TW201406510A - Glove box - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a glove box that can precisely control the dew point inside the box to an arbitrary dew point with less energy and does not make the device complicated. The dehumidification wheel 1 is divided, with respect to the rotation direction thereof, into an absorption zone 2, a purification zone 3, and a regeneration zone 4. An external gas is allowed to partly or entirely pass through the absorption zone 2, and the remaining portion of the external gas is supplied to a box 5 as a destination by passing through a bypass passage that communicates with an upstream splitting point 28 and a downstream convergent point 29 of the absorption zone 2 and comprises a flow control device. Then, through a combination of proportional control of regeneration temperature and control of bypassing flow, the dew point of the box 5 can be precisely controlled to an arbitrary value with less energy consumption.

Description

Glove box

The glove box refers to an experimental case for maintaining the humidity inside the box to a very low state, and the hand is inserted through the sealed rubber glove from the outside of the box to utilize the dry environment in the box. The present invention relates to a glove box that can precisely control the dew point and reduce energy consumption.

In the case of dehumidifying the air in a specific box, although the energy consumption is small when the refrigerator is dehumidified by dew condensation, it is difficult to reduce the humidity of the air in the box to a negative dew point.

That is to say, in recent years, lithium ion batteries or lithium ion capacitors have been rapidly developed or improved. Lithium easily adsorbs moisture in the air to deteriorate the performance of the battery or capacitor. Therefore, with these development experiments, the experiment must be carried out in a box that discharges air with very low dew point air or nitrogen gas with vaporized liquid nitrogen. . In the case of liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrogen must be prepared before the experiment because liquid nitrogen is continuously consumed in the experiment, and there is a problem of an increase in cost.

An organic EL display device or the like is expected to replace the liquid crystal display device, and the organic EL device used in the organic EL display device is a solid-state light-emitting type inexpensive large-area full-color display element or a write light source array. The above is quite developmental, so various research and development are actively carried out. However, an organic substance such as an organic light-emitting material used for an organic EL element or Electrodes and the like are inferior in water resistance, and performance and characteristics are likely to rapidly deteriorate due to moisture. Therefore, in the experiments accompanying these developments, it is necessary to carry out in a box in which air is discharged by using air having a very low dew point or nitrogen gas after vaporizing liquid nitrogen.

Here, if the dehumidification rotor used in the dehumidifier used is silicone or zeolite as a sorbent, it is easy to reduce the air dew point in the box to a negative value. However, it has the problem of increasing energy consumption.

In the development of lithium ion batteries, lithium ion capacitors, organic EL devices, and the like, food, pharmaceuticals, and the like, glove boxes are used to process, for example, substances that are dangerous in moisture or hygroscopic chemicals. Various developments, in which case the air in the tank must be controlled to any dew point for each development purpose.

The countermeasure for improving the energy consumption increase is as disclosed in Patent Document 1, and the heated regeneration gas discharged from the main desiccant dehumidifier in the path in which the gas to be dehumidified is circulated is dehumidified by one or a plurality of auxiliary desiccant dehumidifiers. The regeneration gas of the auxiliary desiccant dehumidifier is condensed and dehumidified, and then returned to the circulation path, and the dew point of the air is lowered with low energy by not discharging the gas outside the system.

Alternatively, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the dew point control in the glove box is controlled by controlling the number of rotations of the dehumidification wheel and/or the temperature of the regeneration air.

Alternatively, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, the humidity adjusting device for a sealed chamber adjusts the sealed chamber of the glove box or the like to a predetermined humidity state, and by heating the absorbing material, the moisture absorption or release of the absorbing material can be controlled. The humidity adjustment from low humidity to high humidity is performed by a curve formed by the absorbing material.

[Previous Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2012-81416

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-094299

Patent Document 3: Patent No. 4642440

In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the gas in the gas space is dehumidified by a desiccant method, and the operation cost is reduced without discharging the gas out of the system. However, the structure of the device is complicated and the device itself is large, which causes an increase in initial cost.

In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the capacity of the glove box is smaller than that of drying the dry air (generally called DRYROOM (registered trademark)) in the closed room, and therefore it is impossible to accurately control any dew point. The problem.

Further, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the sealed chamber is adjusted to a low dew point, there is a problem that it takes too much time to reach a predetermined dew point temperature, and the humidity of the heater that controls the temperature fluctuates greatly. Precision control of humidity issues. (Fig. 3, etc.) When the capacity of the glove box is further increased, the amount of the absorbing material increases, and the container into which the absorbing material is placed also increases, which causes a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a glove box that can accurately control any predetermined dew point, has low energy consumption, and has low running cost.

The most important feature of the present invention is the combined regeneration temperature proportional control and the runner bypass flow control to the dew point in the glove box, which can accurately set a wide range of dew point settings, and the energy saving effect can be achieved by lowering the regeneration temperature.

The glove box of the present invention is provided with a bypass passage before and after the dehumidifying portion of the dehumidification runner, so that the air to be treated does not pass through the dehumidification runner and has a flow control device in the middle, so that the dew point in the glove box can be finely adjusted. . That is to say, in a space having a relatively small capacity such as a glove box (generally 2 m ³ or less), it is not possible to control the regeneration temperature only for proportional control, and in addition to the regeneration temperature control, the runner bypass control can be realized. Precision dew point control.

When the dew point is set to be high and the range of the regeneration temperature ratio control is divided into two sections when the temperature is low, the regeneration temperature at the time when the dew point is high can be set low, and the energy consumption can be reduced.

The life of the regenerative heater can also be extended because the regeneration temperature can be set lower.

1‧‧‧Dehumidification runner

2‧‧‧Sucking area

3‧‧‧Purification zone

4‧‧‧Revitalization Zone

5‧‧‧Box (glove box)

6‧‧‧Glove box box return road

7‧‧‧Processing air return road

8‧‧‧wind brake

9‧‧‧ Dew point detector

10‧‧‧Motor damper

11‧‧‧ Bypass

12‧‧‧ dam

13‧‧‧ dam

14‧‧‧ dam

15‧‧‧Supply air heater

16‧‧‧2nd cooling coil

17‧‧‧1st cooling coil

18‧‧‧Regeneration heater

19‧‧‧Renewable hair dryer

20‧‧‧Sucking hair dryer

21‧‧‧wind brake

22‧‧‧ dam

23‧‧‧ dam

24‧‧‧Regeneration cycle

25‧‧ ‧ Confluence

26‧‧ ‧ Confluence

27‧‧ ‧ points of disagreement

28‧‧‧Upstream side divergence point

29‧‧‧ downstream side merge point

30‧‧ ‧ Confluence

31‧‧ ‧ points of disagreement

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a glove box of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the regeneration temperature and the dew point of the glove box.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing the change in dew point time when the dew point is set to -5 degrees in the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing the change in dew point time when the dew point is set at -30 degrees in the present invention.

Figure 5 is a graph showing the dew point when the dew point is set at -60 degrees in the present invention. Change chart.

The present invention divides the dehumidification rotor into a sorption zone, a regeneration zone, and a purification zone with respect to the direction of rotation thereof, and provides return air for the outside air and the regeneration zone (hereinafter, the air passing through the flow path in the device is not discharged to The air outside the device, which is returned to the flow path again, is called "return air"), the passage through the suction zone after mixing with the return air from the glove box, and the upstream and downstream sides of the communication sorption zone and having The bypass path of the flow control device. By controlling the dew point in the glove box and controlling the flow of the runner bypass using the bypass path by controlling the ratio of the regeneration temperature ratio, a glove box having less energy consumption and accurately controlling the dew point is proposed.

[Example 1]

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to Fig. 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a dehumidification runner, which carries a moisture sorbent such as silicone or zeolite, and is in the form of a honeycomb. The dehumidification rotor 1 is rotated by a motor (which is not shown in the drawings in general), and is divided into the following zones in accordance with the direction of rotation. The temperatures used in the following descriptions are all in degrees Celsius.

That is, 2 is the sorption zone where the moisture in the air is sucked by the dehumidification wheel 1. 3 is the purification zone and 4 is the regeneration zone. The moisture sucked by the dehumidification rotor 1 is released by the high temperature air passing through the regeneration zone 4.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a first cooling coil, and a refrigerant is supplied from a refrigerator (not shown) or the like. 20 is a suction blower, and the air cooled by the first cooling coil 17 is sent to the absorbing zone 2. 11 is a bypass path connecting the upstream side branch point 28 and the downstream side merging point 29 of the absorbing zone 2, so that the outside air is not Bypassing the zone 2 is bypassed. 10 is the motor wind A gate for controlling the flow of air through the bypass passage.

18 is a regenerative heater for raising the air emerging from the purification zone 3 after the divergence point 27 is diverged to a regenerable temperature, for example, an electric heater can be utilized. 19 is a regenerative blower for sucking out the air of the regeneration zone 4. The outlet of the regenerating blower 19 is connected to the first cooling coil 17 through the junction point 25. That is, the air that has entered the first cooling coil 17 is in a state of being mixed with the air blown by the outside air and the regeneration blower 19. 5 is a box, and the air heated by the supply air heater 15 is supplied for demand. Rubber-made gloves (not shown) are attached to the side of the box in a sealed state.

The return air from the case 5 passes through the glove box return air path 6 and is cooled by the second cooling coil 16, and is condensed and dehumidified, and then mixed with the air discharged from the first cooling coil 17 at the junction point 26. In order not to supply the air to the box 5 at a high dew point temperature immediately after the device is started, the air discharged from the absorbing area 2 can be returned to the air path 7 by the process air by completely closing the damper 14 and opening the damper 13 fully. The glove box return air passage 6 in front of the second cooling coil 16 is returned to the merging point 26. In this case, after the dew point of the air discharged from the absorbing zone 2 approaches the set dew point temperature, the air sent out from the absorbing zone 2 is supplied to the case 5 by fully opening the damper 14.

The glove box of the present invention performs the following operations by the above-described configuration. First, the outside air is cooled by the first cooling coil 17, and is condensed and dehumidified.

The air whose temperature has decreased after the condensation and dehumidification is sent to the sorption zone 2 by the suction blower 20. The dehumidification is sucked in the sorption zone 2, and it is necessary to heat it in the supply air heater 15 and then to the supply destination of the dry air, that is, the case 5. In order to maintain the air volume of the supply box 5 constant, the damper 14 can use a constant air volume control device CAV or the like. A dew point detector 9 is disposed in the box 5, and the dew point detector 9 is connected to the motor. Damper control device (not shown). If the dew point in the box 5 is not at the set dew point, the flow rate of the air passing through the bypass passage 11 by the motor damper 10, that is, controlling the air flow rate of the sorption area 2 not passing through the dehumidification wheel, is controlled to cause the dew point in the box. It becomes the set dew point. In the box 5, an experiment to be performed in an environment where a dew point is set, for example, a lithium battery, is performed.

When a hazardous chemical or the like is used in the case 5, the damper 12 can be completely closed, so that the air passing through the glove box return air passage 6 does not pass through the second cooling coil 16, but passes through the case 5. The exhaust passages (not shown) are all exhausted to the outside. at this time. The dew point temperature in the box 5 must be adjusted to a low dew point of -60 degrees, and the damper 13 and 14 are used to adjust the amount of air passing through the process air return path 7, thereby controlling the dew point temperature in the box 5. At the established dew point. In addition, a part of the air supplied to the box 5 can be returned to the dehumidification wheel 1 through the glove box return air passage 6 by the damper 12, and the remaining part passes through the exhaust path provided in the box 5 (not shown). ) Exhaust to the outside.

The air leaving the purification zone 3 is sent to the regeneration zone 4 after the regeneration heater 18 rises to a regenerable temperature level. A part of the air leaving the regeneration zone 4 branches at the divergence point 31, passes through the regeneration cycle path 24, and merges the point 30, and returns to the regeneration heater 18. Through this regeneration cycle, the humidity of the air sent to the first cooling coil 17 in the regeneration zone 4 can be increased, and condensation and dehumidification can be performed. The amount of air passing through the regeneration circulation path 24 is adjusted by the dampers 21 and 22. The regeneration air is not discharged to the outside of the system and is sent to the first cooling coil 17 to achieve energy saving effects.

In the case of a low dew point where the dew point temperature is below -30 degrees, the damper 8 can be fully closed so that outside air does not enter. That is, it is controllable by operating only with the return air from the box 5 and the air from the regenerative blower 19. The dew point temperature is below -30 degrees to a low dew point of -85 degrees.

Fig. 2 is a view showing an example of the relationship between the regeneration temperature of the glove box of the present invention and the dew point temperature of the glove box. The depiction does not control the flow to the runner bypass, while the curve that only controls the regeneration temperature is indicated by the dotted line. As a result, it can be seen that the relationship between the regeneration temperature and the dew point temperature in the glove box cannot be expressed in a ratio, and the predetermined dew point temperature cannot be controlled even if the regeneration temperature is controlled proportionally. The solution is to separately use the proportional formula of the dew point temperature and the regeneration temperature according to the set dew point temperature, and then cooperate with the motor damper 10 of the bypass path 11 of the sorption area to control the amount of air flowing through the bypass path to achieve high precision. Dew point control. The separate use of the proportional formula for the regeneration temperature is based on the assumption that the dew point temperature is from 0 to -25 degrees, the regeneration temperature is from 40 to 140 degrees (solid line in Fig. 2), and the dew point temperature is from -25 to -60 degrees. The regeneration temperature is 140 degrees to 220 degrees (dashed line in Fig. 2). However, the dew point temperature range and the regeneration temperature range are not limited, and may actually vary depending on the size and thickness of the dehumidification wheel, the size of the sorbent material used, the air condition, and the like. By dividing the regeneration temperature ratio control into two stages as described above, it is possible to save energy, and since the energy of the regenerative heater 18 is suppressed, the life of the regenerative heater 18 can be extended.

Figures 3 through 5 show the change in dew point temperature of the glove box over time measured using the glove box of the present invention. In the actual measurement device, the glove box with a capacity of 1.3 m ³ uses a dehumidification rotor carrying synthetic zeolite, the dry bulb temperature of the external gas is 32 degrees, the absolute humidity of the external gas is 21.1 g/Kg, and the treatment wind speed is 2.4 m. The experiment was carried out under the conditions of /s, exhaust air velocity of 1.0 m/s, and regeneration cycle wind speed of 1.0 m/s. In the third figure, the dew point temperature setting of the glove box is -5 degrees, and the regeneration temperature setting is 60 degrees; in the figure 4, the dew point temperature setting of the glove box is - 30 degrees, and the regeneration temperature is set to 150 degrees; In the figure, the glove box has a dew point temperature setting of -60 degrees and a regeneration temperature setting of 220 degrees. Regardless of the figure, it can be confirmed that the glove box's dew point temperature is within 2 degrees. Although the dew point temperature setting of the dew point detector 9 is performed using the exhaust dew point temperature, it can also be performed using the feed dew point temperature or both. In the present invention, it is also confirmed that the dew point temperature can be changed in a relatively short period of time. The dew point temperature of the glove box is from -5 degrees to -30 degrees. The change time is about 60 minutes. The dew point temperature can be controlled within 2 degrees. The change time from -30 degrees to -60 degrees is about 80 minutes. The dew point temperature can be controlled. Up and down within 2 degrees.

[Industry use possibility]

The present invention, as described above, can provide a glove box that can be accurately controlled to an arbitrary dew point temperature with less energy.

1‧‧‧Dehumidification runner

2‧‧‧Sucking area

3‧‧‧Purification zone

4‧‧‧Revitalization Zone

5‧‧‧Boxes

6‧‧‧Glove box box return road

7‧‧‧Processing air return road

8‧‧‧wind brake

9‧‧‧ Dew point detector

10‧‧‧Motor damper

11‧‧‧ Bypass

12‧‧‧ dam

13‧‧‧ dam

14‧‧‧ dam

16‧‧‧2nd cooling coil

17‧‧‧1st cooling coil

18‧‧‧Regeneration heater

19‧‧‧Renewable hair dryer

20‧‧‧Sucking hair dryer

21‧‧‧wind brake

22‧‧‧ dam

24‧‧‧Regeneration cycle

25‧‧ ‧ Confluence

26‧‧ ‧ Confluence

27‧‧ ‧ points of disagreement

28‧‧‧Upstream side divergence point

29‧‧‧ downstream side merge point

30‧‧ ‧ Confluence

31‧‧ ‧ points of disagreement

Claims (5)

A glove box characterized by comprising a dehumidification runner carrying a moisture sorbent, dividing the dehumidification runner into a sorption zone, a regeneration zone, a purification zone with respect to a direction of rotation thereof, and sucking outside air By controlling the air volume control device from full opening to full closing, mixing with the return air from the regeneration zone, passing through the first cooling coil, and then mixing with the return air from the second cooling coil, and then diverging and passing the part The sorption zone passes the remaining portion through the purification zone, heats it, and flows into the regeneration zone, so that a portion of the air passing through the sorption zone passes through the flow control between the upstream side and the downstream side of the sorption zone The bypass path of the apparatus is supplied to the box as the supply place, and the return air from the box is returned to the second cooling coil. The glove box of claim 1, wherein a dew point detector is disposed in the box, and the flow rate of the bypass path is controlled according to a dew point of the dew point detector. The glove box of claim 1 or 2, wherein the dew point temperature in the box is controlled by changing a regeneration temperature of the regeneration zone, and the regeneration temperature is divided into a plurality of segments within a control dew point range. Proportional control. The glove box according to claim 3, wherein the regeneration temperature of the regeneration zone is divided into two sections of a high dew point side and a low dew point side with respect to a predetermined value to perform proportional control. The glove box of claim 4, wherein the dew point temperature of the high dew point side is set to a dew point of 0 degrees to -25 degrees, and the dew point side dew The point temperature is set to a dew point of -25 degrees to -60 degrees.