JPH06316425A - Light-transmitting block - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To widely transmit and diffuse UV and disperse and fluidize a material to be treated over the whole region of a beam by forming a specified silica glass body with a communicating porous body. CONSTITUTION:The fine powder of hot vapor-phase process high-purity amorphous silica glass contg. <=0.5ppm of metallic impurities is previously heat- treated for about 4hr in a gaseous NH3 and N2 atmosphere at 850 deg.C, the treated fine powder is filled in a carbon crucible, heated at 10-2Torr and 1650-1700 deg.C for about 120min, fused and foamed to obtain a silica glass foamed body consisting of many closed cells and having 0.1-0.4g/cm<3> density. The foamed body is dipped in a 10-50% aq. hydrofluoric acid for about 10min to obtain a quartz glass open cell foamed body in which >=30% of all the cells consist of an open cell 11. The obtained foamed body is ground to a specified size to obtain a silica glass body capable of uniformly transmitting and diffusing an irradiating light 10 from a UV lamp 1 passed through a quartz glass tube 4 and contg. >=70% SiO2, and a light-transmitting block 3 consisting of the porous body capable of dispersing and fluidizing a liq. 9 to be treated over the whole region of a beam is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sterilizes a gas or liquid object to be treated such as sludge, seawater or indoor atmosphere by irradiating it with sunlight, lamp light, especially ultraviolet rays, culturing organisms such as photosynthesis and chlorella. The present invention relates to a light transmission block body used in an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are devices that use lamp light to sterilize or suppress the growth of bacteria and grow antibacterial substances. However, these devices have the following problems. For example, when sterilizing sewage using a UV lamp that radiates ultraviolet rays, the liquid to be treated around the lamp can be sterilized because the sludge, which is the liquid to be treated, is turbid and the permeability to ultraviolet rays is poor. However, the ultraviolet rays do not reach the liquid to be treated, which is located far from the lamp, and the sterilization efficiency is very low. Also,
When a UV lamp is used to kill algae such as pools, the algae on the surface of the lamp can be killed, but the inefficient phenomenon that the algae near the outside of the surface of the lamp can flow away without being killed. Has been.

These treatment methods using ultraviolet rays include an external illumination type in which water and a liquid, that is, a liquid to be treated are radiated from the outside, and a double-tube type germicidal lamp wrapped in a quartz glass protective tube. It is roughly classified into an internal illumination type in which it is placed in a liquid and irradiated from the inside. However, in order to improve the sterilization efficiency, an internal illumination type running water sterilizer is often used. As shown in FIG. 4, a schematic structure of the internal illumination type running water treatment device is such that an inner cylinder 21 forming a concentric cylindrical watertight space is provided at an axial center portion of an elongated cylindrical outer cylinder 20 forming a flowing water channel. , The UV lamp 22 in the inner cylinder
Is built in. The UV lamp is 25
The irradiation part is made of a waterproof type by irradiating an ultraviolet ray having a center wavelength of 3.7 nm, and by making quartz or an ultraviolet transmitting glass which transmits this wavelength well. The material of the inner cylinder 21 is made of any one of quartz, fluororesin, and ultraviolet transparent glass. The outer cylinder 20 is composed of a metal container having an inner surface having a high ultraviolet reflectance.

[0004]

In the above configuration,
In order to radiate sufficient ultraviolet rays to the liquid to be treated in the running water channel, it is considered to use a material with high ultraviolet transmittance for the inner cylinder and a material with high reflectance for the inner surface of the outer cylinder. Since there is no special means for the irradiated ultraviolet rays to reach a remote site regardless of the turbidity of the liquid to be treated, in order to improve the sterilization efficiency, the liquid to be treated formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is It is necessary to set the cross-sectional width of the channel as small as possible. After all, in order to increase the processing capacity, there is no choice but to have a structure having a large number of elongated long processing devices, which leads to high cost and large equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above matters, and is capable of transmitting and diffusing lamp light, in particular, ultraviolet light over a wide range, and is finely divided into a liquid to be treated over the entire region in which the ultraviolet light is transmitted and diffused. The object of the present invention is to provide a light-transmissive block which is dispersed and fluidized in the above-mentioned state to receive the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above technical object, the present invention provides a light transmitting block body used for sterilization with running water, for transmitting the lamp light, that is, the ultraviolet ray over a wide range. In order to diffuse, it is composed of a quartz glass foam containing innumerable bubbles, and the liquid to be treated is spread over the entire region where ultraviolet rays permeate and diffuse, and the liquid to be treated is subdivided and dispersed to flow, and In order to receive the irradiation of ultraviolet rays in the above-mentioned state, the foamed body is constituted by communicating cells. The production of the light-transmitting block body is performed by heat-treating high-purity silica glass fine powder by a hot-gas phase method or a sol-gel method in an atmosphere of ammonia gas, and then performing a heat-sealing foaming treatment in a frame such as carbon of a required shape and dimension. A closed-cell foam was formed, and the foam was further subjected to a dipping treatment with a hydrofluoric acid solution to form a quartz glass continuous foam, and if necessary, a block-shaped processing was performed to obtain a light-transmitting block. It is a thing.

[0007]

By the above technical means, the light transmission block body is made of silica glass foam formed under the reduced pressure by using high-purity silica glass fine powder. Therefore, the light from the lamp light, that is, the ultraviolet light, transmits the ultraviolet light. 70% or more S with good rate
The silica glass body made of io ₂ spreads and diffuses widely and evenly to every corner of the block body, wraps the communication bubbles contained in the block body, and irradiates homogeneous light into the bubbles to form a wide range. A light irradiation area can be formed. Further, since the foam is composed of communicating bubbles, the liquid to be treated is over the entire area of the light irradiation region that is transmitted and diffused from the lamp light, through the dispersion flow path formed by the communicating bubbles, While being subdivided, it flows from one side to the other in every corner, and while flowing, receives the irradiation light from the outer surface of the bubbles, and can be subjected to efficient sterilization treatment and growth treatment.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto, but are merely illustrative examples. Only. First, a method of manufacturing the light transmission block body will be described. The quartz glass continuous foamed material forming the light transmission block is obtained as follows. First, in a carbon crucible that is slightly larger than the required shape size (however, the portion corresponding to the core is made smaller), the amount of each metal impurity is 0.5 ppm or less. 85 in advance
The silica glass fine powder that had been heat-treated for 4 hours in an atmosphere of ammonia gas and nitrogen gas at 0 ° C. was filled, and a reduced pressure atmosphere (1
0-2 torr) at 1650-1700 ° C for 120 min
The silica glass fine powder is fused and foamed by heat treatment to obtain a silica glass foam having a density of 0.1 to 0.4 g / cm3, which is composed of a large number of closed cells. Then, the quartz glass foam obtained above was added to a solution of 10 to 50% hydrofluoric acid for about 10 m.
By immersing it in about in, a quartz glass open-cell foam can be obtained in which 30% or more of all the open-air precipitated cells are open cells. The required light-transmitting block can be obtained by grinding the thus-obtained communicating foam to a predetermined size.

The light-transmitting block obtained by such a technical means has a quartz glass thin film stretched vertically and horizontally inside thereof to form an interconnected cell foam containing interconnected cells interconnected with each other. Of course, the thin film is made of silica glass having a high transmittance over a wide range from ultraviolet rays to visible rays and infrared rays. On the other hand, the ultraviolet rays required for sterilization are most often used in the wavelength range of 200 to 300 nm, so the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamp light used for sterilizing running water such as sludge and seawater can be emitted from a single irradiation source. Even if there is, the light block body is repeatedly diffused, transmitted, refracted, and reflected over a wide range to form a uniform light irradiation region. In addition, on the ground surface of the light-transmitting block body that has been ground into the shape of the predetermined size, the cutting portions of the communication bubbles are exposed in various ways and are in communication with the outside world. The communication bubbles of are in communication with each other. Therefore, for example, when one surface of the light transmission block is filled with the liquid to be treated, the liquid to be treated is divided into finely subdivided states through the communicating bubbles in the cut state exposed on the grinding surface and the following communicating bubbles. The particles are dispersed and flown in the uniform light irradiation region, undergo a predetermined treatment such as sterilization by the irradiation light surrounding the outer side of each communicating bubble, and flow out to the opposite side. That is, a single irradiation source can efficiently process a large amount of liquid to be processed over a wide range. Further, as described above, since the content of each metal impurity is suppressed to 0.5 ppm or less, the light transmission block body may be deformed or cause microcracks even when used for a long time with a high energy light beam. Absent. However, because quartz glass has high chemical stability and no room for corrosion, it not only has extremely high durability, but also has high heat resistance and heat resistance, so it can be used at the same time as high-temperature treatment. Is.
Further, since the silica glass communication foam that constitutes the light-transmitting block that has been subjected to the foaming process has the built-in bubbles having a smooth surface communicated with each other, it enables a smooth flow to the liquid to be treated. Further, since the irradiation light from the light source is transmitted and diffused over a wide range to form a uniform light irradiation area, it can be used regardless of whether it is an internal illumination type or an external illumination type.

Instead of heat treatment with ammonia gas in the process of forming the closed-cell foam, which is the predecessor of the quartz glass continuous foam, carbon and an oxidizing agent or a metal carbonate react and decompose at high temperature to be gasified. A similar silica glass foam made of 70% or more of SiO ₂ can be obtained by mixing the foaming agent into fine quartz glass powder and foaming at a high temperature, but the foaming agent tends to remain and the liquid to be treated during use It is also considered that the silica glass may be mixed into the silica glass, and the durability of the silica glass is deteriorated due to residual impurities, which causes a problem depending on the purpose of use. In addition, when making glass like Pyrex or Vycor, which is the continuous porous type found in the sintered type, when the boron-based glass is deposited and washed with acid to make the communication, the communication part is tunnel-shaped. The cell-shaped connecting portion as in the quartz glass continuous foam of the invention is not formed, and from this point as well, the light transmission block body made of the quartz glass continuous foam is wider than the other communication types described above. It can be said that a treatment area is formed and the treatment efficiency for the liquid to be treated is remarkably high.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the light transmission block body of the present invention is mounted on a processing apparatus using a UV lamp. As shown in the figure, a UV lamp 1 is provided on the central axis of an outer tube 2, and a quartz glass tube 4 of the UV lamp 1 is provided.
A light transmitting block body 3 made of a quartz glass open-cell foam is made to be closely attached to the outer surface of the outer cylindrical tube 2. The treatment liquid is introduced from the upper right end and is configured so that the treatment liquid can be dispersed and flowed in from the entire cross section of the outer cylindrical tube 2 immediately after being introduced through the communication bubbles of the light transmission block body 3. Further, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which the light transmission block body of the present invention is mounted on a processing device using a vertical mercury lamp. In this case, the rectangular light-transmitting block body 6 fitted in the width direction of the container is provided in the central portion of the container 7, and the vertical mercury lamp 5 is inserted in the central portion of the block member 6. It is configured such that bacterial sludge as a treatment liquid is thrown in from the lower right end, is flowed over the entire area of the light transmission block body 6 in the width direction, and can be dispersed and flowed immediately after being put in through the communicating bubbles, and the left end The clear liquid is discharged from the upper part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion A of FIG.
In particular, the situation of transmission / diffusion of the lamp light in the light transmission block body 3 and the situation of the flow of the liquid to be treated are shown, and as shown in the figure, the irradiation light incident on the light transmission block body 3 from the UV lamp 1 is As shown by the solid line arrow, the space between the communicating bubbles 11 of the light transmitting block body 3 is sewn through the quartz glass tube 4, and refraction and reflection are repeated to diffuse and transmit downward to form a uniform and wide light irradiation region. ing. Further, the irradiation light irradiates a uniform light toward the inner surface of the communication bubble so as to wrap each communication bubble in the diffusion process, and the irradiation liquid is applied to the liquid to be treated flowing in the communication bubble 11 in each communication bubble 11. A uniform and wide light irradiation area is formed. On the other hand, the liquid to be treated is introduced from the upper part of the right end as shown by the dotted line arrow, enters into the bubble from the external exposure cutting portion of the communicating bubble 11 of the post-light transmission block 3, and successively passes through the adjacent communicating bubble to the left end. Disperse and flow in the state of being subdivided. In the process of the flow, the liquid to be treated receives the irradiation light all over the inner wall of the bubble and is subjected to the treatment with the efficient ultraviolet rays. Incidentally, the light transmission block according to the present invention, inside the ultraviolet, visible,
Since it has a silica glass thin film that forms a communicating bubble with a high light transmittance and dispersion effect over a wide range regardless of infrared, naturally it is possible to select a wide range of transmitted light and gas or liquid processing substances. It goes without saying that it can be widely used for efficient culture of microorganisms such as chlorella that require light rays and photosynthesis with high-energy light.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to uniformly transmit and diffuse light such as sunlight and lamp light over a wide range, and a gas or liquid object to be processed is irradiated with the light. While bathing, it diffuses and flows from one side to the other via the communication bubbles contained in the light-transmitting block body, and receives a uniform light irradiation on the inside surface of each of the countless bubbles passing through the flow process to form a wide irradiation surface. Therefore, it is possible to receive the treatment by the highly efficient light.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a light transmission block body of the present invention is attached to a processing device using a UV lamp.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the light transmission block body of the present invention is attached to a processing device using a vertical mercury lamp.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the transmission and diffusion of lamp light and the flow state of a liquid to be treated in the light transmission block body of the portion A of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an outline of a conventional internally illuminated running water sterilizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 UV Lamp 2 Outer Cylinder Tube 3, 6 Light Transmission Block 4 Quartz Glass Tube 5 Mercury Lamp 7 Container 9 Treatment Liquid 10 Irradiation Light 11 Communication Bubble

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Tsuchiyama 2-13-60 Kitafu, Takefu City, Fukui Prefecture Shin-Etsuishi Hideshi Takefu Factory Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light-transmissive block used for treating a liquid or gas under irradiation of a light source, which is composed of a silica glass body composed of 70% or more of SiO ₂ capable of uniformly transmitting and diffusing light rays, The silica glass body is a light-transmitting block body characterized by comprising a continuous porous body capable of dispersing and flowing an object to be treated over the entire region of the light beam. 2. The light transmitting block according to claim 1, wherein the communicating porous body is a silica glass foam having a large number of bubbles, and at least a part of the communicating glass is a communicating foam. body. 3. A closed-cell foam is formed by heat-treating high-purity synthetic silica glass fine powder in an ammonia gas atmosphere, and then heat-sealing and foaming in a frame of a required size, and further, the foaming. The light transmission block body according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission block body is configured as a body.