JPH07227514A - Sterilizing device in air compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent bacteria increased in an auxiliary air tank when an air compressor stopped over a long period of time from being discharged together with discharged compressed air when it is used in the next time, in an air compressor whose auxiliary air tank is arranged just on the upstream side of equipment using compressed air. CONSTITUTION:Discharge piping 2 of an air compressor 1 is provided with an auxiliary air tank 3 and a sterilizing filter 4. An air tank 9, the auxiliary air tank 3 and the sterilizing filter 4 are provided with drain traps 14, 6, 7, respectively. An outflow port 22 of the sterilizing filter 4 is made to communicate with a working machine 5. When the auxiliary air tank 3 is arranged upstream of the sterilizing filter 4, the load of an air dryer and the sterilizing filter 4 is reduced and bacteria generated in the auxiliary tank 3 during stoppage are removed by the sterilizing filter 4. Since the bacteria are not fed to the working machine 5, the air compressor unit is suitable for food and drug industries.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deodorizing and sterilizing device in a compressor provided with an air tank in a compressed air discharge pipe, and more particularly to removing moisture contained in compressed air produced by the compressor. The present invention relates to an improvement of a device capable of removing various bacteria as much as possible in a gradually removed state and at least capable of removing an odor in compressed air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, as a technique for collecting minute pollutants such as bacteria contained in the atmosphere or gas, a filter made of hollow fibers as disclosed in JP-A-54-104082 is used. Although the one used is known, when it is applied to an air compressor, drain water is attached to the filter at the same time when the bacteria are removed by the filter, which rather creates a growth environment for the bacteria.

On the other hand, if the moisture in the compressed air is removed as drain water all at once by dehumidification with quick lime as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-153363, the next step is to remove the bacteria. Water adheres to the bacteria removal filter at the stage, and the dust remover at the next stage of the dehumidifier has only a dust removal function.Because water cannot be removed as drain water here, the bacteria removal filter cannot be removed. The water in the compressed air will be completely removed in the foreground, and the water will adhere to the filter at the stage of removing bacteria, which will not effectively prevent the formation of a bacterial growth environment, thus completely removing the bacteria in the compressed air. Not something you can do.

In view of the above points, the inventor of the present invention is Japanese Patent Publication No.
A sterilization device for the compressor shown in Japanese Patent No. 1485 has been proposed. That is, the gist of the point is that in a compressor sterilizer in a compressor in which a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in the compressed air discharge pipe of the compressor, the compressed air is provided upstream of the sterilizer of the discharge pipe. A freezing air dryer for removing water contained therein is arranged, and a dust removing filter device having a drain trap capable of removing the water which cannot be removed by the above freezing air dryer to the outside is disposed downstream thereof, and the downstream thereof. The sterilizer having a drain trap capable of removing moisture that could not be removed by the automatic drain trap of the dust filter to the outside is provided in the refrigeration air dryer, the drain trap of the dust filter, and the drain of the sterilizer. Compressed air, in which water is gradually removed in the order of traps, is passed through a membrane filter to remove bacteria. Thing is in sterilization apparatus to the compressor, wherein, by this,
At the most upstream side, the compressed air is first dehumidified by the air dryer, and the drain water in the compressed air is separated there.
In the next dust remover, the drain water is also dehumidified by the drain trap along with the dust removal.

Then, when it flows into the sterilizer, the compressed air is once discharged to the outer area of the membrane filter, and the water is discharged by the drain trap of the sterilizer, so that water particles adhere to the membrane filter as much as possible. Since it does not prevent clogging of the membrane filter,
Since water particles are prevented from adhering to the membrane filter as much as possible, it is possible to prevent the growth environment of bacteria from being formed there. Therefore, the disinfection effect is good. In particular, since the drain reservoir is connected to the outlet of compressed air through the membrane filter, the bacteria that have grown in the drain reservoir do not accidentally escape from the outlet to the discharge destination. Then, this drain water is automatically removed by the drain trap. As described above, since the water in the compressed air is gradually removed, the sterilizing effect is improved.

Table 1 below shows a sample taken from the sterilization apparatus in such an air compressor and compared with a sample without the sterilization apparatus. Measurements were made twice on each of the 6th floor (there are differences in time), and the case was compared in which the compressed air discharged from the air compressor was connected to the sampler through pipes with and without a sterilization filter. As can be seen from the table, when a sterilization filter is installed, a high sterilization efficiency of 99.3% is obtained.

Some air compressors are provided with an air tank integrally with the air compressor and some are not provided with the air tank. The air tank has pulsation in the discharge pressure of the reciprocating air compressor, the consumption of compressed air is intermittent, and the discharge pipe of the air compressor and the flow of the equipment installed in the discharge pipe. This is because it is difficult to control the constant end pressure due to the resistance of the passage. This air compressor is equipped with a pressure switch that stops the air compressor at the set upper limit pressure when the pressure in the air tank rises due to the operation of the air compressor, and stops the air compressor at the set lower limit pressure when the pressure in the air tank drops due to consumption of compressed air. It is designed to start the compressor. Alternatively, an unloader is provided, and the pressurizing operation of the air compressor is released at the upper limit pressure to bring it into an unloading state, and the air compressor is pressurized by consumption of compressed air.

On the other hand, since the screw compressor discharges the compressed air continuously, the screw compressor does not include an air tank integrally with the air compressor, but includes, for example, a capacity control valve to control the discharge amount of the compressed air. The capacity is controlled.

The fluctuation range of the terminal pressure in the working machine in which the compressed air in the compressed air discharge pipe is consumed, depending on the size of the air tank of the air compressor, the discharge pipe, and the type and number of devices installed in the discharge pipe. Will change. Further, if the capacity of the air tank is small, the pulsation of the discharge pressure of the compressed air discharged from the air compressor cannot be sufficiently eliminated.

In particular, when the capacity of the air tank is small and the resistance of the flow path passing through the discharge pipe is large, the fluctuation range of the end pressure becomes large.

Further, even if the flow path resistance of the discharge pipe is small,
If the capacity of the air tank is small, the compressed air pressure will rapidly move toward the lower limit pressure set in the air tank as soon as the working machine starts to be used, and the pressure fluctuation will also increase.

Therefore, in order to supplement the capacity of the air compressor, an auxiliary air tank is provided in the discharge pipe of the air compressor. This auxiliary air tank is installed in the discharge pipe before the working machine using compressed air.

The reason for doing so is that since the auxiliary air tank has a small capacity, it is better that the auxiliary air tank and the working machine are closer to each other in order to quickly respond to the consumption of compressed air in the working machine and reduce the pressure fluctuation. And, for the compressed air discharge pipe, for example, an air dryer, an air cooler, a dust remover,
A sterilizer is installed, and these are installed near the discharge port of the air compressor and air tank, so an auxiliary air tank is installed near the end of the discharge pipe and between the working machine, and the working machine is used. In this case, the supply of compressed air is smoothed. Especially in the case of a portable air compressor, the air dryer, air cooler, dust remover, and sterilizer are integrated into a unit with the compressor, or the compressor is connected by a pipe made of a hard iron pipe. Is often installed in the vicinity of the working machine because it is often carried separately for convenience of transportation.
Therefore, in the air compressor in which the sterilizing means is interposed in the discharge pipe, the air compressor 1 as shown in FIG.
When the auxiliary air tank 3 is provided in the discharge pipe 2 of the above, it is arranged on the upstream side of the working machine 5 and on the downstream side of the sterilization filter device 4. A device for adjusting compressed air is often interposed between the air compressor 1 and the sterilization filter device 4, but the illustration is omitted in the example of FIG.

[0014]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the disinfection device in the above compressor, the disinfection device has 0.1 to 0.4
A membrane filter with a mesh of μm is used.
With this mesh, E. coli and general bacteria can be sterilized because they have a size of about 0.5 μm. In addition, molds, yeasts and the like are larger than general bacteria and can be removed by the above membrane filter.

Most of the bacteria and fungi existing in the air are attached to the dust that floats in the air, and it is unlikely that only the fungi will float in the air. If the fungi only float in the air, the nutrients will be removed. It disappears in a short time because it does not exist (see Kei Yamamoto, Setsuo Yonemushi, Goro Fuse, Basics of Applied Microorganisms, Bunkyo Shuppan Co., Ltd., 4th edition, page 117, bottom line 6 to page 119, line 4). , Virus is 0.4 μm or less (about 0.
02-0.4 μm), so when a virus floating in the air is sucked in with an air compressor, compressed and discharged,
A minute filter of this virus, that is, even if a 0.1 μm membrane filter is used, a virus of 0.1 μm or less is a dust filter provided for dust removal, and a bacteria removal filter provided for bacteria removal. Will pass through the vessel.
Although it is less than the virus attached to the dust floating in the air, the virus floating in the air can hardly be removed with a dust removal filter or a sterilization filter. Since the ratio of dust particles of 0.4 μm or less is extremely small, the virus adhering to the dust in the air is almost collected by the dust removal filter or the sterilization filter, and the bacteria removed by the compressor are removed. Very few viruses are shed from the device. However, it is not possible to collect the minute particles of the virus floating in the air and remove them from the compressed air supplied.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use a membrane filter having a commercially available minimum mesh of 0.1 μm or less for the filter of the sterilization filter device, but such a fine mesh filter has a large ventilation resistance and is compressed. The pressure drop of air is extremely large, and if it is put into practical use, there is a drawback that the sterilization filter device becomes significantly large.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention provides a device for deodorizing and sterilizing an air compressor capable of removing viruses as much as possible. This deodorizing and sterilizing device has a structure in which an activated carbon filter device and a sterilizing device each having a drain trap are connected in series.

When an auxiliary air tank is arranged near the upstream of the working machine and a sterilization filter device is arranged upstream of the auxiliary air tank according to the concept of the conventional example, and the amount of microorganisms in the sample collected from the auxiliary air tank is measured, , The viable cell count may be higher than when the auxiliary air tank is not provided on the downstream side of the sterilization filter. When the number of viable bacteria is large, it can be recognized that the air compressor is generated at the beginning of operation when the down time exceeds a certain level.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disinfection device in an air compressor capable of removing bacteria contained in compressed air supplied via an air tank to a discharge pipe of compressed air generated by the air compressor. And

[0020]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Drain is generated in the air tank. Although this drain is discharged by the drain trap, the bottom of the air tank is at least in a wet state while the air compressor is stopped, and some drain traps the drain at the bottom of the air tank. Since the drain is generated by the condensation of the water content contained in the compressed air, oil and dust in the compressed air are mixed in the drain. The organic matter in the oil and dust serves as a nutrient source for bacteria.

The change in the number of bacteria in the drain generated from the compressed air which has not been sterilized is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, most of the bacteria in the compressed air adhere to the fine particles such as dust, so that when the compressed air condenses, the bacteria enter the drain together with the fine particles. There are many. The numbers of these bacteria change with time. Since the sterilization efficiency shown in Table 1 is 99.3% even in the drain generated from the sterilized compressed air, even if the time axis of the horizontal axis (showing the number of days) of FIG. 1 deviates with time, Similarly, it is considered that bacteria grow.

On the other hand, when compressed air is sent into the air tank, drainage occurs. When this drain is discharged with a drain tap, the bacteria sent to the sterilizer are reduced, and the burden on the sterilizer is reduced.

The present invention has been made based on the above consideration. The first invention of the present invention is a compressor in which a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in the compressed air discharge pipe of an air compressor. In the bacterium device, an air tank having a drain trap is inserted upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe, and bacteria grown in the air tank are discharged through the drain trap together with the drain generated in the air tank. A sterilizing device in an air compressor, which is characterized in that it is also removed by a sterilizer.

The second invention of the present invention is the air compressor according to the first invention, characterized in that an air tank having a drain trap is interposed immediately upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe. It is a fungus device.

A third aspect of the present invention is that an air tank is provided upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe, and an air dryer and a filter equipped with a drain trap are provided downstream of the sterilizer for dehumidification and oil temperature control. A sterilizing apparatus for an air compressor according to the first invention, characterized in that one or more devices for performing the above are interposed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is to provide a compressed air discharge pipe of an air compressor equipped with an air tank,
In a sterilization device in an air compressor equipped with a sterilizer having a membrane filter, an auxiliary air tank having a drain trap for removing water contained in compressed air is provided upstream from the sterilizer in the discharge pipe. Intervening,
An air dryer is arranged downstream of this auxiliary air tank, and a dust filter having a drain trap that can remove moisture that cannot be removed by the air dryer to the outside is arranged downstream of the air dryer. The downstream of the dust filter is equipped with a drain trap capable of removing moisture that could not be removed by a drain trap of the filter device to the outside, and an activated carbon filter device equipped with activated carbon as a filtering element is interposed, and the auxiliary air tank,
Pass the compressed air from which water has been gradually removed in the order of the air dryer, the drain trap of the filter for dust removal, and the drain trap of the activated carbon filter through the membrane filter. At the same time as sterilizing, the activated carbon of the activated carbon filter unit adsorbs at least an odor-producing component in the compressed air, and the bacteria that have grown in the auxiliary air tank are discharged in the drain trap together with the drain generated in the auxiliary air tank. This is a sterilization device in an air compressor, which is characterized in that it is included in the discharge air and is not discharged.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a sterilizing apparatus for an air compressor, wherein a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in a compressed air discharge pipe of an air compressor equipped with an oil supply type air compressor. In addition, an air tank having a drain trap for removing water contained in the compressed air is provided upstream from the sterilizer of the discharge pipe,
An air dryer is placed downstream of this air tank, and a dust filter having a drain trap that can remove moisture that could not be removed by the air dryer to the outside is placed downstream of the air dryer. An oil removal filter equipped with a drain trap that can remove moisture that could not be removed by the drain trap of the dust removal filter to the outside is disposed downstream, and the oil removal filter is provided downstream of this oil removal filter. Equipped with a drain trap that can remove water that could not be removed with the drain trap of the above, and also equipped with an activated carbon filter device equipped with activated carbon as a filtering element, and the drain trap of the above air tank, the air dryer, and the drain of the filter device for dust removal. Trap, drain trap for oil removal filter, activated carbon fill The compressed air from which water has been gradually removed in the order of the drain trap of the filter is passed through the membrane filter to remove the compressed air that has been further removed from the drain trap of the sterilizer, and the compressed air is activated by the activated carbon of the activated carbon filter. It is characterized in that the bacteria that have grown in the air tank are discharged through a drain trap together with the drain generated in the air tank and are not included in the discharge air by adsorbing at least an odor-causing component. It is a sterilization device in an air compressor.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Example 1 FIG. 1 shows a flow sheet of Example 1. An auxiliary air tank 3 and a sterilization filter device 4 are provided in the compressed air discharge pipe 2 discharged from the air compressor 1 in accordance with the flow of the compressed air. The compressed air discharged from the sterilization filter device 4 is sent to, for example, the working machine 5 of the dental treatment device and consumed. The auxiliary air tank 3 and the sterilization filter device 4 are provided with drain traps 6 and 7, respectively. Between the air compressor 1 and the auxiliary air tank 3, members such as an air cooler and an air dryer for cooling and drying compressed air, an oil remover for removing oil and dust, and a dust remover are arranged. Since there are many types and combinations of, the description will be omitted.

The air compressor 1 is provided with an air compressor 11 on the main air tank for compressing the air sucked from the intake port 8 equipped with a muffler and discharging the air to the main air tank. The electric motor 12 provided on the tank is driven via a belt device 13. A drain trap 14 is attached to the main air tank in order to discharge the drain generated in the main air tank.

The auxiliary air tank 3 is the body 3 of the pressure vessel.
Discharge pipe 2 at compressed air outlet 9a of main air tank at c
And a compressed air outlet 3b communicating with the compressed air inlet 21 of the sterilization filter device 4 via the discharge pipe 2, and a drain accumulated at the bottom of the body 3c. The drain trap 6 to be discharged is put into the body 3c.
It is a communication with the lowest part of.

The sterilization filter device 4 has the following structure. The top cover 10 and a housing 16 detachably attached to the bottom of the top cover 10 are provided. Inside the housing 16, a hollow cylindrical filter support 18 having a through hole 17 for communicating between the inside and the outside is provided. Cover 1
No. 0, and a hollow cylindrical membrane filter 19 is provided around this hollow cylindrical filter support 18.
Is removably attached to the top cover 10, and
A compressed air inlet 21 is formed in the outer region of the hollow cylindrical membrane filter 19 without facing the hollow cylindrical membrane filter 19, and an outlet 22 is formed in the middle cylindrical filter support 18 inside. A drain reservoir 16b is formed between the bottom portion 16a of the housing 16 and the lower end of the hollow cylindrical membrane filter 19, and the automatic drain trap 7 is connected to the housing 16 so as to communicate with the drain reservoir 16b. It has been attached.

The drain reservoir 16b on the bottom 16a is connected to the outlet 22 only through the membrane filter 19.

Now, in the above description, the means for making the hollow cylindrical membrane filter 19 insertable into and removable from the hollow cylindrical filter supporting body 18 is the bolt 23 embedded in the top cover 15 and the filter supporting body 18. End plate 18a
An example of the seat plate 24 that can hold the bolt from below and the nut 25 that is screwed into the lower end of the bolt 23 can be mentioned.

As the membrane filter 19,
Usually, there is about 0.1 micrometer (μm) and about 5 micrometer (μm), but 0.1 μm to 0.1 μm to enable the eradication of fungi such as general bacteria, mold and yeast.
The thing of about 4 μm is used. Moreover, as the material of the membrane filter, recycled cellulose, nitrocellulose, etc. are considered.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the electric motor 12 is energized, the air compressor 11 is operated via the belt device 13 to suck the atmosphere from the suction port 8 and send it to the main air tank. When the compressed air pressure in the main air tank rises, a pressure switch (not shown) detects the upper limit of the set pressure of the compressed air in the main air tank to cut off the electric motor 12 or activate the unloading device of the air compressor 11. The air compressor 11 is stopped or no load is applied. The compressed air whose pressure has been raised by the air compressor 11 is cooled by heat radiation from the main air tank, and a drain is generated in the main air tank.
This drain is discharged by the drain trap 14 and processed by a drain processing device (not shown).

When the working machine 5 is not used, compressed air flows from the outlet 9a of the main air tank through the discharge pipe 2 through the inlet 3a into the auxiliary air tank 3 by the operation of the air compressor 11 and is stored. Drain is generated from the compressed air cooled by the auxiliary air tank 3. It is discharged by the drain trap 6 and processed by a drain processing device (not shown).

When the working machine 5 is used, the compressed air in the auxiliary air tank 3 is supplied through the sterilizer 4. More specifically, since the compressed air pressure decreases due to its use in the working machine 5, the compressed air in the auxiliary air tank 3 exits the outflow port 3b, advances through the discharge pipe 2 and advances to the sterilization filter device 4.

Next, from the inlet 21 of the sterilization filter device 4, the membrane filter 19 does not directly hit the membrane filter 19 but flows into the housing 16 outside thereof, and then passes through the membrane filter 19 from there. On the other hand, the water that has been drained at this stage is stored in the drain reservoir 16b and is discharged to the outside by the automatic drain trap 7.

Therefore, the membrane filter 19 will not be clogged by the drain water particles contained in the compressed air, and the drain water particles will not adhere to the membrane filter 19 to cause a bacterial growth environment. Although it is gradually dehumidified up to the above steps, it cannot pass through most of the fungi, so it was impossible to remove the bacteria. However, the bacteria were removed when passing through the membrane filter 19, and the membrane filter 19 had a pore size of 0. .1 μm to 0.
Since it is set to about 4 μm, general bacteria and fungi are mechanically collected on the surface when passing through it, and at the same time, they are parasitic on general bacteria, viruses adhering to general fungi and minute animal and plant organic matter. The viruses that are present are also collected. In addition, large floating viruses are also collected.

Compressed air is supplied to the working machine 5 from the inside of the membrane filter 19 through the outlet 22.
The fungi collected mechanically are stored in the automatic drain trap 7
Is discharged to the outside. Although bacteria propagate in the drain accumulated in the drain reservoir 16b, they reach the outlet 22 only through the membrane filter 19, so that the bacteria in the drain are not directly discharged.

In the sterilizing apparatus in the air compressor as described above, when the apparatus is stopped and allowed to stand, drainage occurs in the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3, and the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3 Drain collects at the bottom of 3. This drain is drain trap 7,1
However, depending on the type of the drain trap, a considerable amount of drain is accumulated when the air compressor 1 is stopped. Even if the float type drain trap is used, the inner peripheral walls at the bottoms of the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3 are in a wet state, and the temperature of the compressed air that has been raised during operation is also lowered, so that at least the main air tank 9 is used. The inside of the auxiliary air tank 3 is in a wet state. Therefore, the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3 have a condition for bacterial growth.

However, next, the air compressor 1
Even if the working machine 5 is used after starting, the bacteria trapped in the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3 are condensed and multiplied, and the bacteria are superposed on the drain traps 14 and 6 to be discharged. The bacteria that have proliferated in 1. are removed roughly, the burden on the sterilization filter device 4 is reduced, and bacteria and viruses parasitic on plants and animals are removed. Further, even if the auxiliary air tank 3 is arranged upstream of the sterilization filter device 4, the working machine is not hindered. Certainly, when the auxiliary air tank 3 is arranged immediately upstream of the working machine 5, the response to the operation of the working machine 5 is fast. That is, the rise is quick. However, in a working machine that requires sterilized compressed air, the working machine 5 generally requires a constant flow rate and a constant working pressure. Therefore, the flow rate and pressure at the outlet 22 of the sterilization filter device 4 are the same. This is because it is designed as a terminal pressure. Therefore, in order to make the required terminal pressure of the discharge pipe 2 constant, if the capacity of the sterilization filter device 4 is matched with the capacity of the working machine 5, the compressed air pressure in the working machine 5 is within a predetermined range. It is possible to

[Example 2] It is well known that the compressed air produced by the air compressor may have an offensive odor. The odor generated from this compressed air is the oil used in the compressed air (oil is mixed with air of the working fluid in the refueling type compressor. Also, the non-lubricating type is used as lubricating oil in the crankcase. The oil enters the compression chamber through the gap between the piston and the cylinder) and is transformed by the heat of compression of air, and the same heat of compression heats the organic matter in the intake air. In order to remove the odor of the generated air, it is conceivable to connect a deodorizer between the above-mentioned sterilization filter and the working machine. However, even if a deodorizer is provided on the downstream side of the sterilization filter, if the air compressor is stopped for a long time, bacteria will grow on the deodorizer.

The second embodiment solves the above problems and eliminates odors,
It is a measure to remove bacteria.

FIG. 2 is a flow sheet of the second embodiment. Regarding the flow of compressed air, the auxiliary air tank 3, the air dryer 20, the discharge pipe 2 of the air compressor 1,
The dust removal filter device 30, the activated carbon filter device 40, the sterilization filter device 4, and the working machine 5 are provided in this order.

A drain trap 14 is provided in the main air tank of the air compressor 1, a drain trap 6 is provided in the auxiliary air tank 3, a drain trap 20a is provided in the air dryer 20, so as to discharge the drain produced in each device except the working machine 5. Drain trap 39 on the dust filter 30 and drain trap 4 on the activated carbon filter 40
5. The drain filter 7 is provided in each of the sterilization filter devices 4, and the drain discharged from these drain traps is guided to the drain discharge device and processed.

The above-mentioned air compressor 1 is the same as the air compressor 1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given, and the description is incorporated to avoid duplication of description.

The air dryer 20 is constituted by any one of a refrigeration type air dryer (air cooling type or water cooling type), a membrane type air dryer, an adsorption type air dryer and the like, and the automatic drain for discharging condensed water in the generated air. The trap 20a is provided.

The dust removing filter device 30 comprises a body 31
And a filter 32 having a removable hollow cylindrical filter medium on the body 31, a housing 33 screwed into the body 31 to cover the filter 32, and an automatic drain trap 39 communicating with the bottom of the housing 33. The body 31 is provided with an inflow port 34 that communicates with the outflow port of the air dryer 20 through the discharge pipe 2 and an outflow port 35 that communicates with the inflow port 41 of the activated carbon filter device 40. The inflow port 34 of the filter 32 and the housing 33 is provided. The outlet 35 opens toward the inside, and the outlet 35 opens toward the inside of the filter 32. The filter 32 removes particles such as dust contained in the compressed air, and the automatic drain trap 39 automatically discharges the drain.

The activated carbon filter device 40 is a body 4
2, a filter 43, which is a cylindrical filter medium that can be attached to and detached from the body 42, a housing 44 that covers the filter 43 and is screwed into the body 42, and an automatic drain trap 45 that communicates with the bottom of the housing 44. Reference numeral 43 denotes a hollow cylinder, and a support filter 46 is provided on the inner peripheral side, a prefilter 47 is provided on the outer peripheral side, and a layer in which a protective net 48 is superposed on the outer peripheral side is provided.
9 is filled and is covered with an end cap 51 having a hollow disk shape and also serving as a gasket. In the above, the pre-filter 47 is a polyolefin nonwoven fabric, and the activated carbon 49 is 20-
The 60 mesh coconut husk charcoal and the support filter 46 are polyolefin fiber molded products, and are used so that compressed air passes in this order. In the body 42, an inflow port 41, which is connected to the outflow port 35 of the dust removal filter device 30 by the discharge pipe 2, is opened outside the filter 43 in the housing 44 so as to face directly downward, and in the filter 43. The outflow port 52 opening to the side is connected to the inflow port 21 of the sterilization filter device 4. The filter 43 contacts the seat plate 53 on the lower side of the lower end cap 51,
A nut 55 is screwed and fixed to a bolt 54 implanted in the body 42 at a position where the nut is inserted.

The auxiliary air tank 3, the sterilization filter device 4, and the working machine 5 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description is incorporated to avoid duplication of description.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.

When the air compressor 1 is stopped for a certain period of time, bacteria grow in the drain remaining in the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3.

When the compressed air produced by the air compressor 1 is cooled in the main air tank, a drain is produced and discharged from the drain trap 14, and the bacteria grown in the main air tank 9 are removed together with the drain. Further, it exits into the discharge pipe 2 through the outflow port 9a and enters the auxiliary air tank 3.

The compressed air that has flowed into the auxiliary air tank 3 from the inlet 3a of the auxiliary air tank 3 is cooled from the surroundings when it stays here, and a drain is generated. The drain is discharged from the drain trap 6, and the auxiliary air is discharged. Bacteria grown in the tank 3 are drained together with the drain, whereby the load on the sterilization filter device 4 is reduced. That is, the second stage of water removal is performed here. The compressed air then passes through the discharge pipe 2 from the outlet 3b, enters the air dryer 20, and is dehumidified by the air dryer 20. That is, in the air dryer 20, by pre-cooling, main cooling and cooling, the water vapor in the compressed air is condensed and becomes a drain, which is automatically discharged to the atmosphere by the drain trap 20a. .

The compressed air flowing into the air dryer 20 is usually designed to have a dew point temperature of about 5 ° C. at a pressure (7 kg / cm ² G) below 40 ° C. When the temperature of the incoming air entering the air dryer 20 increases, the dew point temperature rises,
A large amount of drain is generated on the downstream side of the air dryer 20. In the present invention, the main air tank 9 and the auxiliary air tank 3
Since the compressed air whose temperature has dropped due to being cooled by the surrounding atmosphere is sent to the air dryer 20, the load on the air dryer 20 is reduced.

Refrigerating air dryer commercially available here Pressure (7 kg / cm ² G) Inlet temperature less than 40 ° C. Dew point temperature is about 5 ° C. Under pressure (7 kg / cm ² G) Inlet temperature 40 ° C. Used at ~ 80 ° C. When the inlet temperature of the air dryer 20 is 80 ° C. or higher, an air-cooled or water-cooled aftercooler 70 is provided between the auxiliary air tank 3 and the air dryer 20.

In this way, the air dryer 20 performs the third stage dehumidification, and at the same time bacteria are discharged together with the drain.

Now, the compressed air dehumidified in the third stage flows into the next dust removing filter unit 30 through the inflow port 34, in which particles such as dust in the compressed air and oil mist in the compressed air are removed. Some are removed. Even here, the drain is generated due to the cooling by the outside air or the resistance of the filter, and the drain is discharged to the outside by the automatic drain trap 39 of the filter unit 30 for dust removal. That is, the fourth stage of water removal is performed. The considerably dehumidified compressed air from the outlet 35 of the dust filter 30 flows into the housing 44 outside the activated carbon filter 43 from the inlet 41 of the activated carbon filter 40 without directly hitting the activated carbon filter 43. From there, it passes through the activated carbon filter 43. At this time, the pressure is reduced by passing through the pre-filter 47, and when passing through the activated carbon 49, the volatile organic compounds of the odorous components and viruses, bacteria, fungi and the like adhering thereto are adsorbed together on the activated carbon, and a considerable amount of bacteria The compounds and volatile organic compounds are removed and flow out from the outlet 52 toward the inlet 21 of the sterilization filter device 4. Even in the activated carbon filter device 40, it is cooled by the outside air,
Drain water is generated due to the resistance of the filter, and again, the drain is discharged by the automatic drain trap 45 added to the activated carbon filter device 40. That is, the fifth stage of water removal is performed. In the sterilization filter device 4 into which the compressed air has flown in from the inflow port 21, sterilization is performed by the membrane filter 19 as in the first embodiment, and then discharged from the outflow port 22 toward the working machine 5.

The virus body does not grow unless it is parasitic on DNA. And it infects bacteria except bacteria, animals and plants. On the other hand, odors are considered to be fine particles of volatile organic compounds that float in the air and make animals feel an odor. There are animal and plant volatile organic compounds in this,
It was also observed that some bacteria grow in oil,
It also serves as a nutrient source for these viruses. The odorous components in the air are parasitized by a virus. On the other hand, the volatile organic compounds are vaporized at room temperature and pass through the filter that passes through the mesh, so the odorous components in the compressed air that has passed through the air dryer 20 and the dust removal filter device 30 are not removed. When passing through the activated carbon filter device 40, volatile organic substances that form odorous components are adsorbed, so that viruses parasitic on animals, plants or oil adhere to the activated carbon. Therefore, it is considered that the activated carbon filter device 40 collects a part of minute viruses.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. When the screw compressor 1A is used, the discharge pipe 2 follows the flow of compressed air and the tank 3A with the drain trap 6A,
An air dryer 20 with a drain trap 20a, an oil removing filter device 60 with a drain trap 61, and a disinfection filter device 4 with a drain trap 7 are provided. The sterilization filter device 4 is connected to the working machine 5.

The oil removing filter device 60 has, for example, substantially the same structure as the dust removing filter device 30, and a filter element corresponding to the filter 32 of the oil removing filter device 60 is a member that does not adsorb oil moisture, such as a metal thread. What is entwined with is used.

In this embodiment, as the air tank 3A is cooled from the surroundings, the temperature of the internal compressed air is lowered and a drain is generated. This allows the air dryer 20
The intake temperature to the air dryer is reduced, the load on the air dryer 20 is reduced, and the generated drain is discharged from the drain trap 6A, so that the bacteria grown in the air tank 3A are removed and the load on the sterilization filter device 4 is reduced. Reduce. The oil supplied to the screw compressor 1A flows through the discharge pipe 2, is removed by the oil removing filter device 60, and is discharged from the drain trap 61 together with the drain, but an oil separator is used instead of the oil removing filter device. The oil may be separated and returned to the screw compressor.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment. According to flowing compressed air in the discharge pipe 2 of the screw compressor 1A, a tank 3A with a drain trap 6A, an air dryer 20 with a drain trap 20a, and a drain trap 3 are provided.
A dust removing filter unit 30 with 9, a deoiling filter unit 60 with a drain trap 61, and a sterilizing filter unit 4 with a drain trap 7 are inserted in this order, and are attached to the working machine 5.

In this embodiment, as the air tank 3A is cooled from the surroundings, the temperature of the internal compressed air is lowered to generate drainage. Therefore, the load on the air dryer 20 and the sterilization filter device 4 is reduced as in the previous embodiment. or,
Since the dust removing filter device 30 is provided, relatively large fine dust particles in the compressed air are removed here, so that the load on the bacteria removing filter device 4 can be reduced.

The device provided between the tank (including the auxiliary tank) in the discharge pipe and the sterilization filter device in the embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the air tank and the sterilizer are provided in the discharge pipe of the air compressor, since the air tank is provided on the upstream side of the sterilizer, the drain generated in the air tank At the same time, bacteria are removed and the burden on the sterilizer can be reduced. Even if bacteria grow in the air tank because the air compressor has been off for a long period of time, the bacteria that grew in the air tank are installed in the air tank immediately upstream of the device that uses compressed air. In that case, it was eliminated that the air was discharged together with the compressed air, and it is suitable for use in medical treatment, food industry and the like.

The second invention of the present invention has the same effect as the first invention.

In the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the temperature of the compressed air is lowered in the auxiliary air tank to remove the drain, so that the load on the equipment installed up to the sterilizer, especially the air dryer, is reduced.

A fourth invention of the present invention is to install an auxiliary air tank, an air dryer, a dust remover, an activated carbon filter device, and a sterilizer in this order in the discharge pipe of the air compressor, and drain these devices and the air tank of the air compressor. Since it has a trap, the compressed air that has been dehumidified by the air tank, auxiliary air tank, air dryer, dust remover, and activated carbon filter device is further dehumidified and sterilized by the sterilizer, so the compressed air is cooled by the auxiliary air tank. The generated drain is removed, and the compressed air with the lowered temperature is introduced into the air dryer to reduce the load on the air dryer. In addition, since bacteria are removed together with the drain generated in the auxiliary air tank, the load on the sterilization filter device is reduced, and almost no bacteria are discharged to the downstream side of the sterilization filter device, for example, the membrane filter, and Even if bacteria grow in the auxiliary air tank because the air compressor is out of service for a long period of time, the bacteria that have grown in the auxiliary air tank will have an auxiliary air tank immediately upstream of the device that uses compressed air. When it was provided, it was eliminated that it was discharged together with compressed air, and it is suitable for use in the medical and food industries, and at least compressed air is provided because the activated carbon filter device is arranged upstream of the sterilizer. Deodorized.
In addition, it is expected that viruses and the like will be attached to volatile organic substances and adsorbed on activated carbon.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is applied to an air compressor using a refueling type air compressor as an air compression source because the dust removing filter is arranged downstream of the dust removing filter in the fourth aspect of the invention. It is suitable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow sheet of Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow sheet of Example 2 of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow sheet of a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a time course of the number of bacteria in drain water.

FIG. 6 is a flow sheet of Example 3.

FIG. 7 is a flow sheet of Example 4.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air compressor 2 Discharge pipe 3 Auxiliary air tank 3A Air tank 4 Disinfection filter device 5 Working machine 6,7 Drain trap 9 Air tank 14 Drain trap 19 Membrane filter 20 Air dryer 30 Dust removal filter device 39 Drain trap 40 Activated carbon filter device 45 drain trap

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B01D 53/34 ZAB 53/38 53/81

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizer for a compressor, wherein a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in a discharge pipe for compressed air of an air compressor, and a drain trap is provided upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe. In an air compressor, which is characterized in that an air tank having the above is interposed, and bacteria grown in the air tank are discharged by a drain trap together with a drain generated in the air tank and removed by a sterilizer. Disinfection device. 2. The sterilization device for an air compressor according to claim 1, wherein an air tank having a drain trap is interposed immediately upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe. 3. One device for interposing an air tank upstream of the sterilizer in the discharge pipe, and for downstream of the air dryer, a filter device equipped with a drain trap, for performing dehumidification, oil removal temperature control, etc. The disinfection device for an air compressor according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection device is provided as described above. 4. A sterilizer for an air compressor having an air tank, wherein a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in a discharge pipe for compressed air of the air compressor. An auxiliary air tank with a drain trap that removes water contained in compressed air is installed upstream, an air dryer is placed downstream of this auxiliary air tank, and it cannot be removed by an air dryer downstream of the air dryer. Install a dust removal filter unit that has a drain trap that can remove moisture to the outside, and install a drain trap that can remove moisture that could not be removed by the drain trap of the above dust removal filter unit to the outside, downstream of this dust removal filter unit. Equipped with an activated carbon filter device equipped with activated carbon as a filtering element, -The compressed air from which water has been gradually removed in the order of tank, air dryer, drain filter of dust removal filter, and drain trap of activated carbon filter is passed through the membrane filter to the compressed air from which water has been further removed by drain trap of sterilizer. At the very least, the activated carbon of the activated carbon filter unit is used to adsorb at least odor-causing components in the compressed air, and the bacteria that have grown in the auxiliary air tank are discharged through the drain trap together with the drain generated in the auxiliary air tank. In addition, the disinfection device in the air compressor is characterized in that it is included in the discharge air and is not discharged. 5. A sterilizing device in an air compressor, wherein a sterilizer having a membrane filter is arranged in a discharge pipe of compressed air of an air compressor equipped with a refueling type air compressor. An air tank that has a drain trap that removes water contained in compressed air is installed upstream of the sterilizer, an air dryer is placed downstream of this air tank, and it can be removed by an air dryer downstream of the air dryer. A drain filter that has a drain trap that can remove water that was not present is installed, and a drain trap that can remove moisture that could not be removed by the drain trap of the dust filter to the outside downstream of this filter for dust removal. Is provided with a filter unit for removing oil, and the filter for removing oil is provided downstream of the filter unit for removing oil. Equipped with a drain trap that can remove moisture that could not be removed by the drain trap of the vessel and an activated carbon filter instrument that has activated carbon as a filtration element, and the drain trap of the air tank, the air dryer, and the dust removal filter Pass the compressed air from which water has been gradually removed in the order of the drain trap, the drain trap of the oil removal filter device, and the drain trap of the activated carbon filter device through the membrane filter. At the same time, the activated carbon of the activated carbon filter device adsorbs at least the odor-producing component in the compressed air, and the bacteria grown in the air tank are discharged through the drain trap together with the drain generated in the air tank. The special feature is that it is included in the discharge air and is not discharged. In filtering apparatus to the air compressor to be.