KR100920917B1 - Cold nitrogen plasma sterilizing method and device using nitrogen seperator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Low temperature nitrogen plasma sanitizing method and apparatus using a nitrogen separator are provided, which can solve safety problem of an operator according to the kind of the ingredient substance of the plasma and environmental contamination. CONSTITUTION: A low temperature nitrogen plasma sanitizing method using a nitrogen separator comprises a first process(S1000) and a second process(S2000). The first process is as follows. An object is loaded within the sanitizing chamber(1000). The nitrogen is separated using a sanitizing chamber(1100). The gas except the nitrogen is ejected(1200). The nitrogen is concentrated over 98%(1300). The second process is as follows. The nitrogen within the sanitizing chamber is moved through the pipe to which a solenoid valve is connected. The low temperature nitrogen plasma is generated using a low temperature nitrogen plasma generator(2000). The object is disinfected by flowing the generated low temperature nitrogen plasma into the sanitizing chamber(2100). According to the kind of the object, disinfection is finished by repeating the processes(2200).

Description

Cold nitrogen plasma sterilizing method and device using nitrogen seperator

The present invention constitutes a nitrogen separation facility in the disinfection device itself to generate a high concentration of nitrogen without supplying a separate high concentration of nitrogen, and supply the generated high concentration nitrogen to a low temperature nitrogen plasma generator to generate a nitrogen plasma. The present invention relates to a disinfection method for disinfecting a museum, an old document, a medical device, a medicine manufacturing device, and the like. In addition, in the disinfection method and apparatus for nitrogen disinfection using a nitrogen separator consisting of a disinfection chamber for loading the toxins in relation to the above disinfection method, nitrogen separation equipment for nitrogen separation in the air, low temperature plasma generator for generating a low temperature nitrogen plasma. It is a related field.

Disinfection of contaminated instruments and devices in the medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries is an important part of the prevention of secondary infections, including sterilizers using ultraviolet light, sterilizers using high-pressure devices, or ethylene oxide, formaldehyde. , Sterilizer using gas such as hydrogen peroxide, sterilizer using ozone and the like, and recently, a method of disinfecting the poison by using plasma has been proposed.

When a substance receives more energy in the phase of a gas, the ionized particles other than the phase transition, i.e., the total number of charges, positive and negative, are almost equal, resulting in an electrically neutral overall, but partially ionic and The electric field is generated by the charge separation between the electrons and converts into a plasma state in which the electric current and the magnetic field are generated by the flow of charge. Plasma generated on the principle described above has various characteristics depending on the type of the constituent material to be plasma has been used in various fields of the industry. Plasma can be divided into thermal plasma and low temperature plasma according to the production method. Thermal plasma is used in industries such as cutting of metal, and low temperature plasma is most widely used in semiconductor manufacturing process. Among low temperature plasma, vacuum plasma is used for semiconductor manufacturing technology and display. It is widely used in technology and medical sterilization technology.

As a related art, Korean Patent No. 10-0873412 relates to a low temperature plasma medical equipment and equipment disinfection device and a method of controlling the same, and is excellent in terms of operating and controlling a disinfection device using plasma. As for the industrial use, there is a shortcoming, and the registered patents 10-0545569 and 10-0625771 are known disinfection apparatus and method using plasma, but because it uses oxygen as a plasma component to generate ozone, even if a filter is used, Not only does this pose a risk of environmental pollution, it also oxidizes the poison. In addition, Korean Laid-open Patent No. 10-2007-0110013 is a well-known technique for sterilizing a gas plasma formed of a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen to generate a plasma by an electric field using a gas composed of a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen less than 5%, The post-emission flow of the gas plasma derived from the electric field is a technique consisting of entering the sterilization chamber and sterilizing the toxin. Since the above known technology does not use oxygen because ozone is not generated, it is possible to secure stability problems of workers and toxins and does not pollute the environment, but it mixes nitrogen and hydrogen, which are components of plasma, and supplies external sources. There is a disadvantage to be supplied by.

In other words, the conventional technique using plasma generates high-temperature plasma when the thermal plasma generating method is used, and thus requires high energy in the operation of the disinfection apparatus. There is a problem of deformation and generation of harmful substances, and in the low temperature plasma generation method, problems of stability of workers and toxins, environmental pollution, and stable supply of components are raised according to the types of plasma components.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above and in disinfecting the toxins using the plasma generated by the low temperature plasma method,

Compared to the high temperature plasma generation method using the low temperature plasma generation device, it operates economically disinfection device and provides the solution to solve the problem of the transformation of the poisonous substance and the generation of harmful substances, and by constructing its own nitrogen separator, supplying separate high concentration nitrogen Since nitrogen in the air is concentrated by itself without a tank to generate a low temperature nitrogen plasma, it is to provide a solution to solve workers' stability problems, environmental pollution, and stable supply of components according to the types of plasma components.

The present invention is a low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection method and apparatus using a nitrogen separator,

Loading the disinfectant into the disinfection chamber, separating nitrogen from the air, reflowing the separated nitrogen into the disinfection chamber and determining the nitrogen concentration in the chamber, when the vacuum pressure of the disinfection chamber is 300 mmHg or less and 300 mmHg or more. The first step consisting of the step of concentrating the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber to more than 98% by dividing the step, generating a low-temperature nitrogen plasma, disinfecting the toxins, according to the type of the disinfectant Low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection method using a nitrogen separator consisting of a second process consisting of repeatedly performing a step to complete the disinfection;

A disinfectant loading disinfection chamber equipped with a nitrogen concentration meter for measuring the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber and a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure; As a low temperature nitrogen plasma supply unit, a solenoid valve for controlling the air flow of the sterilization chamber and a solenoid valve for external air inflow between the sterilization chamber and the compressor are connected, and connected to the solenoid valve for the external air inflow, A compressor for pressurizing the introduced external air to the nitrogen separation facility and circulating the generated nitrogen; A pressure gauge connected to the compressor for measuring an inlet pressure of the gas flowing into the nitrogen separation facility; A nitrogen separation device connected to the pressure gauge to separate nitrogen from air; It relates to a low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection apparatus using a nitrogen separator consisting of a low temperature nitrogen plasma generator is connected between the nitrogen separation equipment and the disinfection chamber to generate a nitrogen plasma.

The present invention uses a nitrogen separator to produce a low-temperature nitrogen plasma by concentrating nitrogen in the air by itself without a separate high-concentration nitrogen supply tank to generate a low-temperature nitrogen plasma. It solves the problem of transformation of poison and generation of harmful substances, and it is effective to solve the problem of stability of worker and toxins, environmental pollution, and stable supply of constituents according to kinds of constituents of plasma.

Referring to the configuration of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

In the low-temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection method using a nitrogen separator, as shown in FIG. 2, a step of loading a disinfectant into the disinfection chamber 10 (1000), a step of separating nitrogen from air (1100), and only the separated nitrogen disinfection chamber (10) Step 1300A when the vacuum flow rate is 300 mmHg or less and step 1300B when the vacuum pressure of the sterilization chamber 10 is 300 mmHg or more, and re-introduces the nitrogen concentration. The first step (S1000) consisting of a step (1300) to concentrate the concentration of nitrogen in the disinfection chamber 10 to 98% or more; Generating a low temperature nitrogen plasma (2000), disinfecting the sterilized product (2100), and repeating the steps (2000, 2100) according to the type of the disinfected material to complete the disinfection (2200). Process (S2000) is a high concentration of nitrogen of 98% or more without a separate high concentration nitrogen supply tank itself in a concentration of nitrogen in the air to produce a low-temperature nitrogen plasma.

Specifically, in the step 1000 of loading the toxins in the disinfection chamber 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the toxins such as cultural assets, various museums, ancient documents, medical instruments, drug manufacturing apparatuses, and the like are measured with a nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 80. A process 101 is performed to load the disinfecting chamber 10 to which the pressure gauge 90 is attached.

In the step of separating nitrogen from the air (1100), the compressor 20 is operated to introduce air in the disinfection chamber 10 into the nitrogen separator 30 through the solenoid valve 11, and nitrogen from the introduced air. Separation process (103) of nitrogen using the separator (30) is to separate and concentrate nitrogen from the air in the disinfection chamber (10). Nitrogen separator 30 used in the present invention is a gas separation membrane (Gas separation membrane) capable of separating only nitrogen components, when the gas mixture is in contact with the membrane surface gas components are dissolved and diffused in the membrane and each gas The relative solubility and permeation rate of the components are different for the membrane material, and the device employs the principle of selective gas permeation for this membrane. That is, in order to generate a low-temperature nitrogen plasma using highly concentrated nitrogen, nitrogen is separated only by the relative membrane permeation rate of the gas as shown in FIG. 4 among various gas components in the air, and the nitrogen separator 30 is provided by the compressor 20. The pressure applied is maintained at 1 to 6 atm using the flow regulator 50. This is a suitable pressure in the stable operation of the nitrogen separator 30 described above.

Re-introducing only the separated nitrogen into the disinfection chamber and determining the nitrogen concentration (1200), the gas other than the nitrogen out of the separated gas is discharged 105 through the outlet 55 and the separated nitrogen is reflowed 106 into the disinfection chamber 10 through a tube to which the cold nitrogen plasma generator 40 off and the solenoid valve 60 are connected; It is a step (107) of determining whether the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is 98% or more. This step is a step of concentrating nitrogen to a high concentration in order to generate a low temperature nitrogen plasma is a nitrogen concentration step for concentrating nitrogen in the chamber to more than 98% by discharging the gas other than nitrogen to the outside.

In addition, when the nitrogen concentration in the sterilization chamber 10 is less than 98% in the above step 1200, the air in the chamber is discharged to the outside of the nitrogen in the nitrogen separator and only the nitrogen gas is circulated to the chamber so that the vacuum pressure in the chamber is reduced. The concentration of the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 to 98% or more by dividing it into treatment (1300A) when the vacuum pressure in the disinfection chamber 10 is 300 mmHg or less and processing (1300B) when the vacuum pressure is 300 mmHg or more. (1300). That is, if the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is less than 98%, it is determined whether the vacuum pressure in the disinfection chamber 10 is 300 mmHg or more (108); When the vacuum pressure in the disinfection chamber 10 is less than 300 mmHg, the solenoid valve 22 for inflow of external air is closed, the solenoid valve 11 connected to the disinfection chamber 10 is opened (110), and the compressor 20 is operated to operate nitrogen. Treatment (1300A) to be repeatedly performed until the nitrogen concentration is 98% or more by the separator; When the vacuum pressure in the disinfection chamber 10 is 300mmHg or more, the solenoid valve 11 connected to the disinfection chamber 10 is closed, the solenoid valve 22 for inflowing air is opened (111), and the compressor 20 is operated. External air inflow treatment (112) to separate the nitrogen through the nitrogen separator (30) (103) and the process to repeat until the process 107 to determine whether the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is more than 98% (1300B) A first step (S1000) comprising a step 1300 of concentrating the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 to 98% or more;

When the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 becomes 98% or more through the first step S1000 as a step of generating a low temperature nitrogen plasma (2000), it is determined whether the solenoid valves 22, 33a, and 33b are opened or closed. By 201; The solenoid valves 22, 33a and 33b are closed (202), the solenoid valves 44a and 44b are opened, and the compressor 20 is operated to connect nitrogen in the disinfection chamber 10 to the solenoid valves 44a and 44b. Feeding the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 through the tube and operating the plasma generator 40 (203); In operation 2000, a nitrogen plasma is generated in the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 using the introduced nitrogen. That is, in the step 2000, a low-temperature nitrogen plasma is generated using 98% or more of nitrogen generated in the first process, and the solenoid valve 22 for introducing external air and nitrogen separation for generating a high concentration of nitrogen are generated. The high concentration of nitrogen is supplied to the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 through the solenoid valves 44a and 44b of the facility 31 and the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 is operated to generate the low temperature nitrogen plasma. As the low temperature plasma generator used in the present invention, a low temperature vacuum plasma generator having high energy efficiency and excellent safety in industrial use is preferable.

Next, a process of disinfecting the toxins using the generated low temperature nitrogen plasma (2100) is a process of disinfecting the toxins by introducing the generated nitrogen plasma into the disinfection chamber 10 through the solenoid valve 60 (205). Perform

Finally, if the disinfection is judged to be complete (206) and the disinfection is not completed according to the type of disinfectant, the steps 2000 and 2100 of steps 203 to 206 are repeated to complete disinfection. The second step consisting of step 2200 and the present invention relates to a low-temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection method using a nitrogen separator consisting of the first step and the second step.

In addition, in a low temperature nitrogen plasma apparatus using a nitrogen separator, as shown in FIG. 1, a nitrogen concentration meter 80 for measuring the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 and a pressure measurer 90 for measuring the pressure are loaded with the toxins. Disinfection chamber 10; The low-temperature nitrogen plasma unit 95, that is, between the disinfection chamber 10 and the compressor 20, constitutes a solenoid valve 11 for regulating the air flow of the disinfection chamber 10 and a solenoid valve 22 for inflow of external air. And a compressor 20 connected to the solenoid valve 22 for introducing external air to pressurize the air of the disinfection chamber 10 or the introduced external air to the nitrogen separator 30 and circulate the generated nitrogen; A pressure measuring device (91) connected to the compressor (20) for measuring the inlet pressure of the gas flowing into the nitrogen separation facility (31); A nitrogen separation device 31 connected to the pressure gauge 91 for separating nitrogen from air; It is composed of a low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 is connected between the nitrogen separation facility 31 and the disinfection chamber 10 to generate a nitrogen plasma.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a disinfectant loading disinfection chamber 10 equipped with a nitrogen concentration meter 80 for measuring nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 and a pressure meter 90 for measuring pressure; As the low-temperature nitrogen plasma unit 95, a solenoid valve 11 for controlling the air flow of the disinfection chamber 10 and a solenoid valve 22 for inflow of external air are installed between the disinfection chamber 10 and the compressor 20. A compressor 20 connected to the solenoid valve 22 for introducing external air to pressurize the air or the outside air of the disinfection chamber 10 to the nitrogen separator 30 and circulate the generated nitrogen; A pressure measuring device (91) connected to the compressor (20) for measuring a nitrogen separation facility (31) gas inlet pressure; The solenoid valve 44a is connected to the pressure measuring device 91 so as to separate nitrogen from the air and to introduce the air of the disinfection chamber 10 or the outside air into the nitrogen separator 30 in order to separate nitrogen from the air. After the first step (S1000) in which the solenoid valves 44a and 44b are closed and the solenoid valves 33a and 33b are repeatedly circulated to condense nitrogen by 98% or more, nitrogen for generating a low temperature nitrogen plasma is separated into a nitrogen separator ( 30, close the solenoid valves 33a and 33b to prevent air inflow, open the solenoid valves 44a and 44b, and then operate the plasma. Nitrogen separator 30 which is connected to the solenoid valve 33a and separates nitrogen in the air by using a gas separation membrane that can separate only nitrogen components and has an outlet 55 for discharging other gases other than nitrogen (30). A nitrogen separation system 31 connected to the solenoid valve 33b and configured as a flow regulator 50 for controlling the flow rate of the gas passing through the nitrogen separator 30; It is composed of a low-temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 is connected between the nitrogen separation facility 31 and the disinfection chamber 10 to generate a nitrogen plasma. Between the disinfection chamber 10 and the low-temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40, a disinfection chamber ( The solenoid valve 60 which controls the pressure of 10) is comprised.

That is, the disinfection apparatus of the present invention uses the nitrogen separation facility 31 and the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 without a device for separately managing the nitrogen and nitrogen plasma generated by the nitrogen separator 30 and the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40. The invention relates to a low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection apparatus that can be integrated management. In addition, the low-temperature nitrogen plasma supply portion 95 composed of the disinfection chamber 10, the compressor 20, the nitrogen separation facility 31, and the low-temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 is connected by the connector 70 and the disinfection chamber 10 In place of the openable exhibition stand, can be configured to be combined with the cultural treasurer safe.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be described through embodiments of the present invention.

[Example]

1. Aspergillus niger, ② Penicillium frequentans, ③ Trichoderma viride, which are known to cause biological damage to test samples and cultural relics. Spore suspensions were prepared by incubating at 30 ° C. for 72 hours in PDA medium and taking spores formed from the cultured strains. Samples are prepared by absorbing the spore suspension into a sterile paper disc (Φ6mm, Advantec Co. USA). In addition, ④ rice weevil (Sitophilusoryzal) test specimens are sold at Seoul National University to prepare a sample.

2. Sterilization and insecticide test

1) Test A.-Sample of the above ① Aspergillus niger was placed in a disinfection chamber 10 having a temperature of 25 ° C. and a humidity of 50%, which is a normal room condition; Setting the nitrogen concentration of the disinfection chamber 10 to 98%; Aspergillus niger by concentrating the nitrogen in the disinfection chamber 10 to more than 98% and setting a disinfection time of a timer that applies a time from the time when the disinfection starts by generating a low temperature nitrogen plasma. Sterilize and repeat the process by setting the disinfection time to 60, 90, 120, 150 minutes in the same manner as described above.

2) Test B, C, D.-Samples conducted in the same manner as Test A. ② Penicillium frequentans, ③ Trichoderma viride, ④ Rice weevil (Sitophilusoryzal) using 10 Conduct tests B, C, and D.

3. Results

As can be seen from Table 1, the test bacteria ①, ②, ③ is sterilized when the sterilizer according to the present invention is more than 90 to 120 minutes, the specimens ④ survive 60 to 90 minutes or more partially and 90 to 120 minutes If the disinfection is abnormal, it can be seen that sterilization is completed. In addition, it can be seen that the disinfection time is shorter than 12 hours, which is a disinfection time using a disinfectant using a general disinfectant, and that the disinfectant-insect effect is excellent even when compared to a conventional plasma disinfectant.

Table 1.

Although the above-described embodiments have been described with respect to the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It is evident to those who have knowledge of.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration apparatus.

2 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating the process.

3 is a specific flowchart showing a process.

4 is a relative permeation rate comparison table according to the type of gas passing through the nitrogen separator.

[Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings]

10: disinfection chamber

11: Solenoid valve with disinfection chamber connected

20: compressor

22: Solenoid valve for inflow of external air

30: nitrogen separator

31: nitrogen separation equipment

40: low temperature plasma generator

41: low temperature plasma generating equipment

70: connector for disinfection chamber and low temperature nitrogen plasma supply

95: low temperature nitrogen plasma supply unit

Claims (6)

Loading 1000 a disinfectant into the disinfection chamber 10; Operating the compressor 20 to separate nitrogen from the air in the disinfection chamber 10 by using the nitrogen separation facility 31 (1100); The gas other than nitrogen in the separated gas is discharged to the outside through the outlet 55, and nitrogen is re-introduced into the disinfection chamber 10 through a pipe connected to the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 and the solenoid valve 60 and nitrogen Determining the concentration (1200); When the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is less than 98% and the vacuum pressure is less than 300 mmHg, the solenoid valve 11 connected to the disinfection chamber is opened and the external air inlet solenoid valve 22 is closed to close the steps 1100 and 1200. (1300A), and when the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is less than 98% and the vacuum pressure is 300 mmHg or more, close the solenoid valve 11 and open the outside air inlet solenoid valve 22 to use external air. Performing the steps 1100 and 1200 (1300B) and repeating the steps (1300A and 1300B) to condense nitrogen to 98% or more (1300); When the nitrogen concentration in the disinfection chamber 10 is greater than 98% by performing the first process, the solenoid valves 33a and 33b are closed and the compressor 20 is operated to release nitrogen in the disinfection chamber 10 to the solenoid valves 44a and 44b. Moving 2000 through a connected tube to generate a low temperature nitrogen plasma with the low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40; Injecting the generated low temperature nitrogen plasma into the disinfection chamber (10) to disinfect the toxin (2100); If the disinfection is not completed according to the type of toxin to be treated using a nitrogen separator consisting of a second step (S2000) consisting of a step (2200) to complete the disinfection by repeating the steps (2000) and (2100). Low Temperature Nitrogen Plasma Disinfection Method. The method of claim 1, A nitrogen separator 30 connected to the solenoid valve 33a to separate nitrogen and having an outlet 55 for discharging other gases other than nitrogen; Low temperature nitrogen plasma sterilization using a nitrogen separator, characterized in that the flow is connected between the nitrogen separator 30 and the solenoid valve 33b to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the nitrogen separator 30 Way. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Low temperature nitrogen plasma sterilization method using a nitrogen separator, characterized in that the pressure applied to the compressor (20) to the nitrogen separator (30) is 1 ~ 6atm using a flow regulator (50). A sterilization loading disinfection chamber 10 to which a nitrogen concentration meter 80 for measuring nitrogen concentration and a pressure meter 90 for measuring pressure in the disinfection chamber 10 are attached; As the nitrogen plasma supply unit 95, A compressor 20 connected to the disinfection chamber 10 to pressurize the air or the outside air of the disinfection chamber 10; A pressure measuring device (91) connected to the compressor (20) for measuring a nitrogen separation facility (31) gas inlet pressure; A nitrogen separation facility 31 connected to the pressure gauge 91 for separating nitrogen from air; Low temperature nitrogen plasma sterilization apparatus using a nitrogen separator consisting of a low temperature nitrogen plasma generator 40 is connected between the nitrogen separation equipment 31 and the disinfection chamber 10 to generate a nitrogen plasma. The method of claim 4, wherein Between the disinfection chamber 10 and the compressor 20 of the nitrogen plasma supply unit 95 includes a solenoid valve 11 for adjusting the air flow of the disinfection chamber 10 and a solenoid valve 22 for inflow of external air Low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection apparatus using a nitrogen separator. The method of claim 4, wherein The disinfection chamber (10) and nitrogen plasma supply unit 95 is a low temperature nitrogen plasma disinfection apparatus using a nitrogen separator (30) is composed of a structure capable of being assembled and separated coupled to the connector 70.

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