Bubble separation mechanism and flow control system

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of sterilization, and discloses a bubble separation mechanism and a flow control system, the bubble separation mechanism comprises an air bag tank, the air bag tank is provided with a liquid inlet pipe, a liquid outlet pipe and an exhaust pipe, and the exhaust pipe is higher than the liquid outlet pipe; the liquid inlet pipe comprises a first pipe section, a second pipe section and a third pipe section which are sequentially connected in a sealed mode, the diameter of an inner cavity of the second pipe section is smaller than that of an inner cavity of the first pipe section and that of an inner cavity of the third pipe section, and the third pipe section is inserted into the air bag tank in a sealed mode. The flow control system comprises a liquid supply device, a flow controller and the bubble separation mechanism. When the sterilizing liquid carrying bubbles enters the second pipe section from the first pipe section, small bubbles in the sterilizing liquid can be more easily gathered into large bubbles due to the fact that the diameter of the inner cavity becomes small instantly; the diameter of the inner cavity of the air bag tank is instantly increased, so that the flow speed is reduced, the probability that the sterilizing liquid forms bubbles in the air bag tank is reduced, and the bubbles are separated more thoroughly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of sterilization, in particular to a bubble separation mechanism and a flow control system. Background Art

[0002] In beverage production lines, packaging materials often need to be sterilized. In previous wet sterilization processes, the packaging materials are rinsed with water after sterilization, so the requirements for sterilization liquid flow control are relatively low. In the dry sterilization process, because the packaging materials do not need to be rinsed with water after sterilization, the requirements for sterilization liquid flow control are very high.

[0003] Sterilizing liquids commonly used on production lines, such as oxygen peroxide or peracetic acid, are all liquids that are easy to produce gas. For example, hydrogen peroxide will decompose into water and oxygen, forming bubbles in the liquid. Affected by the gas-generating characteristics of the liquid, when the bubbles pass through the flow control, they are disturbed by the bubbles, which will have a serious impact on the accuracy of the liquid flow control, and also seriously affect the stability of the dry sterilization process of the packaging material: due to the presence of bubbles, the flow rate of the sterilizing liquid may be low, reducing the sterilization efficiency and affecting the sterilization effect of the packaging material. Or it may cause the flow rate of the sterilizing liquid to be high, resulting in an excessive amount of residual sterilizing liquid on the surface of the packaging material. The prior art has a sterilization method that uses the principle of different densities between gas and sterilizing liquid to separate bubbles. In this method, there are tiny bubbles in the sterilizing liquid that are not easy to separate, and the bubble separation is not thorough. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model aims to provide a bubble separation mechanism and a flow control system, which can separate tiny bubbles from a sterilizing liquid and make the bubble separation more thorough.

[0005] To achieve this purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] The bubble separation mechanism includes:

[0007] An airbag tank, wherein the airbag tank is provided with a liquid inlet pipe, a liquid outlet pipe and an exhaust pipe, and the height of the exhaust pipe is higher than the height of the liquid outlet pipe;

[0008] The liquid inlet pipe includes a first pipe section, a second pipe section and a third pipe section which are sealed and connected in sequence. The inner cavity diameter of the second pipe section is smaller than the inner cavity diameter of the first pipe section and the inner cavity diameter of the third pipe section. The first pipe section is connected to an external liquid supply device, and the third pipe section is sealed and inserted in the airbag tank.

[0009] Preferably, a first bubble detector and a discharge valve are provided on the exhaust pipe, and the first bubble detector is located between the discharge valve and the airbag canister.

[0010] Preferably, the first pipe segment, the second pipe segment and the third pipe segment are connected by welding.

[0011] Preferably, the first pipe segment, the second pipe segment and the third pipe segment are integrally formed.

[0012] Preferably, the exhaust pipe is arranged at the top of the airbag can, the liquid outlet pipe is located at the bottom of the airbag can, the liquid inlet pipe is inserted into the bottom seal of the airbag can, and the port of the third pipe section located in the airbag can is located at the top of the airbag can.

[0013] Preferably, the airbag tank is provided with a liquid level monitoring component to monitor the liquid level in the airbag tank.

[0014] The flow control system includes a liquid supply device, a flow controller and the above-mentioned bubble separation mechanism, the liquid supply device is connected to the liquid inlet pipe, the liquid inlet end of the flow controller is connected to the liquid outlet pipe, and the liquid outlet end of the flow controller is connected to an external sterilization device.

[0015] Preferably, the liquid supply device is a constant pressure liquid supply device.

[0016] Preferably, a second bubble detection component is provided on the liquid outlet pipe.

[0017] Preferably, a control component is further included, wherein the control component is connected to the second bubble detection component and the flow controller.

[0018] Beneficial effects of the utility model:

[0019] The liquid inlet pipe is divided into a first pipe section, a second pipe section and a third pipe section. Since the inner cavity diameter of the second pipe section is smaller than those of the first pipe section and the third pipe section, when the sterilizing liquid carries bubbles from the first pipe section into the second pipe section, the inner cavity diameter becomes smaller instantly, making it easier for the tiny bubbles in the sterilizing liquid to gather into large bubbles, and easier to separate after entering the air bag tank; then, when it enters the third pipe section, the inner cavity diameter entering the air bag tank increases instantly, which reduces the flow rate, reduces the probability of the sterilizing liquid forming bubbles in the air bag tank, and makes the bubble separation more thorough. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the flow control system of the utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a partial schematic diagram of the air bag tank in the bubble separation mechanism of the utility model.

[0022] In the figure:

[0023] 1. Air bag tank; 2. Liquid inlet pipe; 21. First pipe section; 22. Second pipe section; 23. Third pipe section; 3. Liquid outlet pipe; 4. Exhaust pipe; 5. First bubble detection member; 6. Discharge valve;

[0024] 10. Liquid supply device; 20. Flow controller; 30. Second bubble detection component; 40. Control component; 50. Sterilization device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts related to the present invention, rather than all structures, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0027] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0028] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc., and the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplified operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the present embodiment provides a bubble separation mechanism, which includes an airbag tank 1, which is provided with a liquid inlet pipe 2, a liquid outlet pipe 3 and an exhaust pipe 4, wherein the height of the exhaust pipe 4 is higher than that of the liquid outlet pipe 3; the liquid inlet pipe 2 includes a first pipe segment 21, a second pipe segment 22 and a third pipe segment 23 which are sealed and connected in sequence, wherein the inner cavity diameter of the second pipe segment 22 is smaller than the inner cavity diameter of the first pipe segment 21 and the inner cavity diameter of the third pipe segment 23, the first pipe segment 21 is connected to an external liquid supply device 10, and the third pipe segment 23 is sealed and inserted in the airbag tank 1.

[0030] The liquid inlet pipe 2 is divided into a first pipe section 21, a second pipe section 22 and a third pipe section 23. Since the inner cavity diameter of the second pipe section 22 is smaller than those of the first pipe section 21 and the third pipe section 23, when the sterilizing liquid carries bubbles from the first pipe section 21 into the second pipe section 22, the inner cavity diameter becomes smaller instantly, making it easier for the tiny bubbles in the sterilizing liquid to converge into large bubbles, and easier to separate after entering the air bag tank 1; then it enters the third pipe section 23, and the inner cavity diameter of the air bag tank 1 increases instantly, which reduces the flow rate and reduces the probability of the sterilizing liquid forming bubbles in the air bag tank 1. Then, in the air bag tank 1, due to the different densities of the sterilizing liquid and the gas, the gas is discharged upward through the exhaust pipe 4 above, while the sterilizing liquid is discharged downward from the liquid outlet pipe 3 by gravity, thereby making the bubble separation more thorough.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the first pipe section 21, the second pipe section 22 and the third pipe section 23 are connected by welding, which is convenient for manufacturing and connection. In other embodiments, the first pipe section 21, the second pipe section 22 and the third pipe section 23 can also be an integrally formed reducer.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 4 is arranged at the top of the airbag can 1, and the liquid outlet pipe 3 is located at the bottom of the airbag can 1, so that after the gas and the sterilizing liquid are separated, it is convenient for the gas to be discharged upward and the sterilizing liquid to be discharged downward; and the liquid inlet pipe 2 is inserted from the bottom of the airbag can 1 in a sealed manner, that is, the third pipe section 23 is inserted from the bottom of the airbag can 1 and extends toward the top of the airbag can 1, so that the port of the third pipe section 23 located in the airbag can 1 is located at the top of the airbag can 1 to be close to the exhaust pipe 4. The above structure enables the sterilizing liquid to carry the gas out of the liquid inlet pipe 2, and the gas can stay at the top of the airbag can 1, and the sterilizing liquid can flow downward along the outer wall of the third pipe section 23 to achieve gas-liquid separation. In other embodiments, the airbag can 1 can be provided with a liquid level monitoring component (not shown in the figure) to monitor the height of the liquid level in the airbag can 1, so as to understand the real-time status in the airbag can 1 in real time.

[0033] like Figure 1As shown, in this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 4 is further provided with a first bubble detection member 5 and a discharge valve 6. The first bubble detection member 5 is located between the discharge valve 6 and the airbag can 1. The first bubble detection member 5 can detect whether there are bubbles passing through the exhaust pipe 4, and the discharge valve 6 is periodically opened and closed to discharge the stagnant gas through the discharge valve 6. In this embodiment, the first bubble detection member 5 can adopt a bubble detection sensor, which is a prior art and will not be described in detail.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the present embodiment also provides a flow control system, which includes a liquid supply device 10, a flow controller 20 and the above-mentioned bubble separation mechanism, the liquid supply device 10 is connected to the liquid inlet pipe 2, the liquid inlet end of the flow controller 20 is connected to the liquid outlet pipe 3, and the liquid outlet end of the flow controller 20 is connected to the external sterilization device 50, so that bubbles can be removed on the basis of supplying liquid to the sterilization device 50, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the sterilization liquid flow control and the stability of the sterilization process.

[0035] Furthermore, in order to ensure the stability of liquid supply, the liquid supply device 10 is a constant pressure liquid supply device, so as to perform constant pressure liquid supply. In addition, a second bubble detection component 30 is provided on the liquid outlet pipe 3, that is, the second bubble detection component 30 is located between the airbag tank 1 and the flow controller 20, so that it can detect whether the bubbles that have not been discharged enter the flow controller 20, and timely give an early warning. It should be noted that the second bubble detection component 30 is the same as the first bubble detection component 5, and no specific description is made. In addition, the flow control system is also provided with a control component 40, and the control component 40 is connected to the second bubble detection component 30 and the flow controller 20. It can be understood that the first bubble detection component 5 and the discharge valve 6 can also be connected to the control component 40, so as to perform automatic control. Exemplarily, the control component 40 can be but not limited to using PLC.

[0036] How to use the flow control system:

[0037] First, the discharge valve 6 is opened, and the liquid supply device 10 supplies liquid, and the sterilizing liquid fills the entire airbag tank 1. When the first bubble detection component 5 detects no bubbles, the discharge valve 6 is closed with a delay;

[0038] When the discharge valve 6 is closed, during the process of the liquid supply device 10 supplying liquid to the flow controller 20, the sterilizing liquid carries bubbles through the first pipe section 21 of the liquid inlet pipe 2 into the second pipe section 22, and the small bubbles gather into large bubbles in the second pipe section 22. After entering the airbag tank 1, since the discharge valve 6 is closed, the bubbles stay above the airbag tank 1, and the sterilizing liquid enters the flow controller 20 from the liquid outlet pipe 3 below, achieving the effect of gas-liquid separation, and quantitative delivery is performed by controlling the flow controller 20;

[0039] When the air bag tank 1 is completely filled with gas, the gas will flow to the flow controller 20 along with the sterilizing liquid. At this time, when the second bubble detection component 30 detects bubbles, the flow controller 20 is closed, and the discharge valve 6 is opened to release the gas, while the liquid supply device 10 keeps supplying liquid, and the sterilizing liquid fills the entire air bag tank 1. When the first bubble detection component 5 can't detect bubbles, the discharge valve 6 is closed with a delay, and the cycle is repeated in sequence. It should be noted that the products sterilized by the sterilization device 50 in the time period when the second bubble detection component 30 detects bubbles are isolated and observed to avoid unqualified products.

[0040] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation methods of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is not necessary and impossible to list all implementation methods here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. Bubble separation mechanism, characterized in that: include: An airbag tank (1), wherein the airbag tank (1) is provided with a liquid inlet pipe (2), a liquid outlet pipe (3) and an exhaust pipe (4), wherein the height of the exhaust pipe (4) is higher than the height of the liquid outlet pipe (3); The liquid inlet pipe (2) comprises a first pipe section (21), a second pipe section (22) and a third pipe section (23) which are sealed and connected in sequence, the inner diameter of the second pipe section (22) is smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe section (21) and the inner diameter of the third pipe section (23), the first pipe section (21) is connected to an external liquid supply device (10), and the third pipe section (23) is sealed and inserted into the airbag tank (1).

2. The bubble separation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe (4) is provided with a first bubble detection component (5) and a discharge valve (6), and the first bubble detection component (5) is located between the discharge valve (6) and the airbag canister (1).

3. The bubble separation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first pipe section (21), the second pipe section (22) and the third pipe section (23) are connected by welding.

4. The bubble separation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first pipe section (21), the second pipe section (22) and the third pipe section (23) are integrally formed.

5. The bubble separation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe (4) is arranged at the top end of the airbag tank (1), the liquid outlet pipe (3) is located at the bottom end of the airbag tank (1), the liquid inlet pipe (2) is inserted into the bottom end of the airbag tank (1) through a sealing mechanism, and the port of the third pipe section (23) located inside the airbag tank (1) is located at the top end of the airbag tank (1).

6. The bubble separation mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The airbag tank (1) is provided with a liquid level monitoring component to monitor the liquid level in the airbag tank (1).

7. A flow control system, comprising a liquid supply device (10) and a flow controller (20), characterized in that: It also includes a bubble separation mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the liquid supply device (10) is connected to the liquid inlet pipe (2), the liquid inlet end of the flow controller (20) is connected to the liquid outlet pipe (3), and the liquid outlet end of the flow controller (20) is connected to an external sterilization device (50).

8. The flow control system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The liquid supply device (10) is a constant pressure liquid supply device.

9. The flow control system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The liquid outlet pipe (3) is provided with a second bubble detection component (30).

10. The flow control system according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a control component (40), wherein the control component (40) is connected to the second bubble detection component (30) and the flow controller (20).

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