Oil extraction device from oil filter and oil extraction method from oil filter

Abstract

To provide an oil extraction device of an oil filter which can decompose an oil filter with high efficiency under normal pressure.SOLUTION: An oil extraction device of an oil filter decomposes the oil filter under normal pressure and generates an oil content. The oil extraction device has a reaction tank to which the oil filter is charged, a heating chamber in which the reaction tank is provided, a heating device for supplying a heat source to the heating chamber, a steam introduction part for introducing steam into the reaction tank, and a discharge part for discharging the oil content decomposed and generated by the reaction tank, where the steam introduced into the reaction tank is heated by the heating device and converted into superheated steam, and acts as a catalyst for hydrolyzing the oil filter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil filter oil extraction device and method that enable highly efficient extraction of oil from a used oil filter under normal pressure. [Background technology]

[0002] An oil filter is used to remove sludge, wear particles, and debris from engine oil, lubricating oil, or hydraulic fluid. Oil filters are also used in hydraulic machinery driven by hydraulic pressure. Oil filters are generally used in vehicles with internal combustion engines, airplanes, ships, and other vehicles. In other words, oil filters are installed in all machines that are lubricated with oil, including industrial machinery.

[0003] Additionally, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced that as of July 2023, the number of automobiles owned in Japan was approximately 82 million. Assuming the average mileage per vehicle is 20 km per day, the total mileage (82 million vehicles x 20 km) comes to 1.64 billion km. Assuming that oil filters are changed every 10,000 km, this means that 164,000 oil filters are discarded each day.

[0004] Most oil filters are disposed of by incineration as industrial or general waste. The residue from incineration of oil filters remains as a mass called clinker, which is ultimately disposed of in a landfill. Oil filters are sometimes disassembled into their constituent parts and disposed of separately. In either case, the oil components contained in the oil filter are incinerated.

[0005] Therefore, a technology for improving the efficiency of disassembling and separating oil filters has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes the following: "An oil element disassembling and separating device comprising a rotatable oil element placing table that sequentially transports a plurality of placed oil elements to a removal position, an oil element holding device that holds both ends of the oil elements in a sideways or tilted position, a supply arm that supplies the oil elements at the removal position of the oil element placing table to the oil element holding device, a cutting device equipped with a cutting blade that cuts off the outer containers of the oil elements held in the oil element holding device, and a separating arm that holds the cut outer containers." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2004-261923 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] According to Patent Document 1, the disassembly and separation of a large number of oil filters (also called oil elements) is automated to reduce the burden on workers and the risk to them. However, Patent Document 1 is also the same in that the final disposal is by incineration. In other words, no consideration is given to extracting and reusing the oil contained in the oil filters.

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oil filter oil extraction device and an oil filter oil extraction method that enable highly efficient extraction of oil from used oil filters under normal pressure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the oil extraction device from an oil filter of the present invention is an oil filter oil extraction device that separates the oil contained in the oil filter under normal pressure, and has a reaction tank into which the oil filter is placed, a heating chamber in which the reaction tank is installed, a heating device that supplies a heat source to the heating chamber, a steam inlet section that introduces steam into the reaction tank, and a discharge section that discharges the oil generated by decomposition in the reaction tank, and is configured so that the steam introduced into the reaction tank becomes superheated steam through catalytic action of the steam, and the superheated steam separates and extracts the oil contained in the oil filter.

[0010] With this configuration, by heating the steam to subcritical steam, i.e., superheated steam, it becomes possible to use the subcritical water as a catalyst, and the oil contained in the oil filter is separated and extracted.

[0011] In the oil extraction device for an oil filter according to the present invention, the heating device can be configured to heat the steam introduced from the steam inlet until it becomes superheated steam in a subcritical state of 250 to 300°C.

[0012] With this configuration, the superheated steam in a subcritical state of 250 to 300°C effectively acts as a catalyst, and the oil contained in the oil filter OF can be separated and produced without using a separate catalyst.

[0013] In the oil extraction method for oil filters according to the present invention, an oil filter is placed in a reaction tank under normal pressure, the reaction tank is heated, steam is introduced into the reaction tank, the oil contained in the oil filter is separated using superheated steam generated by the catalytic action of the steam introduced into the reaction tank, and the oil is then discharged from the reaction tank.

[0014] With this configuration, by heating the steam to subcritical steam, i.e., superheated steam, it becomes possible to use the subcritical water as a catalyst, and the oil contained in the oil filter is separated and extracted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, by heating water vapor to create subcritical water vapor, i.e., superheated water vapor, the subcritical water can be used as a catalyst, which promotes hydrolysis of the oil filter and makes it possible to separate and extract the oil contained in the oil filter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall external configuration of an apparatus for extracting oil from an oil filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a graph showing the temperature dependence of the ionic product, which is one of the physical properties that has a significant effect on the properties of water. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall external configuration of an apparatus for extracting oil from an oil filter (hereinafter referred to as oil extraction apparatus 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 1 also shows a perspective view of the internal configuration of the oil extraction apparatus 100. The overall configuration and operation of the oil extraction apparatus 100 will be described based on FIG. 1. The oil extraction apparatus 100 enables highly efficient separation and extraction of oil contained in an oil filter under normal pressure.

[0018] <Configuration of oil extraction device 100> The oil filters targeted by the oil extraction device 100 are similar to commonly used oil filters, and are used in vehicles with internal combustion engines, airplanes, ships, etc., and are not particularly limited in type, size, etc.

[0019] The oil extraction device 100 has a reaction tank 10 into which an oil filter is placed, and a heating chamber 20 that covers the side and bottom of the reaction tank 10. The reaction tank 10 is configured to have a hollow shape with a bottom in order to extract oil from the placed oil filter. For example, the reaction tank 10 may be configured in a rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical shape. The heating chamber 20 is configured to be large enough to accommodate the reaction tank 10 therein, and heats the reaction tank 10 from outside. The outer wall of the heating chamber 20 is covered with a heat insulating section 21.

[0020] The top of the reaction tank 10 penetrates the upper surface of the heating chamber 20 and is open so as to be exposed to the outside of the heating chamber 20. This top opening 13 functions as an inlet for the oil filter OF. A lid 11 is provided on the top opening 13 in an openable and closable manner. The reaction tank 10 is arranged so that its side and bottom surfaces are located inside the heating chamber 20. The heating chamber 20 may be arranged so that the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the reaction tank 10 is in contact with the inner periphery of the bottom surface of the heating chamber 20, or feet (foot 12 shown in FIG. 1) may be provided on the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the reaction tank 10 so that the reaction tank 10 is supported via the feet 12.

[0021] The reaction vessel 10 also has steam inlet sections 15 formed on its sidewalls and bottom. The steam inlet section 15 is connected to a steam inlet pipe 31 on the top of the reaction vessel 10. The steam inlet pipe 31 is connected to a steam supply section 200 provided outside the oil extraction apparatus 100, and guides steam supplied from the steam supply section 200 to the steam inlet section 15. The steam supply section 200 can be formed, for example, by a boiler. The hollow portion of the reaction vessel 10 functions as the oil filter housing section 10A. A discharge pipe 32 is connected to the top of the reaction vessel 10 for discharging steam and decomposition products of the oil filter (liquid phase, solid phase, gaseous phase, or a mixture thereof).

[0022] The tip of the steam introduction section 15 is formed so as to open into the oil filter housing section 10A. This opening will be referred to as the injection nozzle section 15A. A plurality of injection nozzle sections 15A are provided, allowing steam to be injected evenly into the oil filter housing section 10A. The opening diameter of the injection nozzle sections 15A is not particularly limited. The number of injection nozzle sections 15A is also not particularly limited. The other end of the steam introduction section 15 is connected to a steam introduction pipe 31. The oil extraction process from the oil filter by the oil extraction device 100 can be performed as a batch process, a continuous process, or an intermittent process.

[0023] A heating device 35 such as a burner is provided in a portion below the side wall of the heating chamber 20. The heating device 35 supplies a heat source to the interior of the heating chamber 20. Therefore, the heating device 35 further heats the steam introduced into the steam inlet 15. The heating device 35 also indirectly heats the reaction tank 10. The temperature of the superheated steam injected into the reaction tank 10 may be determined taking into consideration the type and weight of the oil filter and the quality of the produced oil. The temperature of the superheated steam may be measured, for example, by a temperature sensor provided in the reaction tank 10. The number of heating devices 35 is not limited.

[0024] <Operation of the oil extraction device 100> First, the oil filter OF to be decomposed is placed in the reaction tank 10. Steam is introduced from the steam supply unit 200 to the steam inlet unit 15. Meanwhile, the heating device 35 is driven to heat the steam introduced into the steam inlet unit 15 in the heating chamber 20. At the same time, the reaction tank 10 is heated. In this way, the steam is superheated. The superheated steam is sprayed into the reaction tank 10. Within the reaction tank 10, the oil filter OF undergoes an oil extraction reaction due to the catalytic action of the superheated steam.

[0025] The oil is extracted from the oil filter OF, and the oil is separated from the oil filter OF. The separated oil is led to the discharge section (discharge pipe 32) by the steam sprayed into the reaction tank 10, either suspended in the steam or in some other state. The oil led to the discharge pipe 32 is discharged to the outside of the reaction tank 10. It is advisable to provide a suction fan or the like in the discharge pipe 32, and discharge the oil by its operation.

[0026] <Mechanism of catalytic action of superheated steam> It is known that when the temperature range of water is expanded to subcritical water above 100°C, properties completely different from those in the temperature range around room temperature emerge. A characteristic of subcritical water is that it has a high ionic product. Figure 2 shows a graph of the temperature dependence of the ionic product, which is one of the physical properties that greatly affects the properties of water. The ionic product is the ratio of the hydrogen ions H of the water molecules in pure water to the total number of hydrogen ions H + and hydroxide ion OH - The ionic product is 10 in water at room temperature and pressure. -14 (mol / kg) 2 However, in subcritical water at 250-300℃ and 1.6MPa, -11 (mol / kg) 2 It will be about 1000 times larger.

[0027] At this time, hydrogen ions H + and hydroxide ion OH - Since the ionic product of water is about 30 times that of water at room temperature, subcritical water itself acts as an acid or alkali catalyst, promoting hydrolysis reactions. In other words, at high temperatures, water becomes subcritical, self-dissociates, and acts as an acid or alkali catalyst, promoting hydrolysis. As a result, subcritical water at high temperatures has properties between those of water at room temperature and organic solvents, and the strength of these properties in subcritical water can be controlled by temperature and pressure.

[0028] Hydrolysis is a reaction in which water reacts with a reactant to produce a decomposition product. At this time, the water molecule (H2O) is split into H (proton component) and OH (hydroxide component) on the product and then incorporated. When compounds AB are polar, with A being positive and B being negative, when AB reacts with water, A will bond with OH and B will bond with H. This is the general reaction format.

[0029] Therefore, the oil extraction device 100 heats steam to produce subcritical steam, i.e., superheated steam, which allows the subcritical water to be used as a catalyst to extract the oil contained in the oil filter OF, thereby separating and producing the oil. Furthermore, the oil extraction device 100 enables highly efficient oil separation from the oil filter OF under normal pressure, making it highly safe. Furthermore, the oil extraction device 100 utilizes the properties of superheated steam, so no other catalyst is required.

[0030] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments described above can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 reactors, 10A Oil filter housing, 11 Lid, 12 feet, 13 Top opening; 15 steam inlet, 15A injection nozzle part, 20 heating chamber, 21 Insulation section, 31 steam introduction pipe, 32 discharge pipe, 35 heating equipment; 100 Oil filter oil extractor, 200 Steam supply section, OF oil filter.

Claims

1. An oil filter oil extraction device that separates oil contained in an oil filter under normal pressure, a reaction tank into which the oil filter is placed; a heating chamber in which the reaction vessel is provided; a heating device that supplies a heat source to the heating chamber; a steam inlet for introducing steam into the reaction vessel; a discharge section for discharging oil generated by decomposition in the reaction tank, The steam introduced into the reaction tank becomes superheated steam due to catalytic action of the steam, and the oil contained in the oil filter is separated and extracted by the superheated steam. Oil extraction device from oil filter.

2. The heating device is The steam introduced from the steam inlet is heated to a subcritical state of 250 to 300°C.

2. The apparatus for extracting oil from an oil filter according to claim 1.

3. Under normal pressure, an oil filter is placed in a reaction vessel. heating the reactor; introducing steam into the reaction vessel; The oil contained in the oil filter is separated using superheated steam generated by catalytic action of the steam introduced into the reaction tank, Discharging the oil from the reaction vessel. How to extract oil from an oil filter.

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