JPH03165771A - Steam sterilizer and operation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sterilize the bacteria and viruses mixed in drain by feeding the drain accumulated on the bottom part of an inner cylinder into the upper part of a heating jacket through the first drain pipe and the second steam feeding pipe, allowing the drain to flow in the heating jacket, discharging the drain through the second drain pipe and allowing the drain sent out from the inner cylinder to be heated again and to be continuously exposed to a high temperature. CONSTITUTION:When a steam sterilizer is operated, the second steam feeding valve 7 is opened, and the steam having a high temperature and high pressure is sent into a heating jacket 3, and an article to be sterilized is accommodated into an inner cylinder 1. Then, in the state where the first drain valve 9 is closed, the first steam feeding valve 5 is opened, and the steam having a high temperature and high pressure is sent into the inner cylinder 1, and the article to be sterilized accommodated in the inner cylinder 1 is sterilization-processed. In this case, if the temperature in the heating jacket 3 is raised higher than the temperature in the inner cylinder 1, if necessary, the drain accumulated on the bottom part of the inner cylinder 1 is evaporated, and the quantity of the steam filling the inner cylinder 1 is increased, and the efficiency in the sterilization processing for the sterilized article can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The steam sterilizer and its operating method according to the present invention are used in hospitals and various research institutes to sterilize various articles contaminated with bacteria, viruses, etc. Use it for.

(Prior art) In hospitals and various research institutes, patients' clothes, laboratory instruments,
Before reusing articles contaminated with bacteria or viruses, such as excreta, or removing them to general living areas, such articles and excreta must be sterilized.

For this reason, conventionally, a steam sterilizer as shown in Figure 2 has been used to
The above-mentioned articles are sterilized.

In this FIG. 2, 1 is an inner cylinder that can freely store objects to be sterilized, 2 is an outer cylinder that surrounds the inner cylinder 1, and 3 is the inner surface of this outer cylinder 2 and the above-mentioned inner cylinder 1. 4 is a first steam supply pipe capable of freely feeding high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the inner cylinder 1; 5 is a heating jacket provided between the first steam supply pipe and the outer surface of the inner cylinder 1; A first steam supply valve 6 is provided, a second steam supply pipe capable of freely feeding high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the heating jacket 3, and a 7 is provided in the middle of the second steam supply pipe 6. A second steam supply valve 8 is a first drain pipe for discharging condensate accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1, and 10 is a first drain pipe for discharging condensate accumulated at the bottom of the heating jacket 3. This is the second drain pipe.

The downstream end of the first and second drain pipes 8.10 is connected to a kill tank (not shown), in which bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain are sterilized.

Also, an exhaust pipe 1 branched from the middle of the first drain pipe 8
A water ring type vacuum pump 13 is provided in the middle of the inner cylinder 1, so that the gas inside the inner cylinder 1 can be freely discharged. The gas discharged from the vacuum pump 13 along with the water is also sent to the kill tank.

When sterilizing items to be sterilized, such as patient clothes and laboratory instruments, using a steam sterilizer configured as described above, first,
The second steam supply valve 7 is opened to feed high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the heating jacket 3, and the objects to be sterilized are stored in the inner cylinder 1.

Thereafter, the first steam supply valve 5 is opened to send high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1 to sterilize the objects to be sterilized stored in the inner cylinder 1.

Water vapor sent from the second steam supply pipe 6 condenses in the heating jacket 3, and the drain collected at the bottom of the heating jacket 3 is transferred to the first steam supply pipe 10 through the second drain pipe 10. Water vapor sent from pipe 4 flows into inner cylinder 1.
The drain generated by condensation inside the tank and collected at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1 is discharged into the kill tank through the first drain pipe 8, and after sterilizing bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain, The waste is discharged into drainage facilities such as sewage.

Once the objects to be sterilized stored in the inner cylinder 1 have been sterilized by sending high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1, the steam flows into the heating jacket 3 through the second steam supply pipe 6. The vacuum pump 13 is operated while feeding is continued, the inside of the inner cylinder 1 is made negative pressure, the object to be sterilized which has become wet due to the sterilization treatment with steam is dried, and then the object to be sterilized is taken out from the inner cylinder 1.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, since bacteria and viruses attached to objects to be sterilized are mixed into the drain discharged from the inner cylinder 1, this drain should not be directly used as a drainage system for sewage, etc. Discharging is dangerous, and therefore, as mentioned above, the drain is sterilized in a kill tank before being discharged to a drainage facility.

However, depending on the virus, there is a possibility that some viruses may pass through the filter attached to the kill tank, and we cannot deny the possibility that sterilization cannot be achieved reliably by sterilizing the virus in the kill tank, so we are trying to prevent secondary infection. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to sterilize the drain more reliably.

The steam sterilizer and method of operating the same according to the present invention were conceived in view of the above-mentioned circumstances.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Among the steam sterilizer and its operating method of the present invention, the steam sterilizer has an inner cylinder in which objects to be sterilized can be freely stored, like the conventional steam sterilizer described above. , an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder; a heating jacket provided between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; A steam supply pipe, a first steam supply valve provided in the middle of the first steam supply pipe, a second steam supply pipe capable of freely feeding high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the heating jacket, and this second steam supply pipe. A second steam supply valve provided in the middle of the second steam supply pipe, a second drain pipe for discharging the condensate accumulated at the bottom of the heating jacket, and a second steam supply valve provided in the middle of the second drain pipe. It consists of a second drain valve.

Further, the downstream end of the second steam supply pipe is connected to the upper part of the outer cylinder, and a part of the second steam supply pipe connects the downstream end and the second steam supply pipe. The lower end of a third drain pipe, the intermediate part of which is located between the valve and the valve, is disposed below the heating jacket, the upper end is connected to the bottom of the inner cylinder, and a third drain valve is provided in the middle. is connected to the above intermediate part.

Further, the invention of the operating method is such that the second steam supply valve is opened to send high temperature and high pressure steam into the heating jacket, and after storing the object to be sterilized in the inner cylinder, the first steam supply valve is opened. is opened to send high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder.Then, the second steam supply valve is closed, and the third drain valve, which had been closed until then, is opened to drain the condensate accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder into the third drain valve. It is fed into the heating jacket through a drain pipe and a second steam supply pipe, and is discharged through a second drain pipe connected to the bottom of the heating jacket.

(Function) According to the steam sterilizer of the present invention configured as described above and its operating method, the drain collected at the bottom of the inner cylinder is transferred to the heating jacket through the third drain pipe and the second steam supply pipe. and flows down this heating jacket before being discharged through a second drain pipe.

During this time, the drain discharged from the inner cylinder is reheated and continues to be exposed to high temperatures, sterilizing bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the steam sterilizer of the present invention.

In this FIG. 1, 1 is an inner cylinder that can freely store objects to be sterilized, 2 is an outer cylinder that surrounds the inner cylinder 1, and 3 is the inner surface of this outer cylinder 2 and the above-mentioned inner cylinder 1. 4 is a first steam supply pipe capable of freely feeding high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the inner cylinder 1; 5 is a heating jacket provided between the outer surface of the first steam supply pipe 4; 6 is a second steam supply pipe that can freely feed high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inside of the heating jacket 3; 7 is provided in the middle of the second steam supply pipe 6; The second steam supply valve 8 is a first drain pipe for discharging the drain collected at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1, and the first drain pipe 9 is a first drain pipe provided in the middle of the first drain pipe 8. Drain valve, 10,
A second drain pipe 11 is for discharging the drain collected at the bottom of the heating jacket 3.
This is the second drain valve installed in the middle of o.

The downstream ends of the first and second drain pipes 8.10 are connected to a kill tank (not shown), in which bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain are sterilized.

Also, an exhaust pipe 1 branched from the middle of the first drain pipe 8
A water ring type vacuum pump 13 is provided in the middle of the inner cylinder 1, so that the gas inside the inner cylinder 1 can be freely discharged. The gas discharged from the vacuum pump 13 along with the water is also sent to the kill tank.

Furthermore, the downstream end of the No. 20 steam supply pipe 6 is connected to the outer cylinder 2.
The intermediate portion of the second steam supply pipe 6, which is connected to the upper surface and located between the downstream end and the second steam supply valve 7, is connected to the lower part of the heating jacket 3. It is located in

The upper end is connected to the bottom of the inner cylinder 1, and the lower end of a third drain pipe 15, which has a third drain valve 14 in the middle, is connected to the middle part.

When operating the steam sterilizer configured as described above, first open the No. 20 steam supply valve 7 to feed high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the heating jacket 3, and store the objects to be sterilized into the inner cylinder 1. do.

Thereafter, with the first drain valve 9 closed, the first steam supply valve 5 is opened to feed high temperature and high pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1, and the object to be sterilized stored in the inner cylinder 1 is Sterilize. At this time, if necessary, if the temperature inside the heating jacket 3 is made higher than the temperature inside the inner cylinder 1, the drain accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1 will evaporate, and the water vapor filled inside the inner cylinder 1 will be removed. By increasing the amount, it is possible to improve the efficiency of sterilization of objects to be sterilized.

After completing the sterilization process for a predetermined period of time, the 20th steam supply valve 7, which had been open until then, is closed, and the third drain valve 14 is left open. The first steam supply valve 5 may be closed or left open.

As a result, no new water vapor is fed into the heating jacket 3, and the pressure inside the heating jacket 3 decreases as the water vapor in the heating jacket 3 condenses. As the pressure inside the heating jacket 3 decreases, the drain collected at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1 is fed into the heating jacket 3 through the third drain pipe 14 and the second steam supply pipe 6. . This drain flows down inside the heating jacket 3 and is discharged through the second drain pipe 1o connected to the bottom of the heating jacket 3.

During this time, the drain discharged from the inner cylinder 1 continues to be exposed to high temperature within the heating jacket 3, and bacteria and viruses mixed in this drain are sterilized.

The drain discharged from the second drain pipe 10 is further sterilized in a kill tank before being discharged to drainage facilities such as sewage, so it is possible to ensure that bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain are sterilized. becomes.

(Effects of the Invention) The steam sterilizer and its operating method of the present invention are configured and operate as described above, so that bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain can be reliably sterilized and secondary infection can be prevented. The risk of this can be further reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a steam sterilizer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional steam sterilizer. 1: Inner cylinder, 2: Outer cylinder, 3: Heating jacket, 4: No. 1 steam supply pipe, 5: First steam supply valve, 6: Second steam supply pipe, 7: Second steam supply valve , 8: first drain pipe, 9: first drain valve, lO: second drain pipe, 11: second drain valve, 12
: Exhaust pipe, 13: Two vacuum pumps, 14: Third drain valve,
15: Third drain pipe.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) an inner cylinder that can freely store objects to be sterilized; an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder; a heating jacket provided between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; A first steam supply pipe that can freely feed high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the inner cylinder, a first steam supply valve installed in the middle of this first steam supply pipe, and a high temperature and high pressure steam supply pipe inside the heating jacket. A second steam supply pipe that can freely send water vapor, a second steam supply valve installed in the middle of this second steam supply pipe, and a second steam supply pipe that discharges condensate accumulated at the bottom of the heating jacket. It consists of a drain pipe and a second drain valve provided in the middle of the second drain pipe, and the downstream end of the second steam supply pipe is connected to the upper part of the outer cylinder. A part of the second steam supply pipe, an intermediate part located between the downstream end and the second steam supply valve, is disposed below the heating jacket, and the upper end is attached to the bottom of the inner cylinder. A steam sterilizer in which the lower end of a third drain pipe, which has a third drain valve in the middle, is connected to the intermediate part. (2) an inner cylinder capable of storing objects to be sterilized; an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder; a heating jacket provided between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; A first steam supply pipe that can freely feed high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the inner cylinder, a first steam supply valve installed in the middle of this first steam supply pipe, and a high temperature and high pressure steam supply pipe inside the heating jacket. A second steam supply pipe that can freely send water vapor, a second steam supply valve installed in the middle of this second steam supply pipe, and a second steam supply pipe that discharges condensate accumulated at the bottom of the heating jacket. It consists of a drain pipe and a second drain valve provided in the middle of the second drain pipe, and the downstream end of the second steam supply pipe is connected to the upper part of the outer cylinder. A part of the second steam supply pipe, an intermediate part located between the downstream end and the second steam supply valve, is disposed below the heating jacket, and the upper end is attached to the bottom of the inner cylinder. A method of operating a steam sterilizer in which the lower end of a third drain pipe with a third drain valve provided in the middle is connected to the intermediate part, the method comprising: opening the second steam supply valve; After feeding high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the heating jacket and storing the object to be sterilized in the inner cylinder, the first steam supply valve is opened to feed high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder, and then the second Close the steam supply valve, open the third drain valve that had been closed until then, and send the condensate accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder into the heating jacket through the third drain pipe and the second steam supply pipe. A method of operating a steam sterilizer that drains through a second drain pipe connected to the bottom of the heating jacket.