Fluid sterilization reactor

Abstract

To provide a fluid sterilization reactor capable of preventing damage of a translucent plate that transmits ultraviolet light even when a water hammer occurs.SOLUTION: A translucent plate 101 and a reflector 104 of a light source unit 100 are supported by sandwiching between a flange 13 of a main body 10 and a support member 105. An O-ring 50 is disposed between the translucent plate 101 and the flange 13. A first void 60 is provided between a surface 101a on the main body 10 side of the translucent plate 101 and the surface 13a facing the translucent plate 101 of the flange 13. A second void 70 is provided between a surface 104b of the portion 104a of the reflector 104 that protrudes outward from the translucent plate 101 and the surface 13b of the flange 13. Therefore, the flange 13 is not in contact with the translucent plate 101 and the reflector 104.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilizing a fluid such as water by irradiating it with ultraviolet light. [Background technology]

[0002] As an apparatus for sterilizing a fluid such as water by irradiating it with ultraviolet light, a structure in which window members are fixed to the openings at both ends of a straight pipe via O-rings and a light source for irradiating ultraviolet light is disposed on the outside of the window members is known, as shown in Patent Document 1. An inlet and an outlet for introducing the fluid into the straight pipe are provided on the side of the straight pipe.

[0003] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a device having a structure in which an inlet is provided at one end of a tubular housing, a window member is fixed to the opening at the other end, and a light source is provided to irradiate the outside of the window member with ultraviolet light. The outlet is provided on the side of the housing near the window member. In addition, a straightening plate is provided near the inlet inside the housing to make the flow of the fluid uniform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-121009 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-141292 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Since the fluid sterilization device is used with its inlet connected to a water pipe, etc., a large pressure (impact) is also applied to the fluid in the fluid sterilization device when a sudden pressure change (water hammer) occurs in the water pipe, etc. Therefore, the window members described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are subject to the large pressure (impact) from the fluid and may be damaged.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid sterilization reactor capable of preventing damage to a light-transmitting plate that transmits ultraviolet light even when water hammer occurs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the fluid sterilization reactor of the present invention has a tubular main body having an inlet and an outlet through which the fluid to be sterilized flows, and a light source unit that irradiates light to the fluid in the main body to sterilize it. A brim-shaped flange is provided around the opening at one end of the main body, and the light source unit is attached to the flange. The light source unit includes a light-transmitting plate that covers the opening, a light-emitting element that irradiates light into the inside of the main body through the light-transmitting plate, a substrate on which the light-emitting element is mounted, a ring-shaped reflector that is arranged to surround the periphery of the light-emitting element, and a plate-shaped support member that supports the substrate and is fixed to the flange. The light-transmitting plate and the reflector are supported by being sandwiched between the flange and the support member. The diameter of the light-transmitting plate is larger than the opening and smaller than the diameter of the flange, and a ring-shaped elastic member is arranged between the surface of the light-transmitting plate on the main body side and the flange along the outer periphery of the opening. The diameter of the reflector is larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate and smaller than the diameter of the flange. A first gap is provided between the surface of the light-transmitting plate on the main body side and a portion of the flange that faces the light-transmitting plate. On the other hand, a second gap is provided between the body-side surface of the reflector that protrudes outward beyond the light-transmitting plate and the portion of the flange that faces the reflector. The flange is in non-contact with both the body-side surface of the light-transmitting plate and the body-side surface of the reflector. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the flange is in non-contact with either the body side surface of the light-transmitting plate or the body side surface of the reflector, so that even if water hammer occurs, damage to the light-transmitting plate, which transmits ultraviolet light, can be prevented. It is possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilization reactor 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the fluid sterilization reactor 1 according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of each component constituting the fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a screw constituting the fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of a reflector 104 constituting the fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of fluid within the fluid sterilization reactor 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5(a) to 5(d) are diagrams showing the transmission of forces acting on the light-transmitting plate 101, the reflector 104, etc. when a water hammer occurs in the fluid in the fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0011] First, the configuration of a fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilization reactor 1, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, and Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are perspective views of components. Fig. 5 is a front view of a reflector 104.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the fluid sterilization reactor 1 is configured to include a tubular main body 10 and a light source unit 100. The tubular main body 10 is provided with an inlet 11 through which the fluid to be sterilized flows into the main body 10, and an outlet 12 through which the sterilized fluid flows out. The light source unit 100 sterilizes the fluid in the main body 10 by irradiating it with light. In this embodiment, the fluid is water.

[0013] A brim-shaped flange 13 is provided around an opening 14 at one end of the main body 10 , and the light source unit 100 is attached to the flange 13 .

[0014] The light source unit 100 includes a light-transmitting plate 101 , a light-emitting element 102 mounted on a substrate 103 , a ring-shaped reflector 104 , and a support member 105 .

[0015] The light-transmitting plate 101 covers an opening 14 at one end of the tubular main body 10. The light-emitting element 102 irradiates light into the inside of the main body 10 through the light-transmitting plate 101. Here, the light-emitting element 102 used is one that emits ultraviolet light (for example, a wavelength of 265 nm).

[0016] The ring-shaped reflector 104 is disposed so as to surround the periphery of the light-emitting element 102, and its height in the direction of the central axis 30 is greater than the height of the light-emitting element 102. The central axis 30 extends along the center of the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical main body 10. An inclined surface 104c is formed on the inner periphery of the reflector 104, and the inclined surface 104c reflects the ultraviolet light emitted by the light-emitting element 102 toward the light-transmitting plate 101.

[0017] 5, the reflector 104 has a bent structure in which a cavity 104d is provided inside along the circumferential direction and includes an inclined surface 104c whose radial cross-sectional shape is bent toward the direction in which the light emitting element 102 is arranged. Here, the angle between the substrate 103 and the inclined surface 104c is preferably 60°. As a result, when the water hammer phenomenon occurs in the fluid and pressure is applied to the light source unit 100, the reflector 104 bends to absorb part of the pressure. Note that the inclined surface 104c may have a curved structure in which the radial cross-sectional shape is not bent.

[0018] The support member 105 is a disk-shaped member. The support member 105 supports the substrate 103 on which the light emitting element 102 is mounted at the center, and the peripheral edge portion faces the flange 13 with a gasket 108 interposed therebetween. The support member 105 is fixed to the flange 13 by a fixture.

[0019] Here, a screw 107 is used as the fastener. It is preferable that the screw 107 is a stepped screw. As shown in Fig. 4, the stepped screw is configured to include a head 107a, a cylindrical portion 107b having no thread groove formed on its outer periphery, and a threaded portion 107c provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion 107b and having a thread groove on its outer periphery. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 107b is larger than the diameter of the threaded portion 107c.

[0020] The head 107a of the screw 107 contacts the support member 105. A washer may be provided between the head 107a of the screw 107 and the support member 105. The step at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 107b and the threaded portion 107c contacts the surface of the flange 13 on the support member 105 side. The length of the cylindrical portion 107b is designed to form a first gap 60 and a second gap 70, which will be described later, while shrinking and deforming the O-ring 50, which will be described later, on the upper surface of the light-transmitting plate 101 by a predetermined amount (for example, 10 to 30% in the direction of the axis 30). By shrinking and deforming the O-ring 50 by a predetermined amount, water leakage from the upper surface of the light-transmitting plate 101 to the support member 105 side is prevented.

[0021] 1 and 2, the light-transmitting plate 101 and the reflector 104 are supported by being sandwiched between the flange 13 and the support member 105. That is, the surface of the reflector 104 facing the light-transmitting plate 101 is in contact with the light-transmitting plate 101. Also, the surface of the reflector 104 facing the support member 105 is in contact with the support member 105. As a result, the reflector 104 is pressed by the support member 105, pressing the light-transmitting plate 101 against the main body 10.

[0022] Here, the diameter of the light-transmitting plate 101 is designed to be larger than the opening 14 and smaller than the diameter of the flange 13. A ring-shaped elastic member (O-ring 50) is disposed along the outer periphery of the opening 14 between the surface 101a of the light-transmitting plate 101 on the main body 10 side and the flange 13.

[0023] On the other hand, the diameter of the reflector 104 is designed to be larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate 101 and smaller than the diameter of the flange 13. A recess that is thinner than the thickness of the light-transmitting plate 101 is provided on the surface of the reflector 104 where the reflector 104 comes into contact with the light-transmitting plate 101, and the light-transmitting plate 101 is housed in the recess.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, a first gap 60 is provided between a surface 101a of the light-transmitting plate 101 facing the main body 10 and a surface 13a of the flange 13 facing the light-transmitting plate 101.

[0025] A second gap 70 is provided between a surface 104b on the main body 10 side of a portion 104a of the reflector 104 that protrudes outward beyond the light-transmitting plate 101 and a surface 13b of the flange 13 that faces the reflector 104.

[0026] In other words, the flange 13 is not in contact with either the surface of the light-transmitting plate 101 facing the main body 10 or the surface of the reflector 104 facing the main body 10, and is designed to face each other across a first gap 60 and a second gap 70 of a predetermined height in the direction of the central axis 30.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the inlet 11 is provided at an opening 15 at the other end of the main body 10. Meanwhile, the outlet 12 is provided on the side surface of the main body 10. A flow passage pipe 17 having a smaller diameter than the main body 10 is disposed inside the main body 10. A flow straightening plate 16 is disposed at the end of the flow passage pipe 17 on the inlet 11 side. An O-ring 18 is disposed between the inner wall of the main body 10 and the flow passage pipe 17, and the flow passage pipe 17 inside the main body 10 is fixed.

[0028] The length of the flow passage pipe 17 is a length that reaches from the opening 15 on the inlet 11 side to the vicinity of the light-transmitting plate 101. A notch 17a is provided at the end of the flow passage pipe 17 on the light-transmitting plate 101 side. Also, there is a small gap between the flow passage pipe 17 and the light-transmitting plate 101, and they are separated from each other. Note that the flow passage pipe 17 and the light-transmitting plate 101 may also be structured to be in contact with each other.

[0029] The flow path pipe 17 guides the fluid that has flowed in from the inlet 11 to the vicinity of the light-transmitting plate 101, and then passes the fluid between the flow path pipe and the main body 10 through a gap between the notch 17a at the end of the flow path pipe and the light-transmitting plate 101. The fluid is guided from between the flow path pipe 17 and the main body 10 to the outlet 12, where it flows out.

[0030] In addition, in order to prevent the fluid flowing in from the inlet 11 from flowing out of the outlet 12 through between the flow path pipe 17 and the main body 10 without passing through the inside of the flow path pipe 17, an O-ring 18 is arranged between the inner wall surface of the main body 10 on the opening 15 side of the outlet 12 and the flow path pipe 17.

[0031] Furthermore, in the light source unit, a heat sink 106 is fixed to the surface of the support member 105 opposite to the surface on the substrate 103 side of the light emitting element 102. A fan 109 and a fan guard 110 are attached to the heat sink 106.

[0032] 1, the main body 10 includes a main body housing 22 and a cylindrical portion 23. The cylindrical portion 23 has a flange 13. The main body housing 22 and the cylindrical portion 23 are fixed by a ferrule clamp 19. Here, a ferrule gasket 21 is clamped and fixed between the main body housing 22 and the cylindrical portion 23 by the ferrule clamp 19.

[0033] As described above, the fluid sterilization reactor 1 is provided with a bending structure of the reflector 104, as well as a first gap 60 and a second gap 70 between the light-transmitting plate 101 and the reflector 104 and the flange 13. This makes it possible to absorb impact not only by the light-transmitting plate 101 but also by the bending structure and the O-ring 50 arranged on the upper surface of the light-transmitting plate 101 when water hammer occurs, thereby preventing damage to the light-transmitting plate 101 and the reflector 104.

[0034] The main body housing 22 and the cylindrical portion 23 may be made of, for example, stainless steel (SUS304, 316, or 316L). The light-transmitting plate 101 is preferably made of a material having high transmittance to ultraviolet light, and may be made of, for example, quartz glass. The rectifying plate 16, the flow path pipe 17, and the reflector 104 are preferably made of a material having high reflectance to ultraviolet light, and may be made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). The ferrule gasket 21 and the gasket 108 may be made of, for example, fluororubber, which has high resistance to ultraviolet light. The O-rings 18 and 50 may be made of, for example, fluororubber, which has high resistance to ultraviolet light.

[0035] The support member 105 may be made of an aluminum alloy (A5052 or A5056). The heat sink 106 may be made of an aluminum alloy (A6063). The screw 107 may be made of stainless steel (SUS303).

[0036] <Operation of each part> The operation of each part of the fluid sterilization reactor 1 will be described.

[0037] First, the flow path of the fluid during sterilization will be described with reference to FIG.

[0038] 6, the fluid flows in from inlet 11, is rectified by rectifying plate 16 so that the speed in flow passage pipe 17 becomes uniform, and flows into flow passage pipe 17 of main body 10 from opening 15 of main body 10. The fluid flows into flow passage pipe 17 and reaches light-transmitting plate 101 that covers opening 14 of main body 10. Ultraviolet light emitted from light-emitting element 102 is irradiated onto the fluid through light-transmitting plate 101, and the fluid is sterilized.

[0039] The sterilized fluid passes through the notch 17a of the flow path pipe 17, flows between the outer wall of the flow path pipe 17 and the inner wall of the main body 10, reaches the outlet 12, and is discharged from the outlet 12 to the outside.

[0040] Heat from the light emitting element 102 is conducted to the support member 105 through the substrate 103, and is then conducted to the heat sink 106 and dissipated. The fan 109 takes in outside air through the fan guard 110, and blows the outside air onto the heat sink 106 to cool it. A heat dissipation sheet may be provided between the substrate 103 and the support member 105.

[0041] Next, how each member receives the force (impact) caused by the water hammer will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] When a water hammer occurs in the fluid, the fluid in the main body 10 collides with the light-transmitting plate 101, and the light-transmitting plate 101 receives a force (impact) from the fluid in a direction pressing it toward the reflector 104 side, as shown in FIG. 7(a).

[0043] As a result, the reflector 104 receives a force from the light-transmitting plate 101 in a direction pressing the reflector 104 toward the support member 105 as shown in FIG. 7(b). The reflector 104 has a hollow 104d inside and a bending structure in the radial direction, and therefore absorbs part of the force by bending the bending structure. The remaining force is applied to the support member 105 from the contact portion between the reflector 104 and the support member 105. In addition, a force is applied from the support member 105 to the screw 107 in a direction to peel the screw 107 off the flange 13.

[0044] The water hammer occurs in a pulsed manner. After the water hammer occurs, the force from the reflector 104 to the support member 105 stops, and a stress in the opposite direction occurs as shown in FIG.

[0045] This stress causes the bent structure of the reflector 104 to push the light-transmitting plate 101 back toward the main body 10. As a result, the light-transmitting plate 101 pushes back the flange 13, as shown in FIG.

[0046] At this time, a first gap 60 is provided between the flange 13 and a surface 13a of the light-transmitting plate 101 that faces the flange 13. Also, a second gap 70 is provided between a surface 104b of the outer edge portion 104a of the reflector 104 and a surface 13b of the flange 13 that faces the surface 104b. Therefore, even if the stress generated in Fig. 7(d) is applied to the reflector 104 and the light-transmitting plate 101, the reflector 104 and the light-transmitting plate 101 do not collide with the flange 13, and the stress is absorbed by the contraction of only the O-ring 50.

[0047] This makes it possible to prevent the reflector 104 and the light-transmitting plate 101 from being damaged by the force (impact) generated by the water hammer.

[0048] Specifically, since the reflector 104 and the light-transmitting plate 101 have lower rigidity than the support member 105 and the flange 13, if the reflector 104 or the light-transmitting plate 101 collides with the flange 13, there is a risk that the reflector 104 or the light-transmitting plate 101 may crack or be damaged. However, according to the structure of this embodiment, even when water hammer occurs, it is possible to prevent the reflector 104 or the light-transmitting plate 101 from colliding with the flange 13 and thus prevent damage.

[0049] Furthermore, with the above structure, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the light-transmitting plate 101 in order to prevent damage, and therefore the fluid sterilization reactor 1 can be made inexpensive and compact.

[0050] <Assembly method> Next, a method for assembling the fluid sterilization reactor 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0051] First, the main body housing 22 and the cylindrical portion 23 of the flange 13 are connected by the ferrule clamp 19 with the ferrule gasket 21 sandwiched therebetween.

[0052] The light-transmitting plate 101 is housed in a shallow recess in the reflector 104. Furthermore, the reflector 104 and the substrate 103 on which the light-emitting element 102 is mounted are fixed together with screws.

[0053] Next, a gasket 108 is placed around the periphery of the support member 105, and the gasket 108, the substrate 103, the reflector 104, and the light-transmitting plate 101 are placed between the support member 105 and the flange 13 in this order, and then the support member 105 is fixed to the flange 13 with a screw 107. Here, a stepped screw is used as the screw 107. The head 107a of the screw 107 contacts the support member 105 via a washer, and the screw 107 is screwed into the flange 13 so that the step at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 107b and the threaded portion 107c contacts the surface of the flange 13 on the support member 105 side. The distance between the surface of the flange 13 on the support member 105 side and the support member 105 is regulated by the height of the cylindrical portion 107b of the screw 107 and is not smaller than the height of the cylindrical portion 107b.

[0054] This allows a first gap 60 to be formed between the surface 101a of the light-transmitting plate 101 and the flange 13, and a second gap 70 to be formed between the outer edge portion 104a of the reflector 104 and the flange 13, each at a predetermined distance in the axial direction. At the same time, the gasket 108 and the O-ring 50 are compressed by a predetermined compression amount (approximately 10 to 30% in the axial direction 30), thereby achieving watertightness.

[0055] The fluid sterilization reactor 1 of the above-described embodiment can be used in water purification treatment devices, pure water treatment devices, factory water cooling and circulating devices, bath circulating devices, industrial POE (Point of Entry), and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Fluid sterilization reactor 10 Main unit 10a Stopper 11 Inlet 12 Outlet 13 Flange 13a side 13b side 14 Aperture 15 Aperture 16 Rectifier plate 17 Flow pipe 17a Notch 18 O-ring 19 Ferrule clamp 21 Ferrule gasket 22 Main unit housing 23 Cylindrical part 30 Axis 50 O-ring 60 void 70 void 100 Light Source Units 101 Translucent plate 101a side 102 Light emitting element 103 Substrate 104 Reflector 104 Translucent plate 104a part 104b side 104c slope 104d hollow 105 Support member 106 Heat sink 107 Screw 107a Cylindrical part 107a Head 107b Cylindrical part Part 107c 108 Gasket 109 Fan 110 Fan Guard

Claims

1. The device has a tubular body having an inlet and an outlet through which a fluid to be sterilized flows, and a light source unit that irradiates light onto the fluid in the body to sterilize the fluid, A flange is provided around the opening at one end of the main body, and the light source unit is attached to the flange. the light source unit includes a light-transmitting plate that covers the opening, a light-emitting element that irradiates light into the inside of the main body through the light-transmitting plate, a substrate on which the light-emitting element is mounted, a ring-shaped reflector that is disposed so as to surround the periphery of the light-emitting element, and a plate-shaped support member that supports the substrate and is fixed to the flange; the light-transmitting plate and the reflector are supported by being sandwiched between the flange and the support member, a diameter of the light-transmitting plate is larger than a diameter of the opening and smaller than a diameter of the flange, and a ring-shaped elastic member is disposed between the main body side surface of the light-transmitting plate and the flange along an outer periphery of the opening, The diameter of the reflector is larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate and smaller than the diameter of the flange; A fluid sterilization reactor characterized in that a first gap is provided between the body side surface of the light-transmitting plate and a portion of the flange facing the light-transmitting plate, and a second gap is provided between the body side surface of the portion of the reflector that protrudes outward from the light-transmitting plate and a portion of the flange facing the reflector, and the flange is in non-contact with either the body side surface of the light-transmitting plate or the body side surface of the reflector.

2. 2. The fluid sterilization reactor of claim 1, The ring-shaped reflector has a height in the central axis direction of the main body that is greater than that of the light-emitting element, A fluid sterilization reactor, wherein the ring-shaped reflector has a cavity along a circumferential direction.

3. 2. The fluid sterilization reactor of claim 1, The support member is fixed to the flange by a shoulder screw, The stepped screw has a cylindrical portion without a thread groove and a threaded portion with a thread groove provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion, the diameter of the cylindrical portion is larger than the diameter of the threaded portion, a step at the boundary between the cylindrical portion and the threaded portion contacts the surface of the flange on the support member side, and the heights of the first gap and the second gap are set at predetermined heights.

4. 2. The fluid sterilization reactor according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is provided at an opening at the other end of the body, and the outlet is provided at a side surface of the body.

5. 2. The fluid sterilization reactor according to claim 1, wherein a flow path pipe having a diameter smaller than that of the main body is disposed inside the main body; The flow path pipe guides the fluid flowing in from the inlet to the light-transmitting plate, and then guides the fluid between the end of the flow path pipe and the light-transmitting plate, between the flow path pipe and the main body, and flows out from the outlet.

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