Defatting furnace

Abstract

A degreasing furnace and a degreasing method are provided, which can measure gas generated from a degreasing object during degreasing. The degreasing furnace (10) includes a furnace body (14) that houses a degreasing object (12), a burner (40) that burns gas discharged from the furnace body (14), a gas monitor (50) that detects gas in the burner (40), pipes (52, 54) that connect the burner (40) and the gas monitor (50), and heaters (56, 58, 60) that heat at least one of the gas monitor (50) and the pipes (52, 54).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a degreasing furnace. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, degreasing materials, including ceramics, has been performed using a degreasing furnace. For example, the degreasing furnace described in Patent Document 1 below comprises a furnace body for storing the degreasing material and a heating element for heating the degreasing material. Gases generated during degreasing are heated and decomposed into gases such as carbon dioxide.

[0003] [Prior art literature]

[0004] [Patent Document]

[0005] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. WO2005 / 047207 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0007] To monitor the degreasing process, one approach is to measure the gas generated during degreasing. However, if the gas generated during degreasing solidifies and adheres to the measuring device, it becomes impossible to measure the gas.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a degreasing furnace capable of suppressing solidification and adhesion of the gas generated by degreasing when measuring the gas generated from the degreasing object during degreasing.

[0009] [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the degreasing furnace of the present invention has the following structure.

[0011] The degreasing furnace of the present invention includes: a furnace body for accommodating the degreased material; a burner for burning the gas from the furnace body while discharging it; a gas monitor for detecting the gas in the burner; a pipe for connecting the burner and the gas monitor; and a heater for heating at least one of the gas monitor and the pipe.

[0012] [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, by heating at least one of the gas monitor and the pipe with the heater, it is possible to suppress solidification and adhesion of the gas, thereby preventing the gas monitor from failing to detect the gas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a figure which shows the structure of the degreasing furnace of this invention.

[0015] Figure 2This is a graph showing the detection results obtained by FTIR when ethyl methacrylate is contained in the gas. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The degreasing furnace and degreasing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although a plurality of embodiments will be described, even in different embodiments, the same components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description may be omitted.

[0017] [Implementation Method 1]

[0018] Figure 1 The degreasing furnace 10 of the present application includes a furnace body 14 for accommodating a degreased object 12 , a saturated steam generating device 18 for generating saturated steam, and a superheater 20 for generating superheated steam.

[0019] [Degreased material]

[0020] The degreased material 12 includes a ceramic molded body. Ceramics include nitride-based ceramics (aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, etc.), carbide-based ceramics (silicon carbide, boron carbide, etc.), and oxide-based ceramics (aluminum oxide, zirconium, etc.). The degreased material 12 includes a binder. The binder is mixed into the ceramic when the degreased material 12 is formed. As the temperature of the degreased material 12 is increased, the binder is released from the degreased material 12 in the form of a gas. Resins such as polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, vinyl acetate, and polyethylene glycol are used as the binder. In addition, lubricants, plasticizers, and dispersants are also used.

[0021] [furnace body]

[0022] The furnace body 14 is made of a heat-resistant material such as SUS310S or SUS316L. The furnace body 14 is in the shape of a container, and the degreased material 12 is accommodated in its internal space 22. A door is provided at an arbitrary position of the furnace body 14, and the door is opened and closed when the degreased material 12 is brought in and out. A bracket 24 for arranging the degreased material 12 may also be included in the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14. The furnace body 14 is formed with a supply port 26 and an exhaust port 28. Superheated steam is supplied to the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14 from the supply port 26. The gas of the furnace body 14 is discharged from the exhaust port 28, and the gas contains components generated when the degreased material 12 is degreased.

[0023] [Saturated steam generation device]

[0024] The system includes a saturated steam generator 18 that supplies saturated steam to the superheater 20. The saturated steam generator 18 includes a boiler that boils a liquid such as pure water to generate saturated steam. The boiled liquid can be stored in any container, such as a tank, and can be used. Alternatively, liquid flowing through a water pipe or the like can be used, or liquid in a well or the like can be filtered through a filter and used.

[0025] [Superheater]

[0026] The superheater 20 is a device for generating superheated steam from saturated steam. Examples of the superheater 20 include convection superheaters, radiation superheaters, suspended superheaters, platen superheaters, and horizontal superheaters. The superheater 20 includes a long tube in which saturated steam flows. The saturated steam flowing in the long tube is heated to become superheated steam. The generated superheated steam is supplied to the furnace body 14. The superheated steam at this time is a gas containing colorless and transparent water (H2O) that is made by raising the temperature of saturated steam at 100°C under normal pressure. The temperature of the superheated steam is above 200°C, preferably above 500°C, and more preferably between 600°C and 1200°C.

[0027] The furnace body 14 and superheater 20, and the saturated steam generator 18 and superheater 20 are connected by pipes 30 and 32. Since high-temperature superheated steam flows through the pipes 30, the pipes 30 are preferably made of a heat-resistant material. Valves may be installed in each of the pipes 30 and 32 to control the flow rates of the saturated steam and superheated steam by opening and closing the valves.

[0028] [thermometer]

[0029] The present application includes a thermometer 36 for measuring the ambient temperature of the interior space 22 of the furnace body 14. The thermometer 36 utilizes a thermocouple. The temperature measurement at any location within the furnace body 14 is determined by the design, and the number of thermometers 36 is determined accordingly. The measured temperature is used to control the supply of superheated steam to the furnace body 14. Therefore, the present application includes a control device 38 for controlling the superheater 20 and the saturated steam generator 18.

[0030] [Control device]

[0031] The system includes a control device 38, which receives the temperature from the thermometer 36 as input and controls the amount and temperature of superheated steam supplied to the furnace body 14. The control device 38 includes a computing circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a programmable logic controller (PLC). The control device 38 controls the saturated steam generator 18 and superheater 20, as well as the valves in the pipes 30 and 32.

[0032] [Burner]

[0033] The degreasing furnace 10 of the present application includes a burner 40, which becomes a passage for the gas of the furnace body 14 and burns the gas. The burner 40 is connected to the exhaust port 28 of the furnace body 14. The burner 40 includes a passage 44 formed by an insulator 42 and a heating device (not shown). The heating device is an electric heater, a gas burner or a heavy oil burner, etc. The gas released from the degreased object 12 enters the passage 44 from the furnace body 14 and passes through the passage 44. The heating device heats the gas and decomposes or converts it into a gas such as carbon dioxide. The gas passing through the passage 44 is discharged from the exhaust port 48.

[0034] [Gas Monitor]

[0035] A gas monitor 50 is included to detect the gas in the passage 44 of the burner 40. The gas monitor 50 can be a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), a Gas Chromatograph (GC), a Flame Ionization Detector (FID), or a Total Organic Carbon (TOC) meter. The gas monitor 50 detects the presence of a specific gas and can determine the progress of degreasing. Degreasing is in progress when the specific gas is detected, and degreasing is complete when no gas is detected.

[0036] [Piping]

[0037] The burner 40 and the gas monitor 50 are connected via piping 52 and piping 54. The piping includes a first piping 52 and a second piping 54. The first piping 52 is a passage for gas to flow from the passage 44 of the burner 40 to the gas monitor 50, and the second piping 54 is a passage for gas to flow from the gas monitor 50 to the passage 44 of the burner 40. The gas in the passage 44 of the burner 40 flows sequentially through the first piping 52, the gas monitor 50, and the second piping 54, and then returns to the passage 44 of the burner 40.

[0038] When the gas monitor 50 is used to monitor the gas in the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14, the temperature of the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14 fluctuates greatly, potentially damaging the gas monitor 50. Preheating the gas to a constant temperature in the passage 44 of the burner 40 facilitates temperature control of the gas entering the gas monitor 50. The gas monitor 50 facilitates accurate gas monitoring.

[0039] [Heater]

[0040] The first and second pipes 52, 54 are heated by heaters 56 and 58, respectively. Heaters 56 and 58 are, for example, heating wires located outside the first and second pipes 52, 54. Heaters 56 and 58 heat the first and second pipes 52, 54 to prevent the gas passing through them from falling below a certain temperature. This prevents the gas from adhering to the inner surfaces of the first and second pipes 52, 54 and solidifying.

[0041] The gas monitor 50 also includes a heater 60. In the gas monitor 50, the heater 60 is installed in the piping for gas flow and the portion 62 for measuring gas. By heating these portions with the heater 60, gas can be prevented from adhering to the gas monitor 50 and solidifying.

[0042] The temperature of the gas is controlled to a predetermined value or higher by heaters 56, 58, and 60. Although not particularly limited, a control unit (not shown) is included for controlling heaters 56, 58, and 60. The temperatures of heaters 56, 58, and 60 for preventing the gas from solidifying are stored in association with the type of gas. The control unit can change the temperatures of heaters 56, 58, and 60 according to the type of gas released from the degreased material 12. For example, the temperature of pipes 52, 54, and portion 62 for measuring the gas is set to approximately 300°C.

[0043] [Degreasing method]

[0044] Next, a degreasing method using the degreasing furnace 10 will be described. (1) The degreasing object 12 is accommodated in the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14. For example, the degreasing object 12 is a molded product made of nitride-based ceramics.

[0045] (2) The saturated steam generator 18 heats the liquid to generate saturated steam, and supplies the saturated steam to the superheater 20. The superheater 20 generates superheated steam from the saturated steam. The superheated steam is supplied to the furnace body 14. The degreased material 12 is degreased by the superheated steam.

[0046] (3) The gas generated when degreasing the degreased object 12 is supplied from the exhaust port 28 to the burner 40, where it is burned and converted into carbon dioxide etc. The burned gas is exhausted.

[0047] (4) During the process of (3), a portion of the gas flows from the first pipe 52 to the gas monitor 50. After the components contained in the gas are detected by the gas monitor 50, the gas returns to the burner 40 through the second pipe 54. The first pipe 52, the gas passage of the gas monitor 50, the detection portion 62, and the second pipe 54 are heated by the heater 56, the heater 58, and the heater 60. Therefore, the temperature of the gas drops, and the components contained in the gas are prevented from adhering to the first pipe 52, the gas passage of the gas monitor 50, the detection portion 62, and the second pipe 54 and solidifying. The gas returned from the gas monitor 50 to the burner 40 through the second pipe 54 is burned and converted into carbon dioxide, etc.

[0048] (5) The data of the gas detected by the gas monitor 50 is transmitted to the control device 38. The control device 38 can also control the superheater 20 based on the data, thereby adjusting the temperature of the internal space 22 of the furnace body 14. It can also control the degreasing of the degreased material 12. For example, Figure 2 This is the detection result when the gas monitor 50 is a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and ethyl methacrylate is present in the gas. Since the wave number is determined by the functional groups contained in the gas, the presence of gas is detected based on the intensity of the set wave number. Gas detection is no longer performed when degreasing is complete. The completion of degreasing can be determined by gas detection by the gas monitor 50.

[0049] As described above, this embodiment prevents components contained in the gas from adhering to the pipes 52 and 54 and the gas monitor 50, thereby enabling more accurate gas detection by the gas monitor 50. Accurate gas detection by the gas monitor 50 allows more accurate degreasing control.

[0050] [Implementation Method 2]

[0051] Alternatively, the heater may heat only one of the pipe 52, the pipe 54, and the gas monitor 50, or any combination of any two. For example, if the gas flow path in the gas monitor 50 is short and the gas temperature is unlikely to drop, the gas monitor 50 may not be used to heat the gas.

[0052] [Implementation Method 3]

[0053] In the embodiment described above, the degreasing furnace utilizes superheated steam, but the degreasing furnace 10 of the present application is not limited to a structure utilizing superheated steam. For example, it may be a structure in which an inert gas is introduced into the furnace body 14 and preheated. Therefore, a gas source of inert gas may be included so that the temperature of the inert gas is increased in the superheater 20. After the temperature of the degreased object 12 is increased by the inert gas, the superheated steam is introduced into the furnace body 14. Regarding degreasing, initially, since the temperature of the degreased object 12 is low, when the superheated steam is initially introduced, condensation forms on the surface of the degreased object 12, which may deteriorate the degreased object 12. By introducing the inert gas of increased temperature into the furnace body 14 before the superheated steam is introduced, the degreased object 12 is preheated, and condensation does not form on the surface of the degreased object 12 when the superheated steam is introduced.

[0054] Thus, desired degreasing can be performed.

[0055] [Implementation Method 4]

[0056] Data such as the temperature input to the thermometer 36 of the control device 38 and the control status of the superheater 20 and other components by the control device 38 can be transmitted to a designated computer via the network. This allows remote monitoring of the degreasing status. Furthermore, data transmitted from the control device 38 can be recorded on a server.

[0057] (Item 1) A degreasing furnace includes: a furnace body for accommodating the degreased material; a burner for burning the gas from the furnace body while exhausting it; a gas monitor for detecting the gas in the burner; a pipe for connecting the burner and the gas monitor; and a heater for heating at least one of the gas monitor and the pipe.

[0058] According to the degreasing furnace described in the first aspect, by heating at least one of the gas monitor and the pipe with the heater, it is possible to prevent the gas from solidifying and adhering to the gas monitor, thereby preventing the gas from being detected.

[0059] (Item 2) The piping includes: a first piping that supplies gas from the burner to the gas monitor; and a second piping that returns the gas from the gas monitor to the burner, and the heater includes a heater that heats the first piping.

[0060] The degreasing furnace described in the second aspect prevents gas from solidifying and adhering to the interior of the first pipe that supplies gas from the burner to the gas monitor. Therefore, gas from the burner can be more reliably supplied to the gas monitor in a gaseous state through the first pipe, allowing the gas monitor to more reliably measure the gas composition.

[0061] (Item 3) The heater further includes a heater for heating the second pipe.

[0062] The degreasing furnace described in the third aspect can prevent gas from solidifying and adhering to the interior of the second pipe that returns gas from the gas monitor to the burner. Therefore, gas can be returned to the burner more reliably, preventing clogging of the second pipe.

[0063] (Item 4) The heater further includes a heater that heats at least one of a pipe provided inside the gas monitor and through which gas passes, and a measurement unit that measures the gas.

[0064] The degreasing furnace described in the fourth item can prevent gas from solidifying and adhering to the piping inside the gas monitor, allowing the gas monitor to more reliably measure the gas components. Alternatively, the gas can be prevented from solidifying and adhering to the measuring unit of the gas monitor, allowing the gas monitor to more reliably measure the gas components and preventing malfunction of the measuring unit.

[0065] (Item 5) Further included is a heater control unit that controls the temperature of the heater according to the type of gas in the burner.

[0066] According to the degreasing furnace described in the fifth aspect, the temperature of the heater can be set to a temperature at which the gas does not solidify, depending on the type of gas. Therefore, solidification and adhesion of the gas can be more reliably suppressed.

[0067] In addition, the present invention can be implemented in various forms of improvement, modification, and alteration based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. The various embodiments described are not independent and can be implemented in appropriate combinations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0068] [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] According to the present invention, a degreasing furnace can be provided which can suppress the solidification and adhesion of the gas generated by degreasing when measuring the gas generated from the degreasing object during degreasing.

[0070] [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 10: Degreasing furnace

[0072] 12: Degreased material

[0073] 14: Furnace body

[0074] 18: Saturated steam generation device

[0075] 20: Superheater

[0076] 22: The internal space of the furnace body

[0077] 24: Bracket

[0078] 26: Supply port

[0079] 28: Exhaust port

[0080] 30, 32: Piping

[0081] 36: Thermometer

[0082] 38: Control device

[0083] 40: Burner

[0084] 42: Insulator

[0085] 44: Passage

[0086] 48: Burner exhaust port

[0087] 50: Gas Monitor

[0088] 52, 54: Piping

[0089] 56, 58, 60: Heater

[0090] 62: The part of the gas monitor that detects gas.

Claims

1. A degreasing furnace, comprising: The furnace body contains the degreased material; a burner for burning gas while exhausting the gas from the furnace body; a gas monitor for detecting gas in the burner; piping connecting the burner to a gas monitor; and The heater heats at least one of the gas monitor and the pipe.

2. The degreasing furnace according to claim 1, wherein: The piping includes: a first piping for supplying gas from the burner to the gas monitor; and a second piping for returning gas from the gas monitor to the burner. The heater includes a heater for heating the first pipe.

3. The degreasing furnace according to claim 2, wherein: The heater further includes a heater for heating the second pipe.

4. The degreasing furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The heater further includes a heater for heating at least one of a pipe provided inside the gas monitor and through which gas passes, and a measurement unit for measuring the gas. 5 . The degreasing furnace according to claim 1 , further comprising a heater control unit configured to control a temperature of the heater according to a type of gas in the burner.

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