Removal apparatus and removal method for reactor

Abstract

The present invention aims to safely remove a conveying mechanism disposed inside a reaction vessel. The removal device of the present invention is used to remove the conveying mechanism (13) from a reaction apparatus (10), which includes: a reaction vessel (11) for reacting a processed material to obtain a product; and a conveying mechanism (13) disposed inside the reaction vessel (11) for conveying the processed material. The removal device (30) includes: a receiving container (31) hermetically connected to the reaction vessel (11); and a connecting member (32) connected to the conveying mechanism (13) within the receiving container (31); the removal device (30) moves the connecting member (32) to remove the conveying mechanism (13) from the reaction vessel (11) and receive it inside the receiving container (31).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a removal device and a removal method in a reaction apparatus. [Previous Technology]

[0002] There exists a reaction apparatus that produces desired products by subjecting a powdery or particulate material to a predetermined atmosphere. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a reaction apparatus comprising: a screw feeder body serving as a pressure reaction vessel; a catalyst supply unit for introducing a catalyst into the interior of the screw feeder body; and a low-grade hydrocarbon supply unit for introducing low-grade hydrocarbons into the interior of the screw feeder body.

[0003] This reaction apparatus includes: a screw for conveying nanocarbon generated by the thermal decomposition of a catalyst and lower hydrocarbons; a solid discharge section for discharging the catalyst and nanocarbon conveyed by the screw; and a gas discharge section for discharging the generated hydrogen gas to the outside of the feeder body. In this reaction apparatus, the nanocarbon that grows over time, along with the used catalyst, is continuously discharged to the outside of the reaction vessel, and a continuous reaction is initiated by supplying an equal amount of unused catalyst. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-290682. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] The reaction apparatus described above, equipped with a conveying mechanism for transporting the products to the interior of the reaction vessel, is sometimes used to produce highly reactive products. As an example of a highly reactive product, battery materials constituting all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries can be cited. Battery materials are, for example, solid electrolytes and positive electrode active materials containing sulfur and lithium in at least a portion of their composition. Furthermore, battery materials are, for example, negative electrode materials containing metallic lithium in at least a portion of their composition. On the other hand, these battery materials are known to be highly reactive. For example, solid electrolytes and positive electrode active materials containing sulfur and lithium in at least a portion of their composition may react with moisture in the atmosphere to produce toxic hydrogen sulfide. Furthermore, negative electrode materials containing metallic lithium in at least a portion of their composition may react with moisture or oxygen in the atmosphere to ignite or deteriorate. Due to these circumstances, when testing highly reactive battery materials in laboratories, a glove box with a controlled atmosphere is used. For example, the interior of the glove box is an environment where the dew point temperature is controlled to below -60 degrees Celsius and the moisture content in the air is extremely low. In addition, the interior of the glove box is controlled to be an environment with extremely low oxygen concentration by using inert gases such as nitrogen and argon.

[0006] In order to mass-produce the aforementioned highly reactive battery material, the inventors developed a reaction apparatus that further improves upon the reaction apparatus described in Patent Document 1. On the other hand, after the highly reactive battery material is manufactured, it is possible to remove the conveying mechanism from the reaction apparatus for maintenance. However, when the conveying mechanism is removed into the atmosphere, it is difficult to safely remove the conveying mechanism because the battery material attached to the conveying mechanism reacts with moisture and oxygen in the atmosphere.

[0007] The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides a removal device and removal method that can safely remove the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel.

[0008] The removal device of the present invention is used to remove the conveying mechanism from the reaction apparatus, the reaction apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel for reacting an input processing material to obtain a product; and the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel and conveying the processing material; the removal device comprising: a receiving container hermetically connected to the reaction vessel; and a connecting member connected to the conveying mechanism in the receiving container; the removal device moves the connecting member and removes the conveying mechanism from the reaction vessel and receives it inside the receiving container.

[0009] The removal method of the present invention is used to remove the conveying mechanism from a reaction apparatus, the reaction apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel for reacting an input processing material to obtain a product; and the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel and for conveying the processing material; the removal method comprises: connecting a receiving container to the reaction vessel in an airtight manner; connecting a connecting member to the conveying mechanism in the receiving container; and moving the connecting member to remove the conveying mechanism from the reaction vessel and receiving it inside the receiving container.

[0010] According to the present invention, the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel can be safely removed.

Implementation Method

[0012] The present invention will now be described through embodiments thereof, but the invention claimed in the claims is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, all the contents described in the embodiments for solving the problem are not necessarily necessary as means to solve the problem. For clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been appropriately omitted and simplified. Additionally, in each drawing, the same symbol is used to denote the same element, and repeated descriptions are omitted as necessary. Furthermore, in the following description, the positional relationships indicated by terms such as "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "axis," "center," "horizontal," and "orthogonal" are based on the positional relationships shown in the drawings and are intended to facilitate the explanation of this embodiment; they should not be construed as limitations on this embodiment.

[0013] First, the reaction device of the extraction device in the application embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the reaction device 10 of the extraction device in the application embodiment. Figure 1 is a side view of the reaction device 10, which is shown in a partially cut-off state for ease of understanding.

[0014] The reaction apparatus 10 is, for example, an apparatus for producing a product by applying predetermined physical stimuli to the processed material. The type and state of the processed material are not particularly limited; it can be an inorganic substance such as a metal oxide or metal sulfide containing lithium as one component, or an organic substance such as a hydrocarbon. The processed material can be a solid such as a powder, or a fluid such as a liquid or gas. Furthermore, the processed material may undergo intermediate processes during the transformation into a product. The form or state of the intermediate is not particularly limited, but the intermediate can be, for example, a product of each reaction when two or more reactions are carried out in stages. In this case, the intermediate refers to, for example, an anhydrous compound generated by heating a hydrated compound. Alternatively, the intermediate refers to a sintered body formed by the growth or sintering of at least a portion of the processed material's grains. The intermediate refers to a state in which at least a portion of the processed material has been liquefied or vaporized. The intermediate can also be in forms or states other than those described above.

[0015] Physical stimuli are any means used in the process of transforming a processed material into a product, without particular limitation, such as temperature changes like heating or cooling. Physical stimuli refer to stress transmission, such as stirring, mixing, kneading, or pulverizing. Physical stimuli refer to reactions, such as those involving the donate and receive of electrons or free radicals. Physical stimuli refer to contact, for example, with a catalyst.

[0016] There are no particular restrictions on the type or state of the products. The products can be solids such as powders or granules, or fluids such as liquids or gases. In addition, the products can also be mixtures containing components other than the products, such as catalysts and conveying auxiliary components. The products can also be mixtures containing two or more compounds, such as a main product and a byproduct.

[0017] In the extraction device of the embodiment, the reaction device 10 is particularly useful when manufacturing highly reactive products, such as sulfide-based solid electrolytes used as all-solid-state lithium-ion battery materials.

[0018] The reaction apparatus 10 mainly comprises a reaction vessel 11, a temperature control zone 12, a conveying mechanism 13, a first fluid control zone 14, a second fluid control zone 15, a supply device 16, and a drive device 17. The reaction vessel 11 is a cylindrical component and has: a supply port 18 for receiving the supplied processed material; and a discharge port 19 for discharging the product. The reaction vessel 11 has an intermediate portion between the supply port 18 and the discharge port 19. The number of supply ports 18 can be one or more. Furthermore, the discharge port 19 can be located near the end of the reaction vessel 11 or at a location other than near the end. The discharge port 19 can also be located between two supply ports 18. In the process of obtaining the product from the processed material, the number of reaction apparatuses 10 can be one or more. That is, the reaction apparatus 10 can be a plurality of reaction apparatuses 10 connected in series or in parallel to carry out a plurality of reactions.

[0019] The reaction vessel 11 shown in FIG. 1 receives the processed material R10 from the supply port 18. The reaction apparatus 10 transports the processed material R10 received by the reaction vessel 11 toward the discharge port 19 by means of a conveying mechanism 13 provided inside the reaction vessel 11. That is, the processed material R10 supplied to the reaction vessel 11 moves toward the discharge port 19 through the intermediate section. The reaction apparatus 10 produces the product R11 from the raw material R10 by passing the processed material R10 through the intermediate section of the reaction vessel 11. Moreover, the conveying mechanism 13 discharges the produced product R11 from the discharge port 19.

[0020] There are no particular limitations on the material used to form the reaction vessel 11, but it is desirable that the reaction vessel 11 is formed of a material that allows for temperature changes during the production of the product and allows the reaction vessel 11 to come into contact with the substance supplied to the interior of the vessel. The reaction vessel 11 can be formed, for example, by alloys, ceramics, carbon, and composite materials containing two or more of the above materials. Alloys are metallic components whose composition contains at least one of alloying elements such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, titanium, iron, copper, aluminum, silicon, boron, and carbon. Ceramic components are ceramic components such as oxides such as alumina or zirconium oxide, carbides such as silicon carbide or titanium carbide, nitrides such as silicon nitride or titanium nitride, or borides such as chromium boride. In addition, carbon components are carbon components such as crystalline graphite or fiber-reinforced graphite.

[0021] The conveying mechanism 13 can be any mechanism capable of conveying processed materials and products; its shape and conveying method are not limited. The conveying mechanism 13 can be a screw, installed inside the reaction vessel 11 extending from the supply port side to the discharge port side. The conveying mechanism 13 can also be a rotating drum, installed inside the reaction vessel 11 extending from the supply port side to the discharge port side. The conveying mechanism 13 can also be a belt conveyor, installed inside the reaction vessel 11 extending from the supply port side to the discharge port side. The conveying mechanism 13 can also be an air supply device installed inside the reaction vessel 11. The conveying mechanism 13 can also be a vibration generating device installed inside the reaction vessel 11. The conveying mechanism 13 can also be a mechanism other than those described above.

[0022] The size of the conveying mechanism 13 is not particularly limited; for example, it may be shorter than the overall length of the reaction vessel 11. The material used to form the conveying mechanism 13 is not particularly limited, but the conveying mechanism 13, like the reaction vessel 11, is preferably formed of a material that allows for temperature changes during product manufacturing and allows the conveying mechanism 13 to contact the substances supplied to the interior of the vessel. The conveying mechanism 13 can be formed, for example, of alloys, ceramics, carbon, and composite materials containing two or more of the above materials.

[0023] The conveying mechanism 13 shown in Figure 1 is, as an example, a screw, and is pivotally supported at both ends of the reaction vessel 11. However, the support positions of the conveying mechanism 13 are not limited to the two ends. The conveying mechanism 13 is connected to the drive device 17 at the supply port 18. The drive device 17 has a predetermined rotating mechanism, such as a motor, to rotate the conveying mechanism 13. The drive device 17 can be a drive device that sets the conveying speed of the conveying mechanism 13 to be variable. In this case, the drive device 17 can be a motor with a variable revolution per minute (rpm), or a combination of a motor with a fixed rotation speed and a reducer with a variable reduction ratio.

[0024] In Figure 1, the screw rotates to transport the processed material R10 supplied from the supply port 18 toward the delivery port 19. In the example shown in Figure 1, a spiral protrusion 131 is formed around the shaft of the conveying mechanism 13 extending in the left-right direction of Figure 1. This protrusion 131 rotates while contacting the processed material R10, thereby the conveying mechanism 13 transports the processed material R10 from the left side to the right side of Figure 1.

[0025] The cross-sectional shapes of the reaction vessel 11 and the conveying mechanism 13 in the plane orthogonal to the axis can also have a combination defined by a Reuleaux fixed-width figure. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 131 of the conveying mechanism 13 has a shape formed by combining a plurality of arcs corresponding to the Reuleaux fixed-width figure. For example, when the cross-sectional shape of the reaction vessel 11 is circular, the cross-sectional shape of the conveying mechanism 13 can be a Reuleaux fixed-width figure composed of three arcs.

[0026] Furthermore, the shape of the protrusion 131 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the shape of the protrusion 131 is not limited to this. The protrusion 131 may also have different shapes depending on each region of the reaction vessel 11. For example, the spacing of the spirals of the protrusion 131 may also vary depending on each region of the reaction vessel 11. In addition, the spiral shape of the protrusion 131 may not be one, or may be two or more. Furthermore, the protrusion 131 may also have a portion that is not spiral-shaped. In this way, the reaction apparatus 10 can set the moving speed and movement of the objects inside the reaction vessel 11 according to each region. The conveying mechanism 13 not only conveys the objects inside the reaction vessel 11, but also has at least one of the functions of stirring, mixing, kneading or crushing the objects.

[0027] Temperature control zone 12 includes a temperature control device, that is, a heating device or a cooling device, and controls the temperature of the reaction vessel 11 at a predetermined position in the middle section between the supply port 18 and the outlet 19. The temperature control zone 12 shown in FIG. 1 has a heating device arranged around the cylindrical reaction vessel 11 in the middle section. The heating device is, for example, any heater capable of temperature control, including a sheath heater, a coil heater, or a ceramic heater. The heating device performs heating in a range, for example, from room temperature to approximately 900 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, in temperature control zone 12, different temperatures can be set for each region of the middle section of the reaction vessel 11 along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 13 described later. Temperature control zone 12 can control the temperature changes of the processed material R10 in the first fluid control zone 14 and the second fluid control zone 15 described later.

[0028] Furthermore, the temperature control area 12 may include a temperature control unit for controlling the heating or cooling device. For example, the temperature control area 12 may also have temperature sensors such as thermocouples, thermistors, and radiation thermometers at predetermined locations on the reaction vessel 11 for monitoring the temperature. In addition, for example, when the reaction vessel 11 has a heating device that heats by allowing current to flow through it, temperature control can also be performed by monitoring current values, electrical values, etc.

[0029] Additionally, the temperature control zone 12 may also be configured to heat or cool by circulating water or oil. Furthermore, the temperature control zone 12 may also be configured to use a Peltier element or a blower for cooling. With the above configuration, the temperature control zone 12 can be set with various temperature distributions along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 13 within the reaction vessel 11.

[0030] The first fluid control region 14 is disposed between the supply port 18 and the second fluid control region 15 in the reaction vessel 11. The first fluid control region 14 is a configuration that allows the first fluid to pass through the reaction vessel 11 within a predetermined area in the middle. For example, the first fluid control region 14 includes a first fluid supply pipe 141, a first valve 142, and a first fluid discharge pipe 143. The first fluid supply pipe 141 supplies the first fluid to the reaction vessel 11. The first valve 142 adjusts the flow rate of the first fluid supplied by the first fluid supply pipe 141. The first fluid discharge pipe 143 discharges the fluid in the first fluid control region 14 to the outside of the reaction vessel 11.

[0031] With the above configuration, the reaction apparatus 10 reacts the processed material R10 with a first fluid in the first fluid control area 14 to generate an intermediate. The conveying mechanism 13 in the reaction apparatus 10 is driven to convey the processed material R10 and further bring the first fluid into contact with the processed material R10, thereby promoting the reaction based on the first fluid. Furthermore, the reaction apparatus 10 discharges the reacted fluid to the outside of the first fluid control area 14. In addition, the first fluid can be any fluid with fluidity; the state and form of the fluid are not limited. That is, the first fluid can be a gas, a liquid, or a slurry formed by dispersing powder or granules in a liquid. The components constituting the first fluid can be one or more. In other words, the first fluid can also be a mixture of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, and argon.

[0032] The second fluid control region 15 is disposed between the first fluid control region 14 and the outlet 19 in the reaction vessel 11. The second fluid control region 15 is a configuration in which the second fluid passes through the reaction vessel 11 in a region different from the first fluid control region 14 in the middle section. For example, the second fluid control region 15 includes a second fluid supply pipe 151, a second valve 152, and a second fluid discharge pipe 153. The second fluid supply pipe 151 supplies the second fluid to the reaction vessel 11. The second valve 152 adjusts the flow rate of the second fluid supplied by the second fluid supply pipe 151. The second fluid discharge pipe 153 discharges the fluid in the second fluid control region 15 to the outside of the reaction vessel 11. In addition, the second fluid can be any fluid with fluidity, and the state and form of the fluid are not limited. That is, the second fluid can be a gas, a liquid, or a slurry formed by dispersing powder or granules in a liquid. The components constituting the second fluid can be one or more. In other words, the second fluid can also be a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen.

[0033] With the above configuration, the reaction apparatus 10, within the second fluid control region 15, allows the intermediate material that has passed through the first fluid control region 14 to react with the second fluid to generate product R11. The conveying mechanism 13 in the reaction apparatus 10 is driven while conveying the intermediate material and further bringing the second fluid into contact with the intermediate material, thereby promoting the reaction based on the second fluid. Furthermore, the reaction apparatus 10 discharges the reacted fluid outside the second fluid control region 15.

[0034] In addition, the reaction apparatus 10 has a control device that controls the components shown in FIG1. ​​FIG2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 40 of the reaction apparatus 10 with the extraction device 30 installed in the embodiment. As shown in FIG2, the control device 40 has a temperature control unit 41, a first fluid control unit 42, a second fluid control unit 43, a third fluid control unit 44, a conveying mechanism drive control unit 45, an overall control unit 46, and a storage unit 47.

[0035] Each component of the control device 40 can be implemented using dedicated hardware. Furthermore, some or all of each component can also be implemented using general-purpose or dedicated circuits, processors, or combinations thereof. Some or all of each component of each device can also be implemented using a combination of the aforementioned circuits and programs. As a processor, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) can be used.

[0036] The temperature control unit 41 controls the temperature of the reaction vessel 11 in the temperature control area 12. For example, the temperature control unit 41 heats, maintains a constant temperature, or cools the reaction vessel 11 by means of the temperature control device based on the output of one or more temperature sensors (not shown) used to control the temperature.

[0037] Figure 3 shows the state in which the extraction device of Embodiment 1 is installed in the reaction vessel. The first fluid control unit 42 controls the flow of the first fluid in the first fluid control region 14. The first fluid control unit 42 includes control of the first valve 142 for pumping the first fluid. The second fluid control unit 43 controls the flow of the second fluid in the second fluid control region 15. The second fluid control unit 43 includes control of the second valve 152 for pumping the second fluid. The third fluid control unit 44 controls the flow of the third fluid in the third fluid control region 33 inside the receiving container 31 that constitutes the extraction device 30 described later. The third fluid control unit 44 includes control of the inflow valve 332 and the discharge valve 334 for allowing the third fluid to flow. The extraction device 30 will be described in detail later.

[0038] The conveying mechanism drive control unit 45 controls the operation of the drive unit 17. For example, the conveying mechanism drive control unit 45 drives the motor of the drive unit 17 based on the output of a rotation sensor (not shown) used to monitor the motor speed. In addition, for example, the overall control unit 46 performs an overall operation connecting the various functions based on the temperature of the reaction vessel 11 supplied by the temperature control unit 41, such as issuing an operation command to the conveying mechanism drive control unit 45.

[0039] The storage unit 47 stores programs for enabling the reaction device 10 to perform the aforementioned functions. The storage unit 47 may include flash memory or non-volatile memory such as SSD (Solid State Drive). Furthermore, it may include an information input / output unit (not shown), which includes buttons, switches, or touch panels for receiving user inputs / outputs. The information input / output unit may include a display device for providing information to the user.

[0040] Furthermore, the configuration of the reaction apparatus 10 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, there may be two or more conveying mechanisms 13. That is, the reaction apparatus 10 may also have a plurality of conveying mechanisms 13 arranged in parallel. In addition, the reaction vessel 11 is not limited to being configured such that its central axis extends in the horizontal direction; the reaction vessel 11 may also be tilted relative to the horizontal direction at a predetermined angle. The reaction apparatus 10 has a first fluid control region 14 and a second fluid control region 15 in the middle section, but it may also be further configured to allow other fluids to pass through. That is, the reaction apparatus 10 may also have three or more fluid control regions. In addition, there may be fewer than two fluid control regions, or none at all.

[0041] In addition, as mentioned above, the conveying mechanism 13 can be any mechanism that can convey the processed material from the supply port 18 toward the delivery port 19, and it can be any other mechanism other than a screw.

[0042] In the example shown in FIG1, the reaction vessel 11 is configured such that its central axis extends horizontally and has a supply port 18 and a discharge port 19. A supply and drive unit 20 is detachably connected to the supply port 18 side. The supply and drive unit 20 includes: a supply device 16 for supplying the processed material; and a drive device 17 for driving the conveying mechanism 13.

[0043] A flange 21 is provided on the outer periphery of the supply port 18 side in the reaction vessel 11. Furthermore, a flange 22 is provided on the outer periphery of the supply and drive unit 20 opposite to the supply port 18. Both flanges 21 and 22 are provided with a plurality of screw holes (not shown) at predetermined intervals along the circumference. The supply and drive unit 20 can be connected to the reaction vessel 11 by screwing screws (not shown) into these screw holes. Additionally, it is desirable to further provide a sealing mechanism, such as a rubber O-ring, between flanges 21 and 22 to prevent the intrusion of external air. However, the connection method between the reaction vessel 11 and the supply and drive unit 20 is not limited to this.

[0044] A partition 23 is provided between the flange 21 of the reaction vessel 11 and the temperature control zone 12. The partition 23 is movable orthogonal to the central axis of the reaction vessel 11. By closing the partition 23, the space inside the reaction vessel 11 is blocked from the space outside the reaction vessel 11. That is, by closing the partition 23, substances existing outside the reaction vessel 11 are prevented from entering the interior of the reaction vessel 11. Alternatively, by closing the partition 23, toxic substances existing inside the reaction vessel 11 are prevented from being discharged to the exterior of the reaction vessel 11.

[0045] Any substance present outside the reaction vessel 11 can react with the products remaining inside the reaction vessel 11 to produce toxic substances, and the type is not limited. The substance present outside the reaction vessel 11 can be, for example, atmosphere, oxygen, or water vapor. The substance present outside the reaction vessel 11 can be, for example, a liquid such as water, or a solid such as potassium permanganate. The removal device 30 of this embodiment is used to remove the conveying mechanism 13 from the reaction vessel 11 as described above. Furthermore, the location of the partition 23 is not particularly limited, and it can be located outside the area between the flange 21 of the reaction vessel 11 and the temperature control zone 12. The removal device 30 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0046] [Embodiment 1] The extraction device of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG3. FIG3 is a diagram showing the state in which the extraction device 30 has been installed in the reaction vessel 11. In FIG3, the right side of the dotted chain line shows the configuration of the reaction device 10 with the supply and drive unit 20 removed, and the left side of the dotted chain line shows the configuration of the extraction device 30.

[0047] As shown in FIG3, the extraction device 30 has a receiving container 31, a connecting member 32, a third fluid control area 33, and a separator 34 as its main components. The third fluid control area 33 includes a third fluid supply pipe 331, an inflow valve 332, a third fluid discharge pipe 333, and a discharge valve 334. The receiving container 31 is hermetically connected to the supply port 18 side of the reaction vessel 11. In the example shown in FIG3, a flange 37 is provided on the side of the receiving container 31 opposite to the supply port 18 of the reaction vessel 11, and a sealing portion 38 is provided on the opposite side. The cylindrical portion 35 is integrally formed on the flange 37 and extends along the flange 37 to the reaction vessel 11 side.

[0048] A flange 36 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 35. Threaded holes are provided in the flange 36 at positions corresponding to the threaded holes of the flange 21. The extraction device 30 can be connected to the reaction vessel 11 by screwing screws (not shown) into the threaded holes of the flange 21 and flange 36. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a sealing mechanism, such as a rubber O-ring, between the flange 21 and flange 36 to prevent the intrusion of external air. However, the method of connecting the reaction vessel 11 and the extraction device 30 is not limited to this. The reaction vessel 11 and the extraction device 30 can also be connected by at least abutting against each other, or they can be connected without abutting against each other. That is, the reaction vessel 11 and the extraction device 30 can also be indirectly connected via a connecting clamp, a cover, or the like.

[0049] The containment container 31 is a component used to contain the conveying mechanism 13 after it has been pulled out from the reaction vessel 11. It is desirable that the containment container 31 be made of a material that allows contact with the processed items and products attached to the conveying mechanism 13 contained inside. For example, the containment container 31 may also be formed of a corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel or fluoropolymer. The containment container 31 may also be formed of the same material as the reaction vessel 11. One side of the containment container 31 is connected to the flange 37 by welding or the like, and the other side is connected to the sealing portion 38. The sealing portion 38 is configured to close one side of the opening of the containment container 31.

[0050] A partition 34 is provided in the cylindrical portion 35 between flanges 36 and 37. For example, the partition 34 includes a valve body that can move in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the conveying mechanism 13. The partition 34 switches between an open state and a closed state between the reaction vessel 11 and the containment vessel 31. By closing the partition 34, the internal space and the external space of the containment vessel 31 are blocked by the partition 34 and the sealing portion 38. That is, the partition 34 is a blocking mechanism used to block the space of the containment vessel 31, which contains the conveying mechanism 13, to prevent the intrusion of gas from the outside. In addition, as long as it can block the internal space of the containment vessel 31 to prevent the intrusion of gas from the outside, various forms can be used instead of the partition 34. For example, the partition 34 is a slide valve, a gate valve, etc.

[0051] Preferably, the receiving container 31 is expandable and contractible to conform to the shape of the conveying mechanism 13. For example, the receiving container 31 can vary its length to match the length of the conveying mechanism 13. In the example shown in FIG3, a bellows that can expand and contract along the axial direction of the conveying mechanism 13 is used as the receiving container 31. The bellows is a hollow cylindrical member with a curved and undulating shape. In addition, the receiving container 31 can also be composed of a plurality of cylinders connected in a telescoping shape. The receiving container 31 can also be an elastic member that can expand and contract, such as a rubber tube.

[0052] Inside the receiving container 31, a connecting member 32 for connecting with the conveying mechanism 13 is provided. For example, the connecting member 32 can be a clamping member and includes: an opening and closing member for the conveying mechanism 13 to be inserted; and a clamping screw provided on the opening and closing member. By tightening the clamping screw while the conveying mechanism 13 is inserted between the opening and closing members, the conveying mechanism 13 is connected to the clamping member. In addition, the connecting member 32 can also be operated by, for example, a motor, compressed air, or hydraulic pressure. That is, the connecting member 32 can also be powered. The connecting member 32 can also use a clamping mechanism, which is used to clamp the conveying mechanism 13 by hydraulic pressure and fix the conveying mechanism 13 by friction. Furthermore, the connecting member 32 can also be a structure capable of moving, extending, rotating, etc. For example, the connecting member 32 can also be structured such that, after the conveying mechanism 13 is inserted into the connecting member 32, the conveying mechanism 13 is fixed to the connecting member 32 by rotating it. Furthermore, a central member such as a hook or chain can be provided between the conveying mechanism 13 and the connecting member 32. The connecting member 32 can also have a control unit for receiving command signals to control the operation. The command signals can be transmitted via a wired connection using a cable to connect the control device for controlling the reaction device and the extraction device, or via a wireless method such as radio waves. The command signals can also be transmitted via a remote controller via a wired or wireless method.

[0053] The connecting member 32 is connected to the sealing part 38 on the side of the receiving container 31 opposite to the reaction container 11. As shown in FIG3, the connecting member 32 is connected to the conveying mechanism 13 in the retracted state of the receiving container 31. By changing the receiving container 31 from this state to the extended state, the connecting member 32 moves together with the receiving container 31, thereby pulling the conveying mechanism 13 out of the reaction container 11 and receiving it inside the receiving container 31.

[0054] The third fluid control zone 33 inside the containment container 31 includes a third fluid supply pipe 331, an inflow valve 332, a third fluid discharge pipe 333, and a discharge valve 334. The third fluid control zone 33 allows the third fluid to pass through the containment container 31. The third fluid supply pipe 331 is located between the partition 34 and the flange 37 of the cylindrical portion 35. The third fluid supply pipe 331 supplies the third fluid to the containment container 31. The inflow valve 332 adjusts the flow rate of the third fluid supplied by the third fluid supply pipe 331. The third fluid discharge pipe 333 discharges the fluid from the third fluid control zone to the outside of the containment container 31. The third fluid discharge pipe 333 is equipped with a discharge valve 334 for adjusting the discharge amount of the third fluid.

[0055] For example, the third fluid supply pipe 331 supplies inert gas to the interior of the containment container 31, thus creating an inert gas atmosphere inside the containment container 31. The inert gas system may be, for example, argon, helium, or nitrogen. As described above, by creating an inert gas atmosphere inside the containment container 31, the conveying mechanism 13 can be safely removed from the reaction vessel 11 even if highly reactive products adhere to it. Alternatively, the interior of the containment container 31 can be depressurized to create a vacuum atmosphere below atmospheric pressure, instead of creating an inert gas atmosphere inside the containment container 31. In this case, the removal device 30 may include a depressurization mechanism such as a rotary pump or a mechanical booster pump to depressurize the interior of the containment container 31. Furthermore, for example, after creating an atmosphere below atmospheric pressure inside the containment container 31 using a depressurization mechanism, inert gas may be pumped from the third fluid supply pipe 331 to the containment container 31, and the interior of the containment container 31 may be further created below atmospheric pressure using a depressurization mechanism. Furthermore, the above operations can be repeated as needed. In this manner, the internal atmosphere of the containment container 31 can be appropriately adjusted. Additionally, the third fluid supply pipe 331 may also be equipped with a detection device for detecting the internal atmosphere of the containment container 31. For example, the detection device may include a pressure gauge, a hygrometer, an oxygen concentration meter, and a hydrogen sulfide concentration meter.

[0056] Hereinafter, the removal method of the conveying mechanism 13 in Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5A to 5F. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the removal method of Embodiment 1. FIGS. 5A to 5F are process diagrams illustrating the removal method of Embodiment 1.

[0057] As shown in Figure 4, firstly, the interior of the containment container 31 is either set to a vacuum state or filled with inert gas (step S11). When the interior of the containment container 31 is filled with inert gas, the control device 40 can close the partition 34 and open the inflow valve 332 and the discharge valve 334, thereby supplying inert gas from the third fluid supply pipe 331. Furthermore, when the interior of the containment container 31 is set to a vacuum atmosphere, the control device 40 can close the partition 34 and depressurize the interior of the conveying mechanism 13 using a depressurization mechanism (not shown). In this way, when the containment container 31 is connected to the reaction container 11, even if the substance adhering to the conveying mechanism 13 is highly reactive, it can prevent the substance from reacting with the atmosphere, thus enabling a safer connection between the extraction device 30 and the reaction container 11.

[0058] Next, while supplying inert gas to the interior of the reaction vessel 11, the supply and drive unit 20 is removed (step S12). For example, the control device can set the first valve 142 to the open state and supply inert gas to the reaction vessel 11 from the first fluid supply pipe 141. In addition, at this time, the partition 23 is in the open state. This state is shown in FIG5A. In the example shown in FIG5A, the left side of the reaction vessel 11 is made open by removing the supply and drive unit 20.

[0059] Then, the containment container 31 is hermetically connected to the reaction container 11 (step S13). Specifically, the control device 40 connects the containment container 31 to the reaction container 11, which has been opened after the supply and drive unit 20 has been removed, while the first valve 142, the discharge valve 334, and the inflow valve 332 are in the open state and inert gas is supplied from the first fluid supply pipe 141. At this time, the partition 23 and the partition 34 are in the open state, and the inflow valve 332 is in the closed state. The hermetically connected reaction container 11 and containment container 31 can be achieved, for example, by screwing screws into the screw holes of the flange 21 and the flange 36. This state is shown in FIG5B. As indicated by the arrow from left to right in FIG5B, the containment container 31 is connected from the left side of the reaction container 11. At this time, the side of the conveying mechanism 13 that was originally connected to the supply and drive unit 20 is inserted into the interior of the containment container 31. Furthermore, the method of airtightly connecting the reaction vessel 11 and the containment container 31 is not limited to the above-described method, and other methods may also be used. As long as the reaction vessel 11 and the containment container 31 are airtightly connected, they may be indirectly connected via clamps or sleeves without having any parts that touch each other. The airtightness of the connection between the reaction vessel 11 and the containment container 31 can also be confirmed by an airtightness test using a detection gas such as nitrogen or helium. For example, a detection gas may be supplied to the reaction vessel 11 or the containment container 31, and the airtightness is considered to be achieved when no leakage of the detection gas is observed in the connection between the reaction vessel 11 and the containment container 31.

[0060] As described above, in step S11, since the interior of the containment container 31 is either in a vacuum state or filled with inert gas, even if the flow rate of the inert gas supplied by the first fluid supply pipe 141 is insufficient, the possibility of atmospheric entry into the interior of the reaction container 11 can still be suppressed, further enhancing safety. Furthermore, if the inert gas supplied in step S12 fills the interior of the containment container 31 at a flow rate sufficient to prevent substances adhering to the conveying mechanism 13 during the connection of the containment container 31 from reacting with the atmosphere, step S11 may be omitted. Afterwards, the containment container 31 and the reaction container 11 are hermetically connected (step S13).

[0061] Then, inside the receiving container 31, the connecting member 32 is connected to the conveying mechanism 13 (step S14). For example, when a clamping member having an opening and closing member and a clamping screw is used as the connecting member 32, the conveying mechanism 13 can be connected to the clamping member by inserting the conveying mechanism 13 into the opening and closing member and tightening the clamping screw. The state at this time is shown in FIG5C. As shown in FIG5C, when the conveying mechanism 13 is connected to the connecting member 32, the discharge valve 334 is in the closed state.

[0062] Then, while stretching the containment container 31, the connecting member 32 is moved to remove the conveying mechanism 13 from the reaction container 11 (step S15). This state is shown in FIG. 5D. As shown in FIG. 5D, by stretching the reaction container 11, the connecting member 32 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow from right to left. Along with the movement of the connecting member 32, the conveying mechanism 13 is removed from the reaction container 11. Afterwards, after the conveying mechanism 13 is contained inside the containment container 31, the partition 34 is closed to seal the containment container 31 (step S16). Furthermore, the partition 23 is set to the closed state, thus sealing the internal space of the reaction container 11. This prevents the products inside the reaction container 11 from being exposed to the atmosphere.

[0063] Then, the removal device 30 is removed from the reaction apparatus 10 (step S17). For example, the connection between the reaction vessel 11 and the containment container 31 is released by removing the screws screwed into the screw holes of the flange 21 and the flange 36. This state is shown in FIG5F. As described above, according to Embodiment 1, the transfer mechanism 13 can be contained inside the space of the sealed containment container 31 without exposing the transfer mechanism 13 to the atmosphere. In this way, even if a highly reactive substance adheres to the transfer mechanism 13, the transfer mechanism 13 can still be operated safely.

[0064] Additionally, as shown in FIG5F, the conveying mechanism 13 can also be cleaned while it is housed within the housing container 31. That is, the housing container 31 can also be used as a cleaning container for cleaning the conveying mechanism 13. For example, when sulfur-containing compounds adhere to the conveying mechanism 13, water can be supplied to the housing container 31 while the conveying mechanism 13 is housed inside the housing container 31. The hydrogen sulfide generated by the reaction between the sulfur-containing compounds and water can be discharged from the third fluid discharge pipe 333.

[0065] As described above, the connecting member 32 connected to the conveying mechanism 13 is rotatable. That is, the connecting member 32 functions as a rotating mechanism that enables the conveying mechanism 13 to rotate. For example, the connecting member 32 can rotate the connected conveying mechanism 13 according to the operation of the control unit. When the conveying mechanism 13 is cleaned, the connecting member 32 rotates due to the interior of the receiving container 31, thereby causing the conveying mechanism 13 connected to the connecting member 32 to rotate. In this way, cleaning can be promoted by rotating the connecting member 32 during the cleaning of the conveying mechanism 13.

[0066] Once hydrogen sulfide is no longer produced, water, which serves as the cleaning fluid, is drained from the inside of the containment container 31, and dried inert gas is supplied from the third fluid supply pipe 331 to dry the conveying mechanism 13. Therefore, the containment container 31 may also have a discharge section for draining the cleaning fluid after cleaning. The cleaned conveying mechanism 13 can be removed to the outside of the containment container 31, or it can be installed in the reaction apparatus 10 while still contained inside the containment container 31. As described above, the removal device 30 of the embodiment is not only used for removing the conveying mechanism 13, but can also be used for various other procedures including cleaning the conveying mechanism 13.

[0067] In addition, the removal device 30 may also be equipped with various detection devices for monitoring the internal state of the containment container 31. Examples of such detection devices include thermometers, hygrometers, gas concentration meters capable of detecting hydrogen sulfide, and photographic devices for observing the internal state of the containment container 31.

[0068] The aforementioned conveying mechanism 13 ranges from lightweight models with a length of approximately 20cm to 30cm to models with a length of several meters and a weight of several hundred kg. Therefore, when stretching the containment container 31, it is preferable to support the containment container 31. With the containment container 31 supported by a support member on its lower side, the containment container 31 can be stretched using heavy conveying machinery such as a crane, so that the connecting member 32 can be moved. That is, the heavy conveying machinery becomes a drive mechanism for moving the connecting member. For example, in FIG3, a support member (not shown) for supporting the containment container 31 can be provided between the flange 37 of the cylinder 35 and the partition 34. Furthermore, by using a crane to support the vicinity of the discharge valve 334 on the left side of the sealing part 38 and moving the crane to the left side, the containment container 31 can be stretched. In this way, when the conveying mechanism 13 is pulled out from the reaction vessel 11, it can be supported to prevent it from falling downwards.

[0069] The heavy machinery for conveying is not limited to cranes, but may also be a conveying trolley with wheels, or a winch that winds up steel wire via pulleys. The control unit of the heavy machinery for conveying can also be activated via a controller of the reaction device 10 or the retrieval device 30, synchronized with the control unit of the retrieval device 30 or the control unit 40 of the reaction device 10. Furthermore, when the conveying mechanism 13 is lightweight, the receiving container 31 can also be manually extended or retracted.

[0070] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, an example was described where the central axis of the cylindrical reaction vessel 11 coincides with the rotation axis of the conveying mechanism 13, and the receiving container 31 extends and retracts along this axis; however, this is not a limitation. The receiving container 31 can extend and retract to match the shape of the conveying mechanism 13. For example, when the reaction vessel 11 is curved and the conveying mechanism 13 has a curve to match the shape of the reaction vessel 11, the receiving container 31 can extend and retract to match the curve of the conveying mechanism 13. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the reaction vessel 11 is not limited to a circle or an ellipse. The cross-sectional shape of the reaction vessel 11 can also be a square or a rectangle, or a polygon other than a quadrilateral. [Embodiment 2] Figure 6 shows the state in which the extraction device of Embodiment 2 is installed in the reaction apparatus. The difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 is that the receiving container 31 cannot extend or retract. As shown in Figure 6, the receiving container 31A is a cylindrical component with a length corresponding to the length of the conveying mechanism 13. The containment container 31A is formed of a material that allows contact with the processed items and products attached to the conveying mechanism 13 to be contained inside, such as stainless steel, fluoropolymer, or other corrosion-resistant materials. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the containment container 31A is not limited to circular or elliptical. The cross-sectional shape of the containment container 31A can also be a quadrilateral such as a square or rectangle, or a polygon other than a quadrilateral.

[0071] In the example shown in FIG. 6, inside the containment container 31A, the connecting member 32 is configured to move from the right side to the left side of the containment container 31A. With the connecting member 32 located on the right side of the containment container 31A, the conveying mechanism 13 is connected to the connecting member 32. After connecting the conveying mechanism 13 to the connecting member 32, the connecting member 32 and the conveying mechanism 13 are moved together to the left side of the containment container 31, thereby allowing the conveying mechanism 13 to be pulled out from the reaction container 11.

[0072] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Although the supply and drive unit 20 is removed to connect the extraction device 30 in the above example, it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG7, a removable cover 50 may be provided on the side of the reaction vessel 11 where the outlet 19 is provided, and the receiving container 31 may be connected to the reaction vessel 11 with the cover 50 removed. Specifically, the outlet 19 side of the reaction vessel 11 is provided with a cover 50, a separator 51, and a bearing 52. The cover 50 side of the conveying mechanism 13 is provided with a stop 53. The conveying mechanism 13 is inserted into the bearing 52 such that the stop 53 contacts the bearing 52 and is supported in a rotatable manner. The separator 51 is provided between the cover 50 and the bearing 52. In this case, in FIG8, the receiving container 31 is connected to the right side of the reaction vessel 11, and the direction in which the conveying mechanism 13 is pulled out is to the right. Additionally, as shown in Figure 9, an anti-rotation member 54 can be provided around the bearing 52. The anti-rotation member 54 includes a protrusion 55, which engages with a recess (not shown) located on the inner circumference of the reaction vessel 11. The anti-rotation member 54 prevents the bearing 52 from rotating as the conveying mechanism 13 rotates. Furthermore, the anti-rotation member 54 may also be in the shape of an involute spline. Additionally, after the conveying mechanism 13 is housed inside the receiving container 31, the partition 51 can be closed when the connection between the receiving container 31 and the reaction vessel 11 is released.

[0073] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-094429 filed on June 10, 2022, and all disclosures of that application are incorporated herein by reference. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0011] [Figure 1] is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a reaction apparatus using the extraction device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] is a functional block diagram of a control device that controls the reaction apparatus to which the extraction device of Embodiment 1 is installed. [Figure 3] is a diagram showing the state in which the extraction device of Embodiment 1 is installed in the reaction vessel. [Figure 4] is a flowchart illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5A] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5B] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5C] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5D] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5E] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5F] is a process diagram illustrating the extraction method of Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] is a diagram showing the state in which the extraction device of Embodiment 2 is installed in the reaction vessel. [Figure 7] is a diagram illustrating other examples of the configuration of a reaction apparatus using the extraction device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] shows the state in which the extraction device of Embodiment 1 has been installed in the reaction vessel shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9] is a cross-sectional view of the bearing shown in Figure 7 cut along line IX-IX.

Claims

1. A removal device for removing a conveying mechanism from a reaction apparatus; the reaction apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel for reacting a processed material to obtain a product; and the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel and conveying the processed material; the removal device comprising: a receiving container hermetically connected to the reaction vessel; and a connecting member connected to the conveying mechanism; the removal device moving the connecting member and removing the conveying mechanism from the reaction vessel and receiving it inside the receiving container.

2. The retrieval device as described in claim 1, wherein the aforementioned containment container has a retractable portion.

3. The removal device as described in claim 2, wherein the aforementioned connecting member is connected to the aforementioned conveying mechanism in the retracted state of the aforementioned receiving container; by setting the aforementioned receiving container to a stretched state, the aforementioned conveying mechanism is removed from the aforementioned reaction vessel and received into the interior of the aforementioned receiving container.

4. The retrieval device as described in claim 1, further comprising: a blocking mechanism that blocks at least a portion of the space containing the aforementioned container housing the aforementioned conveying mechanism.

5. The retrieval device as described in claim 4, comprising: a decompression mechanism capable of decompressing the interior of the aforementioned containment container; or an inert gas supply mechanism capable of supplying inert gas to the interior of the aforementioned containment container.

6. The extraction device as described in claim 1, further comprising: a control unit for controlling the operation of the aforementioned connecting member.

7. The removal device as described in claim 4, further comprising: a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the aforementioned conveying mechanism while it is housed inside the aforementioned housing container.

8. The removal device as described in claim 7, further comprising: a rotating mechanism, which, when cleaning the aforementioned conveying mechanism, is capable of rotating the aforementioned conveying mechanism inside the aforementioned receiving container.

9. The retrieval device as described in claim 1, further comprising: a support member for supporting the aforementioned containment container; and a drive mechanism for moving the aforementioned connecting member while the aforementioned containment container is supported by the aforementioned support member.

10. The extraction device as described in claim 1, wherein the aforementioned reaction vessel is a cylindrical member and has: a supply port for receiving the supplied processed material; and a discharge port for discharging the product; the aforementioned conveying mechanism is a screw that extends from the aforementioned supply port side of the aforementioned reaction vessel to the aforementioned discharge port side and rotates in a manner that conveys the aforementioned processed material supplied by the aforementioned supply port toward the aforementioned discharge port.

11. The retrieval device as described in claim 10, wherein the aforementioned receiving container is capable of extending and retracting along the axial direction of the aforementioned screw.

12. A removal method for removing a conveying mechanism from a reaction apparatus, the reaction apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel for reacting a processed material to obtain a product; and the conveying mechanism disposed inside the reaction vessel and for conveying the processed material; the removal method comprising: connecting a receiving container hermetically to the reaction vessel; connecting a connecting member to the conveying mechanism; and moving the connecting member to remove the conveying mechanism from the reaction vessel and receiving it inside the receiving container.

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