JPS6371292A - Solvent control apparatus of dry cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is directed to 1.1.1 Solvents for dry cleaners that use solvents such as trichloroethane, trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene, Freon R113, and turpentine (petroleum-based). This relates to a management device.

(Prior Art) First, a conventional dry cleaning process using a method other than a turpentine will be outlined using FIG. In the figure, when clothing 2 is put in through door 1, door 1 is closed, and operation is started, -i
The steps proceed in the following order:

(2) The solvent 4 is pumped up from the solvent tank 3 through the valve 5 by the pump 6, and the required amount of the solvent 4 is sent into the processing tank 10 through the path consisting of the valve 7 and the filter 8 or the path consisting of the valve 9.

■, Slowly rotate the processing drum 11 and pour the solvent 4 into the processing tank 1.
0, a button trap 12, a valve 13, a pump 6, a valve 7, a filter 8 or a pulsative 9.

■, Processing tank 10. Po, tongue trap 12, valve 13,
The liquid is drained through the pump 6, valve 14, and distiller 15, and then the processing drum 11 rotates at high speed to remove the solvent 4 in the clothing 2.
Centrifuge and drain in the same way.

■Repeat the steps in sections ■ and ■ above.

(3) The liquid is drained into the solvent tank 3 through the processing tank 10, button trap 12, valve 13, and valve 5, and then the processing drum 11 rotates at high speed to centrifuge the solvent 4 in the clothing 2 and drain it. do.

■Slowly rotate the processing drum 11 again, and the fan 16,
Air is circulated in the direction of arrow 20 between a recovery air duct 17 consisting of an air cooler 17 and an air heater 18 and a processing tank 10 to dry the clothes 2. The solvent gas evaporated from the clothing 2 is condensed in the air cooler 17, enters the water separator 22 through the recovery path 21, and enters the clean tank 24 through the solvent pipe 23.

■When the drying is completed, the dampers 25 and 26 open as shown by the broken lines, and fresh air is taken in from the damper 25.
The uncondensed solvent gas that cannot be recovered by the air cooler 17 is exhausted from the air cooler 17, and the solvent odor from the clothing 2Φ is deodorized.

(2) The solvent 4 that entered the distiller 15 in the step (2) above is evaporated and condensed and recovered in the condenser 27, and the water separator 22,
It enters the clean tank 24 through the solvent pipe 23 and returns to the solvent tank 3 through the overflow partition plate 28. Note that the water separated by the water separator 22 is discharged to the outside of the system through a water pipe 29.

Next, a conventional dry cleaning process using turpentine (petroleum-based solvent) will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Turpend dry cleaning is usually divided into a cleaning/deliquing tank 100 shown in FIG. 5, which is similar to the processing tank part shown in FIG. 4, and a drying tank 200 (called a tumbler) shown in FIG. 6.

In the cleaning and deliquing tank 100, the cleaning process using other solvents described above, and the same steps as in items 1, 2, and 0 are performed, and the entire process is completed. Incidentally, in turpentine dry cleaning, distillation is not usually performed, but in many cases the filter 8 is filled with a fatty acid adsorbent such as porous alumina or a decolorizing agent such as activated carbon to purify the solvent 4.

Next, the clothing 2 after the liquid removal is taken out from the door 1 and placed into the processing tank 10b through the tumbler door 1a shown in FIG. In the tumbler, outside air 20a is taken in from the inlet duct 19 by the fan 16, heated by the air heater 18, and sent into the processing tank 10b. When the solvent 4 in the clothes 2 evaporates, it flows out of the system (outdoors) from the outlet duct 19b. It is discharged and drying is completed.

Although general dry cleaning processes using various solvents have been outlined above, dry cleaners that use these solvents currently employ a cleaning and drying method using a single solvent. Table 1 compares typical physical properties of currently widely used solvents. Also, the second
The table compares the dry cleaning characteristics, limitations, drawbacks, etc. caused by the typical physical properties of the solvents shown in Table 1.

Table 1 (Comparison of main physical properties of various solvents) However, the KB value is one of the measures expressing the relative solvent power of the solvent.

Table 2 (Comparison of cleaning benefits, limitations, and drawbacks of various solvents) This table shows the recent diversification of clothing materials, processing,
In order to accommodate various types of products, as mentioned at the beginning, various dry cleaners that exclusively use various single solvents (with the exception of turpentine, a petroleum-based mixed solvent) are currently accepted in the industry. .

Figure 7 shows perchloroethylene, 1.1.1 trichloroethane, and turpentine, which are currently widely accepted.
This is a comparison of general cleaning and drying processes for petroleum-based) and Freon R113. As is clear from the figure, with the exception of Freon R113, the dry cleaning process takes up almost 50% of the total drying time, which is an obstacle to the recent need for process reduction, and also requires a long drying time. Tampling can cause negative effects such as fluff and shrinkage on clothing.

As one method to solve this problem, the present inventor first developed a dry cleaner exclusively for single solvents such as high-boiling point solvents such as turpentine and perchlorethylene, and relatively high-boiling point solvents such as 1,1゜1 trichloroethane. , R113, R11 and other low boiling point solvent tanks, a function for supplying the same solvent to the processing tank, and switching to a low boiling point solvent for fractional regeneration of the mixed liquid of high boiling point solvent and low boiling point solvent, the drying time can be shortened. Reported a technology to reduce the amount by half (Patent Application No. 59-277497)
.

This is shown in Figure 2. Figures 2 and 4 (conventional method)
The main differences are: (1) The first solvent storage tank 3 and the second solvent storage tank 3a are provided independently from each other, and each is provided with a dedicated pulp 5.5a.

■ Water separator 22.22a that can be used depending on the specific boiling point of the solvent or program control
A valve 32 is connected to the condensed solvent inlet pipe 34, respectively.
．． 32a, solvent pipe 23.23a1 water pipe 29.29a
, and that a safety valve 33 is added to the capacitor 27.

(2) The recovery path 21 connected to the air cooler 17 is connected to the water separator 22 or 22 via the valve 30 or 30a.
a, and connected to the distiller 15 via the check valve 31.Other than that, the configuration is almost the same as that in FIG. 4.

Next, in FIG. 2, the first solvent 4 is a low boiling point solvent, the second
Assuming that the solvent 4a is a high-boiling point solvent, a method of replacing the high-boiling point solvent 4a and the low-boiling point solvent 4 during cleaning will be explained.

(2) The high boiling point solvent 4a is pumped up from the tank 3a via the valve 5a by the pump 6, and the required amount is sent to the processing tank 10 via the valve 7, filter 8, or valve 9 route.

(2) The processing drum 11 is rotated slowly and the high boiling point solvent 4a is circulated through a circuit consisting of the processing tank 10, the button trap 12, the valve 13, the pump 6, the valve 7, the filter 8, or the valve 9 to wash the clothes 2.

■, Processing tank 10. The liquid is drained through the path of the button trap 12, valve 13, pump 6, valve 14, and distiller 15, and then the processing drum 11 rotates at high speed to centrifugally separate the high boiling point solvent 4a in the clothing 2, and the liquid is drained in the same way. do.

(2) The low boiling point solvent 4 is pumped up from the tank 3 via the valve 5 by the pump 6, and the required amount is sent to the processing tank 10 via the valve 7, filter 8, or valve 9 route.

(2) Same as the above item (2) (however, high boiling point solvent 4a is read as low boiling point solvent 4).

(2) Same as the above item (2) (however, high boiling point solvent 4a is read as low boiling point solvent 4).

■Slowly rotate the processing drum 11 again, and the fan 16,
Air is circulated in the direction of arrow 20 between a recovery air duct 9 consisting of an air cooler 17 and an air heater 18 and a processing tank 10 to dry the clothes 2. The solvent gas evaporated from the clothing 2 is condensed in the air cooler 17, passes through the recovery path 21, and flows into the distiller 15 via the check valve 31.

■When the drying is completed, the dampers 25 and 26 open as shown by the broken lines, and fresh air is taken in from the damper 25.
The uncondensed solvent gas that cannot be recovered by the air cooler 17 from 6 is exhausted, and the solvent odor in the clothing 2 is deodorized.

The mixed solvent (4+4a) that entered the distiller 15 in the steps of ■, above ■, ■, The valve 32 is opened and controlled by
It flows into the water separator 22 through the solvent pipe 23 and returns to the tank 3.

Next, as the low boiling point solvent in the distiller 15 decreases, the boiling point gradually approaches the boiling point of the high boiling point solvent 4a, and the distillation of the high boiling point solvent 4a starts, but the distillation is similar to the above. A temperature sensor (not shown) is activated to open the valve 32a (the valve 32 is closed), and the high boiling point solvent 4a is recovered into the tank 3a in the same manner as described above (the low boiling point solvent is replaced by the high boiling point solvent). The intermediate component solvent during switching is a very small amount in experiments and does not pose a practical problem, so it will be treated as one of the solvents.)

An example of the effect of replacing a high boiling point solvent with a low boiling point solvent during cleaning or just before drying as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

Figure 3 shows perchloroethylene as a high boiling point solvent and R113 as a low boiling point solvent, and after deliquifying the wool, perchlorethylene, washing and deliquifying with approximately 251 Freon R113, drying temperature 70 ~ The solvent condensation recovery curve in air cooler 17 obtained when drying at 80 ° C.
This is a comparison with that when washing and drying kg. Third
As is clear from the figure, the drying time can be halved compared to the conventional method. Although a detailed explanation of other combinations of turpentine and Freon R113, etc. will be omitted here, it goes without saying that the same effects as in the case of perchlorethylene can be obtained.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, although replacing the solvent in the conventional device has excellent features, since two types of solvent are used in the same machine,
It cannot be said that there is no possibility that solvents will mix and enter the solvent tank due to operational errors caused by angry workers.

Therefore, in practice, as part of daily management, the solvent is periodically extracted from the solvent tank and the specific gravity of the solvent is measured and confirmed.As shown in Table 1 above, the specific gravity is similar except for turpentine. Therefore, it is difficult to measure, and it takes a lot of time and labor to make a judgment. Further, it was not desirable from a sanitary point of view to take out the solvent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a dry cleaner solvent management device capable of solvent management to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the present invention provides a small chamber which is attached to a solvent tank of a dry cleaner that uses a high boiling point solvent and a low boiling point solvent that are soluble in each other, and which has an open lower part and a closed upper part. The detector is equipped with a heater at the bottom of the small chamber, a condenser and a temperature sensor at the top of the small chamber, and is used to solve problems. It is intended as a means to achieve this goal.

(Function) Part of the solvent can evaporate and return to the solvent tank of a dry cleaner that uses a high boiling point solvent and a low boiling point solvent that dissolve in each other.
In addition, a small chamber such as a solvent tank whose upper part is sealed through which the solvent can freely enter and exit is provided, and the temperature of the solvent evaporated by heating in this small chamber is measured to control the mixing ratio of high boiling point solvent and low boiling point solvent.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing one embodiment of the solvent management device of the present invention. Note that although FIG. 1 only shows a part of a solvent tank showing an embodiment of the present invention, the other parts are completely the same as in FIG. 2, so detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Now, in FIG. 1, a cylindrical solvent mixture ratio detector 304, for example, whose lower part is open and whose upper part is sealed, is installed in the solvent tank 3 or 3a. The solvent mixture ratio detector 304 is equipped with a heater 3 such as a sheathed heater or a saturated steam pipe in the lower part of the small chamber 300.
01, a condenser 302 through which cooling water is passed, a temperature detector 303 such as a thermocouple, etc. are provided at the top. In addition, condenser 3
02 may be replaced by cooling water or by increasing the upper heat radiation surface of the small chamber 300 or adding cooling fins.

Next, to explain the operation of the embodiment configured as above, the solvent 4 or 4a in the solvent tank 3 or 3a is pumped up to the processing tank 10 for each cleaning as described above, is reduced, and is returned after distillation. The action of returning to the original amount is repeated. Accordingly, the solvent 4 or 4a enters and exits the lower part of the solvent mixture ratio detector 304.

A float switch or the like (not shown) detects that the solvent has entered the lower part of the solvent mixture ratio detector 304, and the heater 301
When electricity is applied or saturated steam is passed through the heater, the solvent around the heater is gradually heated and evaporates when it reaches the boiling point, becomes a solvent gas, rises in the solvent mixture ratio detector 304, and comes into contact with the condenser 304.

Since the condenser 304 is cooled with cooling water, the solvent gas that comes into contact with it is condensed and liquefied, falls around the heater 301, and is heated again. The evaporation of the solvent starts from the low boiling point components, but the evaporated solvent gas is immediately condensed and liquefied and reduced, so the solvent composition around the heater 301 is always maintained at almost the same composition as in the solvent tank.

On the other hand, if the temperature of the evaporated solvent gas is measured by the temperature detector 303, the solvent composition can be instantly known from the measured solvent gas temperature since the solvent composition and boiling point have a fixed relationship. For reference, the solvents are perchlorethylene and Freon R1.
The relationship between the mixing ratio and the boiling point in the case of No. 13 is shown in FIG. Note that the condensed and liquefied solvent is placed above the temperature sensor 303.
A cover 305 is provided to prevent the temperature sensor 303 from falling directly onto the temperature sensor 303 and causing a drop in temperature.

Furthermore, if the measured solvent gas temperature indicates that the solvent composition exceeds a preset control limit, it would be more convenient to notify the operator with a buzzer, lamp, etc.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention is configured as explained in detail above,
The composition of the solvent inside the tank can be measured in a short time after each wash without taking the solvent out of the tank, and it is possible to prevent clothing accidents due to operational errors. Furthermore, the device of the present invention is not only extremely simple and inexpensive, but also requires no special skills to operate, and is extremely advantageous in practice compared to conventional specific gravity measuring methods.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dry cleaner solvent management device showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a system diagram of a conventional dry cleaner, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing drying time and solvent condensation in an air cooler in a conventional dry cleaner. A diagram showing the relationship with recovery speed, Figure 4 is a system diagram of a conventional dry cleaner that is different from Figure 2, Figure 5 is a front sectional view of a conventional cleaning and deliquid tank, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship with recovery speed.
The figure is a front cross-sectional view of a conventional drying tank, Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the conventional cleaning and drying process using various solvents, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing the mixing ratio and boiling point of perchlorethylene and Freon R113. It is a line diagram showing a relationship. Explanation of main parts of the figure 300 - Small chamber 301... Heater 302 - Solvent gas condenser 303 - Temperature detector 304... - Solvent mixture ratio detector Figure 2 Drying time (win)

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is installed in the solvent tank of a dry cleaner that uses high-boiling point solvents and low-boiling point solvents that dissolve in each other, and the lower part is open.
This is a dry air dryer, which is equipped with a solvent mixture ratio detector having a small chamber whose upper part is sealed, and which has a heater in the lower part of the small chamber, and a condenser and a temperature sensor in the upper part of the small chamber. Cleaner solvent management device.