Fluid disinfection device

Abstract

To provide a fluid disinfection device capable of sufficiently exerting an inactivation effect on a virus having strong infectivity, which is contained in fluid and flows in a pipe, and capable of exerting a disinfection effect on all bacteria including common bacteria.SOLUTION: A fluid disinfection device has a shape in which are connected, by flange connection parts 6 and 7, a box-shaped main body case 1, a sterile space 2 inside the case 1, an end plate 3 attached to the inner wall of the sterile space 2, an inflow side connection part 4, and an outflow side connection part 5. A blade driving part 8 is mounted between the inflow side connection part 4 and the main body case 1, a high performance filter 9 having a cylindrical shape in a posture parallel to the flow passage and having a cavity part 13 inside is mounted between the outflow side connection parts in the main body case, and a straightening member 10 is mounted on the downstream side of the blade driving part 8. Further, a deep ultraviolet LED 11 is attached to the outer side surface of the main body case 1 so as to irradiate the sterilizing space 2 inside and the surface of the high performance filter 9 with irradiating light 14 from the window of the opening part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is a fluid sterilization device that can inactivate viruses, sterilize common bacteria, and simultaneously capture fine foreign substances contained in a fluid such as air or water flowing through pipes installed in manufacturing factories, various facilities, offices, and ordinary houses. As for how to use this device, when the target fluid is air, by connecting this fluid sterilization device in the middle of the ceiling pipe that takes in outdoor air of a building into the room, virus inactivation, sterilization, and dust removal can be effectively carried out in the device, and clean and safe air can be taken into the room. Also, when the target fluid is water, by incorporating this fluid sterilization device in the middle of the water supply pipe for the water flowing through the pipe, virus inactivation, sterilization, and dust removal of the water flowing through the pipe can be carried out, and clean water can be supplied after purification. Generally, there are devices such as ventilation fans that have the function of exhausting indoor air to the outside and the function of supplying outdoor air to the inside. When taking in outdoor air into the room, it is common to directly take in air that may contain viruses, various bacteria, pollen, PM2.5, etc. However, if unsterilized and un-inactivated outdoor air is directly taken into the room, it may cause virus infection even when staying indoors and harm health due to various bacteria and pollen. Also, there are many places that require ventilation by clean air supply and exhaust, such as large facilities where many people gather, food and beverage factories, medical and nursing facilities, precision equipment factories, various research institutes, general offices, and rooms in homes. Also, when the target fluid is water, when supplying water from a water purification plant or a storage tank in a factory, in addition to chemical sterilization with chlorine agents, etc., physical sterilization and removal of minute foreign substances are important items for water quality control.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, sterilization and dust removal in the middle of a pipe have not been often carried out for air or water flowing in the pipe. Also, there have not been many air supply devices for indoor use with additional functions. Since the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus several years ago, the lifestyles of people around the world have changed, and people have developed the habit of being more careful about preventing infections. In addition to the novel coronavirus, the spread of influenza viruses and various other viruses is also a concern in the future. The present invention focuses on measures for supplying air to this indoor space when the target is air. Also, even when the target fluid is water, ensuring safe water is one of the important infrastructure elements in general drinking water and in food and beverage factories, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the fluid sterilization device 1 includes a cylindrical body 5 having a flow path through which the fluid to be sterilized flows in the axial direction, a light source 3 having an ultraviolet LED that emits ultraviolet light to the fluid, and a rectifying section 8 provided on the side of the inlet 5a where the fluid flows into the inside of the cylindrical body 5 to rectify the fluid. The rectifying section 8 is composed of a plurality of rectifying plates 8A and 8B that are arranged at intervals in the axial direction and each have a plurality of holes through which the fluid passes. Further, the rectifying section is composed of a first rectifying plate provided at least at the position closest to the inlet and a second rectifying plate provided on the downstream side of the flow path from the first rectifying plate, and the size of each hole of the second rectifying plate is equal to or less than the size of each hole of the first rectifying plate. There is a fluid sterilization device characterized by this. In this cited Patent Document 1, the configuration of the rectifying plate is the main claim. However, as a problem of this cited Patent Document 1, when the pressure of the fluid is high and the flow rate is fast, since the sterilization effect is determined by the integration of the light emission output in which the LED irradiates only the fluid in the front against the flow of the fluid, there is a problem that the effect cannot be sufficiently exhibited. Also, it is known that the flow rate is the slowest near the inner wall of the tube and the fastest at the center of the tube when the fluid flows through the tube, in a parabolic shape. The fluid immediately after passing through the first and second rectifying plates provided immediately after the inlet is rectified, but in the vicinity of the irradiation position of the LED light source away from the rectifying plate, especially when changing the outflow direction at a right angle, the laminar flow state is disturbed and the flow rate becomes non-uniform, and there is also a problem that the difference in sterilization performance due to the difference in the flow rate in the tube becomes large. Further, since the LED irradiation is performed only on the bacteria that may be floating in the fluid, there is no guarantee that sterilization can be achieved with a high probability. That is, in the case of this Patent Document 1, since there is no function of collecting viruses, bacteria, foreign substances, etc. that may be contained in the fluid, the LED irradiation cannot adhere to the surface and inactivate and sterilize in a stationary state, and there are limitations to its sterilization performance and effect. Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to provide a fluid sterilization device with enhanced purification ability, the fluid sterilization device 10 includes a housing 12 that defines a flow path 13 extending in the longitudinal direction, a filter 40 provided in the housing 12 and extending in the longitudinal direction, and a light source 50 that has a light-emitting element 52 that emits ultraviolet light and irradiates the fluid flowing in a laminar state after passing through the filter 40 with ultraviolet light. The filter 40 may be a hollow fiber membrane filter. It is also stated that the light source 50 may be provided to irradiate ultraviolet light in the longitudinal direction. In the case of the above Patent Document 2, after passing through a filter extending in the longitudinal direction inside the pipe, the fluid flowing in the flow path is configured to be irradiated with ultraviolet light emitted by a light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light parallel to the flow. Therefore, there is a problem that there is no rectifying function for the fluid, the flow velocity cannot be equalized according to the cross-sectional position inside the pipe, and the sterilization performance is poor. In addition, the object of sterilization is only irradiation of the fluid itself, and the viruses and bacteria collected on the surface of the filter are not configured to be irradiated with ultraviolet light from a light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light, and there is a problem that the sterilization effect is limited.

[0005] The object of the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it solves each problem of the prior art documents. That is, for a highly infectious virus contained in a fluid and flowing through a pipe, the inactivation effect can be sufficiently exerted, and for general bacteria, a disinfection device capable of exerting a disinfection effect on all bacteria can be provided. The deep ultraviolet LED used in the present invention has a wavelength of 220 to 300 nm, and the inactivation and disinfection effects on the novel coronavirus and all general bacteria have been demonstrated to have a 99% disinfection effect under specific conditions by university research institutions and companies, and have been published in papers and the like. The demonstration of the inactivation and disinfection of these viruses, when the fluid target is air, is effective for aerosols floating in the air, and at the same time, the inactivation and disinfection effects are also demonstrated for objects with viruses and bacteria attached to them. Users of the fluid disinfection device of the present invention can add and connect this fluid disinfection device in the middle of the piping path of the fluid flowing through the pipe, thereby providing a disinfection device with new disinfection and dust removal functions. For example, when supplying outdoor air into a room through pipes in the ceiling space, disinfection and dust removal are performed inside this fluid disinfection device connected in the middle of the pipe. Also, when the target fluid is water, if this fluid disinfection device is additionally connected in the middle of the pipe that supplies water from a water storage tank and is piped to a predetermined location, clean and safe water with fine foreign substances removed after disinfection can be supplied to the target location. Furthermore, the fluid disinfection device of the present invention can also function as a so-called air purifier for indoor air, for example, exhausting indoor air once through the duct piping in the ceiling space, connecting to this fluid disinfection device, and then supplying clean air that has been disinfected and dust-removed back into the room. Also, as described above, the fluid disinfection device of the present invention has a configuration that can be easily used for multiple purposes, in many industries and locations, by virtue of its combination.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] When the fluid to be treated by the fluid sterilization device of the present invention is air, it can be used as a device that can perform sterilization and dust removal functions while ventilating in large facility rooms, food and beverage factories, precision equipment factories, medical and nursing care institutions, livestock houses such as chicken farms, general offices, indoor areas in homes, etc. Also, when the fluid to be treated is water, in the case of supplying water to food and beverage factories, water purification plants, and using water in medical and nursing care facilities, etc., by additionally connecting this fluid sterilization device in the middle of the pipeline, the sterilization and dust collection functions can be easily exerted. The fluid sterilization device of the present invention can be effectively used as a means for solving problems that require reliable inactivation, sterilization, and dust removal measures against highly infectious viruses and general bacteria. An embodiment of the fluid sterilization device of the present invention will be described. The fluid sterilization device of the present invention has a box-shaped main body case 1 with a hollow part inside and openings on the inflow side and the outflow side that allow fluid to flow through, a sterilization space 2 inside it, a mirror plate 3 attached to the inner wall surface of the sterilization space, an inflow side connection part 4, and an outflow side connection part 5. They are connected by flange connection parts 6 and 7. Inside the inflow side connection part 4 and the main body case 1, there is an impeller drive part 8. Also, between the outflow side connection parts inside the main body case, there is a high-performance filter 9 with a hollow part 13 inside in a cylindrical shape, maintaining a certain distance from the inner wall of the main body case and parallel to the flow path. Further, a rectifying member 10 is fixed to the main body case 1 on the downstream side of the impeller drive part 8, and they are respectively attached. Furthermore, deep ultraviolet LEDs 11 are attached to the outside of the main body case 1 so that irradiation light 14 can irradiate inward from the window of the opening. The irradiation light 14 is shown in the figure. Also, there is a flow path blocking part 12 between the high-performance filter 9 and the main body case 1. Although not shown in the figure, there is also an electric control part 15 for controlling the impeller drive part and the deep ultraviolet LEDs as part of the configuration. The size of the highly infectious novel coronavirus is 0.1 μm, but it is said to be around 0.5 μm when floating in the air as an airborne droplet. The HEPA filter of the high-performance filter 9 can capture objects as small as 0.3 μm. When the coronavirus is floating in the fluid in the sterilization space 2 and is captured on the surface of the high-performance filter 9, the irradiation of the deep ultraviolet LEDs 11 effectively inactivates various viruses and sterilizes general bacteria.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, for example, in the case of the target fluid being air, the air that has passed through the pipe from the inflow-side connection portion 4 is made to flow through the disinfection space 2 inside the main body case 1 by the rotation of the blade drive 8 and is made to flow through the disinfection space 2 near the inner wall of the main body case 1 after the difference in the flow velocity of the pipe cross-section is equalized by the flow rectifying member 10 attached in the disinfection space 2 of the main body case 1. In the middle of the flow in this disinfection space 2, the irradiation light 14 of the deep ultraviolet LED 11 is enhanced by the reflection effect of the mirror plate 3, and the air in the disinfection space is disinfected. Further, the air advances to the high-performance filter 9, and viruses, bacteria, and minute foreign substances are collected on the filter surface, and the viruses and bacteria collected on this surface are inactivated and disinfected by the irradiation light 14 of the deep ultraviolet LED 11. The air that has passed through the cylindrical high-performance filter 9 and has been purified is supplied to the target location through a pipe from the outflow-side connection portion 5 connected to the cavity portion 13 inside the high-performance filter. Even when the target fluid is water, through the same steps as in the case of the above-mentioned air, inactivation and disinfection of viruses and bacteria contained in the water, and dust removal of minute foreign substances contained in the water are performed. By the operation of the above-mentioned fluid, disinfection of the fluid by the deep ultraviolet LED can be expected to have a dual effect of inactivating and disinfecting viruses and bacteria in the fluid floating in the disinfection space and disinfecting the viruses and bacteria collected on the surface of the high-performance filter, and its disinfection performance is greatly improved. Also, in the disinfection space inside the main body case having a larger cross-section than the cross-sectional areas of the inflow-side connection portion and the outflow-side connection portion, the velocity of the fluid becomes low in inverse proportion to the cross-sectional area, and the effect of disinfection by the deep ultraviolet LED is improved. Also, the flow velocity in the cross-section inside the disinfection space can be equalized by the flow rectifying member attached immediately after the blade drive portion inside the main body case, and the difference in the disinfection effect due to the position of the passing cross-section can be equalized. Also, since the flow velocity distribution on the cross-section in a general pipe has a parabola with the center of the pipe being the fastest, the disinfection effect is improved because it passes near the inner wall of the main body case and near the light source of the irradiation without passing through the central portion with a high flow velocity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, a fluid sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In all the following drawings, for ease of understanding, the dimensions, ratios, etc. of each component are shown with appropriate differences as needed.

Example

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in this embodiment of the fluid sterilization device of the present invention, for example, when the target fluid is air, the air that has passed through the pipe from the inflow side connection part 4 is equalized in the difference in flow velocity on the pipe cross-section by the rectifying member 10 attached in the sterilization space 2 in the main body case 1 by the rotation of the blade driving part 8 and flows. It is sterilized by the irradiation light 14 of the deep ultraviolet LED 11 during the flow. Further, the air advances to the high-performance filter 9 having a cylindrical shape inside the main body case, and viruses, bacteria, and minute foreign substances are collected on the surface of the filter, and the deep ultraviolet LED 11 is irradiated on the viruses and bacteria collected on this surface to inactivate and sterilize them. The air that has passed through the high-performance filter 9 and has been purified is sent from the hollow part 13 inside the cylinder to the outflow side connection part 5 downstream through the pipe to the target location. Also, when the target fluid is water, through the same steps as in the case of air above, inactivation and sterilization of viruses and bacteria contained in the water, and dust removal of minute foreign substances contained in the water are performed. In an example of using the fluid sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention, normal air is taken in from the outside, the attic is connected by piping, the fluid sterilization device of the present invention is connected, and in this device, inactivation and sterilization are performed on viruses and bacteria, and pollen, PM2.5, etc. contained in the air are removed by dust, and the purified air can be supplied indoors by piping.

Industrial Applicability

[0011] In the industry, when the fluid target is air, the present invention is installed in the ceiling of large indoor facilities where many people gather, food and beverage companies, medical and welfare facilities, research institutions, precision instrument factories, chicken coops in the poultry industry, general offices, rooms in houses, etc. This fluid sterilization device is connected to the piping path for taking in outdoor air and supplying it indoors, enabling the supply of purified air indoors through the functions of inactivating and sterilizing viruses in the air and collecting dust such as fine dust and pollen. Also, when the fluid target is water, this fluid sterilization device is connected to the piping of the water supply path in facilities that require purified water, such as water purification facilities, food and beverage factories, and medical and nursing facilities, and is used. Description of symbols: main body case 1, sterilization space 2, mirror plate 3, inlet side connection part 4, outlet side connection part 5, flange connection parts 6, 7, blade drive part 8, high-performance filter 9, flow rectifying member 10, deep ultraviolet LED 11, flow path stop part 12, cavity part 13, irradiation light 14, electric control part 15 (not shown)

[0012]

Claims

1. In a device composed of a main body case having a box shape with a hollow part inside and having openings on the inflow side and the outflow side that are each capable of allowing fluid to flow through, an inflow side pipe connection part, and an outflow side pipe connection part, a rectifying part for restricting the flow is provided inside between the main body case and the inflow side pipe connection part; a cylindrical high-performance filter having a hollow part inside and connected to the rectifying part that is parallel to the flow path while maintaining a distance from the inner wall inside the main body case; a flow path stop part connecting the outer side downstream of the high-performance filter to the main body case; the inner side downstream of the high-performance filter is connected to the outflow connection part; and an LED as a sterilization means that emits light from the outer peripheral part of the main body case toward the internal space and the inflow surface of the high-performance filter. A fluid sterilization device characterized by being configured with these components.

2. The fluid sterilization device according to Claim 1, wherein the LED of the sterilization means that irradiates the hollow part inside the main body case and the inflow side of the high-performance filter emits light in the wavelength range of 220 to 300 nm, which is a deep ultraviolet LED.

3. The fluid sterilization device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the internal sterilization space of the main body case is larger than the cross-sectional areas of the inflow side pipe connection part and the outflow side pipe connection part.

4. The fluid sterilization device according to Claim 1, Claim 2, and Claim 3, characterized in that it is composed of a mirror plate attached to the wall surface of the entire inner circumference of the main body case.

5. The fluid sterilization device according to Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, and Claim 4, characterized in that a blade driving part for increasing the velocity of the fluid is provided inside between the main body case and the rectifying part for restricting the flow at the inflow side pipe connection part.

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