KR20210143052A - Sterilizer apparatus using light - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus using light and, more specifically, to a sterilization apparatus using light which prevents a fluid to be sterilized from coming in direct contact with a light generation unit to eliminate a cleaning operation of the light generation unit while sterilizing the fluid to be sterilized by sterilization light such as ultraviolet rays, thereby performing a continuous sterilization process without a pause. According to the present invention, the sterilization apparatus using light comprises: a light generation unit emitting sterilization light; a flowing means made of a transparent material to allow fluid to be sterilized to flow therein and installed in the light generation unit; and a cover member in which the flowing means and the light generation unit are accommodated.

Description

Sterilization using light {STERILIZER APPARATUS USING LIGHT}

The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus using light, and more particularly, sterilizes a fluid to be sterilized using light for sterilization such as ultraviolet rays, but cleans the light generating unit by preventing the sterilized fluid from coming into direct contact with the light generating unit It relates to a sterilization apparatus using light that can continuously perform a sterilization process without a downtime because work is unnecessary.

In general, various water treatment processes require a sterilization process to remove harmful microorganisms such as viruses and pathogens, and these sterilization processes are mainly performed by physical and chemical methods.

Physical methods include dry heat sterilization, autoclave sterilization, intermittent sterilization, UV or radiation sterilization, and the like.

Accordingly, the sterilization method using the physical method has disadvantages in that a long processing time is required to create a high-temperature or high-pressure state, and a large cost is required for manufacturing equipment for forming a high-temperature or high-pressure state.

In addition, the chemical method uses a toxic substance in a manner that removes bacteria by using a specific sterilizing agent and a sterilizing gas, so there is a disadvantage of adversely affecting the human body and causing environmental pollution.

Recently, instead of physical and chemical sterilization methods, sterilization devices using light such as ultraviolet (UV) sterilization devices have been widely used.

For example, the ultraviolet sterilizer is installed on a pipeline through which water or nutrient solution is moved, in the process of purifying drinking water or reprocessing the nutrient solution used for plant cultivation.

In addition, the ultraviolet sterilizer has a structure in which an ultraviolet lamp is built in a chamber body having a pipe shape, and the ultraviolet lamp is inserted into a quartz tube and installed inside the chamber body.

When the UV sterilization device is used for a certain period of time, inorganic substances and foreign substances stick to the quartz tube, and the light transmittance of the UV lamp is lowered, and the sterilization effect is significantly reduced. It is necessary to clean the quartz tube by removing it by this method or by pickling the adhering material using a chemical containing nitric acid or the like.

In general, these quartz tube cleaning operations take an excessively long time and require a long pause time. In particular, the pickling treatment is performed while circulating good products such as nitric acid to the surrounding pipelines installed with UV sterilizers for at least 1 hour, so sterilization treatment The process has to be stopped for a long time, and since the surrounding pipeline is contaminated with chemicals, a separate purification operation is required and wastewater is generated.

In addition, the chamber body should be made of expensive stainless steel such as STS 316L to satisfy the quality resistance, and spiral around the inner circumferential surface to form a vortex while the water or nutrient solution, which is the object to be sterilized, is moved into the room to increase the sterilization efficiency. There is a disadvantage in that the manufacturing cost is excessively increased because high precision processing of digging a moving groove in the shape is required.

Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0451051 "Ultraviolet sterilizer quartz tube cleaning driving device" Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-0273844 "Water induction pipe of UV sterilizer" Korean Registration Office No. 20-0435974 "Cube-type UV sterilizer with non-powered automatic cleaning function"

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and by preventing the fluid to be sterilized from coming into direct contact with the light generating unit, the cleaning operation of the light generating unit is unnecessary, so that the sterilization process can be continuously performed without a pause time. An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization device.

In order to achieve the above object, a sterilization apparatus using light according to the present invention is a sterilization apparatus using light, comprising: a light generating unit emitting light for sterilization; a flow means formed of a transparent material so that the fluid to be sterilized flows and is installed in the light generator; and a cover member in which the flow means and the light generator are accommodated.

The light generating unit may include an ultraviolet lamp emitting light for sterilization, and a quartz tube into which the ultraviolet lamp is inserted.

The flow means may include a flow tube formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material, and the flow tube may be wound and installed in the light generator.

Preferably, the flow tube may be formed in a band shape in which a flow path is formed inside the thin body.

In addition, the flow tube may be formed in a band shape in which a flow path is formed inside the thin body, and the thin body may have a partition wall dividing the flow path into a plurality of pieces.

The sterilization apparatus using light according to the present invention may include a vortex generator formed inside the flow tube to induce a vortex in the fluid to be sterilized.

The cover member may include: a cylindrical body in which the flow tube and the light generator are accommodated and a tube insertion hole for introducing the flow tube is formed; and a reflective layer formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body.

Here, the reflective layer may be configured by laminating a light reflective material or attaching a reflective film.

According to the sterilization apparatus using light according to the present invention, the sterilization process is performed while the fluid to be sterilized does not come into direct contact with the quartz tube of the light generating unit but flows close and flows through the transparent flow tube, so that the contamination of the light generating unit is prevented in advance. There is no need for cleaning, so there is an effect that the sterilization process can be continuously performed without a pause time.

In addition, the light sterilization apparatus according to the present invention can improve the sterilization efficiency because the nutrient solution is evenly exposed to ultraviolet rays as a vortex is formed in the process of moving the nutrient solution by the vortex generator formed inside the flow tube.

1 is a perspective view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
2 is an exploded perspective view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
3 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a perspective view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
7 is an exploded perspective view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
8 is an enlarged view of part C of FIG. 7;
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 8;
10 is a cross-sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
11 is a view for explaining a modified example of the sterilization apparatus using light according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the other hand, in each drawing, a detailed description of a configuration that can be easily recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art from a general technique, and an action and effect thereof will be simplified or omitted. In addition, since the present invention has a feature of a sterilizing apparatus using light, the related parts will be mainly illustrated and described, and the description of the remaining parts will be simplified or omitted.

1 is a perspective view showing a sterilization apparatus using light according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and since a light generating unit is a well-known configuration, it is simplified for easy understanding. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the sterilization apparatus using light according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part A of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 3. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a light sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional structure, and arrows indicate the flow direction of the fluid to be sterilized.

1 to 5, the sterilization apparatus using light according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with a light generating unit 1, a flow means 2, and a cover member 3, and the fluid to be sterilized is It is characterized in that it is not in direct contact with the light generating unit 1, so that contamination of the light generating unit is prevented in advance, so that the cleaning operation is unnecessary.

The light generator 1 is a component that generates and emits sterilization light to the outside, and is composed of an ultraviolet lamp 11 for generating sterilization light and a quartz tube 12 into which the ultraviolet lamp 11 is inserted. has been

The ultraviolet lamp 11 is composed of a UV lamp emitting ultraviolet rays in a wavelength band of 100 to 280 nm.

And the ultraviolet lamp 11 is protected by a quartz tube 12 surrounding it, and is provided with a socket holder 13 installed on the upper part of the cover member 3 to be described later. The socket holder 13 has a built-in socket 14 electrically connected to the ultraviolet lamp 11 .

And a holder flange 15 for binding with the cover member 3 is formed in the socket holder 13 .

The flow means 2 is a component forming a movement path through which the fluid to be sterilized flows and is formed of a transparent material.

The flow means (2) is a component installed in the light generating unit (1) so that sterilization is performed during the movement process, and a flow tube (21) formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material having flexibility to allow the transmission of ultraviolet rays for sterilization. is composed of

The flow tube 21 is characterized in that the fluid to be sterilized can flow and there is no particular limitation in shape and structure as long as light can be transmitted, but it is characterized in that it is configured to be exposed to as much ultraviolet light as possible to improve sterilization properties.

To this end, the flow tube 21 is wound in close contact with the outer surface of the light generator so as to be as close as possible to the ultraviolet lamp 11, which is the light source of the light generator 1, and the flow path so that the fluid to be sterilized is spread as wide as possible and flowed. It has a characteristic that it is configured to increase the surface area.

For example, the flow tube 21 is formed in a band shape in which the flow path 212 is formed inside the thin body 211 as shown in FIG. 4 . Here, the thin body 211 has a remarkably thin thickness compared to the dimensions of both surfaces (front and rear) facing each other, so that the cross-sectional structure is formed in a rectangular shape having an approximately hollow part.

In addition, the flow tube 21 has a fluid inlet 22 connected to a pipe (inlet side pipe, not shown) through which the fluid to be sterilized (nutrient solution) flows at one end of the thin body 211, and is formed at the other end. A fluid outlet 23 connected to a pipe (discharge-side pipe, not shown) through which the nutrient solution flows is formed.

On the other hand, the cover member 3 is a component to be installed of the flow means 2 and the light generating unit 1, and if the flow means 2 and the light generating unit 1 have a structure that can be accommodated, the shape or structure may vary. It can be configured without any particular limitation.

For example, the cover member 3 includes a tubular body 31 in which the flow tube 21 and the light generating unit 1 are accommodated and a tube insertion hole 312 for introducing and withdrawing the flow tube 21 is formed, and the tubular body 31 . ) is composed of a reflective layer (not shown) formed on the inner surface.

The cylindrical body 31 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a hollow portion, and a male screw portion 314 is formed at the upper end thereof, and a tube insertion hole 312 is cut in the male screw portion 314 . And the cylindrical body 31 has a flange 316 is formed at the lower end to be fixed to the part to be fixed (not shown).

In addition, the cylindrical body 31 is provided with a connection member 32 for connection with the light generating unit (1). The connecting member 32 is coupled to the flange portion 321 to which the holder flange 15 of the socket holder 13 of the light generating portion 1 is coupled, and the male screw portion 314 of the cylindrical body 31. It consists of a female screw part 322 in which a female screw is formed.

The reflective layer (not shown) may be formed in a form in which a light reflective material is laminated or a reflective film is attached.

Hereinafter, the operation of the sterilizer using light according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

The operation of the sterilization device using light according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly described based on an example applied to a regeneration system for recycling nutrient solution.

First, in the light sterilization apparatus using light, the flow tube 21 is wound around the quartz tube 12 of the assembled light generator 1, the cover member 3 is assembled, and then the fluid inlet port exposed from the cylindrical body 31 ( 22) is connected to the inlet pipe (not shown) of the nutrient solution, and the fluid outlet 23 of the cylinder is connected to the discharge pipe (not shown) of the nutrient solution. In this state, when the nutrient solution to be recycled as a fluid to be sterilized is supplied, it flows into the fluid inlet 22 , passes through the internal flow path 212 of the flow tube 21 , and then moves to the fluid outlet 23 .

In this way, in the process in which the nutrient solution flows through the flow path 212 of the flow tube 21, the ultraviolet light according to the lighting of the UV lamp 11 passes through the quartz tube 12 and is irradiated to the flow path 212, so It sterilizes harmful microorganisms such as viruses, etc.

At this time, since the nutrient solution passes through the flow path 212 with a thickness and thinness compared to the width and spreads widely, the sterilization efficiency can be improved as the area exposed to UV rays is increased relative to the circular tube.

On the other hand, in the light sterilization device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the nutrient solution, which is the fluid to be sterilized, flows through the flow tube 21 , the nutrient solution does not come into direct contact with the quartz tube 12 , so even if it is used for a long time, the conventional As such, as inorganic substances, foreign substances, etc. are fundamentally prevented from sticking to the quartz tube 12, a decrease in the sterilization performance caused by a decrease in the light transmittance of the ultraviolet lamp 11 can be prevented in advance.

And, in the sterilization apparatus using light according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the sterilization process of the nutrient solution is performed for a certain period of time or more and foreign substances are stacked inside the flow tube 21, the cover member 3 is separated and used If the current flow tube 21 is removed, quickly replaced with a new flow tube, and the cover member 3 is reassembled, the sterilization process can be continued.

As described above, the light sterilization device according to the present invention is made of synthetic resin and can maintain a clean state by replacing the inexpensive flow tube 21 within a short time. Since there is no need for cleaning or pickling using chemicals containing nitric acid, it is possible to continuously perform sterilization without a long downtime, as well as to prevent environmental pollution by reducing the generation of wastewater.

Hereinafter, another embodiment according to the present invention will be described, but detailed descriptions of components similar to those of the above-described first embodiment will be omitted, and components having differences will be mainly described. In addition, in the following other embodiments, as long as it is an employable structure among the components shown in the first embodiment or the components shown in different embodiments, the detailed description or drawings will be omitted as it may be selectively applied.

6 is a perspective view showing a sterilizing apparatus using light according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a sterilizing apparatus using light according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line DD of Fig. 8; 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a light sterilization apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional structure.

6 to 10, the light sterilization apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is made of a light generating unit 1 that generates and radiates light for sterilization to the outside, and a transparent material so that the fluid to be sterilized flows. Formed and provided with a flow means (2) installed in the light generator, and a cover member (3) in which the flow means (2) and the light generator (1) are accommodated, the structure is characterized in that it is configured to be more concise and simplified There is this.

The flow means 2 is composed of a flow tube 25 in which a flow passage 252 is formed inside the strip-shaped thin body 251, and partition walls 253 dividing the flow passage 252 into a plurality are formed. .

For example, the flow path 252 includes a first flow path 252a and a second flow path 252b that are vertically partitioned by a partition wall 253 .

As shown in FIG. 8, the thin body 251 has a fluid inlet 26 and a fluid outlet 27 connected to a pipe (inlet side pipe and discharge side pipe, not shown) through which the nutrient solution flows at one end, as shown in FIG. have.

Here, the fluid inlet 26 is connected in communication with the first flow path 252a, and the fluid outlet 27 is connected in communication with the second flow path 252b.

In addition, the first flow path 252a and the second flow path 252b are formed in a structure (not shown) in which a part of the partition wall is removed so that the other end of the flow tube 25 is connected to each other in communication with each other.

In the flow tube 25 formed in the structure as described above, the nutrient solution flowing into the fluid inlet 26 is moved via the first flow path 252a and flows into and out of the second flow path 252b at the end. It is discharged through the fluid outlet (27).

On the other hand, the cover member 3 includes a cylindrical body 35 in which the flow tube 25 and the light generating unit 1 are accommodated and a tube insertion hole 352 for withdrawing the flow tube 25 is formed, and the cylindrical body 35 . It is composed of a reflective layer (not shown) formed on the inner surface, except that only one tube insertion hole 352 is formed on the upper portion and the flange portion is not provided. has been

On the other hand, in the light sterilization apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, since the nutrient solution flows through the flow tube 25 , the nutrient solution does not directly contact the quartz tube 12 as in the first embodiment described above. Since contamination of the quartz tube 12 is prevented even when used for a long time, the cleaning operation of the quartz tube is unnecessary. By reducing the occurrence, environmental pollution can be prevented.

And, since the flow tube 25 is divided into a first flow path 252a and a second flow path 252b by a partition wall 253, two flow paths are formed inside the single thin body 251. There is an advantage in that the installation and maintenance of the flow tube is easy, and the structure of the cover member 3 is simple and simplified. In addition, since the fluid inlet 26 and the fluid outlet 27 are formed at a single point, the connection work of the piping (inlet side pipe and discharge side pipe, not shown) through which the nutrient solution flows can be performed quickly and conveniently. have.

11 is a view for explaining a modified example of the sterilization apparatus using light according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a portion corresponding to the line DD of FIG. am.

11, the flow means 2 is composed of a flow tube 25' having a first flow passage 252a and a second flow passage 252b partitioned by a partition wall 253, and the flow tube ( 25') is further configured with a vortex generating unit 254 that forms a vortex in the fluid to be sterilized on the inner surface.

The vortex generating unit 254 includes vortex forming protrusions protruding from the first flow path 252a and the second flow path 252b to form turbulence when the fluid flows.

On the other hand, in the light sterilization apparatus according to the first modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention, the nutrient solution is produced by the vortex generator 254 formed in the first flow path 252a and the second flow path 252b. As a vortex is formed in the process of movement, the nutrient solution is evenly exposed to UV rays, so the sterilization efficiency can be improved.

Although the configuration and operation of the sterilization apparatus using light according to the embodiment of the present invention described above has been described, this is an example, and those of ordinary skill in the art may not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be appreciated that substitutions and variations of some of the embodiments are possible.

Therefore, it should be understood that the protection scope of the present invention extends to the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

1: Light generator 11: UV lamp
12: quartz tube 13: socket holder
14: socket 15: flange
2: Flow means 21, 25, 25': Flow tube
211,251: thin tube 212,252: flow furnace
252a: first flow path 252b: second flow path
253: bulkhead 22, 26: fluid inlet
23, 27: fluid outlet 3: cover member
31: cylinder 32: connecting member

Claims (8)

In the sterilization device using light,
a light generator emitting light for sterilization;
a flow means formed of a transparent material so that the fluid to be sterilized flows and is installed in the light generator; and
and a cover member in which the flow means and the light generator are accommodated.
According to claim 1,
The light sterilizing unit using light, characterized in that it comprises an ultraviolet lamp emitting light for sterilization, and a quartz tube into which the ultraviolet lamp is inserted.
According to claim 1,
The flow means is composed of a flow tube formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material,
The flow tube is a sterilizer using light, characterized in that it is wound and installed in the light generator.
4. The method of claim 3,
The flow tube is a light sterilization device, characterized in that formed in a band shape in which the flow path is formed inside the thin body.
4. The method of claim 3,
The flow tube is formed in a band shape in which a flow path is formed inside the thin body, wherein the thin body has a partition wall dividing the flow path into a plurality of light sterilization apparatus.
4. The method of claim 3,
A sterilization apparatus using light, comprising: a vortex generator formed inside the flow tube to induce a vortex in the fluid to be sterilized.
4. The method of claim 3,
The cover member,
a cylinder in which the flow tube and the light generator are accommodated and a tube insertion hole is formed for introducing the flow tube; and
A sterilizing device using light, characterized in that it comprises; a reflective layer formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
8. The method of claim 7,
The reflective layer is a sterilizing device using light, characterized in that a light reflective material is laminated or a reflective film is attached.

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