JPH0643660Y2 - Frozen grain production equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing fine frozen particles from a material to be frozen containing dangerous substances such as viruses and harmful substances.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional frozen grain manufacturing apparatus, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-17392 is known.

In this device, a spray nozzle for the raw material to be frozen is placed on top of a closed heat-insulating container, an exhaust duct is connected in communication, and an annular refrigerant jetting pipe is placed near the lower part of the spray nozzle along the inner wall surface of the container. Then, a scraper is arranged at the bottom of the container and a frozen grain take-out port is provided. Thus, according to such an apparatus, when a refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen is ejected from the ejection pipe toward the inside of the container and a liquid raw material such as water is sprayed downward from the spray nozzle, the atomized fine particles of the raw material are While spontaneously falling, the jet refrigerant and its evaporative gas are cross-flowed, counter-currently contacted, or co-currently contacted with each other to exchange heat and freeze. The frozen particles accumulate on the bottom of the container and are collected outside the container by a scraper from the frozen particle outlet. On the other hand, the refrigerant gas is discharged out of the container through the exhaust duct.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, such a conventional device has the following problems because the frozen particles are collected and the refrigerant gas is discharged through different paths as described above.

That is, when the material to be frozen is sprayed from the spray nozzle or the spray particles collide with the ejected refrigerant,
Raw material particles that have been made into ultrafine particles of about μ are generated. Since the raw material particles are ultrafine particles, they may float in the container without free fall even after freezing, and may be discharged from the exhaust duct together with the refrigerant gas. Therefore, the recovery rate of frozen particles from the outlet decreases. Moreover, there is also a harmful effect that such ultra-fine frozen particles adhere to and accumulate on the inner wall of the exhaust duct. In particular, if the material to be frozen contains dangerous or harmful substances such as viruses, the ultra-fine frozen particles discharged from the exhaust duct cannot be left as they are, and some kind of hazard countermeasures should be taken. It is necessary, but it is not easy and it is difficult to make every effort.

An object of the present invention is to provide a frozen grain manufacturing apparatus capable of solving all the above-mentioned problems in the conventional apparatus and improving the recovery rate of frozen grains.

[Means for solving problems]

The frozen grain manufacturing apparatus of the present invention achieves the above-mentioned object,
In particular, a spray nozzle for spraying a refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen and a spray nozzle for spraying a frozen material containing a dangerous substance or a harmful substance are arranged on the upper part of the closed heat-insulating container, and a frozen particle also serving as an exhaust port is provided on the bottom part thereof. An outlet is provided, and at this frozen grain outlet,
A collection container that collects all frozen particles and refrigerant gas discharged from the frozen particle outlet is connected, and an exhaust path for the refrigerant gas is connected to this collection container through a filter that blocks the passage of frozen particles. is there.

[Action]

When the refrigerant is ejected from the ejection nozzle, the vaporized gas keeps the interior of the container in a cold gas phase atmosphere. Further, the refrigerant gas is exhausted from the frozen grain outlet which is the only opening in the container, and forms a gas flow toward the outlet in the container.

Then, when the raw material to be frozen is sprayed from the spray nozzle, the sprayed fine particles fall and exchange heat with the refrigerant gas to be frozen. At this time, since the sprayed fine particles and the refrigerant gas are in parallel contact with each other, the contact time becomes longer, the sprayed fine particles are frozen more effectively, and fine frozen particles of good quality are obtained.

The micro-frozen particles thus obtained are discharged together with the refrigerant gas from the outlet through the container. At this time, the ultra-fine frozen particles also ride on the gas flow and are taken out from the take-out port together with the refrigerant gas.

The frozen particles and the refrigerant gas discharged from the frozen particle outlet are all collected in the recovery container connected to this outlet, and the refrigerant gas is discharged from the recovery container to the exhaust path through the filter. At this time, the frozen particles cannot pass through the filter and are not discharged to the exhaust path together with the refrigerant gas. That is, the refrigerant gas collected in the collection container is completely separated from the frozen particles by the filter and is discharged from the exhaust path, and the frozen particles containing dangerous and harmful substances may leak out of the collection container together with the refrigerant gas. Disappears.

As described above, since all the frozen particles manufactured in the heat insulating container are collected in the collection container from the outlet, the recovery rate of the frozen particles is significantly improved. Further, since the frozen particles are collected together with the refrigerant gas in the collection container, the frozen particles are not melted and adhered or clogged in the collection path from the heat insulating container to the collection container, and the predetermined freeze hardness is maintained. Will be collected in a collection container.

Moreover, since all frozen particles and refrigerant gas are taken out from one location (frozen particle outlet) of the heat insulating container and collected in one location (collection container), take hazard countermeasures in one location (collection). It is sufficient to dispose the filter only at the connection between the container and the exhaust path). As a result, compared to the case where it is necessary to take hazard countermeasures at multiple places, it is extremely easy to take hazard countermeasures, and it is also possible to take all possible measures to prevent hazards, including hazardous substances and harmful substances. Frozen granules can be manufactured extremely safely.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the structure of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. This example relates to an example in which a suspension containing cells is used as a raw material to be frozen and liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant.

In the frozen grain production apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, 3 is a closed heat-insulating container, 4 is a nozzle 7 for ejecting the refrigerant arranged on the upper part of the heat-insulating container 3, and 5 is a frozen object arranged on the upper part of the heat-insulating container 3. A spray nozzle for the raw material 9, 12 is a collection container connected to the frozen grain extraction port 6 of the heat insulating container 4, 2 is a frozen particle crushing device arranged in the collection path from the extraction port 6 to the collection container 12, and 14 is Collection container
An exhaust path for the refrigerant gas is connected to 12 through a filter 14a that blocks passage of frozen particles 9b and 9'b.

The closed heat-insulating container 3 has a circular cross-sectional shape with a frustoconical shape in which the bottom is narrowed down, and a frozen grain outlet 6 also serving as an exhaust port is provided at the center of the bottom. The shape of the container 3 is arbitrary, but its size is determined according to the frozen particle size to be manufactured. In this embodiment, the frozen particle size is 100 μ, and the container 3 is configured to have a height of 550 mm and an inner diameter of 200 mm. The diameter of the outlet 6 was set to about 10 mm. As a result, the internal pressure of the container 3 was increased to about 0.2 kg / cm ² G during the production of frozen particles.

The jet nozzle 4 is fixed to the upper wall of the container 3 and jets the refrigerant 7 downward. The ejection pressure of the refrigerant 7 is set according to the pressure inside the container, but in this embodiment, it is 1.0 to 1.5 kg / cm ^2.
G The refrigerant 7 is gasified after being jetted and holds the inside of the container 3 in a cold gas phase atmosphere, and the refrigerant gas 7a is discharged from the outlet 6 to form a downward gas flow. The amount of the refrigerant jetted from the jet nozzle 4 is controlled by the temperature sensor 8 to keep the temperature inside the container 3 at -110 ° C or lower. The ejection nozzle 4 is
As shown in FIG. 2, it may be configured by an annular pipe attached to the inner wall surface of the container 3 and provided with a large number of ejection ports 4a on its lower surface.

The spray nozzle 5 is fixed to the center of the upper wall of the container 3, and sprays the raw material 9 to be frozen downward. The spraying pressure is set so as not to be affected by the pressure inside the container, but in this example, it was set to 8 kg / cm ² G. The atomized fine particles 9a of the raw material are frozen by exchanging heat with the refrigerant gas 7a, but since both 7a and 9a are in parallel flow contact, the contact time becomes longer, and the atomized fine particles 9a
Is more effectively frozen, and fine frozen particles 9b of high quality are obtained. The fine frozen particles 9b thus obtained are discharged from the outlet 6 together with the refrigerant gas 7a. At this time, the ultra-fine frozen particles 9b 'generated as described at the beginning are also discharged from the outlet 6 along with the gas flow 7a. Therefore, all the frozen particles 9b ..., 9b '... Obtained in the container 3 are collected in one place 6, and the recovery rate thereof is improved.

The frozen particle crushing device 2 is equipped with injection guns 10 and 11 having a two-stage structure. The first injection gun 10 is connected to the outlet 6, the second injection gun 11 is connected to the recovery container 12, and each injection gun 1
Collision plates 10a and 11a are arranged in the 0 and 11. Pressurized nitrogen gas (3-10k) as drive gas 13 for each injection gun 10,11
g / cm ² G), the frozen particles 9b ..., 9b '...
Is sucked and supplied into the first injection gun 10 and collides with the collision plate 10a to be crushed, and further acceleratedly supplied into the second injection gun 11 and collides with the collision plate 11a and is crushed, and the crushed particles 9c ... It is collected in the collection container 12. On the other hand, the refrigerant gas 7a passes through the injection guns 10 and 11 together with the frozen particles or the crushed particles and is discharged into the recovery container 12, and is exhausted from the recovery container 12 together with the drive gas. In this way, the frozen particles or crushed particles and the refrigerant gas can be separated from each other at one place, and by installing the filter 14a in the exhaust path 14 from the collection container 12, it is possible to easily take a hazard countermeasure. sell. In addition, in the frozen particle recovery path or the processing path from the frozen particle manufacturing apparatus 1 to the frozen particle crushing apparatus 2, the frozen particles are prevented from being melted by the refrigerant gas, and the frozen particles may be stuck or clogged. It does not occur at all.

It should be noted that the material to be frozen and the refrigerant are not limited to those used in the above embodiment, and the means for collecting or treating the frozen particles from the apparatus for producing frozen particles and the means for exhausting the refrigerant gas are also the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it does not deviate from the basic principle.

[Effect of device]

As will be easily understood from the above description, the frozen grain manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is designed to take out the frozen grains obtained in the closed heat-insulating container together with the refrigerant gas from one place, and therefore, the above description was given at the beginning. It is possible to solve all such problems and improve the recovery rate of frozen particles. In addition, all frozen particles and refrigerant gas are taken out from one location (frozen particle outlet) of the heat insulation container and collected in one location (recovery container). Take it at one place on the route and discharge route (provide the filter only at the connection point between the collection container and the exhaust route)
Just enough. Therefore, since there are various discharge routes and recovery routes for frozen particles and refrigerant gas, it is very easy to take measures against hazards, unlike those requiring measures to be taken at multiple places. It is possible to make every effort, and it is possible to manufacture frozen particles containing dangerous substances and harmful substances extremely safely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional side view showing an embodiment of a frozen grain manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional side view showing a modified example thereof. 1 ... Frozen particle manufacturing device, 3 ... closed heat insulation container, 4 ... ejection nozzle, 5 ... spray nozzle, 6 ... frozen particle outlet, 7
…… Refrigerant, 9 …… Frozen raw material, 9b, 9b ′ …… Frozen grain, 12
…… Collection container, 14 …… Exhaust path, 14a …… Filter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A hermetically sealed container is provided with a jet nozzle for jetting a refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen and a spray nozzle for spraying a material to be frozen containing a dangerous substance or a harmful substance on the upper part of the hermetically sealed container, and also serves as an exhaust port at the bottom thereof. Is equipped with a frozen grain outlet, and a collection container for collecting all of the frozen grains and refrigerant gas discharged from the frozen grain outlet is connected to this frozen grain outlet, and the frozen grain is prevented from passing through this collection container. An apparatus for producing frozen particles, characterized in that an exhaust path for the refrigerant gas is connected via a filter.