JP2006026509A - Centrifuge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifuge capable of performing a solid-liquid separation treatment in the state practically without the presence of air space and suitable for treating liquid to be treated containing cultured microorganism cells and cultured animal and plant cells. <P>SOLUTION: In the centrifuge, a guide block 16 in a shape roughly similar to a tightly sealed rotor 5 to be rotationally driven is housed in the rotor 5 in a coaxial state, and a lower gap 26 communicated with the supply route of the liquid to be treated, an upper gap 25 communicated with the discharge route of clear liquid and a separation chamber 27 communicated with the upper and lower gaps are formed between the rotor 5 and the guide block 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a centrifuge capable of performing a solid-liquid separation process in a state where there is substantially no air space in a rotor that is rotationally driven.

As a conventional centrifuge, a cylindrical container is rotationally driven around an axis, and a liquid to be processed is supplied from one end side of the container, and the liquid to be processed is subjected to solid-liquid separation treatment by centrifugal force to be solid on the inner wall of the container. There is one in which the components are sedimented and the clarified liquid, which is a liquid component, is discharged from the other end of the container.
JP 56-115649 A

  By the way, in the conventional centrifuge as described above, a plurality of clarified liquid discharge ports are provided on the concentric circle with respect to the rotation center on the surface on the other end side of the container, and the container is driven to rotate at high speed. In some cases, an annular liquid surface (surface layer surface) is formed at the position of the discharge port, and a cylindrical air space is formed inside the liquid surface.

  For this reason, when the liquid to be treated contains, for example, cultured microbial cells, cultured animal and plant cells, etc., when the liquid to be treated is supplied to the air space, the liquid to be treated once dropped on one end side (bottom surface side) of the container. The treatment liquid is swung in the circumferential direction (in the direction of the inner wall of the container) due to the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the container and collides with the liquid surface, damaging microbial cells, animal and plant cells, etc., and reducing its activity. When discharging the clarified liquid, air is entrained in the clarified liquid, resulting in a state where fine bubbles are mixed in, and this causes problems such as the subsequent handling of the recovered clarified liquid. The problem was to solve the problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described conventional problems, and can perform a solid-liquid separation process in a state where there is substantially no air space. For example, cultured microorganism cells and cultured animal and plant cells Even when processing a liquid to be treated, such as a liquid, a solid-liquid separation process can be performed without damaging microbial cells, animal and plant cells, etc., and bubbles should be mixed in the clarified liquid produced by the process. The object is to provide a centrifuge without any other components.

  A centrifugal separator according to the present invention includes a hermetically sealed rotor that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is driven to rotate about an axis, and a guide block that is substantially similar to the rotor and is accommodated coaxially in the rotor. At the same time, on the axis of the rotor and the guide block and on the periphery thereof, a supply path for the liquid to be processed and a discharge path for the clarified liquid generated by the solid-liquid separation process of the liquid to be processed are provided.

  In the rotor, upper and lower gaps are respectively formed between the top and bottom surfaces of the rotor and the top and bottom surfaces of the guide blocks facing the rotor, and any one of the gaps communicates with the supply path of the liquid to be processed. And a separation chamber communicating with the upper and lower gaps is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the rotor and the outer circumferential surface of the guide block. Yes.

  The centrifuge functions as a supply guide for the liquid to be processed while one gap reaches the separation chamber from the supply path, and discharges the clarified liquid while the other gap reaches the discharge path from the separation chamber. It functions as a guide, and the solid-liquid separation process is performed in a state where the space from one gap through the separation chamber to the other gap is filled with liquid.

  In a more preferred embodiment of the centrifuge of the present invention, the bottom surface of the rotor is a tapered surface inclined downward from the outside toward the center, and the upper surface of the rotor is inclined upward from the outside toward the center. It is a tapered surface, and the lower gap on the bottom surface side of the rotor and the supply path for the liquid to be treated are in communication with each other, and the upper gap on the upper surface side of the rotor and the discharge path for the clarified liquid are in communication with each other. It is said.

  The centrifuge starts supplying the liquid to be processed from the lower gap on the bottom surface side and discharging the clarified liquid from the upper gap on the upper surface side, so that the air present in the rotor at the start is retained. It is configured to be discharged promptly without any problems.

  Furthermore, as a more preferred embodiment, the centrifuge of the present invention is characterized in that a baffle plate is provided on at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the rotor and the outer peripheral surface of the guide block, and further, on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor. The baffle plates are detachably provided, and the flow of the liquid to be processed in the separation chamber is controlled by these baffle plates to further promote the sedimentation and deposition of the solid component.

  According to the centrifugal separator of the present invention, the solid-liquid separation process can be performed in a state where there is substantially no air space in the rotor that is rotationally driven by accommodating the guide block. Thereby, for example, even when processing a liquid to be treated containing cultured microbial cells, cultured animal and plant cells, etc., solid-liquid separation can be satisfactorily performed without damaging the microbial cells and animal and plant cells. Moreover, since bubbles do not mix in the clarified liquid produced by the same treatment, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the mixed bubbles hinder the subsequent handling of the clarified liquid.

  In addition, according to the centrifuge of the present invention, the use of the baffle plate can promote the sedimentation and deposition of solid components, and can further increase the efficiency of the solid-liquid separation process.

  Furthermore, according to the centrifuge of the present invention, the baffle plate is detachable from the rotor, so that solid components are firmly deposited on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor in addition to improving the efficiency of the solid-liquid separation process. In such a case, it is possible to easily cope with operations such as recovery of solid components and cleaning of the rotor.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a centrifuge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The centrifugal separator shown in FIG. 1 will be described in outline. A drive motor 3 with an output shaft 2 facing downward, a drive shaft 4 with an axial direction perpendicular to a base 1, and a substantially cylindrical shape and drive. A hermetic rotor 5 connected to the shaft 4 and driven to rotate about the axis is provided, and a housing 6 that covers the outside of the rotor 5 is provided.

  Inside the base 1, a driving pulley 7 and a driven pulley 8 are fixed to the output shaft 2 and the driving shaft 4 of the driving motor 3, and a timing belt 9 is wound around the pulleys 7 and 8. Yes, the rotation of the drive motor 3 is transmitted to the drive shaft 4 to drive the rotor 5 to rotate.

  The drive shaft 4 is rotatably held inside a cylindrical bearing holder 10 fixed to the base 1 via upper and lower bearings 11. Further, the drive shaft 4 is provided with a lower coupling 12 on the upper end side, and is integrally provided with a center pin 13 on the upper end. The lower coupling 12 has a substantially disk shape, is provided with coupling pins 14 at a plurality of locations on the circumference, and is fixed by a nut 15 screwed to the upper end side of the drive shaft 4. It rotates integrally with the shaft 4.

  The rotor 5 includes a bottomed cylindrical main body 5A and a top plate 5B that closes the upper opening of the main body 5A, and a guide block 16 having a substantially similar shape smaller than that of the rotor 5 is provided therein. It is housed coaxially. Here, the bottom portion of the main body 5A is a tapered surface inclined downward from the outside toward the center, and the top plate 5B is a tapered surface inclined upward from the outside toward the center. The shape of the bottom of the main body 5A and the shape of the top plate 5B is a preferred embodiment and is not particularly limited to a tapered surface, and may be, for example, a flat shape.

  Further, the rotor 5 includes, on its axis, a lower cap 17 that penetrates the center of the bottom of the main body 5A from above and a hollow center support member 18 that penetrates the center of the top plate 5B from above. The lower cap 17 has a concave portion 19 with an upper opening on the upper side that is the inside of the rotor 5, and a center hole 20 that engages with the center pin 13 of the drive shaft 4 on the lower side that is the outside of the rotor 5. ing. The center support member 18 has a lower end that reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the main body 5 </ b> A and is screwed to the outside of the lower cap 17.

  Then, the lower cap 17 and the center support member 18 discharge the clarified liquid generated by the solid-liquid separation process of the liquid to be processed on the axis of the rotor 5 and the guide block 16 and on the periphery thereof. A route is formed. The supply route and the discharge route will be described in detail later.

  Further, the rotor 5 has an upper coupling 21 corresponding to the above-described lower coupling 12 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom of the main body 5A by welding or the like. The upper coupling 21 has coupling holes 22 with which the respective coupling pins 14 of the lower coupling 12 are engaged, and is screwed into the lower side of the lower cap 17. That is, the lower cap 17 is fixed to the rotor 5 by the upper coupling 21 and the nut 23 provided on the lower side thereof.

  The material of the guide block 16 is not particularly limited. For example, it is more preferable to use a lightweight synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and the solid body is shown in this embodiment. It may be good or may be divided vertically or horizontally or concentrically.

  The guide block 16 is fixed to the center support member 18 by upper and lower retaining rings 24 and 24 screwed to the center support member 18. The guide block 16 forms an upper gap 25 between the top plate 5 </ b> B that is the upper surface of the rotor 5 and the upper surface opposite to the upper surface of the rotor 5, and the main body 5 </ b> A that is the bottom surface of the rotor 5. A lower gap 26 is formed between the bottom surface and the bottom surface facing the bottom surface, and the upper and lower gaps 25 and 26 communicate with each other between the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 5 and the outer circumferential surface facing the rotor 5. The separation chamber 27 is formed.

  In addition, the individual gap between the upper gap 25 and the lower gap 26 and the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 5 and the outer circumferential surface of the guide block 16 in the separation chamber 27 are not particularly limited. What is necessary is just to determine suitably considering the centrifugal force to generate | occur | produce, the flow volume of the to-be-processed liquid supplied, the solid component amount and processing amount contained in a to-be-processed liquid, the flow volume of the clarified liquid to discharge | emit.

  The housing 6 includes a lower housing 6A concentrically arranged with the drive shaft 4 and fixed to the base 1, and an upper housing 6B. The lower and upper housings 6A and 6B have flanges that are joined to each other on the outer periphery of the opening, and are connected by attaching a clamp (not shown) to the flange joint, and the upper housing 6B is released by releasing the clamp. Easy to remove.

  A cylindrical portion 28 is integrally formed at the upper center of the upper housing 6B. Between the cylindrical portion 28 and the center support member 18 protruding above the central portion of the top plate 5B, the rotor 5 is provided. A bearing 29 that allows rotation and an oil seal 30 that seals the upper side of the bearing 29 are interposed. The oil seal 30 collectively seals the upper side of the bearing 29, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 28, the lower end surface of the outer periphery of the upper cap 31, and the upper outer peripheral surface of the center support member 18. The upper cap 31 is attached to the cylindrical portion 28 and is slidably contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the center support member 18 that rotates together with the rotor 5.

  The material of the oil seal 30 is not particularly limited, and may be any material as long as it can sufficiently withstand the sliding contact of the center support member 18 while ensuring water tightness between the constituent members. Rubber, viton rubber, silicon rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, or the like can be used.

  The upper cap 31 is provided with a supply pipe 32 for the liquid to be processed penetrating in the center thereof, and a discharge pipe 33 for the clarified liquid is provided on the outer peripheral side of the supply pipe 32. It is fixed by a cap nut 34 that is screwed onto the cap.

  The supply pipe 32 is inserted into the hollow portion of the center support member 18 to form an elongated annular space 35 between the outer peripheral portion thereof, the center support member 18 and the upper cap 31, and the lower end portion thereof is the above-mentioned. The bottom cap 17 reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the recess 19. On the other hand, the discharge pipe 33 communicates with the upper end portion of the annular space 35.

  A bearing 36 through which the supply pipe 32 is inserted is provided at a joint portion formed by screwing the center support member 18 and the lower cap 17. The bearing 36 divides the upper annular space 35 and the lower recess 19 and rotates with the rotor 5 to slidably contact the outer peripheral surface of the supply pipe 32. Therefore, the material of the bearing 36 is not particularly limited, and any material can be used as long as it can sufficiently withstand the sliding contact of the supply pipe 32 while maintaining watertightness between the upper and lower spaces, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. These synthetic resins can be used.

  Further, the lower cap 17 is provided with a plurality of supply ports 37 that lead from the recess 19 to the lower gap 26, and the center support member 18 has a plurality of discharge ports 38 that lead from the annular space 35 to the upper gap 25. It is provided. Thus, in this embodiment, the supply pipe 32, the concave portion 19, and the supply port 37 constitute a supply path for the liquid to be processed that communicates with the lower gap (one gap) 26, and the discharge port 38 and the annular space 35. The discharge pipe 33 constitutes a discharge path for the clarified liquid communicating with the upper gap (the other gap) 25.

  Here, the separation chamber 27 in the rotor 5 is provided with at least one horizontal baffle plate 39 and at least one vertical baffle plate 40. As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the horizontal baffle plate 39 forms a ring shape that follows the inner peripheral surface of the rotor and is arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, four horizontal baffle plates 39 are used. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the vertical baffle plates 40 have a plate shape and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the horizontal baffle plate 39. In this embodiment, eight pieces are used. Yes.

  These baffle plates 39, 40 are combined in a lattice shape by engaging the cuts 39a, 40a formed respectively. Since these baffle plates 39 and 40 are restrained by centrifugal force during the solid-liquid separation process, means for fixing them to each other is unnecessary, and they are detachable from the rotor 5 and can be easily disassembled. it can. When the horizontal baffle plate 39 or the vertical baffle plate 40 is used alone, for example, a cylindrical member that can be fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 5 is used as a base material, and the baffle plate is integrated with the base material. The provided configuration or the like can be employed.

  A supply source of the liquid to be processed (not shown) is connected to the supply pipe 32, and a clarified liquid collector (not shown) is connected to the discharge pipe 33. In addition, the supply pipe 32 and the discharge pipe 33 are provided with pumps such as a capacity pump and a vacuum pump, directly or via an appropriate switching means with respect to the supply source and the collector depending on the type of liquid to be treated. Can be connected. Furthermore, the O-rings 41, 42, 43, and 44 shown in FIG. 1 are interposed in order to ensure watertightness between the constituent members, and in particular, the O-ring 45 attached to the coupling pin 14 has vibration. It is inserted for absorption.

  Next, the operation of the centrifuge having the above configuration will be described. In addition, since the centrifuge can perform solid-liquid separation without damaging microbial cells and animal and plant cells contained in the liquid to be treated, in the following, cultured microorganism cells and cultured animal and plant cells In the following description, it is assumed that the liquid to be processed including the above is processed.

  In the centrifuge, when the drive shaft 4 is rotated by the drive motor 3, the rotor 5 and the guide block 16 rotate together with the lower coupling 12, the upper coupling 21, the lower cap 17, and the center support member 18. . At this time, the supply pipe 32 does not rotate.

  The centrifugal separator performs deaeration in the rotor 5 by sucking the inside from the discharge pipe 33 side immediately before the start of the rotational drive of the rotor 5 or simultaneously with the start of the rotational drive, and from the supply pipe 32 by the negative pressure. The liquid to be treated is introduced by suction. As a result, the liquid to be treated flows into the lower gap 26 from the supply port 37, and at this time, the lower gap 26 functions as a supply guide, and therefore flows smoothly into the separation chamber 27. In the separation chamber 27, solid-liquid separation processing is performed by centrifugal force, and solid components settle and deposit on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 5.

  At this time, in the centrifugal separator, the supply path of the liquid to be processed, that is, the space from the supply pipe 32, the recess 19 and the supply port 37 to the separation chamber 27 through the lower gap 26 is filled with the liquid to be processed and substantially air. There is no space. Therefore, microbial cells and animal and plant cells will flow with the liquid, and there will be no physical shock due to a collision with the liquid surface through the air space as in the past, so damage or reduced activity will occur. There is no.

  Further, when the separation chamber 27 is filled by continuing the introduction of the liquid to be treated as described above, the clarified liquid, which is a liquid component generated by the solid-liquid separation process, flows into the upper gap 25. Since the upper gap 25 functions as a discharge guide, the clarified liquid smoothly flows into the annular space 35 from the discharge port 38 and is further discharged from the discharge pipe 33 to be finally collected.

  At this time, in the centrifugal separator, the space from the previous supply path through the separation chamber 27 to the discharge path is filled with the liquid, and the entire circulation path is substantially free of air space. Therefore, bubbles due to entrainment of air are not mixed in the clarified liquid, and it is possible to eliminate the problem that the mixed bubbles interfere with the subsequent handling of the clarified liquid.

  In the centrifuge of the present embodiment, as described above, the lower gap 26 that functions as a supply guide for the liquid to be processed is inclined upward in the flow direction of the liquid to be processed, that is, from the center to the outside. In addition, since the upper gap 25 functioning as a clarification liquid discharge guide is inclined upward from the flow direction of the clarification liquid, that is, from the outside toward the center, the supply of the liquid to be processed and the discharge of the clarification liquid As a result, the air present in the rotor 5 at the start is sequentially discharged without stagnation, and a state in which there is substantially no air space can be obtained very quickly.

  Further, in the centrifuge, the flow of the liquid to be processed is controlled by horizontal and vertical baffle plates 39 and 40 provided in the separation chamber 27. That is, by providing the baffle plates 39 and 40, the rotation of the liquid to be processed is prevented from being delayed from the rotation of the rotor 5, and the supplied liquid to be processed is prevented from being discharged through a short path at the solid-liquid separation portion. In addition, the residence time can be lengthened, thereby further improving the efficiency of the solid-liquid separation process. Further, the baffle plates 39 and 40 also serve to reduce vibrations in the rotor circumferential direction and axial direction of the liquid to be processed.

  Next, a method for recovering the solid component accumulated in the rotor 5 in the centrifuge will be described. When the solid component is in the form of slurry and has fluidity, when the rotation of the rotor 5 is stopped after the liquid is sucked and discharged to the discharge pipe 33 side, the bottom surface of the rotor 5 is a tapered surface inclined downward toward the center. Therefore, the solid component flows and collects at the bottom center of the rotor 5. Therefore, the slurry-like solid component can be easily recovered by connecting the suction pump to the supply pipe 32 side for suction.

  Further, if necessary, an appropriate liquid is supplied from the discharge pipe 33 through the upper gap 25, and the solid component deposited in the separation chamber 27 is made into a slurry form with the liquid. Can be recovered.

  The solid component maintains a strong deposition state in the rotor. When the solid component is recovered as it is, the rotor 5 is opened and the solid component is recovered. Specifically, the centrifuge can remove the supply pipe 32 together with the upper cap 31 when the cap nut 34 is removed, and then can remove the upper housing 6B by releasing the clamp described above. Further, the bearing 29 and the oil seal 30 are removed together with the upper housing 6B. Next, by removing the center support member 18 from the screwing with the lower cap 17, the top plate 5B and the guide block 16 can be taken out upward, and the horizontal and vertical baffle plates 39, 40 are also detachable. Thus, the solid component can be easily recovered.

  Further, the centrifuge can remove the main body 5A from the drive shaft 4 side after opening the rotor 5 as described above. The main body 5A is easily engaged with the drive shaft 4 because the coupling hole 22 and the coupling pin 14 are engaged and the center hole 20 and the center pin 13 are engaged. It is. And by being able to decompose | disassemble as mentioned above, in addition to being able to collect | recover solid components easily, operations, such as washing | cleaning of the rotation part containing the rotor 5, and the sterilization process by an autoclave, can be handled easily. .

  In the above embodiment, when starting the solid-liquid separation process, suction is performed from the discharge pipe 33 side. This is a preferable method from the viewpoint of sufficiently degassing the rotor 5. A method of pressurizing and supplying the liquid to be processed from the supply pipe 32 side can also be employed.

3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining another embodiment of the guide block in the centrifuge according to the present invention.
In the previous embodiment, the case where the detachable horizontal and vertical baffle plates 39 and 40 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 5 has been described, but the baffle plate of the centrifuge according to the present invention is the inner periphery of the rotor. It can be provided on at least one of the surface and the outer peripheral surface of the guide block 16.

  The guide block 16 shown in FIG. 3 has a baffle plate 51 protruding in the horizontal direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and in the illustrated example, four baffle plates 51 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the axial direction. It is. Further, the guide block 16 shown in FIG. 4 has a baffle plate 52 that protrudes in the horizontal direction and continues in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface thereof. In the illustrated example, one side of the baffle plate 52 is a tapered surface. ing. Note that even a horizontal baffle plate provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 5 can have a tapered surface.

  Even in the guide block 16 provided with the baffle plates 51 and 52 described above, the same operations and effects as in the previous embodiment can be obtained by applying to the centrifuge. In addition, the configuration of the baffle plate is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the shape, the number and the protruding length can be changed according to the type of the liquid to be treated, Small holes can also be provided.

  The detailed configuration of the centrifuge according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and details of the configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, a plurality of guide blocks having different sizes and a plurality of guide blocks having different baffle plate forms are prepared, and these guide blocks may be selectively used according to the type of liquid to be treated. It is also possible to change the size of the gap and the separation chamber.

  In addition, the centrifuge, for example, by attaching an air sterilization filter to a necessary location outside the centrifuge processing system, a series of processes such as solid-liquid separation and recovery of a processed product in an aseptic environment, more specifically, For example, it is more suitable for the treatment such as separation or concentration of cultured animal and plant cells, cultured microbial cells and cultured products.

It is sectional drawing explaining one Example of the centrifuge of this invention. They are a top view (a) and a side view (b) showing a horizontal baffle plate, and a side view (c) and an end view (d) showing a vertical baffle plate. It is a fragmentary sectional view explaining other Examples of the guide block used for the centrifuge of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view explaining further another Example of the guide block used for the centrifuge of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

5 Rotor 16 Guide block 19 Recess (Supply path)
25 Upper gap (the other gap)
26 Lower gap (one gap)
27 Separation chamber 32 Supply pipe (supply path)
33 Discharge pipe (discharge route)
35 Annular space (discharge route)
37 Supply port (supply route)
38 Discharge port (discharge route)
39 Horizontal baffle plate 40 Vertical baffle plate 51 52 Baffle plate

Claims (4)

  A hermetically sealed rotor having a substantially cylindrical shape and driven to rotate around an axis, and a guide block that is substantially similar to the rotor and accommodated coaxially in the rotor, and the shaft of the rotor and the guide block Provided with a supply path for the liquid to be processed and a discharge path for the clarified liquid generated by the solid-liquid separation process of the liquid to be processed on and around the wire, and in the rotor, the upper and bottom surfaces of the rotor and a guide block facing these The upper and lower gaps are respectively formed between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the liquid crystal so that one of the gaps and the supply path of the liquid to be treated are in communication with each other, and the other gap and the discharge path of the clarified liquid are in communication with each other. And a separation chamber communicating with the upper and lower gaps is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the rotor and the outer peripheral surface of the guide block.   The bottom surface of the rotor is a tapered surface inclined downward from the outside toward the center, and the top surface of the rotor is a tapered surface inclined upward from the outside to the center, and the lower gap on the bottom surface side of the rotor and the object to be processed 2. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply path is in communication with the upper gap on the upper surface side of the rotor and the clear liquid discharge path is in communication.   The centrifuge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a baffle plate is provided on at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the rotor and the outer peripheral surface of the guide block.   The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a baffle plate is detachably provided on an inner peripheral surface of the rotor.

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