A tubing disinfection system

Abstract

The utility model relates to closed pipeline cleaning and online disinfection technical field, especially pipeline disinfection system, including normal pressure liquid storage jar, the import with normal pressure liquid storage jar's export connects the tube -in -shell heater, the import with tube -in -shell heater's export connects the main liquid supply pipe, the import with main liquid supply pipe's export connects the target cleaning disinfection pipeline, the import with target cleaning disinfection pipeline's export connects the main liquid return pipe, the main liquid return pipe's export connects to the import of normal pressure liquid storage jar, sets up circulating pump on the pipeline of main liquid return pipe, and cost controllable again disinfection effect is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of closed pipeline cleaning and online disinfection technology, and in particular to a pipeline disinfection system. Background Technology

[0002] Piping systems in many fields require cleaning and disinfection after use. Whether it's biomedicine, heating, production and processing, or daily life, many piping systems are used. The disinfection devices for these piping systems are also diverse, and many are patented technologies.

[0003] For example, Chinese Patent Application No. 201921562709.5 discloses a pipeline disinfection system, which includes an inlet pipe, a water storage tank connected to the inlet pipe, and a water supply pipeline connected to the outlet of the water storage tank to form a disinfection substance mixing loop set next to the water storage tank. The other end of the water supply pipeline is connected to the return water outlet of the water storage tank. A second water supply pump and a drain outlet are provided on the water supply pipeline.

[0004] Existing technologies all use disinfectant substances, but these disinfection systems containing disinfectant substances are not suitable for many fields or are quite troublesome because disinfectant residues may remain, affecting subsequent use. Thoroughly cleaning up the disinfectant substances is also troublesome and costly.

[0005] In the pharmaceutical and food production industries, online CIP and SIP technologies are commonly used for cleaning and disinfecting liquid preparation pipelines. However, these technologies involve pressure vessels and complete sets of specialized equipment, resulting in complex structures, large footprints, and high investment and operating costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pipeline disinfection system that is cost-effective and has a good disinfection effect.

[0007] The above-mentioned objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: a pipeline disinfection system, comprising an atmospheric pressure storage tank, a tubular heater whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank, a main supply pipe whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the tubular heater, a target cleaning and disinfection pipeline whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the main supply pipe, and a main return pipe whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline, wherein the outlet of the main return pipe is connected to the inlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank, and a circulation pump is installed on the main return pipe.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main return pipe includes a front section of the main return pipe entering the circulation pump and a rear section of the main return pipe exiting the circulation pump. The front section of the main return pipe is composed of a low-level horizontal section, a climbing section, and a high-level horizontal section, and the front section of the main return pipe is connected to the circulation pump.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the slope of the climbing section is 1-2 degrees.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, an automatic exhaust valve is installed and connected on the high-level horizontal section.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, a heat exchanger is connected to the periphery of the climbing section. The heat exchanger is a spiral coil structure and is bonded to the outer wall of the climbing section through a thermally conductive silicone grease layer.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the outlet of the main liquid supply pipe is connected to a main disinfection output pipe and multiple disinfection output branch pipes connected to the main disinfection output pipe. The front section of the main return pipe has multiple branches, and multiple target cleaning and disinfection pipelines are connected between the multiple disinfection output branch pipes and the multiple front sections of the main return pipe.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, temperature sensors are installed and connected to both the main disinfection output pipe and the front section of the main return pipe.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the circulating pump is a variable frequency pump, and the tubular heater, the circulating pump, and the temperature sensor are all electrically connected to a controller.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the tubular heater and the circulating pump are both a single unit, and the multiple high-level horizontal sections and the inlet of the circulating pump are connected by a single general recovery input pipe.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, an initial supply pipe is connected between the atmospheric pressure storage tank and the tubular heater, and a supply pump is installed on the initial supply pipe.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: it can clean and disinfect target pipeline systems with superheated water without the need for pressure equipment or special equipment, the cost is controllable and the disinfection effect is relatively good; it has high controllability and can operate on multiple target pipeline systems simultaneously; it is also more effective in controlling energy consumption, has advantages in energy saving, and can ensure efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pipeline disinfection system in the embodiment; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of the structure from a horizontal perspective. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art can make modifications to this embodiment without contributing any inventive step, but such modifications are protected by patent law as long as they fall within the scope of the claims of the present utility model.

[0021] Examples, such as Figure 1 , 2 As shown, a pipeline disinfection system includes an atmospheric pressure storage tank 1, a tubular heater 2 whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1, a main supply pipe 3 whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the tubular heater 2, a target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4 whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the main supply pipe 3, and a main return pipe 5 whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4. The outlet of the main return pipe 5 is connected to the inlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1, and a circulation pump 6 is installed on the main return pipe 5.

[0022] The atmospheric pressure storage tank 1 can use an existing tank body and stores cleaning water, such as purified water or water for injection. It generally needs to be equipped with a level gauge. Of course, the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1 also has a water inlet and a water outlet for injecting fresh cleaning water and discharging wastewater after circulating cleaning and disinfection. The aforementioned inlet and outlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1 are the inlet and outlet for the circulation pipeline used for circulating cleaning.

[0023] The core heating element is the shell-and-tube heater 2, which employs a high-efficiency design, such as multi-pass and high turbulence. The material must withstand temperatures up to 105℃ and various water qualities, such as 316L stainless steel. It is equipped with a high-power adjustable heating source, such as steam heat exchange or electric heating. The shell-and-tube heater uses a slender tube bundle and multi-pass design, dividing the water flow into high-speed, thin-layered flows. The design flow velocity is typically >1.2 m / s, or even higher, at least 1.2 m / s, to ensure excellent performance.

[0024] High flow velocity: Shortens the residence time of water in the high-temperature zone, preventing water molecules from accumulating and forming bubbles. High turbulence: Enhances disturbance and disrupts the potential formation of a superheated boundary layer. Pipe wall effect: Water in a confined space (within the pipe) requires higher energy to overcome surface tension and form bubbles, similar to capillary action. Pressure maintenance: Even with an inlet pressure close to atmospheric pressure, the high-speed flow of water within the narrow heating pipe increases local dynamic pressure, i.e., Bernoulli's principle, slightly suppressing the boiling point and allowing the heated water temperature to reach above 105°C. The output water temperature of the shell-and-tube heater 2 should be controlled as close to 105°C ±1°C as possible, because excessively high temperatures directly lead to vaporization, while excessively low temperatures result in insufficient disinfection.

[0025] The target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4 refers to the pipes, containers, equipment, etc., to be cleaned and disinfected. It can be connected to the entire system's circulation loop via quick-connect fittings or rigid pipes. This is located between the main supply pipe 3 and the main return pipe 5.

[0026] The circulating pump 6 provides circulating power, overcomes system resistance, and ensures the required flow rate and volume. Variable frequency circulating pumps are preferred to better serve as one of the key actuators.

[0027] Workflow Summary: Preparation: After the entire system is connected, fill the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1 with cleaning water, either cold or warm; Start Circulation: Turn on the circulation pump at an initial low frequency to establish circulation; Heating Stage: Start the tubular heater 2 and gradually increase the heating power. Simultaneously, coordinate with the circulation pump frequency to prevent local overheating and vaporization. Target: Quickly and stably raise the outlet water temperature to 105℃; Cleaning and Disinfection: Perform circulating cleaning and disinfection on the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline. The cleaning time is determined according to the cleaning and disinfection level. Of course, new cleaning water can be injected and turbid water can be discharged during the process. The number of times and the amount of water replaced are controlled according to the specific cleaning and disinfection requirements; Disinfection Completion: Turn off all electrical equipment in the system, drain the wastewater, and then disconnect the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline. Replace it with the next batch of target cleaning and disinfection pipelines and connect them to the system for the next round of work. The inlet and outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline can be connected between the main supply pipe 3 and the tubular heater 2 through the existing pipeline disassembly and assembly structure, which is convenient for quick disassembly and assembly. Of course, if the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline is in a fixed location, then other components of the system need to be moved to the target location of the corresponding target cleaning and disinfection pipeline to cooperate with the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline for cleaning.

[0028] Preferably, the main return pipe 5 includes a front section 51 for entering the circulation pump 6 and a rear section 52 for exiting the circulation pump 6. The front section 51 is the pipe entering the circulation pump 6. Specifically, the front section 51 is connected to the inlet of the circulation pump 6. The other end of the front section 51 is used to connect to the outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4. The rear section 52 is connected to the outlet of the circulation pump 6, and the other end of the rear section 52 is used to connect to the inlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the main return pipe front section 51 is composed of a low horizontal section 511, a climbing section 512, and a high horizontal section 513, and these three sections are connected in sequence. The low horizontal section 511 has the lowest position. The climbing section 512 rises obliquely and becomes higher and higher than the low horizontal section 511. The high horizontal section 513 is the horizontal extension section at the highest position of the climbing section 512. The end of the low horizontal section 511 away from the climbing section 512 serves as the inlet for connecting to the outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4. The end of the high horizontal section 513 away from the climbing section 512 serves as the outlet for connecting to the inlet of the circulation pump 6.

[0030] Furthermore, the slope of the ramp section 512 is 1-2 degrees. Even further, an automatic air vent valve 5131 is installed and connected to the high-level horizontal section 513. The purpose of this preferred method is to maintain a "slight positive pressure" in the return water pipeline: the entire circulation loop, from the heater outlet to the circulation pump inlet, is designed with an upward-sloping ramp section 512, and an automatic air vent valve is installed at the highest point. Air is released when the system starts, and a small amount of steam is released during operation, maintaining the pipeline filled with liquid. The internal pressure is slightly higher than the theoretical atmospheric pressure, generated by the liquid column height and pump suction, further suppressing boiling.

[0031] The circulating pump is located on the return water side, downstream of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4. This is crucial, as the circulating pump draws in cooled return water, potentially reduced to 95-102°C, significantly lower than the 105°C hot water at the inlet. This avoids cavitation (the extreme manifestation of vaporization) caused by excessively high inlet liquid temperature. This design not only effectively ensures the cleaning and disinfection effect of the superheated water at 105°C but also guarantees the safe, stable, and efficient operation of all components of the pipeline system.

[0032] Furthermore, a heat exchanger 5121 is connected to the periphery of the ramp section 512. The heat exchanger 5121 has a spiral coil structure and is bonded to the outer wall of the ramp section 512 through a thermally conductive silicone grease layer 5122. Because the flow rate of this system is relatively fast, the cleaning and disinfection speed is also relatively fast. For some target cleaning and disinfection pipelines 4, the entire flow length is relatively short, resulting in less temperature drop after the water flows through. In this case, a heat exchanger is needed to lower the return water temperature. The function of the heat exchanger 5121 is to ensure that the water temperature in the ramp section 512 is reduced to 95-102°C and to effectively recover and utilize the heat, making it more environmentally friendly and energy-saving. Of course, if the temperature does not exceed 102°C, the heat exchanger 5121 does not need to be turned on. Here, the heat exchanger 5121 carries a cold medium, which is used for cooling.

[0033] Preferably, the outlet of the main supply pipe 3 is connected to a main disinfection output pipe 31 and multiple disinfection output branch pipes 32 connected to the main disinfection output pipe 31. The front section 51 of the main return pipe has multiple branches, and multiple target cleaning and disinfection pipelines 4 are connected between the multiple disinfection output branch pipes 32 and the multiple front sections 51 of the main return pipe. This design allows for the simultaneous cleaning and disinfection of multiple target cleaning and disinfection pipelines 4, resulting in higher efficiency and making it highly suitable for industrial production. Furthermore, solenoid valves are installed on the disinfection output branch pipes 32 and the front section 51 of the main return pipe, as well as on other pipelines, to control the opening and closing of the pipelines and the degree of valve opening. This effectively controls the flow of fluid through the pipelines, as some valves may need to be closed when not in use, thus increasing controllability. This is also a common pipeline design structure.

[0034] Furthermore, temperature sensors 71 are installed on both the main disinfection output pipe 31 and the front section 51 of the main return pipe. In addition, temperature sensors can also be installed on other pipes as much as possible. This allows for a more comprehensive detection of the temperature of the liquid in the system and effective control.

[0035] Furthermore, the circulating pump 6 is a variable frequency pump. The tubular heater 2, the circulating pump 6, and the temperature sensor 71 are all electrically connected to a controller. The controller can be an existing PLC controller or other control equipment. The operation of the tubular heater 2 and the circulating pump 6 is controlled based on the water temperature detected by the temperature sensor 71. Additionally, the solenoid valve can also be electrically connected to the controller for unified control. The heat exchanger 5121 can also be electrically connected to the controller for unified control. This design allows for dynamic adjustment.

[0036] For example, during the heating phase, the temperature rises as follows: The circulating pump is started, a safe base frequency is set to ensure a minimum flow rate, and the controller gradually increases the heater's heating power. Simultaneously, the controller closely monitors the heater outlet temperature, i.e., the temperature at the main disinfection output pipe 31, denoted as T1. When T1 approaches the target, such as 100°C, the circulating pump frequency is gradually increased to increase the flow rate. The logic is: increasing flow rate = removing more heat = preventing T1 from rising too quickly and causing overheating and vaporization; the balance point is finding the pump frequency that maintains the target flow rate and keeps T1 stable at 105°C under the current heating power.

[0037] During the constant temperature phase, maintain 105°C: This is the most critical anti-vaporization phase. The controller continuously monitors T1: If T1 > 105.5°C, or a threshold is set: immediately slightly increase the pump frequency and flow rate, or slightly reduce the heating power, with the goal of quickly lowering T1. If T1 < 104.5°C, or a threshold is set: prioritize slightly increasing the heating power; if the power is already close to the upper limit, slightly reduce the pump frequency and flow rate to allow the water to stay in the heater for a slightly longer time. Additionally, the temperature of the return water in the lower horizontal segment 511 can be set, for example, to T3. The auxiliary function of the return water temperature setting is that if T3 rises significantly, it indicates good system insulation or low heat loss, suggesting a potential rise in the overall system temperature. The controller can proactively slightly increase the pump frequency or slightly reduce the heating power to prevent T1 from exceeding its limit. If T3 decreases significantly, it indicates that the heat loss is large or there are many cold areas in the target pipeline. The controller needs to increase the heating power to compensate. In the case of overheating, and if the temperature of T3 does not drop below 102°C, the heat exchanger can be controlled to perform cooling.

[0038] In addition, the controller must ensure that the circulation pump frequency does not fall below a safe lower limit. This lower limit corresponds to a sufficiently high water flow rate, such as >1.2 m / s, even at maximum heating power, to prevent localized overheating and boiling within the heating tubes. This is the last safety barrier to prevent vaporization. If the flow rate is too low, even if the average temperature is not high, the thin layer of water near the tube wall may overheat and vaporize.

[0039] Furthermore, the tubular heater 2 and the circulation pump 6 are both single units, and the multiple high-level horizontal sections 513 and the inlet of the circulation pump 6 are connected by a common recovery input pipe 50. Due to the aforementioned structural design of the control section, even using only one tubular heater 2 and circulation pump 6, multiple target cleaning and disinfection pipelines 4 can be used. Because the temperature can be uniformly controlled, consistency can be guaranteed. The water temperature of the disinfection output branch pipe 32 is relatively uniform and equal because it is heated and output by a shell-and-tube heater 2. However, the water temperature of each low-level horizontal section 511 may be different because the water flowing out of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline 4 may be different. These differences can be monitored by temperature sensors. In this case, due to the heat exchanger, the water temperature of the high-temperature low-level horizontal section 511 can be controlled to decrease, ensuring that the water temperature of each low-level horizontal section 511 is consistent. The water temperature entering the circulation pump 6 can be monitored in the high-level horizontal section 513 to ensure consistency. In this way, the water temperature entering the circulation pump can be kept consistent, which can ensure the effective use of the circulation pump 6 and facilitate unified control. Moreover, the temperature difference of the incoming water will not affect the control of heating efficiency or the stability of the structure itself.

[0040] Preferably, an initial supply pipe 8 is connected between the atmospheric pressure storage tank 1 and the tubular heater 2. A supply pump 81 is installed on the initial supply pipe 8. This is an auxiliary design and can be selected or not. Sometimes, if there is a large height difference in the position or a large flow rate that requires more power, the supply pump 81 can be added for use. Existing pumps can be used for these pumps.

[0041] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tubing disinfection system, comprising: It includes an atmospheric pressure storage tank (1), a tubular heater (2) whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank (1), a main supply pipe (3) whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the tubular heater (2), a target cleaning and disinfection pipeline (4) whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the main supply pipe (3), and a main return pipe (5) whose inlet is connected to the outlet of the target cleaning and disinfection pipeline (4). The outlet of the main return pipe (5) is connected to the inlet of the atmospheric pressure storage tank (1), and a circulation pump (6) is installed on the pipeline of the main return pipe (5).

2. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 1, wherein The main return pipe (5) includes a front section (51) of the main return pipe entering the circulation pump (6) and a rear section (52) of the main return pipe flowing out of the circulation pump (6). The front section (51) of the main return pipe consists of a low horizontal section (511), a climbing section (512) and a high horizontal section (513). The front section (51) of the main return pipe is connected to the circulation pump (6).

3. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 2, wherein The slope of the climbing section (512) is 1-2 degrees.

4. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 2, wherein An automatic exhaust valve (5131) is installed and connected on the high-level horizontal section (513).

5. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 2, wherein The ramp section (512) is connected to a heat exchanger (5121) on its periphery. The heat exchanger (5121) is a spiral coil structure and is bonded to the outer wall of the ramp section (512) by a thermally conductive silicone grease layer (5122).

6. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 2, wherein The outlet of the main liquid supply pipe (3) is connected to a main disinfection output pipe (31) and multiple disinfection output branch pipes (32) connected to the main disinfection output pipe (31). The front section (51) of the main return pipe has multiple branches, and multiple target cleaning and disinfection pipelines (4) are connected between the multiple disinfection output branch pipes (32) and the multiple front sections (51) of the main return pipe.

7. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 6, wherein Temperature sensors (71) are installed on the main disinfection output pipe (31) and the front section (51) of the main return pipe.

8. A system for sanitizing a tube set according to claim 7, wherein The circulating pump (6) is a variable frequency pump, and the tubular heater (2), the circulating pump (6) and the temperature sensor (71) are all electrically connected to a controller.

9. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 8, wherein The tubular heater (2) and the circulation pump (6) are both one, and the inlets of the multiple high-level sections (513) and the circulation pump (6) are connected by a common recovery input pipe (50).

10. A system for sanitizing a tube set as defined in claim 1, wherein An initial supply pipe (8) is connected between the atmospheric pressure storage tank (1) and the tubular heater (2), and a supply pump (81) is installed on the initial supply pipe (8).

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