JP6897602B2 - Fluid sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid sterilizer.

Conventionally, a fluid sterilizer that sterilizes a fluid such as water by irradiating with ultraviolet light is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, as one of the configurations of a fluid sterilizer, a flow path is divided into a central portion including a central axis of a cylindrical water channel and a cylindrical portion surrounding the central portion, and a liquid is used as a central portion. A configuration is disclosed in which the cylindrical portions are flown in this order.

Special Table 2016-511138

However, since the flow velocities of the liquid flowing near the center of the flow path and the liquid flowing near the wall surface are different, in the above-mentioned fluid sterilizer, the irradiation time of the liquid with ultraviolet light varies. Therefore, the entire liquid may not be sufficiently sterilized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid sterilizer capable of sufficiently and efficiently sterilizing the entire liquid to be sterilized by reducing the variation in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized.

One aspect of the present invention provides the following fluid sterilizers [1] to [8] in order to achieve the above object.

[1] A water pipe having a water inlet and a water outlet, a light source installed at one end of the water pipe in the length direction and irradiating ultraviolet light into the water pipe along the length direction, and a water pipe in the water pipe. A separator composed of a plate-shaped member, which is installed and divides the flow path into a plurality of parts along the length direction, is provided, and the flow path divided into a plurality of parts by the separator is formed from the water inlet to the water outlet. The cross-sectional area in the radial direction of all the flow paths divided into a plurality of flow paths by the separator is in the range of 1 times or more and 10 times or less of the opening area of the water inlet. Inside, a fluid sterilizer.

[2] The fluid sterilizer according to the above [1], wherein the opening shape of the water inlet is a shape in which a part of the contour is depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center.

[3] The above-mentioned [1] or [2], wherein the opening shape of the opening connecting the flow paths divided into a plurality of parts by the separator is a shape in which a part of the contour is depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center. Fluid sterilizer.

[4] The fluid sterilization according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the opening area of the opening connecting the flow paths divided into a plurality of parts by the separator is larger than the opening area of the water inlet. apparatus.

[5] In any one of the above [1] to [4], each of the flow paths divided into a plurality of parts by the separator is provided with a dividing plate for dividing the flow path along the length direction. The described fluid sterilizer.

[6] The fluid sterilizer according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the water inlet and the water outlet are installed in parallel in the length direction.

[7] The light source has a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light, a light extraction region that transmits light emitted from the light emitting element, and has electrical insulation with a sealable container that houses the light emitting element. A coolant contained in the container and immersed in the light emitting element, which is inactive to the light emitting element, transmits light emitted from the light emitting element, and has a higher thermal conductivity than air. The fluid sterilizer according to any one of the above [1] to [6].

[8] The fluid sterilizer according to any one of the above [1] to [7], wherein the ultraviolet light is UV-C.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fluid sterilizer capable of sufficiently and efficiently sterilizing the entire liquid to be sterilized by reducing the variation in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fluid sterilizer according to the embodiment. FIG. 2A is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the length direction of the fluid sterilizer, and FIG. 2B is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the direction orthogonal to the length direction of the fluid sterilizer. FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilizer showing an example in which an opening connecting adjacent flow paths is composed of an edge of a separator and a wall surface of a water flow pipe. FIG. 4A is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilizer showing an example in which an opening connecting adjacent flow paths is composed of a hole provided in a separator. 4 (b) and 4 (c) show an example of the opening shape of the opening in this case. FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilizer in which a dividing plate for dividing the flow path along the length direction is installed inside each of the flow paths divided by the separator. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a separator in a direction orthogonal to the length direction. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fluid sterilizer in which the water inlet and the water outlet are installed in parallel in the length direction of the water flow pipe. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are perspective views and cross-sectional views showing the configuration of a modified example of the light source.

[Embodiment]
(Configuration of fluid sterilizer)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fluid sterilizer 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2A is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the length direction L of the fluid sterilizer 1, and FIG. 2B is a vertical cross section taken along the direction orthogonal to the length direction L of the fluid sterilizer 1. It is a figure. Here, the length direction L is the length direction of the water flow pipe 10.

The fluid sterilizer 1 is a device for sterilizing a liquid and suppressing the growth of bacteria, and has a water inlet 10a and a water outlet 10b for flowing a liquid (liquid to be sterilized) such as water to be sterilized. A light source 11 installed at one end of the water flow pipe 10 and the length direction L of the water pipe 10 and irradiating ultraviolet light into the water pipe 10 along the length direction L, and a light source 11 installed in the water pipe 10 and having a length. A separator 12 composed of a plate-shaped member, which divides the flow path into a plurality of along the direction L, is provided.

In the fluid sterilizer 1, the flow paths in the water flow pipe 10 divided into a plurality by the separator 12 form one flow path that is continuously connected from the water inlet 10a to the water outlet 10b. Further, the cross-sectional area of all the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator 12 in the radial direction is one or more times the opening area of the water inlet 10a (the area of the opening 10c connecting the water inlet 10a and the main body of the water flow pipe 10). It is within the range of 10 times or less.

It is preferable that the water flow tube 10 is made of a material such as aluminum having a high reflectance to ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 11, or the inner surface is coated with such a material. The shape of the water flow pipe 10 is not particularly limited, but is typically a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped.

The light source 11 has a plurality of light emitting elements 111 mounted on the wiring board 110 that emit ultraviolet light, and the light emitting elements 111 typically have a pattern such as an array along the radial surface of the water flow tube 10. Placed in. Further, it is preferable that the plurality of light emitting elements 111 are arranged at equal intervals so that the ultraviolet light can be uniformly irradiated in the water flow tube 10.

The light emitting element 111 is, for example, an LED chip (Light Emitting Diode) or an LD chip (Laser Diode).

The ultraviolet light emitted by the light emitting element 111 is, for example, ultraviolet light in a wavelength range called UV-A (400 to 315 nm), ultraviolet light in a wavelength range called UV-B (315 to 280 nm), and a wavelength range called UV-C. Ultraviolet light (less than 280 nm), preferably UV-C having the highest bactericidal effect.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the light source 11, the side of each light emitting element 111 may be surrounded by the reflector 112, and the condensing lens 113 may be provided in the shape of the optical axis of the light emitting element 111. The reflector 112 is made of a material such as aluminum having a high reflectance to ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 11. Since the condenser lens 113 efficiently irradiates the inside of the flowing water tube 10 with ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light emitted from the light emitting element 111 can be brought close to parallel light.

The flow path of the liquid to be sterilized in the water flow pipe 10 and the light source 11 are separated by a wall plate 13, so that the liquid to be sterilized does not enter the light source 11 side. The wall plate 13 is made of a resin material such as quartz glass or fluororesin, which has a property of transmitting ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 11.

The separator 12 is composed of one or a plurality of plate-shaped members, and divides the flow path in the water flow pipe 10 into a plurality of parts along the length direction L. Typically, a separator 12 composed of one plate-shaped member and one, two, or three plate-shaped members intersecting the plate-shaped member at a right angle makes four, six, or eight flow paths. It is divided into.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the separator 12 is composed of two orthogonal plate-shaped members, and the flow path in the water flow pipe 10 is divided into four flow paths F1 to F4 by the separator 12.

As described above, in the fluid sterilizer 1, the flow paths divided by the separator 12 are continuously connected to form one flow path. Therefore, by dividing the flow path by the separator 12, the distance of the flow path in the water flow pipe 10 can be extended, thereby increasing the time for the liquid to be sterilized to be irradiated with ultraviolet light, effectively sterilizing and the like. It can be performed.

Further, in general, the fluid flow is disturbed as the diameter of the flow path becomes larger, but in the fluid sterilizer 1, all the radial directions of the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator 12 (direction orthogonal to the length direction L). Since the cross-sectional area of the water inlet 10a is within a range of 1 time or more and 10 times or less the opening area of the water inlet 10a, turbulence in the flow of the liquid to be sterilized can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized.

Further, in general, the flow velocity of the fluid flowing through the flow path becomes smaller due to frictional resistance as it is closer to the wall, and the difference from the flow velocity at the center of the flow path becomes larger. Since the diameter is small, the difference in flow velocity of the liquid to be sterilized in the flow path is small. Therefore, the variation in the irradiation time of the ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized becomes small.

The opening 14, which is a passage for the liquid to be sterilized that connects the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator 12, is a hole provided in the separator 12 or an opening formed by the edge of the separator 12 and the wall surface of the water flow pipe 10. is there. When the opening 14 is a hole provided in the separator 12, the distance between the end of the flow path L in the length direction and the opening 14 in the length direction L is, for example, zero or more, in the length direction of the flow path. It is within the range of 1/10 or less of the length of L.

The opening shape of the opening 14 is preferably a shape in which a part of the contour is depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center. In this case, the flow velocity of the portion flowing near the center with respect to the flow velocity of the portion flowing near the wall surface of the next flow path of the liquid to be sterilized that has passed through the opening 14 as compared with the case where the opening shape of the opening 14 does not include a depression. Is reduced.

Under normal conditions, the flow velocity near the center of the flow path is higher than the flow velocity near the wall surface. Therefore, by making the opening shape of the opening 14 a shape in which a part of the contour is parabolic toward the center, the opening is opened. The difference between the flow velocity near the center of the flow path of the liquid to be sterilized and the flow velocity near the wall surface in the flow path at the tip of the portion 14 can be offset. Thereby, the variation in the irradiation time of the ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilizer 1 showing an example in which the opening 14 is composed of the edge of the separator 12 and the wall surface of the water flow pipe 10. In the example shown in FIG. 3, one end of a portion of the separator 12 located between two adjacent flow paths is curved in a parabolic shape. Therefore, the opening shape of the opening 14 is such that one side of the quadrangle is recessed in a parabolic shape toward the center, reducing the speed difference of the liquid to be sterilized in the flow path at the tip of the opening 14. can do.

FIG. 4A is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilizer 1 showing an example in which the opening 14 is composed of holes provided in the separator 12. 4 (b) and 4 (c) show an example of the opening shape of the opening 14 in this case. The opening shape of the opening 14 shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c) is such that two or four points of the circular contour are depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center, and the opening 14 is formed. It is possible to reduce the speed difference of the liquid to be sterilized in the flow path ahead of the above.

Further, in FIG. 4A, the horizontal position of the opening 10c connecting the water inlet 10a and the main body of the water flow pipe 10 which is not included in the cross section is shown by a dotted line. The opening shape of the water port 10a (the shape of the opening 10c) may be a shape in which a part of the contour is depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center, similarly to the opening shape of the opening 14. In this case, it is possible to reduce the speed difference of the liquid to be sterilized in the flow path (first flow path) ahead of the water inlet 10a.

Further, by making the opening area of the opening 14 larger than the opening area of the water inlet 10a, the internal pressure in the water flow pipe 10 can be reduced. As a result, the design strength of the water flow pipe 10 can be lowered, so that the weight of the fluid sterilizer 1 can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilizer 1 in which a dividing plate 15 for dividing the flow path along the length direction L is installed inside each of the flow paths divided by the separator 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the dividing plate 15 is preferably installed at the center in the width direction of the flow path. By installing the dividing plate 15, the flow velocity of the liquid to be sterilized at the center of the flow path can be reduced to reduce the speed difference in the flow path, and the turbulence of the flow can be reduced to approach rectification. .. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the variation in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the separator 12 in the direction orthogonal to the length direction L. As shown in FIG. 6, when the separator 12 is composed of two or more plate-shaped members, the corners 12a are formed at the corners 12a formed at the intersections of the plate-shaped members along the length direction L. It is preferable that the member 16 to be filled is provided. By providing the member 16, it is possible to prevent fine foreign matter contained in the liquid to be sterilized (for example, foreign matter that cannot be completely removed by the filter installed in front of the fluid sterilizer 1) from accumulating on the corner 12a.

In order to more effectively suppress the volume of fine foreign matter, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the surface 16a exposed on the flow path side of the member 16 is a curved surface curved toward the angle 12a. The radius of curvature of this curved surface is set to, for example, 1 mm or more.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fluid sterilizer 1 in which the water inlet 10a and the water outlet 10b are installed in parallel in the length direction L. In this case, since the directions of the flow paths in the water inlet 10a and the water outlet 10b coincide with the directions of the flow paths in the water flow pipe 10, the turbulence of the flow of the liquid to be sterilized in the water flow pipe 10 is reduced for rectification. You can get closer. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the variation in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized.

8 (a) and 8 (b) are perspective views and cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the light source 11a, which is a modification of the light source 11. The light source 11a is housed in a light emitting element 111 that emits ultraviolet light, a hermetically sealed container 113 that houses the light emitting element 111 that transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 111 at least on the surface on the light extraction side, and a container 113. A coolant 114 in which the light emitting element 111 is immersed is provided.

The light emitting element 111 is housed in the container 113 in a state of being mounted on the wiring board 110.

The coolant 114 has electrical insulation, is inactive with respect to the light emitting element 111, transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 111, and has a thermal conductivity of air (0.0241 W / (m · K)). It has the property of having a higher thermal conductivity than that of. As the coolant 114 having such properties, for example, a fluorine-based inert liquid or silicone oil can be used.

Silicone oil, perfluoropolyether Fluorine-based inert liquid (for example, Galden (registered trademark) manufactured by Solvay) transmits UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet light. In addition, a fluorine-based inert liquid having a perfluorocarbon (PFC) structure (for example, Fluorinert (registered trademark) manufactured by 3M) also transmits UV-C ultraviolet light. Therefore, when the light emitting element 111 that emits UV-C ultraviolet light is used as the light source, a fluorine-based inert liquid having a perfluorocarbon structure can be used as the material of the coolant 114.

The coolant 114 is in direct contact with the light emitting element 111, and the heat of the light emitting element 111 can be efficiently dissipated to the coolant 114. On the other hand, since the coolant 114 has electrical insulation, there is no possibility of causing a short circuit in the light emitting element 111. Further, since the coolant 114 is inactive with respect to the members housed in the container 113 such as the light emitting element 111 and the wiring board 110, there is no possibility of causing damage such as corrosion to the light emitting element 111 and the like. Therefore, the light emitting element 111 does not need to be waterproofed by glass sealing or the like. However, the light emitting element 111 may be sealed with glass.

By using the coolant 114, the light emitting element 111 can be effectively cooled without using a large heat radiating member such as a heat sink, so that the fluid sterilizer 1 can be miniaturized. Further, since the coolant 114 also has a function as a gas barrier, it is possible to prevent damage such as corrosion of the light emitting element 111 and the wiring board 110 due to the outside air.

In order to further enhance the cooling effect of the light emitting element 111, the coolant 114 may contain a dispersant having a higher thermal conductivity than the coolant 114, having electrical insulation properties, and being inactive with respect to the light emitting element 111. As such a dispersant, glass beads, nanosilica and the like can be used. The dispersant preferably transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 111. Further, a dispersant having a diameter shorter than the wavelength of the light emitted by the light emitting element is preferable because it does not reflect the light emitted by the light emitting element 111.

Since the amount of the coolant 114 in the container 113 is reduced by using the dispersant, the amount of displacement of the coolant 114 due to the pressure change when the lid 116 described later is attached to the container 113 can be reduced.

It is preferable that the container 113 has an opening on the opposite side of the water flow pipe 10 and has a structure in which the opening is sealed with an openable and closable lid 116 such as a lid (screw cap) that can be opened and closed by a screw. By using the openable and closable lid 116, for example, when the coolant 114 in the container 113 decreases due to volatilization, the coolant 114 can be replenished from the opening.

Further, the container 113 may be sealed by using an annular sealing member 117 as shown in FIG. 8 (b). The seal member 117 is, for example, an O-ring or packing, and exhibits a seal function by sandwiching the seal member 117 between a container 113 and a lid 116 and appropriately compressing the seal member 117.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the wiring board 110 is installed on the inner surface of the lid 116. Further, although not shown, a power supply line for supplying power to the light emitting element 111 penetrates through the lid 116 via the wiring board 110.

Further, the container 113 is fixed to the water flow pipe 10 by a screw or the like formed on the side surface. In the light source 11a, the container 113 functions as a wall plate 13 that transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 111.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a fluid sterilizer capable of sufficiently and efficiently sterilizing the entire liquid to be sterilized by reducing the variation in the irradiation time of ultraviolet light in the liquid to be sterilized. it can.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be carried out within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the invention. In addition, the components of the above-described embodiment can be arbitrarily combined within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the invention.

Moreover, the above-described embodiment does not limit the invention according to the claims. It should also be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

1 Fluid sterilizer 10 Water flow pipe 10a Water inlet 10b Water outlet 11, 11a Light source 12 Separator 14 Opening 15 Dividing plate 16 Member 111 Light emitting element 113 Container 114 Cooling liquid

Claims (12)

A water flow pipe with an inlet and outlet,
A light source installed at one end in the length direction of the water pipe and irradiating the inside of the water pipe with ultraviolet light along the length direction.
A separator composed of a plate-shaped member, which is installed in the water flow pipe and divides the flow path into a plurality of parts along the length direction.
With
The opening shape of the water inlet is a shape in which a part of the contour is depressed in a parabolic shape toward the center.
The flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator form one flow path continuously connected from the water inlet to the water outlet, and all the radial cuts of the flow path divided into the plurality by the separator. The area is within the range of 1 times or more and 10 times or less of the opening area of the water inlet.
Fluid sterilizer. The opening area of the opening connecting the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator is larger than the opening area of the water inlet.
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1. Inside each of the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator, a dividing plate for dividing the flow path along the length direction is provided.
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2. The water inlet and the water outlet are installed in parallel in the length direction.
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Said light source, a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light, the surface facing at least the light-emitting element will be useful as a light extraction region transmitting light emitted from the light emitting element, a sealable vessel containing the light emitting element , the light emitting element is accommodated in the container so as to be immersed, has an electrical insulating property, I inert der to said light emitting element, a high thermal conductivity than air, fluorine-based inert liquid With a coolant consisting of
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The ultraviolet light is UV-C.
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A water flow pipe with an inlet and outlet,
A light source installed at one end in the length direction of the water pipe and irradiating the inside of the water pipe with ultraviolet light along the length direction.
A separator composed of a plate-shaped member, which is installed in the water flow pipe and divides the flow path into a plurality of parts along the length direction.
With
The flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator form one flow path continuously connected from the water inlet to the water outlet, and all the radial cuts of the flow path divided into the plurality by the separator. The area is within the range of 1 times or more and 10 times or less of the opening area of the water inlet, and the opening shape of the opening connecting the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator is such that a part of the contour faces the center. It has a parabolic shape,
Fluid sterilizer. The opening area of the opening connecting the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator is larger than the opening area of the water inlet.
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 7. Inside each of the flow paths divided into a plurality by the separator, a dividing plate for dividing the flow path along the length direction is provided.
The fluid sterilizer according to claim 7 or 8. The water inlet and the water outlet are installed in parallel in the length direction.
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 7 to 9. A hermetically sealed container containing the light emitting element, wherein the light source has a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light and at least a surface facing the light emitting element as a light extraction region for transmitting light emitted from the light emitting element. It is composed of a fluorine-based inert liquid that is housed in the container so that the light emitting element is immersed, has electrical insulation, is inert to the light emitting element, and has a higher thermal conductivity than air. With coolant,
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 7 to 10. The ultraviolet light is UV-C.
The fluid sterilizer according to any one of claims 7 to 11.

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