Steam sterilization equipment

Abstract

This application provides a steam sterilization device, comprising: a shell, the shell including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder forming a first chamber, the interior of the inner cylinder forming a second chamber, the second chamber for containing objects to be sterilized, the shell being configured as a pressure-resistant container capable of withstanding at least 0.4 MPa; a steam supply section including a pressure regulating valve connected to the first chamber; an inner cylinder steam supply valve disposed in an inner-outer cylinder connecting pipe connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a vacuum pump connected to the second chamber; and a controller configured to, during the step of replacing the air in the second chamber with steam, after adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber to at least 0.4 MPa, open the inner-outer cylinder connecting pipe to introduce steam from the first chamber into the second chamber. By enabling the shell to withstand at least 0.4 MPa of air pressure, the pressure difference between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is increased, shortening the time for the air inside the inner cylinder to be replaced with saturated steam, thereby improving the performance and efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sterilization equipment technology, specifically a steam sterilization device. Background Technology

[0002] Steam sterilization devices typically utilize double-walled pressure vessels, comprising an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. By replacing the air inside the inner cylinder with saturated steam, the latent heat of the saturated steam raises the temperature of the items to be sterilized to a certain level, thereby killing bacteria attached to the items. However, the rate at which the air inside the inner cylinder is replaced with saturated steam and the rate at which the temperature rises within the inner cylinder limit the performance and efficiency of the steam sterilization device. In existing technologies, this is often addressed by selecting a pressure-reducing valve with a larger flow rate to increase the rate at which steam is supplied to the sterilization device, thus improving its performance and efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the above issues, this application provides a steam sterilization device that can shorten the time required to replace the air inside the inner cylinder with saturated steam, thereby improving the performance and efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0004] This application provides a steam sterilization device, comprising: a shell, the shell including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, the inner cylinder being disposed inside the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder forming a first chamber, the interior of the inner cylinder forming a second chamber, the second chamber being used to contain objects to be sterilized, the shell being configured as a pressure-resistant container capable of withstanding at least 0.4 MPa; a steam supply unit communicating with the first chamber, wherein the steam supply unit includes a pressure regulating valve; an inner cylinder steam supply valve disposed in an inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe, the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a vacuum pump communicating with the second chamber; and a controller, the controller being configured to: in the step of replacing the air in the second chamber with steam, after adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber to above 0.4 MPa using the pressure regulating valve, open the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe to introduce steam from the first chamber into the second chamber.

[0005] According to this technical solution, the shell is configured as a pressure-resistant cavity capable of withstanding at least 0.4 MPa of air pressure. When using this steam sterilization device to sterilize objects, the controller controls the steam supply unit to supply steam to the first chamber, adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber to above 0.4 MPa. Then, the connecting pipe between the inner and outer cylinders is opened, utilizing the pressure difference between the first and second chambers to allow steam in the first chamber to quickly flow into the second chamber. When the air pressure in the first chamber increases, the pressure difference between the first and second chambers increases. Even without changing the flow rate of the pressure regulating valve, the speed at which steam flows into the second chamber increases, shortening the time required to replace the air in the second chamber with steam, thus improving the performance and efficiency of the sterilization device.

[0006] In the optional technical solution, the controller is configured to perform the following steps: a gas filling step, in which the steam supply unit supplies steam to the first chamber and uses a pressure regulating valve to adjust the pressure of the first chamber to a first pressure, which is greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa; a vacuuming step, in which the pressure of the first chamber is adjusted or maintained at the first pressure and a vacuum pump evacuates the pressure of the second chamber to below a specified pressure; and a steam replacement step, in which the inner cylinder steam supply valve is opened to supply steam from the first chamber to the second chamber, and when the pressure of the first chamber drops below a pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is closed, and the process returns to the vacuuming step.

[0007] According to this technical solution, when the steam sterilization device is turned on, steam is supplied to the first chamber through the steam supply unit, adjusting the pressure in the first chamber to a first pressure greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa. Then, the pressure in the second chamber is evacuated to below a specified pressure, further increasing the pressure difference between the first and second chambers. At this point, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is opened, and steam from the first chamber is rapidly supplied to the second chamber through the pressure difference, increasing the pressure and temperature in the second chamber. When the pressure in the first chamber drops below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is closed, and the process returns to the vacuuming step. By repeatedly executing the inflation step, vacuuming step, and steam replacement step, the temperature in the second chamber is gradually increased to the required temperature, utilizing the latent heat of steam to achieve sterilization.

[0008] In the optional technical solutions, the pressure threshold is greater than or equal to 0.35 MPa.

[0009] According to this technical solution, the pressure in the first chamber is controlled to be no less than 0.35 MPa, thereby increasing the pressure of the supplied steam, accelerating the steam supply speed, improving the steam replacement speed inside the inner cylinder, and enabling the temperature inside the inner cylinder to reach the required temperature more quickly, thus improving the performance and efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0010] In an optional technical solution, the steam supply unit also includes a pressure sensor and a solenoid valve. The pressure sensor detects the gas pressure in the first chamber, and the solenoid valve opens or closes based on the detection result of the pressure sensor.

[0011] According to this technical solution, the air pressure in the first chamber is detected by a pressure sensor. When the air pressure in the first chamber drops below a set threshold, the solenoid valve is controlled to close, thus preventing the steam supply rate from decreasing and the efficiency of the steam sterilization device from being reduced due to the pressure in the first chamber dropping below the set threshold.

[0012] In the optional technical solution, after performing multiple cycles of steam replacement and vacuuming steps, when the inner cylinder temperature reaches above the specified temperature threshold, the following steps are performed: a steam supply step is executed, in which the inner cylinder steam supply valve is opened to supply steam from the first chamber to the second chamber, and the pressure in the second chamber is adjusted to a pressure range of 0.29-0.31 MPa.

[0013] In the optional technical solution, after the steam supply step, a sterilization step is also included, in which the pressure of the second chamber is maintained within the pressure range of 0.29-0.31 MPa and the temperature of the second chamber is maintained within the temperature range of 133-135°C, thereby sterilizing the objects to be sterilized in the second chamber.

[0014] According to this technical solution, when the temperature of the inner cylinder reaches or exceeds the specified temperature threshold, the steam replacement step and the vacuuming step are no longer repeated. Instead, the steam in the first chamber is supplied to the second chamber, so that the pressure in the second chamber reaches the sterilization pressure. The latent heat of steam is used to sterilize the object to be sterilized, thereby improving the sterilization efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0015] In the optional technical solution, the steam sterilization device further includes: a heat exchanger, the hot side inlet of which is connected to the gas outlet of the second chamber, and the cold side inlet of which is connected to a cooling water supply device via a heat exchanger water supply valve; and a cooling water tank, the hot side outlet and the cold side outlet of which are both connected to the cooling water tank.

[0016] According to this technical solution, when the vacuuming step is performed, the high-temperature saturated steam inside the second chamber flows into the hot-side pipeline of the heat exchanger through the gas outlet of the second chamber. In the heat exchanger, it exchanges heat with the low-temperature cooling water from the cooling water supply device, causing the high-temperature saturated steam to cool down and condense. The condensed liquid and cooling water are stored in the cooling water tank, which realizes the cooling and collection of the saturated steam discharged from the second chamber during vacuuming, improves the energy utilization rate, and achieves the purpose of energy saving.

[0017] In the optional technical solution, the vacuum pump is a water ring vacuum pump. One sealing liquid inlet of the water ring vacuum pump is connected to the outlet of the second chamber, the other sealing liquid inlet is connected to the cooling water supply device, and the outlet of the water ring vacuum pump is connected to the cooling water tank.

[0018] According to this technical solution, a water ring vacuum pump is used as the vacuum pump. The water ring vacuum pump can pump mixed gases containing liquid, avoiding the condensation of some vapor in the second chamber, which would affect the vacuum pump or the vacuuming process. At the same time, low-temperature cooling water is used as the sealing fluid for the water ring vacuum pump to ensure the cooling effect of the sealing fluid on the high-temperature vapor entering the vacuum pump and the normal operation of the vacuum pump.

[0019] In the optional technical solution, during the inflation step, sterile air is supplied to the second chamber, the cooling water supply device is turned on, and the heat exchanger water supply valve is turned off.

[0020] According to this technical solution, when the steam sterilization device is running, steam is supplied to the first chamber while sterile air is supplied to the second chamber. The sterile air replaces the air in the second chamber, preventing airborne bacteria from contaminating the objects to be sterilized and improving the sterilization efficiency of the steam sterilization device. Simultaneously, the cooling water supply device is activated, allowing cooling water to enter the water ring vacuum pump as a sealing fluid, ensuring the cooling effect of the sealing fluid on the vacuum pump and its normal operation. At this time, the vacuuming step extracts air or sterile air from the second chamber. By closing the heat exchanger water supply valve, cooling water consumption is saved.

[0021] In the optional technical solution, in all vacuuming steps except for the initial vacuuming step, the cooling water supply device and the heat exchanger water supply valve are turned on.

[0022] According to this technical solution, when the gas in the second chamber is saturated steam, the cooling water supply device and the heat exchanger water supply valve are opened during the vacuuming step. The saturated steam extracted from the second chamber is condensed through the heat exchanger and the water ring vacuum pump, thereby achieving the cooling and collection of the saturated steam discharged from the second chamber during vacuuming, improving energy utilization and achieving the goal of energy saving. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path system of the steam sterilization device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a control flowchart provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0025] Reference numerals: 1. Shell; 11. Outer cylinder; 12. Inner cylinder; 2. First chamber; 3. Second chamber; 31. Gas outlet of second chamber; 4. Steam supply unit; 41. Pressure regulating valve; 42. Pressure sensor; 43. Solenoid valve; 5. Steam supply valve for inner cylinder; 51. Connecting pipe between inner and outer cylinders; 6. Vacuum pump; 61. Vacuum pump inlet; 62. Sealing liquid inlet; 63. Vacuum pump outlet; 7. Heat exchanger; 71. Hot side inlet of heat exchanger; 72. Cold side inlet of heat exchanger; 73. Hot side outlet of heat exchanger; 74. Cold side outlet of heat exchanger; 75. Water supply valve for heat exchanger; 8. Cooling water tank; 9. Cooling water supply device. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path system of the steam sterilization apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the steam sterilization device provided in this embodiment includes: a housing 1 having an outer cylinder 11 and an inner cylinder 12, a steam supply unit 4, an inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 and a vacuum pump 6 connected to the housing 1.

[0028] Specifically, the inner cylinder 12 is located inside the outer cylinder 11, and the outer cylinder 11 and the inner cylinder 12 form a first chamber 2. The interior of the inner cylinder 12 forms a second chamber 3, which is used to contain the object to be sterilized.

[0029] The outlet of the steam supply unit 4 is connected to the first chamber 2, supplying steam into the first chamber 2. The amount of steam entering the first chamber 2 is adjusted by the pressure regulating valve 41 installed in the steam supply unit 4, thereby changing the pressure inside the first chamber 2. In this embodiment, the input end of the steam supply unit 4 is high-temperature and high-pressure steam obtained from boiler combustion heating, and the pressure regulating valve 41 is a pressure reducing valve.

[0030] An inner cylinder 12 and an outer cylinder 11 are connected by an inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe 51, one end of which is connected to the first chamber 2 and the other end is connected to the second chamber 3. By controlling the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 installed in the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe 51, the gas in the first chamber 2 is transported to the second chamber 3. A vacuum pump 6 is also installed in the outlet pipe of the second chamber 3. The vacuum pump 6 is used to extract the gas in the second chamber 3, thereby reducing the gas pressure in the second chamber 3.

[0031] The steam sterilization device also includes a controller (not shown) configured to, during the step of replacing the air in the second chamber 3 with steam, after adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber 2 to above 0.4 MPa using the pressure regulating valve 41, open the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe 51 to introduce steam from the first chamber 2 into the second chamber 3.

[0032] In the steam sterilization apparatus described in the above embodiments of this application, the housing 1 is configured as a pressure-resistant container capable of withstanding at least 0.4 MPa or higher air pressure, and the steam supplied by the steam supply unit 4 is preferably high-temperature saturated steam. When using this steam sterilization apparatus, the object to be sterilized is placed in the second chamber, and the pressure regulating valve 41 is adjusted to allow the steam supply unit 4 to supply steam to the first chamber 2. After adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber 2 to 0.4 MPa or higher, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened, allowing the steam in the first chamber 2 to enter the second chamber 3, replacing the air in the second chamber 3 with high-temperature saturated steam, and sterilizing the object to be sterilized in the second chamber 3 using the high-temperature saturated steam.

[0033] Through the above implementation method, the air pressure in the first chamber 2 is adjusted to above 0.4 MPa. At this time, the air pressure difference between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3 is large. When the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened, the high-temperature saturated steam in the first chamber 2 will flow into the second chamber 3 at a faster speed, reducing the time required to replace the air in the second chamber 3 with steam, thereby improving the performance and efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0034] Figure 2 The control flowchart provided in the embodiments of this application is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to perform a gas filling step, a vacuuming step, and a steam replacement step. When the steam sterilization device is turned on, the gas filling step is performed, steam is supplied to the first chamber 2 through the steam supply unit 4, and the pressure in the first chamber 2 is adjusted to a first pressure greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa using the pressure regulating valve 41. At this time, the vacuuming step is performed, while maintaining the pressure in the first chamber 2 at the first pressure, the pressure in the second chamber 3 is evacuated to below the specified pressure using the vacuum pump 6. After the pressure in the second chamber 3 is evacuated to below the specified pressure, the steam replacement step is performed, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened, and the steam in the first chamber 2 is supplied to the second chamber 3 through the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe 51. When the pressure in the first chamber 2 drops below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is closed, and the process returns to the vacuuming step.

[0035] Through the above implementation method, when the steam sterilization device is turned on, steam is supplied to the first chamber 2, raising the pressure in the first chamber 2 to a first pressure greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa. Meanwhile, the vacuum pump 6 extracts gas from the second chamber 3, reducing the pressure in the second chamber 3 to below a specified pressure. This further increases the pressure difference between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3. When the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened, under the influence of the larger pressure difference between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3, the steam in the first chamber 2 will be transported to the second chamber 3 at a faster speed through the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe 51. This shortens the time for steam to replace the air in the second chamber 3, causing the temperature in the second chamber 3 to rise rapidly, thereby improving the performance and efficiency of the sterilization device. When the pressure in the first chamber 2 drops below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is closed, and the pressure in the first chamber 2 is adjusted or maintained at the first pressure by the pressure regulating valve 41. At the same time, the vacuuming step is performed again, and the steam in the first chamber 2 is extracted by the vacuum pump 6. After the pressure in the second chamber 3 drops below the specified pressure, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened again to supply the steam in the first chamber 2 to the second chamber 3.

[0036] Considering that vacuum pump 6 cannot directly evacuate the second chamber 3 to a vacuum state, the gas in the second chamber 3 is completely replaced with high-temperature saturated steam by repeatedly performing the evacuation and steam replacement steps. During the repeated evacuation and steam replacement steps, the temperature inside the second chamber 3 is gradually increased, so that the saturated steam pressure in the second chamber 3 reaches the sterilization pressure or the temperature reaches the sterilization temperature. Thus, under high-temperature conditions, the latent heat of saturated steam is used to kill bacteria attached to the object to be sterilized, achieving the sterilization effect.

[0037] As a preferred embodiment of this application, the pressure threshold is set to be greater than or equal to 0.35 MPa.

[0038] Through the above implementation method, in the steam replacement step, when the pressure in the first chamber 2 drops below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is closed, and the gas supply to the second chamber 3 through the first chamber 2 is stopped. The pressure in the first chamber 2 is controlled to always be greater than or equal to 0.35 MPa, that is, a certain pressure difference is always maintained between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3. This avoids the problem that the pressure inside the first chamber 2 continues to drop after it drops below the pressure threshold, which would reduce the pressure difference between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3, reduce the steam replacement rate in the second chamber 3, and affect the operating efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0039] Preferably, the steam supply unit 4 further includes a pressure sensor 42 and a solenoid valve 43. The pressure sensor 42 detects the air pressure in the first chamber 2, and the solenoid valve 43 is controlled to open or close based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 42.

[0040] The opening or closing of the solenoid valve 43 is controlled by the detection result of the pressure sensor 42. During the vacuuming step, the pressure of the first chamber 2 is regulated or maintained at the first pressure. During the steam replacement step, when the pressure sensor 42 detects that the pressure of the first chamber 2 has dropped below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is closed while the solenoid valve 43 is opened. Steam is supplied to the first chamber 2 through the steam supply section 4, causing the air pressure in the first chamber 2 to rise rapidly to the first pressure. The pressure difference between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3 increases, so that when the steam replacement step is repeated, a large pressure difference is maintained between the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3. When the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is open, the steam in the first chamber 2 can flow into the second chamber 3 at a faster speed, which improves the steam replacement speed and thus improves the working efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0041] After each vacuuming and steam replacement step, the temperature inside the second chamber 3 increases. After multiple cycles of steam replacement and vacuuming, when the temperature of the inner cylinder 12 reaches above the specified temperature threshold, a gas supply step is initiated. The inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened to supply steam from the first chamber 2 to the second chamber 3, and the pressure in the second chamber 3 is adjusted to a range of 0.29-0.31 MPa. At this point, a sterilization step is performed, maintaining the pressure in the second chamber 3 within the range of 0.29-0.31 MPa and the temperature within the second chamber 3 within the range of 133-135°C, to sterilize the objects to be sterilized within the second chamber 3.

[0042] Through the above implementation method, when the temperature of the inner cylinder 12 reaches or exceeds the specified temperature threshold, the vacuuming and steam replacement steps are no longer repeated. The inner cylinder steam supply valve 5 is opened, allowing steam in the first chamber 2 to be continuously supplied to the second chamber 3, and the pressure in the second chamber 3 is adjusted to a pressure range of 0.29-0.31 MPa. Simultaneously, by controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 43 in the steam supply pipeline and the inner cylinder steam supply valve 5, the pressure in the second chamber 3 is maintained between 0.29-0.31 MPa. When the steam in the second chamber 3 is saturated steam, the saturated steam temperature corresponding to 0.29-0.31 MPa is approximately 133-135°C. When the steam comes into contact with the object to be sterilized under these pressure and temperature conditions, the latent heat of the steam can quickly raise the temperature of the object to be sterilized to between 133-135°C, thereby killing bacteria attached to the object and achieving a relatively convenient and rapid steam sterilization.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the steam sterilization device further includes a heat exchanger 7 and a cooling water tank 8. The hot-side inlet 71 of the heat exchanger is connected to the gas outlet 31 of the second chamber, and the cold-side inlet 72 of the heat exchanger is connected to a cooling water supply device 9 via a heat exchanger water supply valve 75. The hot-side outlet 73 and the cold-side outlet 74 of the heat exchanger are both connected to the cooling water tank 8. Specifically, during the vacuuming step, the steam gas flowing out of the second chamber 3 from the gas outlet 31 of the second chamber flows into the heat exchanger 7 through the hot-side inlet 71 of the heat exchanger, and exchanges heat with the cooling water supplied to the cold side of the heat exchanger 7 via the cooling water supply device 9, thereby cooling and condensing the steam gas. This achieves the cooling and collection of the saturated steam discharged from the second chamber 3 during vacuuming, improves energy utilization, and achieves the purpose of energy saving.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the vacuum pump 6 is a water ring vacuum pump. The vacuum pump 6 has a vacuum pump inlet 61, a sealing liquid inlet 62 and a vacuum pump outlet 63. The vacuum pump inlet 61 is connected to the outlet of the second chamber 3, the sealing liquid inlet 62 is connected to the cooling water supply device 9, and the vacuum pump outlet 63 is connected to the cooling water tank 8.

[0045] A water ring vacuum pump is a common structure in this field, comprising a housing, a motor, and an impeller (not shown in the figure). The impeller is eccentrically mounted inside the housing, which stores a sealing fluid. When the motor drives the impeller to rotate, the water stored in the housing rotates through the impeller to form a water ring. The water ring forms a sealed space between the blades adjacent to the impeller. Because the impeller is eccentrically mounted on the housing, its volume changes with the rotation of the impeller, enabling continuous intake, compression, and exhaust. Furthermore, the water ring vacuum pump can pump mixed gases containing liquid, preventing some vapor from condensing in the second chamber 3 and affecting the vacuum pump 6 or the vacuuming process.

[0046] By using cooling water as the sealing fluid and connecting the sealing fluid inlet 62 of the water ring vacuum pump to the cooling water supply device 9, the sealing fluid carried away by the vacuum pump outlet 63 can be replenished in a timely manner, ensuring the cooling effect of the sealing fluid on the vacuum pump 6 and the high-temperature steam drawn into the vacuum pump 6, as well as the normal operation of the vacuum pump 6.

[0047] It should be noted that the vacuum pump 6 and the heat exchanger 7 are connected in parallel. Specifically, part of the high-temperature steam flowing out of the second chamber 3 enters the heat exchanger 7 to exchange heat with the cooling water, while the other part is drawn by the vacuum pump 6 and exchanges heat with the cooling water, which serves as the sealing fluid, within the vacuum pump 6. After the high-temperature steam cools and liquefies, it is transported to the cooling water tank 8. By connecting the vacuum pump 6 and the heat exchanger 7 in parallel, the efficiency of condensing the high-temperature steam into liquid and transporting it to the cooling water tank 8 is improved, thereby reducing the vacuuming step time. This shortens the overall time for repeating the vacuuming and steam replacement steps, thus improving the sterilization efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0048] Furthermore, during the inflation step, while steam is supplied to the first chamber 2 via the steam supply unit 4, sterile air is simultaneously supplied to the second chamber 3. At this time, the cooling water supply device 9 is turned on, and the heat exchanger water supply valve 75 is turned off. Specifically, during the inflation step, sterile air is supplied to the second chamber 3 to replace the original room temperature air in the second chamber 3. At this time, the gas flowing out of the second chamber gas outlet 31 is room temperature air. By turning on the cooling water supply device 9, sealing fluid is provided to the vacuum pump 6, allowing the vacuum pump 6 to extract the room temperature air from the second chamber 3. During the inflation step and the initial vacuuming step, the gas extracted from the second chamber 3 is room temperature air or sterile air at a lower temperature, which does not require cooling and heat exchange through the heat exchanger 7. At this time, the heat exchanger water supply valve 75 is turned off, saving cooling water consumption and improving the overall energy utilization rate of the steam sterilization device.

[0049] In all vacuuming steps except the initial vacuuming step, the cooling water supply device 9 and the heat exchanger water supply valve 75 are simultaneously turned on. The gas extracted from the second chamber 3 at this time is the high-temperature steam supplied from the first chamber 2 to the second chamber 3 during the steam replacement step. By simultaneously turning on the cooling water supply device 9 and the heat exchanger water supply valve 75, some of the high-temperature steam enters the heat exchanger 7 to exchange heat with the cooling water, while the other part is extracted by the vacuum pump 6 and exchanges heat with the cooling water (which serves as a sealing fluid) in the vacuum pump 6. This improves the efficiency of condensing the high-temperature steam into liquid and transporting it to the cooling water tank 8, thereby reducing the vacuuming step time. This shortens the overall time for repeating the vacuuming and steam replacement steps, improving the sterilization efficiency of the steam sterilization device.

[0050] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A steam sterilization device, characterized in that, include: The housing includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, the inner cylinder being disposed inside the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder forming a first chamber, the interior of the inner cylinder forming a second chamber, the second chamber being used to contain objects to be sterilized, and the housing being configured as a pressure-resistant container capable of withstanding at least 0.4 MPa. A steam supply unit is connected to the first chamber, and the steam supply unit includes a pressure regulating valve; An inner cylinder steam supply valve is installed in the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe, which connects the first chamber and the second chamber; A vacuum pump is connected to the second chamber; The controller is configured to: in the step of replacing the air in the second chamber with steam, after adjusting the air pressure in the first chamber to above 0.4 MPa using the pressure regulating valve, open the inner and outer cylinder connecting pipe to introduce steam from the first chamber into the second chamber.

2. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to perform the following steps: In the inflation step, the steam supply unit supplies steam to the first chamber and uses the pressure regulating valve to adjust the pressure of the first chamber to a first pressure, which is greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa. In the vacuuming step, the pressure in the first chamber is adjusted or maintained at the first pressure, and the vacuum pump evacuates the pressure in the second chamber to below the specified pressure. In the steam replacement step, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is opened to supply steam from the first chamber to the second chamber. When the pressure in the first chamber drops below the pressure threshold, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is closed, and the process returns to the vacuuming step.

3. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure threshold is greater than or equal to 0.35 MPa.

4. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The steam supply unit also includes a pressure sensor and a solenoid valve. The pressure sensor detects the air pressure in the first chamber, and the solenoid valve opens or closes according to the detection result of the pressure sensor.

5. The steam sterilization apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, After performing multiple cycles of the steam replacement step and the vacuuming step, when the inner cylinder temperature reaches above a specified temperature threshold, the following is performed: In the steam supply step, the inner cylinder steam supply valve is opened to supply steam from the first chamber to the second chamber, and the pressure in the second chamber is adjusted to a pressure range of 0.29-0.31 MPa.

6. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Following the steam supply step, the following is also included: The sterilization step involves maintaining the pressure in the second chamber within the range of 0.29-0.31 MPa and the temperature in the second chamber within the range of 133-135°C, thereby sterilizing the objects to be sterilized within the second chamber.

7. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: A heat exchanger, wherein the hot side inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the gas outlet of the second chamber, and the cold side inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a cooling water supply device via a heat exchanger water supply valve; The heat exchanger has a cooling water tank, and both its hot-side outlet and cold-side outlet are connected to the cooling water tank.

8. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The vacuum pump is a water ring vacuum pump. The inlet of the water ring vacuum pump is connected to the outlet of the second chamber, the sealing liquid inlet is connected to the cooling water supply device, and the outlet of the water ring vacuum pump is connected to the cooling water tank.

9. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 8, characterized in that, During the inflation step, sterile air is supplied to the second chamber, the cooling water supply device is turned on, and the heat exchanger water supply valve is turned off.

10. The steam sterilization apparatus as described in claim 8, characterized in that, In all vacuuming steps except for the initial vacuuming step, the cooling water supply device and the heat exchanger water supply valve are opened.

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