out superheated steam. It has a lead-out port P2. Note that by connecting a connecting tube to the conductor tube 2, the connecting tube may have an inlet port P1, or the connecting tube may have an outlet port P2. Moreover, the winding portions corresponding to one turn of the conductor tube 2 are in contact with or close to each other. As the material of the conductor tube 2, for example, austenitic stainless steel or Inconel alloy can be used. Note that the detailed configuration of the conductor tube 2 will be described later.

The magnetic flux generation mechanism 3 is provided inside and outside the conductor tube 2 to heat the conductor tube 2 by induction, and has an induction coil 31 provided along the inner and outer surfaces of the conductor tube 2. Note that the magnetic flux generation mechanism 3 may include a magnetic path forming member such as an iron core (not shown). An AC voltage is applied to the induction coil 31 by a commercial frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz) AC power supply.

In the superheated steam generation device 100 configured in this way, by applying an AC voltage of 50 Hz or 60 Hz to the induction coil 31, an induced current flows through the conductor tube 2, and the conductor tube 2 generates Joule heat. Then, the steam flowing through the conductor tube 2 receives heat from the inner surface of the conductor tube 2 and is heated to generate superheated steam.

In the superheated steam generation device 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the introduction port P1 of the conductor tube 2 is provided at both axial ends of the conductor tube 2, and the outlet port of the conductor tube 2 is provided at both ends of the conductor tube 2 in the axial direction. P2 is provided at the center of the conductor tube 2 in the axial direction. Although the outlet port P2 of this embodiment is provided at a position where the conductor tube 2 is equally divided into two in the axial direction, the present invention is not limited to this.

Specifically, the conductor tube 2 is divided into two conductor tube elements 21 and 22 at the center in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. An introduction port P1 is provided at the axially outer end portions 21a, 22a of each conductor tube element 21, 22, and an outlet port P2 is provided at the axially inner end portion 21b, 22b of each conductor tube element 21, 22. It is being By arranging these two conductor tube elements 21 and 22 in succession in the axial direction, the introduction port P1 of the conductor tube 2 is provided at both ends of the conductor tube 2 in the axial direction, and the outlet port P2 of the conductor tube 2 is provided at both ends of the conductor tube 2 in the axial direction. It will be provided at the axial center of the conductor tube 2.

The mutually adjacent winding portions of each conductor pipe element 21, 22 are electrically connected, for example, by welding, and the mutually adjacent opposing portions of the two conductor pipe elements are electrically connected, resulting in a short circuit as a whole conductor pipe. The circuit is configured. Thereby, the conductor tube 2 becomes a one-turn secondary coil. Note that although the conductor tube elements 21 and 22 of this embodiment have the same number of turns, the number of turns is not limited to this.

Here, in the opposing portions of the two conductor pipe elements 21 and 22, the portions excluding the outlet port P2 are joined by a first joining element (not shown) having electrical conductivity over the entire circumferential direction. This first joining element may be formed by welding.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the outlet port P2 of each conductor tube element 21, 22 has a radius of curvature twice the tube diameter at the axially inner end 21b, 22b of each conductor tube element 21, 22. It is formed by bending it. Here, the outlet port P2 is formed by bending the wound portion of each conductor tube element 21, 22 radially outward.

The axially inner end 21b of one conductor pipe element 21 and the axially inner end 22b of the other conductor pipe element 22 are configured to approach each other in the circumferential direction, and the two conductor pipe elements 21 and 22 are guided out. The ports P2 are provided in contact with or close to each other. These two lead-out ports P2 are electrically connected to each other by a second connecting element 23 having conductivity. In this embodiment, the two lead-out ports P2 are joined by the second joining element 23 so as to fill the space formed between them. The second joining element 23 is made of the same material as the conductor tube 2 or has approximately the same physical properties.

With respect to the conductor tube 2 configured in this way, the magnetic flux generating mechanism 3 is provided inside and outside the conductor tube 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The magnetic flux generating mechanism 3x provided on the outside of the conductor tube 2 (on the draw-out side of the lead-out port P2) is divided in the axial direction and provided above and below the lead-out port P2, respectively. Further, the magnetic flux generating mechanism 3y provided inside the conductor tube 2 (on the side opposite to the drawing side of the outlet port P2) is not divided in the axial direction but has an integral structure.

<2. Water prevention mechanism>
As shown in FIG. 1, the superheated steam generating apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes a water outflow prevention mechanism 4 that prevents water in which steam has been liquefied from being led out from the outgoing port P2.

This water outflow prevention mechanism 4 includes a temperature sensor 41 that is provided in the conductor pipe 2 and detects the temperature of the conductor pipe 2, and controls induction heating so that the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 41 becomes a set temperature of 100°C or higher. It has a control device 42 that performs.

The temperature sensor 41 is provided on the outlet port P2 side of the conductor tube 2. In addition, when the temperature sensor 41 is provided on the lead-out port P2 side, in addition to providing the temperature sensor 41 in the extending portion of the conductor tube 2 where the lead-out port P2 is provided (the part extending from the spiral portion), it may also be provided on the conductor adjacent to the lead-out port P2. It may be provided in the spiral portion (wound portion) of the pipe 2, or may be provided in the connecting pipe connected to the outlet port P2.

The control device 42 is equipped with a CPU, a memory, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, etc., and based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41, the temperature sensor Induction heating is controlled so that the detected temperature of 41 becomes a set temperature of 100° C. or higher. Note that the set temperature of 100°C or higher is set to ensure that the entire conductor tube 2 is at 100°C or higher, and is, for example, 150°C.

Here, the water outflow prevention mechanism 4 further includes an on-off solenoid valve 43 provided on the introduction port P1 side. In addition, when the on-off solenoid valve 43 is provided on the introduction port P1 side, in addition to providing it on the extending portion of the conductor pipe 2 where the introduction port P1 is provided (the portion extending from the spiral portion), It may also be provided on a connecting pipe.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 42 automatically switches the on-off solenoid valve 43 when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41 reaches a set temperature of 100° C. or higher, for example after starting operation from a stopped state. It is opened to introduce water vapor into the introduction port P1. The opening/closing solenoid valve 43 of this embodiment is an electric proportional valve, and the control device 42 opens the electric proportional valve 43 so that the opening degree of the electric proportional valve 43 gradually increases.

The opening/closing time (the time from the closed state to the open state) of the electric proportional valve 43 can be adjusted based on the difference between the temperature of the introduced water vapor and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41. For example, if the difference between the water vapor temperature and the detected temperature is small, the effect of heat shock is small, so you can shorten the opening/closing time, and if the difference is large, the effect of heat shock is large, so the opening/closing time can be lengthened. It is possible to do so.

Additionally, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an outlet-side trap mechanism 5 is provided on the outlet port P2 side to trap water in which water vapor is liquefied. The outlet trap mechanism 5 includes a storage section 51 that stores liquefied water, and a discharge section 52 that discharges the water accumulated in the storage section 51. In addition, when providing the lead-out side trap mechanism 5 on the lead-out port P2 side, in addition to providing it in the extending part of the conductor pipe 2 where the lead-out port P2 is provided (the part extending from the spiral part), it may also be connected to the lead-out port P2. It may also be provided on a connecting pipe. Here, it is desirable that the outlet trap 5 be provided at a position as close as possible to the superheated steam outlet of the superheated steam generator 100.

Furthermore, an introduction-side trap mechanism 6 is provided on the introduction port P1 side to trap water in which water vapor is liquefied. The introduction side trap mechanism 6 has a storage section 61 that stores liquefied water, and a discharge section 62 that discharges the water accumulated in the storage section 61. In addition, when the introduction side trap mechanism 6 is provided on the introduction port P1 side, in addition to providing it on the extension part (the part extending from the spiral part) of the conductor tube 2 where the introduction port P1 is provided, it is also connected to the introduction port P1. It may also be provided on a connecting pipe. Here, it is desirable that the introduction-side trap mechanism 6 be provided at a position as close as possible to the spiral portion in the extending portion of the conductor tube 2.

<3. Effects of this embodiment>
According to the superheated steam generation device 100 according to the present embodiment configured in this way, steam is introduced into the introduction port P1 after the water outflow prevention mechanism 4 heats the temperature on the outlet port P2 side to 100° C. or more. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water in which water vapor has been liquefied from being drawn out from the outlet port P2. As a result, it is possible to suppress the adverse effects of liquefied water on the object to be heat-treated using superheated steam.

When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41 reaches a set temperature of 100° C. or more, the control device 42 opens the on-off solenoid valve 43 and introduces water vapor into the outlet port P1, so that the water outflow prevention function is automatically activated. I can make it work. In addition, in the case of a separate device configuration from the saturated steam generation device, control can be performed on the introduction port side of the superheated steam generation device so that steam is not introduced before the temperature of the superheated steam generation device reaches 100 ° C. or higher.

Since the outlet trap mechanism 5 is provided on the outlet port P2 side, it is possible to further prevent liquefied water from being drawn out from the superheated steam generating device 100. Furthermore, since the introduction side trap mechanism 6 is provided on the introduction port P1 side, it is possible to prevent liquefied water from being introduced into the superheated steam generation device 100 and to draw out the liquefied water from the superheated steam generation device 100. It is possible to further prevent this from happening.

<4. Other effects of this embodiment>
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the conductor tube generates Joule heat using an induction heating method, but the conductor tube may generate Joule heat using a direct current heating method. Alternatively, the conductor tube may be configured to heat the water vapor flowing through the tube by heating the tube with an external heat source (for example, a heater) without generating Joule heat in the conductor tube.

Furthermore, although the temperature sensor 41 in the embodiment described above is provided on the outlet port P2 side, it may be located at any position as long as the temperature of the conductor tube 2 can be detected.

Furthermore, although the electromagnetic on-off valve of the above embodiment is provided in the superheated steam generation device, it may be provided on the outlet side of the steam generation device that supplies steam to the superheated steam generation device.

Furthermore, the configuration of the conductor tube is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be configured by winding a single conductor tube in a spiral shape.

Although the water vapor accommodating portion in the embodiment described above is configured using a conductor pipe, it may be a container for accommodating water vapor.

Further, in addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, the superheated steam generation device may include a steam generation section that heats water to generate steam.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

100...Superheated steam generator P1...Introduction port P2...Outlet port 2...Conductor pipe 4...Water prevention mechanism 41...Temperature sensor 42...Control device 43...Opening/closing Solenoid valve (electric proportional valve)
5... Outlet side trap mechanism 6... Inlet side trap mechanism

Claims (4)

A superheated steam generation device that heats a steam storage unit having an introduction port and an outlet port, heats the steam introduced from the introduction port, and extracts superheated steam from the outlet port,
comprising a water outflow prevention mechanism that prevents water in which the water vapor has been liquefied from being led out from the outgoing port;
The water outflow prevention mechanism includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the water vapor storage unit, and a control device that controls heating of the water vapor storage unit,
An electric proportional valve is provided on the introduction port side,
The control device controls heating of the water vapor storage section such that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is 100° C. or higher before the water vapor is introduced into the introduction port , and the control device controls heating of the water vapor storage section such that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is 100° C. or higher. When the temperature reaches 100°C or higher, the electric proportional valve is opened so as to gradually increase the valve opening degree,
The control device adjusts the time from the closed state to the open state of the electric proportional valve based on the difference between the temperature of the water vapor introduced from the introduction port and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Superheated steam generator. The superheated steam generation device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is provided on the outlet port side in the steam storage section. The superheated steam generation device according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising an outlet side trap mechanism provided on the outlet port side and traps water in which the steam is liquefied. The superheated steam generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising an introduction-side trap mechanism that is provided on the introduction port side and traps water in which the water vapor has been liquefied.