Ozone-containing fine bubble generation device and generation method

Abstract

Provided are an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generation device and an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generation method, which have a simple and compact structure and encapsulate ozone in fine bubbles without using agricultural chemicals and chemicals harmful to the environment and the human body.SOLUTION: A fine bubble generator having a microporous layer, an inducing liquid placement part for placing an inducing liquid for inducing fine bubbles, a gas supply part, a gas intake port, a liquid supply port, an air supply part for supplying air to the gas intake port, and an ozone supply part for supplying ozone to the gas intake port, wherein a mixed gas containing the air and the ozone is sent from the gas intake port to the gas supply part, the ozone-containing fine bubbles are generated from the front surface by the mixed gas flowing from the back surface side to the front surface side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator and a generation method that can generate minute bubbles called microbubbles or nanobubbles that encapsulate ozone. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, advances have been made in technology that generates tiny bubbles known as fine bubbles and utilizes them for sterilization, cleaning, environmental purification, growth promotion, immune enhancement, cell protection, and other purposes. Fine bubbles are bubbles smaller than 100 μm (0.1 mm) in diameter. Among fine bubbles, tiny bubbles with a diameter of 1 μm or more but less than 100 μm are called microbubbles, and tiny bubbles with a diameter of less than 1 μm are called ultrafine bubbles.

[0003] Fine bubble generators are being manufactured to generate fine bubbles in fields such as medicine, agriculture, fisheries, and environmental purification. Fine bubble generators include 1) high-speed swirling liquid flow types and 2) pressurized dissolution types, while ultra-fine bubble generators include 3) surfactant-added micropore types and 4) ultrasonic cavitation types.

[0004] All of the above generators (1), (2), (3), and (4) are difficult to process, have complex structures, are large, and are expensive, so they are often difficult to use in agriculture, fisheries, and environmental purification, and many of them cannot be purchased as sterilization and disinfection equipment for home use or as health equipment. Furthermore, generating microbubbles and nanobubbles necessarily requires a hydraulic pump, a high-speed liquid flow shear nozzle, porous ceramics (fine bubble generator), or a pressurization / decompression device, a surfactant / ultrafine permeation membrane, an ultrasonic device, etc., which makes the structure complex and the device prone to becoming large. Patent Document 1 is an example of a device for generating fine bubbles.

[0005] On the other hand, since ozone has a strong oxidizing effect, ozone generators are known that generate ozone for sterilization and deodorization. Methods for generating ozone include ultraviolet irradiation, radiation irradiation, plasma discharge, silent discharge, and water electrolysis, but the silent discharge method is commonly used industrially (see Patent Document 5).

[0006] Ozone is harmful when generated in the air, and even if it is generated by underwater discharge, it disappears within a few hours at most. Even if ozone gas is dissolved in water, it disappears within a few hours. Therefore, methods for encapsulating ozone in fine bubbles have been explored, but there has been no low-cost, easy-to-use method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2010-167404 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2011-225807 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2001-81227 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2003-48940 [Patent Document 5] Patent Publication No. 2012-193099 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and aims to provide an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator and an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generating method that have a simple and compact structure and encapsulate ozone in fine bubbles without using pesticides or chemicals that are harmful to the environment or human body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention comprises a fine bubble generator having a synthetic resin body having a back surface and a front surface and a predetermined thickness, and a microporous layer formed in the synthetic resin body by a wet coagulation method and having a large number of interconnected fine pores; an inducing liquid arrangement section for arranging an inducing liquid for inducing fine bubbles around the fine bubble generator; a gas supply section for supplying gas to the back surface side of the synthetic resin body of the fine bubble generator; a gas intake port for introducing gas into the gas supply section; a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid to the inducing liquid arrangement section; an air supply section for supplying air to the gas intake port; and an ozone supply section for supplying ozone to the gas intake port. A mixed gas containing air and ozone is sent from the gas intake port to the gas supply section, and the mixed gas flows from the back surface side to the front surface side, thereby generating ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles from the front surface.

[0010] It is preferable that the air supply unit includes an air supply source and an air supply pipe, the ozone supply unit includes an ozone supply source and an ozone supply pipe, a confluence pipe is formed where the air supply pipe and the ozone supply pipe join together, the air and the ozone flow through the confluence pipe to form a mixed gas containing the air and ozone, and the confluence pipe is connected to the gas intake port.

[0011] Preferably, the air supply source is an air compressor and the ozone supply source is an ozone generator.

[0012] It is preferable that a narrowed portion be formed near the junction where the air supply pipe and the ozone supply pipe join together.

[0013] It is preferable that a water tank is placed below the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator so that ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles are released into the liquid in the water tank.

[0014] It is preferable that the device includes a floating ozone recovery mechanism that recovers floating ozone that emerges from the water surface among the ozone-containing fine bubbles released into the liquid in the tank and sends it to the gas intake port.

[0015] The porosity of the microporous layer is lower near the front surface than near the back surface, It is preferable that fine bubbles are generated from the surface by allowing gas to flow from the back surface side to the front surface side.

[0016] Preferably, the microporous layer has pores with a diameter of less than 100 μm.

[0017] It is preferable that the microporous layer has a lower porosity on the front surface than on the back surface.

[0018] It is preferable that the fine bubble generator is cylindrical with a hollow center, the inner surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator being the back surface of the synthetic resin body, and the outer surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator being the surface of the synthetic resin body, so that gas in the hollow portion of the cylindrical fine bubble generator flows from the inner surface side to the outer surface side, thereby generating fine bubbles from the surface.

[0019] The synthetic resin body is preferably made of at least one synthetic resin selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polyimide.

[0020] The front and / or rear surface of the synthetic resin body is preferably subjected to a water-repellent treatment.

[0021] The method for generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles of the present invention is a method for generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles, which includes a step of generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles using the ozone-encapsulated fine bubble generator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The present invention has the significant effect of providing an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator and an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generating method that have a simple and compact structure and encapsulate ozone in fine bubbles without using pesticides or chemicals that are harmful to the environment or human body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a fine bubble generator used in the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional photograph showing an external observation image of a cross section of a cylindrical fine bubble generator according to Example 1. [Figure 5] 5 is an SEM photograph of the surface of the square part in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is an SEM photograph of the inner surface side (near the back surface) of the cross section taken along the dotted line in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 5 is an SEM photograph of the outer surface side (near the surface) of the cross section taken along the dotted line in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional photograph showing an external observation image of the side surface of a cylindrical fine bubble generator according to Example 2. [Figure 9] 9 is an SEM photograph of the surface of the square portion in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 10 is an SEM photograph of the surface of the square portion in FIG. 8, taken from a different field of view from that in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic side view showing another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic front view showing another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic external perspective view showing another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The following describes embodiments of the present invention, but these are shown by way of example only, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0025] One embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10, as clearly shown in the enlarged view of Figure 3, includes a hollow, cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 having a back surface 12 and a front surface 14, a synthetic resin body 16 of a predetermined thickness, and a microporous layer 20 (see Figures 5 to 7, 9 and 10) formed in the synthetic resin body 16 by a wet coagulation method and having a large number of interconnected fine pores (reference numeral 18 in Figures 5 to 7, 9 and 10).

[0026] Furthermore, the pores 18 of the microporous layer 20 are smaller and fewer in the vicinity of the front surface 14 than in the vicinity of the back surface 12, resulting in a lower porosity of the microporous layer 20. In this specification, the region closer to the front surface than the center of the microporous layer 20 is referred to as the vicinity of the front surface, and the region closer to the back surface than the center of the microporous layer 20 is referred to as the vicinity of the back surface.

[0027] The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 is configured to include an induction liquid arrangement section 32 that arranges an induction liquid for inducing fine bubbles around the fine bubble generator 22, a gas supply section 34 that supplies gas to the back surface 12 side of the synthetic resin body 16 of the fine bubble generator 22, a gas intake port 36 that takes in gas into the gas supply section 34, a liquid supply port 38 that supplies the liquid to the induction liquid arrangement section 32, an air supply section 40 that supplies air to the gas intake port 36, and an ozone supply section 42 that supplies ozone to the gas intake port 36.

[0028] The mixed gas containing the air and ozone is sent from the gas intake port 36 to the gas supply section 34, and as the mixed gas flows from the back surface 12 side to the front surface 14 side, fine bubbles containing ozone are generated from the front surface.

[0029] The liquid is, for example, water, which may be tap water, and the gas is preferably air.

[0030] In the illustrated example, the gas intake port 36 and liquid supply port 38 are provided in the upper cylindrical housing 44. The induced liquid arrangement section 32 is made up of the inner wall of the lower cylindrical housing 46 and the outer wall of the hollow cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 (see Figure 3). In the illustrated example, the gas supply section 34 corresponds to the central hollow section 26 of the hollow cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 (see Figure 3). A stopper 62 is provided in the hollow section 26 of the gas supply section 34 to prevent gas (e.g., air) from leaking downward. The hollow cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 has an inner surface 28 and an outer surface 30.

[0031] In Fig. 1, reference numeral 50 denotes a liquid supply pipe, reference numeral 52 denotes an air supply pipe, reference numeral 54 denotes an ozone supply pipe, and reference numeral 56 denotes a re-captured ozone supply pipe for re-captured ozone. A junction pipe 58 is formed where the air supply pipe 52 and the ozone supply pipe 54 join, and the air and ozone join at the junction pipe 58 to form a mixed gas. Reference numeral 60 denotes a water tank in which a liquid W (e.g., tap water) to be flowed into the liquid pipe 50 is stored. Needless to say, the water tank 60 may be a place or container in which a liquid is stored from the beginning.

[0032] 2 shows the air supply pipe 52 and the ozone supply pipe 54 joining at the junction pipe 58. Although omitted from the example of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2, constrictions 76 and 78 are formed near the point where the air supply pipe 52 and the ozone supply pipe 54 join (before the junction in the illustrated example) and near the point where the re-captured ozone supply pipe 56 joins (before the junction in the illustrated example). The formation of these throttle-shaped constrictions 76 and 78 creates an ejector structure, increasing the air speed and creating a vacuum, which sucks in ozone gas. In a configuration where the re-captured ozone supply pipe 56 is not provided, only the constriction 76 can be provided, without the constriction 78.

[0033] That is, the air supply unit 40 is equipped with an air supply source 64 and an air supply pipe 52, the ozone supply unit 42 is equipped with an ozone supply source 66 and an ozone supply pipe 54, a junction pipe 58 is formed where the air supply pipe 52 and the ozone supply pipe 54 join together, the air and the ozone flow through the junction pipe 58 to form a mixed gas containing the air and ozone, and the junction pipe 58 is connected to the gas intake 36, thereby forming an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10.

[0034] An air compressor capable of compressing air is preferable as the air supply source 64. Various known air compressors can be used as the air compressor. An ozone generator is preferable as the ozone supply source 66. Any device that generates ozone can be used as the ozone generator, and various known ozone generators can be used.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, a water tank 60 is placed below the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10, and ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles are released into the liquid W in the water tank 60. Of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles released into the liquid W in the water tank 60, floating ozone 72 emerging from the water surface is captured and recovered by a re-capture cover 74. In this way, the mechanism by which floating ozone 72 is collected by the collection cover 74 and sent from the re-captured ozone supply pipe 56 to the gas intake 36 is the floating ozone recovery mechanism 80.

[0036] In this invention, ozone gas is mixed with air and sent into fine bubbles, allowing ozone, which normally disappears within a few hours, to remain in water for several days to several months, or to be sent over long distances using a hose pipe.

[0037] The porosity of the microporous layer 20 is lower near the front surface 14 than near the back surface 12, and it is preferable that fine bubbles are generated from the front surface 14 by gas flowing from the back surface 12 side to the front surface 14 side.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1, in the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 of the present invention, it is preferable that the back surface 12 is in contact with gas and the front surface 14 is in contact with liquid. In addition, the diameter of the pores 18 of the microporous layer 20 is configured to be smaller than 100 µm.

[0039] The front surface 14 has fewer and smaller pores 18 than the back surface 12, and the microporous layer 20 has a lower porosity.

[0040] The synthetic resin body 16 is preferably made of at least one type of synthetic resin selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polyimide.

[0041] It is also preferable that the rear surface 12 and / or the front surface 14 of the synthetic resin body 16 be subjected to a water-repellent treatment. As the water-repellent treatment agent, various known water-repellent treatment agents can be used. For example, known fluorine-based water-repellent treatment agents can be used.

[0042] The fine bubble generator 22 is cylindrical with a hollow section 26 in the center, the inner surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 is the back surface 12 of the synthetic resin body, and the outer surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 is the surface 14 of the synthetic resin body, and fine bubbles are generated from the surface 14 when gas in the hollow section 26 of the cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 flows from the inner surface side to the outer surface side.

[0043] With this configuration, when the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 is supplied with ordinary water supply equipment, for example, tap water from a household, through the liquid supply port 38, the surrounding air is pressurized and minute bubbles called microbubbles or nanobubbles containing ozone are generated from the hollow cylindrical fine bubble generator 22. The materials of the components of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 other than the fine bubble generator 22 are not particularly limited, but can be made of synthetic resins, etc.

[0044] The method for generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles of the present invention is a method for generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles, which includes a step of generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles using the ozone-encapsulated fine bubble generator 10 of the present invention.

[0045] In the present invention, a fine bubble generator using a fine bubble generator 22 (fine bubble generator) can encapsulate ozone in fine bubbles (fine bubbles) and release them into water. This ozone-encapsulated fine bubble water (fine bubble water encapsulating ozone) can then be sprayed on or supplied to agricultural or marine products, making it possible to kill and sterilize pests and pathogens.

[0046] This is possible by encapsulating ozone in fine bubbles generated by a fine bubble generator without using pesticides or chemicals that are harmful to the environment or human body. Ozone is harmful when generated in the air, and even when generated by underwater discharge, it disappears within a few hours at most. Even when ozone gas is dissolved in water, it also disappears within a few hours. Therefore, methods for encapsulating ozone in fine bubbles have been sought, but no low-cost, easy-to-use method has been found. This device invents a fine bubble generator 22, which sends air into the fine bubble generator 22, causing fine air bubbles to spray from the surface of the generator, creating a rapid current of water around it. Fine bubble water is then caught in the current and released into the tank below.

[0047] Ozone gas generated by an ozone generator is sucked into the air sent into the fine bubble (micro-bubble) generator, and is ejected from the surface of the fine bubble (micro-bubble) generator as micro-bubbles containing ozone gas, which are then caught up in the surrounding water current and released into the water tank.

[0048] Fine bubble water containing ozone gas can be released or sprayed onto agricultural and marine products using a submersible pump in an aquarium, making it possible to sterilize and kill insects without the use of pesticides. Furthermore, by incorporating ozone gas into the fine bubbles, the ozone gas can remain in the water for a long time without disappearing, making it possible to transport the water over long distances using a water pump and hose.

[0049] The fine bubble generator 22 used in the present invention can be manufactured by a wet coagulation process in which water-soluble and organic solvent-insoluble particles are added to an organic solvent containing a resin raw material, and then coagulated in a coagulation liquid containing water as the main component.

[0050] <About the wet solidification method> When the synthetic resin body of the fine bubble generator according to the present invention is made of urethane resin, it can be produced, for example, by the following wet solidification method. Manufacturing method for urethane resin porous body: A porous urethane resin can be obtained by adding inorganic water-soluble salts such as calcium chloride, sodium sulfate, and sodium chloride to a solution of urethane resin in a completely water-miscible organic solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, or dimethylacetamide, and then adding thickeners such as carboxymethyl cellulose or carboxypropyl cellulose. Additives that regulate the desolvation rate and cell (void) shape in a water-based coagulation bath, such as mineral spirits, castor oil, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, or polyether-modified polydimethylsiloxane, and silicone oil-based defoamers or special acrylic polymer defoamers (such as Kusumoto Chemical's Disparlon or Sannopco Dappo) are also added. Urethane resins, which use dimethylformamide as a solvent, are generally manufactured and sold for impregnating nonwoven fabrics or forming grain surfaces in artificial leather, as well as for impregnating nonwoven fabrics used in semiconductor abrasives or for forming suede-type soft abrasives. These urethane resins are composed of a diisocyanate component, most preferably diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and a polyol component, most preferably polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene ether glycol, polycaprolactone, or glycols such as 3-methylpentanediol, hexanediol, 2-methyloctanediol, neopentyl glycol, and 2,4-diethyl-1,5-pentanediol, with a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 3,000, which is partially derived from polycarbonate diols, which are reacted with short-chain glycols such as ethylene glycol, butanediol, 2,2'-ethylbutyl-1,3-propanediol, and 1,3-butanediol. Examples of the urethane resin that can be used include CRISBON (registered trademark) MP-120, 8867 manufactured by DIC Corporation, LEZAMIN (registered trademark) CU-520, 530 manufactured by Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd., and SANPREN (registered trademark) LQ manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. After the reaction, antioxidants, hydrolysis inhibitors, pigments, anti-mold agents, ultraviolet absorbers, etc. may be added. As an environmental measure, it is also possible to use a porous body produced by a manufacturing method using a urethane emulsion instead of an organic solvent solution.

[0051] It is also possible to produce a porous body using a so-called heat-sensitive gelling urethane emulsion that utilizes the cloud point of a nonionic surfactant. Furthermore, to further homogenize the porous body of the urethane resin, inorganic salts such as sodium sulfate, salt, and calcium chloride may be used in combination with the urethane resin, as well as nylon fibers, polyester fibers, fluororesin fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, etc., each having a length of approximately 0.3 to 0.8 mm.

[0052] Other methods for producing the synthetic resin body of the fine bubble generator of the present invention by a wet coagulation process include, for example, the wet coagulation method using calcium chloride as the inorganic salt described in Patent Document 2, and the urethane emulsion method described in Patent Document 3 or Patent Document 4. [Example]

[0053] The present invention will be explained in more detail below by way of examples, but it goes without saying that these examples are given for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting.

[0054] Example 1 CRISBON MP-120 (DIC Corporation, 30% solids, polycarbonate urethane resin): 100 parts by weight Anhydrous Glauber's salt (Tosoh products sorted to 30-50 μm using a vibrating sieve): 100 parts by weight Polyvinyl alcohol (manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd., polymerization degree 500, saponification degree 88%): 5 parts by mass Polyoxypropylene triol (manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., molecular weight 3000): 2 parts by mass Polyethylene glycol oleyl ether (Noigen (registered trademark) ET-102, manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 1 part by mass Defoaming agent (manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., DAPPO (registered trademark) SN-348): 2 parts by mass DMF: 25 parts by mass The above were kneaded in a rotary kneader at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then extruded into a coagulation bath (bath temperature: 20 °C) in a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of 35 mm, an inner diameter of 20 mm, and a length of 300 mm, which consisted of 10% dimethylformamide and 90% water, and left standing for 24 hours. Next, it was washed in a drum rotary dyeing machine at 50 °C for 60 minutes. Further, it was washed for 20 minutes while flowing water at 25 °C, and finally centrifugally dehydrated and dried by ventilation at 110 °C. Thus, the cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 was obtained. A photograph of the obtained fine bubble generator 22 cut into pieces is shown in Fig. 4.

[0055] <Test> Each test was conducted under the following conditions using the obtained fine bubble generator 22. <SEM Observation> Apparatus: Electron emission type scanning electron microscope JSM-IT800 (SHL) manufactured by JEOL Ltd. Measurement conditions: Incident voltage: 1.0 kV Method for preparing microscope sample: The sample was cross-sectioned using a razor. Also, the surface was cut and adhered to carbon tape for measurement. Observation magnification: 500 times

[0056] An SEM observation photograph of the surface of the square portion 69 in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 5. Also, an SEM observation photograph of the inner surface side (near the back surface) of the cut surface along the dotted line in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 6. Further, an SEM observation photograph of the outer surface side (near the surface) of the cut surface along the dotted line in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 7.

[0057] The diameter of the holes 18 in the micro porous layer 20 was smaller than 100 μm, and many were about 10 μm to 30 μm. Also, the diameter of the holes 18 was smaller on the outer surface side (near the surface) of the cut surface than on the inner surface side (near the back surface) of the cut surface, and many were about 10 nm or less (see Fig. 9). Also, the number of holes 18 was small. Therefore, it can be seen that the porosity of the micro porous layer is lower on the outer surface side (near the surface) of the cut surface than on the inner surface side (near the back surface).

[0058] <Fine bubble generation test> Using the fine bubble generator 22 obtained above, a fine bubble generator having the same configuration as the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 shown in Figure 1 was made. When tap water was supplied and water was allowed to flow in as a liquid, fine bubbles encapsulating ozone were generated and were caught up in the water current. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles were released downward from the fine bubble outlet 63, which is an opening at the bottom of the lower cylindrical housing, and floated in the water tank.

[0059] Example 2 A cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. SEM observation was carried out under the same conditions as in Example 1. However, the appearance of the side surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator according to Example 2 was observed.

[0060] Figure 8 shows an SEM photograph of the appearance of the side surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator of Example 2. Figure 9 shows an SEM photograph of the surface of the square portion 70 in Figure 8. Figure 10 shows an SEM photograph of the surface of the square portion 70 in Figure 8, taken from a different field of view from that of Figure 9. The diameters of the pores 18 in the microporous layer 20 were smaller than 100 μm, with most of them being approximately 10 μm to 30 μm. Furthermore, the diameters of the pores 18 on the outer surface side of the cut surface (near the front surface) were smaller than those on the inner surface side of the cut surface (near the back surface), with many of them being approximately 10 nm or less. The number of pores 18 was also smaller. This indicates that the porosity of the microporous layer is lower on the outer surface side of the cut surface (near the front surface) than on the inner surface side of the cut surface (near the back surface).

[0061] <Fine bubble generation test> As in Example 1, the fine bubble generator 22 obtained above was used to make a fine bubble generator having the same configuration as the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 shown in Figure 1. When tap water was supplied and water was allowed to flow in as a liquid, fine bubbles encapsulating ozone were generated and were caught up in the water current, released downward from the fine bubble outlet 63, which is the opening at the bottom of the lower cylindrical housing, and floated in the water tank.

[0062] Example 3 <Water-repellent treatment> A cylindrical fine bubble generator 22 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. A water-repellent treatment was performed on the outer surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator 22. The water-repellent treatment was performed by spraying a commercially available water-repellent agent (High Power Waterproof Spray, Fluorine-based Water Repellent Agent, manufactured by Konishi Co., Ltd.). The coating thickness was approximately 10 μm.

[0063] <Fine bubble generation test> Using the fine bubble generator 22 obtained by the water-repellent treatment, an ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator with the same configuration as the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 shown in Figure 1 was constructed. When tap water was supplied and the liquid was introduced, ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles were generated and were caught in the water current, released downward from the fine bubble outlet 63, which is the opening at the bottom of the lower cylindrical housing, and floated in the aquarium. The bubbles generated in Example 3 were finer and larger in quantity than the bubbles generated in Example 1, causing the water in the aquarium to become cloudy.

[0064] Next, another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention is shown in Figs.

[0065] 11 to 13, another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention includes an induced liquid arrangement section 82 for arranging an induced liquid for inducing fine bubbles around the fine bubble generator 22, a gas supply section 34 for supplying gas to the back surface 12 of the synthetic resin body 16 of the fine bubble generator 22, a gas inlet 84 for introducing gas into the gas supply section 34, a liquid supply port 86 for supplying the liquid to the induced liquid arrangement section 82, an air supply section (not shown) for supplying air to the gas inlet 84, and an ozone supply section (not shown) for supplying ozone to the gas inlet 36. Reference numeral 88 denotes an upper cylindrical housing, and reference numeral 90 denotes a lower cylindrical housing. These basic aspects are almost the same as those of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0066] The difference from the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator 10 is that the gap between the inner wall of the lower cylindrical housing 90 and the outer surface of the fine bubble generator 22 is narrower than in the examples of Figures 1 and 3. In another embodiment of the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator of the present invention shown in Figures 11 to 13, the gap is preferably 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. The upper cylindrical housing 88 also has a smaller diameter. In the embodiment of Figures 11 to 13, for example, if the outer diameter of the fine bubble generator 22 is 30 mm, the inner diameter of the lower cylindrical housing 90 is 48 mm and the outer diameter of the upper cylindrical housing 88 is 57 mm.

[0067] In this way, by reducing the diameter of the upper cylindrical housing 88 and the diameter of the lower cylindrical housing 90 and bringing them closer to the outer surface of the fine bubble generator 22, the liquid (e.g., water) flowing from the liquid supply port 86 becomes a rapid jet of water because of the narrow periphery. The fine bubbles (fine bubbles) generated on the outer surface of the fine bubble generator 22 are cut off by the jet of water and the minute vibrations of the fine bubble generator 22 and become easily dissolved in the water flow. Then, due to the air pressure and the surrounding water flow, the fine bubble generator 22 extends downward because it is made of synthetic resin.

[0068] That is, (1) when air is pumped into the hollow portion 26 of the fine bubble generator 22, it expands due to the synthetic resin (e.g., urethane resin), but extends downward by 10 to 20 mm due to the liquid flowing around it. (2) The pore diameter on the surface of the fine bubble generator 22 also becomes smaller. (3) The action of the jet water flow and the air jet causes the fine bubble generator 22 to vibrate minutely. In this way, the fine bubble generator 22 naturally vibrates minutely, which is more preferable as it generates more fine bubbles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10: Ozone-encapsulated fine bubble generator, 12: Back surface, 14: Surface, 16: Synthetic resin body, 18: Holes, 20: Microporous layer, 22: Fine bubble generator, 26: Hollow portion, 28: Inner surface, 30: Outer surface, 32: Induced liquid placement portion, 34: Gas supply portion, 36: Gas intake port, 38: Liquid supply port, 40: Air supply portion, 42: Ozone supply portion, 44: Upper cylindrical housing, 46, 90: lower cylindrical housing, 50: liquid supply pipe, 52: air supply pipe, 54: ozone supply pipe, 56: re-capture ozone supply pipe, 58: confluence pipe, 60: water tank, 62: stopper, 63: fine bubble outlet, 64: air supply source, 66: ozone supply source, 69, 70: square part, 72: floating ozone, 74: re-capture cover, 76, 78: narrowed part, 80: floating ozone recovery mechanism, W: liquid.

Claims

1. a fine bubble generator having a synthetic resin body having a back surface and a front surface and a predetermined thickness, and a microporous layer formed in the synthetic resin body by a wet solidification method and having a large number of fine interconnected pores; an induction liquid arrangement section for arranging an induction liquid for inducing fine bubbles around the fine bubble generator; a gas supply unit that supplies gas to the rear surface side of the synthetic resin body of the fine bubble generator; a gas intake port for introducing gas into the gas supply unit; a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid to the induced liquid arrangement portion; an air supply unit for supplying air to the gas intake; an ozone supply for supplying ozone to the gas intake; Including, a mixed gas containing the air and ozone is sent from the gas intake port to the gas supply unit; The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator is configured so that the mixed gas flows from the back side to the front side, thereby generating ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles from the front side.

2. the air supply unit includes an air supply source and an air supply pipe; the ozone supply unit includes an ozone supply source and an ozone supply pipe; a confluence pipe is formed where the air supply pipe and the ozone supply pipe join together, The air and the ozone flow through the confluence pipe to form a mixed gas containing the air and the ozone, The junction pipe is connected to the gas intake port. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1.

3. 3. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 2, wherein the air supply source is an air compressor and the ozone supply source is an ozone generator.

4. 3. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 2, wherein a narrowed section is formed near the junction where the air supply pipe and the ozone supply pipe join.

5. 2. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein a water tank is disposed below the ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator, and the ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles are released into the liquid in the water tank.

6. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 5, further comprising a floating ozone recovery mechanism that recovers floating ozone emerging from the water surface among the ozone-encapsulating fine bubbles released into the liquid in the water tank and sends it to the gas intake.

7. The porosity of the microporous layer is lower near the front surface than near the back surface, The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein fine bubbles are generated from the surface by gas flowing from the back side to the front side.

8. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the pores in the microporous layer is smaller than 100 μm.

9. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the porosity of the microporous layer is lower on the front surface than on the back surface.

10. The fine bubble generator is cylindrical with a hollow center, the inner surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator is the back surface of the synthetic resin body, and the outer surface of the cylindrical fine bubble generator is the front surface of the synthetic resin body, 2. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein fine bubbles are generated from the surface by gas flowing from the inner surface side to the outer surface side in the hollow portion of the cylindrical fine bubble generator.

11. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic resin body is made of at least one synthetic resin selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polyimide.

12. The ozone-encapsulating fine bubble generator according to claim 1, wherein the front and / or rear surfaces of the synthetic resin body are subjected to a water-repellent treatment.

13. A method for generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles, comprising the step of generating ozone-encapsulated fine bubbles using the ozone-encapsulated fine bubble generator according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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