JPH11137909A - Defoaming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defoaming device which is compact and can surely remove even fine bubbles. SOLUTION: This defoaming device 10 has a defoaming tank 11, a liquid feeding port 13 for feeding liquid into the defoaming tank 11, and a liquid sending port 15 for sending the liquid from the defoaming tank 11. In the defoaming tank 11, first partition plates 18 extending from the bottom surface of the defoaming tank 11 up to a prescribed height are installed, inclined to the horizontal direction and also second partition plates 19 are installed alternately with the first partition plates 18 and almost parallel to the first partition plates 18 from positions higher than the upper ends of the first partition plates 18 to near the bottom surface of the defoaming tank 11 to form a path for passing the liquid between one inner side face (first inner side face) 12 of the defoaming tank 11 and the first partition plates 18 or the second partition plates 19, between the first partition plates 18 and the second partition plates 19, and between a second inner side face 14 opposite to the first inner side face 12 of the defoaming tank 11 and the first partition plates 18 or the second partition plates 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defoaming apparatus, and more particularly to a defoaming apparatus which can be suitably used for defoaming a sample or the like used in a chemical analyzer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When performing analysis using a chemical analyzer, accurate analysis cannot be performed if air bubbles are mixed in a sample or a liquid such as water used for the analysis. Prior to performing the analysis, air bubbles mixed in the liquid used for the analysis are removed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional defoaming device applied to such a chemical analyzer. As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional defoaming apparatus includes a defoaming tank 51, a liquid supply port 53 provided on an upper portion of one side wall 52 of the defoaming tank 51,
A liquid outlet 55 provided at the lower end of the side wall 54 opposite to the side wall 52. Pipes 56a and 56b are connected to the liquid supply port 53 and the liquid outlet 55, respectively. The liquid to be defoamed is supplied into the defoaming tank 51 through the pipe 56a, and the liquid after defoaming is piped. The gas is sent from the defoaming tank 51 to the next processing section via 56b.

In the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the supply amount of the liquid before defoaming to be supplied to the defoaming tank 51 is adjusted, and
1 is maintained at a position higher than the liquid supply port 53 so that the undefoamed liquid is supplied from the liquid supply port 53 and sent out from the liquid supply port 55. Bubbles mixed in the liquid float up to the liquid surface 57 by the buoyancy and are released, and defoaming is performed.

[0005]

As described above, in the defoaming apparatus, since the defoaming is performed by using the buoyancy of the bubbles, the liquid must be removed from the defoaming tank 51 in order to more reliably remove the bubbles. It is necessary to stay as long as possible. In the above-described conventional defoaming device, in order to increase the residence time of the liquid in the defoaming tank 51 and more reliably perform defoaming, the liquid supply port 53 is required.
It is necessary to increase both the vertical and horizontal distances between the liquid supply port 55 and the liquid feed port 55, so that the defoaming device must be large as a whole.

[0006] In the case where the air bubbles mixed in the liquid to be defoamed are fine, the buoyancy is small, and therefore the defoaming tank 51 is used.
In some cases, the bubbles cannot rise to the liquid level 57 in the inside, and the liquid may be sent out from the liquid delivery port 55 while containing fine bubbles. As described above, in the conventional defoaming device, there is a problem that the device becomes large and fine bubbles cannot be reliably defoamed.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a defoaming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a defoaming tank, a liquid supply port for supplying a liquid into the defoaming tank, and a defoaming tank. A defoaming device comprising a liquid outlet for delivering the liquid from the defoaming tank, at least one first partition plate extending from the defoaming tank bottom surface to a predetermined height in the defoaming tank with respect to the horizontal direction. And at least one second partition plate is alternately provided with the first partition plate from the position higher than the upper end of the first partition plate to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the defoaming tank. The first partition plate and the second partition plate are provided substantially in parallel with the partition plate, between one inner surface (first inner surface) of the defoaming tank and the first partition plate or the second partition plate. A second partition facing between the two partition plates and the first inner side surface of the defoaming tank; And characterized by forming a passage for passing the liquid between the the side surface the first partition plate or the second partition plate.

[0008] With this configuration, the undefoamed liquid supplied from the liquid supply port meanders vertically in the defoaming tank through a liquid passage formed in the defoaming tank. It will flow downstream and be delivered from the liquid outlet. Therefore, even if the defoaming tank itself is downsized, the residence time of the liquid in the defoaming tank can be increased. Also, the first in the defoaming tank
And since the second partition plate is arranged to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, when the bubbles in the liquid supplied into the defoaming tank rise in the vertical direction due to their buoyancy, they rise above the bubbles. Any one of the first and second obliquely extending partition plates immediately hits the lower surface and is trapped here. That is, in the apparatus of the present invention, the rising distance required for defoaming due to the buoyancy of the bubbles mixed in the liquid is the vertical length of at least two adjacent partition plates, which is shown in FIG. It can be said that it is extremely short as compared with the conventional defoaming device. As described above, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the rising distance of the bubbles required for defoaming can be short, so that fine bubbles having small buoyancy can be reliably defoamed.

[0009] Among the air bubbles adhering to the first or second partition plate, large air bubbles having sufficient buoyancy hit the lower surface of the first or second partition plate and then move upward along the partition plate. And is released from the liquid surface. In addition, small air bubbles with small buoyancy stay on the partition plate surface for a while,
When the bubbles float together with bubbles with large buoyancy, or when small bubbles grow together and move up, the bubbles move upward along the partition plate and release from the liquid surface when the buoyancy becomes sufficiently large. The degassing is completed.

Further, in the defoaming apparatus according to the present invention, the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank are arranged in a horizontal direction so as to be substantially parallel to the first and second partition plates. Preferably, it is inclined. With such a configuration, the space between the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank and the first and second partition plates are all parallel to each other, so that the liquid can smoothly flow into the passage formed by these members. Can be distributed.

Further, the defoaming device of the present invention comprises at least one of the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank and the surfaces of the first and second partition plates which are in contact with the liquid. It is preferable that at least a part of the surface facing downward is made of a water-repellent member. For example, by forming the first and second partition plates with a water-repellent member, the effect of trapping bubbles can be improved. Teflon, vinyl chloride, or the like can be suitably used for the water-repellent member. Note that a water-repellent member is provided on only the first and second inner walls of the defoaming tank or only a part of the first and second partition plates, or
In addition to the second partition plate, the entire inner surface of the defoaming tank may be made of a water-repellent member.

Further, in the defoaming apparatus according to the present invention, of the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank and the surfaces of the first and second partition plates which are in contact with the liquid, It is preferable to provide fine unevenness on at least a part of the surface facing downward. For example, by providing fine irregularities on the surfaces of the first and second partition plates, the bubble trapping effect is further improved, and finer bubbles can be removed. Also in this case, the first and second inner walls of the defoaming tank or only a part of the first and second partition plates are provided with irregularities, or the defoaming is performed not only on the first and second partition plates. Irregularities may be provided on the entire inner surface of the tank.

It is preferable that the first and second partition plates are detachable from the defoaming tank. This is for the convenience of manufacturing and cleaning the defoaming device.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a defoaming apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a defoaming apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a defoaming tank 11 composed of a housing having an opening at an upper portion. Defoaming tank 11
Are formed obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane and parallel to each other. Among these side walls, the liquid supply port 13 is provided below the side surface 12 on the side where the outer surface forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane, and the side surface 14 on the side where the outer surface forms an obtuse angle with the horizontal plane. A liquid outlet 15 is provided below the. A pipe 16 a is connected to the liquid supply port 13, a pipe 16 b is connected to the liquid outlet 15, and a liquid flow control valve 20 is provided in the pipe 16 a on the liquid supply port 13 side. The undefoamed liquid is supplied into the defoaming tank 11 via the pipe 16a, and the defoamed liquid is sent out to the next processing unit via the pipe 16b.

A plurality of partition plates 1 are provided inside the defoaming tank 11.
8 (first partition plate) is directed upward from the bottom surface 17 of the defoaming tank 11 and substantially parallel to the side walls 12 and 14 of the defoaming tank.
That is, they are provided obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction. A second partition plate 19 is provided alternately with the first partition plate 18 and substantially parallel to the side walls 12, 14 and the first partition plate 18. Note that the spaces between the partition plates 18 and 19 are formed at substantially equal intervals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end 18a of the first partition plate 18 is located below the upper end 11a of the defoaming tank 11, and the second partition plate 19 has the upper end thereof. The portion 19 a is located above the upper end 18 a of the first partition plate 18 and below the upper end 11 a of the defoaming tank 11. Further, the lower end of the first partition plate 18 is connected to the defoaming tank 11.
On the other hand, while the second partition plate 1
The lower end portion 19 b of the 9 is disposed apart from the bottom surface 17 of the defoaming tank 11 so that a predetermined space is provided between the bottom surface 17 and the lower end portion 19 b of the second partition plate 19. The partition plates 18 and 19 are connected to the inner wall of the defoaming tank 11 in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface).

By arranging the first and second partition plates 18 and 19 in this manner, a liquid passage meandering in the vertical direction is formed in the defoaming tank 11 as shown by arrows in FIG. Will be. Reference numeral 21 is a lid for preventing foreign matter from entering the defoaming tank 11, and is not sealed because air bubbles need to escape to the outside.

In the defoaming apparatus 10 configured as described above, the flow rate of the undefoamed liquid fed into the defoaming tank 11 is adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the liquid supplied into the defoaming tank 11 as shown in FIG. The liquid surface 23 is in contact with the upper end 18a of the first partition plate 18 and the second
Between the upper end portion 19a of the partition plate 19 of FIG. The liquid sent into the defoaming tank 11 in this manner is supplied to the side wall 12 on the liquid supply side of the defoaming tank 11 and the first partition plate 18 adjacent thereto (the first partition plate 18 located on the rightmost side in FIG. 1). 1), between the first partition plate 18 and the second partition plate 19, and between the side wall 14 on the liquid delivery side of the defoaming tank 11 and the first partition plate 18 adjacent thereto (in FIG. 1). (The first partition plate located on the leftmost side), and meanders up and down as shown by the arrows, and flows to the liquid outlet 15 while repeating defoaming on the way. Then, it is sent out to the next processing section via the pipe 16b.

The defoaming is performed as follows. That is, the air bubbles mixed in the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port 13 rise vertically in the liquid due to the buoyancy of the air bubbles themselves, but the first and second partition plates 1
Since the air bubbles 8 and 19 are set obliquely to the horizontal direction, the air bubbles are directed to the lower surface 1 of the first partition plate 18 or the second partition plate 19 before reaching the liquid surface 23.
8c and 19c. Here, when the bubbles are large and the buoyancy is sufficient, after the bubbles hit the lower surfaces 18c and 19c of the first or second partition plate, the buoyancy causes them to rise along these partition plates and cause the liquid surface 2 to rise.
Released from 3 out.

On the other hand, when bubbles are fine and buoyancy is small,
Bubbles are formed on the lower surface 18c, 19 of the first or second partition plate.
c and stays there. The fine bubbles merge with the large bubbles over time, or the small bubbles staying in such a way gather together to grow into a large bubble, and when sufficient buoyancy is obtained, the first bubble becomes the first bubble.
Alternatively, it rises along the lower surfaces 18c and 19c of the second partition plate and is discharged from the liquid level 23 to the outside.

As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, bubbles mixed in the liquid to be defoamed are separated from each other by at most the partition plates adjacent to each other (or the side wall 12 of the defoaming tank 11 and the partition wall adjacent thereto). If the plate 18 or the side wall 14 of the defoaming tank 11 and the partition plate 18) adjacent thereto are raised by a distance in the vertical direction, the trap is trapped by the first or second partition plate. And fine bubbles can be removed cleanly. In the passage where the liquid flows, the flow velocity of the liquid is extremely low near the side walls 12 and 14 of the defoaming tank 11 or near the surfaces of the first and second partition plates, which also promotes the trapping effect of bubbles. Will be.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, the same components as those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the defoaming apparatus 10. A plurality of guide grooves 24 are provided on the inner wall of the side surface 11b in the longitudinal direction of the defoaming tank 11 at an angle of about 60 ° with respect to the horizontal direction and at intervals of about 1 cm. The guide groove 24 is also provided continuously with the bottom face 17 of the defoaming tank 11, and extends in the width direction of the defoaming tank 11 on the bottom face 17. The defoaming tank 11 has a length in the longitudinal direction of about 20 cm and a height of about 25 cm. When the partition plate 18 (19) is obliquely fitted along the guide groove 24, each of the partition plates 18 and 19 The upper end is designed to be located slightly lower than the upper end of the defoaming tank 11.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the partition plate 18 (19), and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the partition plate 18 (19) is made of a thin plate-like member having a width of about 9.3 cm and a length of about 28 cm, and has a surface made of Teflon. A U-shaped recess 22 is formed at one end of the partition plate 18 (19), and the foot 22a of the recess 22 has a width of about 1 cm and a length of about 5.5 cm.
Designed for As shown in FIG. 4, the upper and lower ends of each of the partition plates 18 and 19 are cut obliquely so as to form an angle of about 30 °.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second partition plates 18 and 19 configured as described above are fitted and held in the guide grooves 24 so that the concave portions 22 are alternately arranged vertically.
That is, the first partition plate 18 is fitted with the concave portions 22 upward, the second partition plate 19 is placed with the concave portions 22 downward, and the partition plates are alternately fitted into the guide grooves 24, and the first The upper end of the partition plate 18 and the second partition plate 19
A space is formed at the lower end of the tank, and a liquid passage meandering vertically in the entire defoaming tank 11 is formed as a whole. As described above, the upper and lower ends of the partition plate 18 (19) are cut obliquely at an angle of about 30 °, and the guide groove 24 provided on the inner wall 11b on the side surface of the defoaming tank 11 is Since it is formed at an angle of about 60 ° with respect to the horizontal direction, the lower end of the partition plate 18 (19) can be fitted exactly into the guide groove 24 provided on the bottom surface 17 of the defoaming tank 11. .

A liquid sample to be defoamed is supplied from the liquid supply port 13 to the defoaming device 10 thus designed, and is passed through the liquid passage formed by the partition plates 18 and 19 at a flow rate of 3 L / min. As a result, it was possible to sufficiently remove even fine bubbles.

The defoaming device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are conceivable. For example, in the above embodiment, the first and second partition plates 1
The surface of 8 and 19 is coated with Teflon, which is a water-repellent member, to increase the trapping effect.
Not only the Teflon coating but also other water-repellent members such as vinyl chloride can be suitably used.

In the above embodiment, the entire surfaces of the first and second partition plates 18 and 19 are coated with Teflon. However, the surfaces 18c and 19d facing the lower sides of these partition plates are used. A water-repellent member such as Teflon or vinyl chloride may be applied only to the surface, or a water-repellent member may be applied only to the portion of these surfaces 18c and 19d that is most effective for trapping bubbles. . In an apparatus in which the side walls 12 and 14 of the defoaming tank are also inclined with respect to the horizontal direction as shown in FIG.
Not only the partition plates 18 and 19 but also the side wall 1 of the defoaming tank 11
A water-repellent member may be provided on the inner surface of 4 (or a part of the inner surface), or a water-repellent member may be provided on the entire inner surface of the defoaming tank 11.

Further, the first and second partition plates 18 and 19
When fine irregularities are provided on the surface of the surface, air bubbles are more likely to adhere. In addition, minute unevenness is provided only on the surfaces 18c and 19d facing the lower side of the first and second partition plates, or provided only on a portion most effective for defoaming, or in addition to this. Various modifications are possible, such as providing irregularities on the inner surface of the side wall 14 of the defoaming tank 11 (or a part of the inner surface) or the entire inner surface of the defoaming tank 11.

In the above-described embodiment, the defoaming tank 11 is provided with the guide groove 24 so that the first and second partition plates 18, 1
Although 9 is detachable from the defoaming tank 11, it may be fixedly provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the side walls 12, 14 and the first and second partition plates 18, 19 of the defoaming tank are provided.
Are inclined so as to form an acute angle with respect to the horizontal direction on the liquid supply port 13 side, but these members are inclined in the opposite direction to form an acute angle on the liquid outlet 15 side. You may.

Further, the size of the defoaming tank 11, the partition plate 1
8, 19, the upper end 19 of the second partition plate 19
a and the upper end 11a of the defoaming tank 11, the lower end 19b of the second partition plate 19 and the bottom 17 of the defoaming tank 11, or the inclination angles of the first and second partition plates ( The inclination angle of the first and second side walls of the defoaming tank 11 and the like are not particularly limited, and can be determined in consideration of the type of liquid to be defoamed, analysis conditions, and the like.

[0032]

As described above, according to the defoaming apparatus of the present invention, since the passage for making the liquid meander is formed in the defoaming tank, even if the defoaming apparatus is downsized, the defoaming tank can be kept in the defoaming tank. The residence time of the liquid can be extended. Further, since the rising distance of the bubbles until the bubbles are removed is short, fine bubbles can be effectively removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a defoaming device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the defoaming device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a partition plate 18 (19).

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a partition plate 18 (19).

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional defoaming device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Defoaming device 11 Defoaming tank 12, 14 Defoaming tank side wall 13 Liquid supply port 15 Liquid outlet 17 Defoaming tank bottom 18 First partition plate 19 Second partition plate 23 Liquid surface 24 Guide groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A defoaming apparatus comprising: a defoaming tank; a liquid supply port for supplying a liquid into the defoaming tank; and a liquid outlet for delivering the liquid from the defoaming tank. At least one first partition plate extending from the defoaming tank bottom surface to a predetermined height is provided in the tank so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and at least one first partition plate is alternately provided with the first partition plate. The second partition plate is provided substantially in parallel with the first partition plate from a position higher than the upper end of the first partition plate to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the defoaming tank, and one inner surface of the defoaming tank (first Of the first partition plate or the second partition plate, between the first partition plate and the second partition plate, and on the first inner surface of the defoaming tank. The liquid is supplied between the opposing second inner surface and the first partition plate or the second partition plate. Deaerator, characterized in that the formation of the passage for bulk. 2. The defoaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner side surfaces of the defoaming tank are arranged in a horizontal direction so as to be substantially parallel to the first and second partition plates. A defoaming device characterized by being inclined with respect to the defoaming device. 3. The defoaming device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank are connected to the first defoaming tank.
A defoaming device, wherein at least a part of a surface facing the lower side of a surface of the liquid contacting the second partition plate is made of a water-repellent member. 4. The defoaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid between the first and second inner surfaces of the defoaming tank and the first and second partition plates is provided. A defoaming device characterized in that fine irregularities are provided on at least a part of a surface facing down at least among contacting surfaces. 5. The defoaming device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second partition plates are detachable from said defoaming tank.