Separation device

Abstract

The purpose is to accelerate the flow rate of the swirling flow in the separation tank by having the gas supplied from the fluid supply passage rise along the ascending flow portion of the swirling flow generated in the separation tank. [Solution] The separation device of the present invention is a separation device for separating substances contained in a liquid, and is characterized by comprising a separation tank having an inlet channel arranged to allow the liquid to flow in and generate a swirling flow by the flow pressure of the liquid, and a screen attached to the side of the swirling flow, a drainage channel arranged outside the separation tank to recover the liquid that flows out through the screen, a separation and settling tank arranged at the bottom of the separation tank to settle the substances, and a swirling flow accelerator connected to the bottom of the separation tank to supply gas at a position within the separation tank where the swirling flow becomes an upward flow.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a separation device that separates small objects contained in a liquid using a water flow. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, wastewater treatment technology has utilized devices that use water flow to separate solids such as garbage and other impurities contained in liquid.

[0003] For example, the following structure has been proposed as a device that separates small objects with a high specific gravity or floating on the water surface from wastewater by rotating them in a water tank using a swirl induction member that creates a water current. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2009-248026 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2020-000990

[0005] The separation device of Patent Document 1 has an inflow chamber 4 with screens 6 attached to both sides arranged in a separation tank 2, and the liquid to be treated is introduced into this inflow chamber 4 from a supply pipe 11a, and solids mixed in the liquid are retained in the inflow chamber 4, while the rest of the liquid is separated and discharged outside through the screen 6.

[0006] A plate-shaped guide section 16 is arranged inside the inflow chamber 4, and during the separation operation, the liquid containing solids supplied from the supply space 11a is guided by this guide section 16 and swirls vertically inside the inflow chamber 4.

[0007] At this time, small objects (solids) with a large specific gravity compared to the liquid are repelled to the outside of the swirling flow and sink through the opening 10 of the partition 9, which is the inner bottom of the inlet chamber 4, into the volume section 17 provided below it, thereby separating the solids from the liquid.

[0008] The separation device of Patent Document 2 is also similar in that the left and right sides of the width of the separation tank 1 are divided by partition plates 2, 2, and liquid flowing into the inside from an inlet pipe 7 is made to hit a C-shaped upright portion 3, causing a swirling flow which is used to separate small objects in the liquid.

[0009] In other words, the separation device of Patent Document 2 also has a structure in which small objects with a high specific gravity in the liquid are dropped into the lower deposition section 1c inside the partition plates 2, 2 where a swirling flow occurs, and the liquid from which the solids have been separated is drained outside through the screens 3d, 4d of the partition plates 2, 2.

[0010] In particular, the separation device of Patent Document 2 has a retention member 10 above the separation tank 1 that collects floating matter that rises to the water surface, and is designed to be able to collect small objects with low specific gravity before they are caught up in the swirling flow.

[0011] However, the separation devices in both Patent Documents 1 and 2 are used as devices for treating wastewater in factories or for separating and treating impurities such as garbage in rivers, etc., and are designed to handle large amounts of water. When this structure is applied to manufacturing processes for pharmaceuticals and other products that require small amounts of liquid water, there is a problem in that the water force of the liquid flowing into the separation tank is insufficient, and the water force and flow rate of the swirling flow generated in the separation tank are insufficient.

[0012] If the water force of the swirling flow in the separation tank is insufficient, the liquid in the separation tank will not be stirred and swirled sufficiently, and there is a particular problem that small objects may get stuck in the small holes in the side screen, causing clogging. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a separation device that can generate a swirling flow of sufficient flow velocity within the separation tank by installing a device that accelerates the flow velocity in the upward flow portion of the swirling flow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the separation device of the present invention for separating substances contained in a liquid is characterized by comprising: a separation tank having an inlet channel arranged to allow the liquid to flow in and generate a swirling flow by the flow pressure of the liquid, and a screen attached to the side of the swirling flow; a drainage channel arranged outside the separation tank for recovering the liquid that flows out through the screen; a separation and settling tank arranged at the bottom of the separation tank for settling the substances; and a swirling flow accelerator connected to the bottom of the separation tank to supply gas at a position in the separation tank where the swirling flow becomes an upward flow. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the separation device of the present invention, the gas supplied from the fluid supply path rises in the ascending flow portion of the swirling flow in the separation tank, accelerating the flow rate of the swirling flow in the separation tank and generating a swirling flow with sufficient flow rate, thereby preventing small objects from clogging the screen that filters out small objects and discharges only the liquid to the outside. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the separation device taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the separation device taken along line BB in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the separation tank of the separation device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inflow adjustment tank of the separation device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal pressure adjustment tank of the separation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The overall configuration of a separation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The separation and settling tank will be described with reference to Figure 4, the inflow adjustment tank with reference to Figure 5, and the internal pressure adjustment tank with reference to Figure 6. The separation tank of this embodiment is an apparatus for culturing microorganisms x (small bodies) such as microorganisms or cells in a liquid culture medium Cm (liquid), and then separating the grown microorganisms x from the culture medium Cm.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the separation device D of this embodiment has a separation tank body 1 including a separation tank 11 and an outer water tank 12, a separation and sedimentation tank 2 formed below the separation tank 11, an inflow adjustment tank 3 that supplies microbial culture solution Cm to the separation tank 11, an internal pressure adjustment tank 4 that is positioned above the separation tank 11 and that evacuates excess culture solution Cm that overflows from the separation tank 11, and a swirl accelerator 5 that injects air bubbles into the separation tank 11.

[0019] (separation tank frame) 1 to 3, the structures of the separation tank body 1 and the separation and settling tank 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the separation tank body 1 and the separation and settling tank 2.

[0020] As described above, the separation tank body 1 has a separation tank 11 that separates microorganisms x from the culture solution Cm. In Fig. 1, this separation tank 11 has a vertical right wall 11a and left wall 11b, with their upper ends connected by an upwardly convex arched top surface 11c and their lower ends connected by a downwardly convex arched bottom surface 11d, giving it an elliptical side shape as a whole.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the separation tank 11 is divided into upper, lower, left, and right sections by the top surface 11c, left standing piece 11a, bottom surface 11d, and right standing piece 11b, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a closed space is formed inside by a left side plate 11e and a right side plate 11f, each having a screen 13, 13 on the side.

[0022] Here, the screens 13, 13 have a large number of minute holes (for example, about 5 μm in diameter) in a matrix pattern that are smaller than the microorganisms x, and as will be described later, the structure is such that the microorganisms x do not flow out from the separation tank 11 to the outer water tank 12.

[0023] The separation tank 11 has an inlet 11g opening horizontally on the right side of the top surface 11c, to which an inlet pipe 3g is connected so that the culture solution Cm flows horizontally from the inflow adjustment tank 3 described later. In addition, an adjustment port 11h opens at the highest position of the arched top surface 11c, to which an internal pressure adjustment pipe 4h leading to the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 described later is connected.

[0024] Additionally, three air pipes 5A, 5B, and 5C that constitute a swirl flow accelerator 5 (described later) are connected to the bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11.

[0025] Furthermore, a recovery port 11i for recovering the microorganisms x separated by the separation tank 11 is formed at the lowest position of the arched bottom surface 11d, and is connected to a collection pipe 2i leading to the separation and settling tank 2 described below. The separation and settling tank 2 is provided with recovery plugs 2b and 2c for recovering the microorganisms x, which protrude from the left and right sides of the main body 2a to the outside of the separation tank frame 1.

[0026] In the separation tank body 1, the separation tank 11 is structured to be placed inside the outer water tank 12 of the separation tank body 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer water tank 12 is a container that is wider than the separation tank 11 in the width direction (front-to-back direction in Figure 1, the same applies below). The outer water tank 12 is surrounded on all four sides by a right wall 12a, a left wall 12b, a front wall 12c, and a rear wall 12d, and is surrounded above and below by a top surface 12e and a bottom surface 12f.

[0027] In addition, the inside of the outer water tank 12 has an upright plate 12g extending parallel to the left wall 12b between the top surface 12e and the bottom surface 12f, and the width of this upright plate 12g is the same as the left and right walls 11a, 11b of the separation tank 11.

[0028] The separation tank 11 is placed inside the outer tank 12, and the right wall 11a of the separation tank 11 is attached to or in contact with the right wall of the outer tank 12, and the left wall 11b of the separation tank 11 is attached to or in contact with the upright plate 12g of the outer tank 12.

[0029] Between the outer water tank 12 and the separation tank 11 disposed inside it, a front space S1, a rear space S2, and a merging space S3 are formed at the front and rear in the width direction and further to the left. The spaces S1 to S3 are interconnected, and a discharge pipe 12h is connected to the upper part of the left wall 12b of the outer water tank 12.

[0030] In the separation tank 11 configured as described above, the flow Fen of the culture medium Cm containing the microorganisms x that flows in through the inlet 11g flows along the arched shape of the top surface 11c and bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11, generating a counterclockwise swirling flow Fw within the separation tank 11. This swirling flow Fw descends at the left wall 11b opposite the inlet 11g and ascends at the right wall 11a where the inlet 11g is formed.

[0031] At this time, the microorganisms x, which have a larger specific gravity than the culture solution Cm, gradually sink downward in the swirling flow Fw and settle onto the bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11. The microorganisms x are then collected in the collection tube 2i along the arched bottom surface 11d from the recovery port 11i and accumulate in the separation and sedimentation tank 2, as will be described later.

[0032] As described below, the culture solution Cm containing the microorganisms x in this swirling flow Fw is subjected to internal pressure in the separation tank 11, so that the microorganisms x are left behind by the screens 13, 13 of the separation tank 11, and only the culture solution Cm forms a flow Fo and flows out into the front and rear spaces S1, S2 of the outer water tank 12. Then, the culture solution Cm that does not contain the microorganisms x passes through the confluence space S3, creates a flow Fex, and is collected outside the separation device body 1 from the drain pipe 12h, which serves as a drainage channel.

[0033] At this time, as the culture solution Cm flows out from the screens 13, 13, the microorganisms x collide with the meshes of the screens 13, 13, but the swirling flow Fw that intersects this direction carries the microorganisms x away, preventing the screens 13, 13 from clogging.

[0034] (Separation and settling tank) The structure of the separation and settling tank 2 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 4. The separation and settling tank 2 is disposed below the separation tank 11 as part of the separation tank body 1. The separation and settling tank 2 is a section where the microorganisms x, which have a larger specific gravity than the culture solution Cm and settle away from the swirling flow Fw, are collected from the bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11 by a collection pipe 2i.

[0035] The separation and settling tank 2 has a settling chamber 2a, to the left and right of which are connected flow pipes 2b and 2c each having a valve 2d. By intermittently opening the valves 2d to allow a fluid to flow from one side of the flow pipes 2b and 2c to the other, the microorganisms x aggregated in the settling chamber 2a can be recovered outside the separation tank body 1.

[0036] (Inflow adjustment tank) 1, the inflow adjustment tank 3, which is located upstream of the culture solution Cm, which is a fluid, is connected to the separation tank 11 via the inflow pipe 3g, as described above. This inflow adjustment tank 3 is a portion that supplies the culture solution Cm containing the microbial organisms x to the separation tank 11.

[0037] A perspective view of the inflow adjustment tank is shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the inflow adjustment tank 2 has a box-shaped main body 31. An inlet pipe 32, through which the culture solution Cm flows, is connected to the bottom surface 31a of the main body 31. A hanging plate 33 is disposed opposite the inlet 32a of the inlet pipe 32, thereby reducing the flow rate of the culture solution Cm from the inlet pipe 32.

[0038] The culture solution Cm then flows through the flow passage 33a opened below the hanging plate 33 and reaches the filtration screen 34. This filtration screen has a predetermined mesh size, allowing the microorganisms x to pass through while filtering out any foreign matter larger than this size as waste. The culture solution Cm then flows into the inlet pipe 2g leading to the separation tank 11, where it is treated as described above.

[0039] To prevent overflow of the inflow adjustment tank 3, a discharge pipe 35 is connected to the opposite side of the inlet pipe 32, and a valve 23a is provided to adjust the water level WL1 of the inflow adjustment tank 3. The water level WL1 of the inflow adjustment tank 3 is set higher than the water level WL2 of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4, which will be described later, to apply an appropriate water pressure to the separation adjustment tank 11 and raise the water level to the height of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4.

[0040] (Internal pressure adjustment tank) As shown in Figure 1, an internal pressure adjustment tank 4 is disposed directly above the separation tank 11 via an adjustment pipe 4h. This internal pressure adjustment tank 43 allows the culture solution Cm that has overflowed from the separation tank 11 to escape upward, and functions to adjust the internal pressure of the separation tank 11 to an appropriate level.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 has a box-shaped main body 41, with an adjustment pipe 4h connected to its bottom surface 41a. A hanging plate 42 is attached inside the main body 41, and an opening 43 is formed in the top surface 41b in front of the hanging plate 42.

[0042] The adjustment pipe 4h protrudes vertically into the inside of the main body 41 with a height t, and by setting the amount of culture solution Cm in the main body 41 to be equal to or greater than this height t, the structure makes it difficult for impurities that have entered the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 to return to the separation tank 11.

[0043] In order to ensure the water surface height of the culture solution Cm in the main body 41, an auxiliary outflow pipe 44 is connected to the wall across the hanging plate 42. This auxiliary outflow pipe 44 is structured to discharge excess liquid to the outside of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 through the space 42a below the hanging plate 42. The auxiliary outflow pipe 44 may also have a piping structure that returns to the raw water tank that supplies the liquid.

[0044] In this way, the purpose of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 is to adjust the water pressure inside the separation tank 11, but as mentioned above, the top surface 11c of the separation tank 11 has an arched shape, so even if the culture solution Cm that flows into the separation tank 11 contains air bubbles or light impurities, these can be collected inside the main body 41 via the adjustment pipe 4h.

[0045] That is, because air bubbles are released into the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 from the adjustment port 11h opened at the same position, no water surface is formed inside the separation tank 11. Therefore, the function of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 makes it possible to fill the entire inside of the separation tank 11 with the culture solution Cm, which makes it possible to stabilize the swirling flow Fw generated in the separation tank 11 and also makes it possible to prevent impurities separated in the separation tank 11 from being re-introduced into the culture solution Cm.

[0046] (Swirling flow accelerator) As described above, the swirl flow accelerator 5 is attached to the separation tank 11. The swirl flow accelerator 5 has three air supply pipes 5A, 5B, and 5C connected to a compressor (not shown), and the ends 5b (gas supply ports) of the three air supply pipes 5a arranged in parallel at equal intervals penetrate the bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11 and open into the interior of the separation tank 11.

[0047] The connection position of the air supply pipe tip 5b to the bottom surface 11d is positioned toward the connection position of the inlet 11g on the front side of the separation device D shown in Fig. 1. In other words, the opening position of the air supply pipe tip 5b is located below the upward flow Fw-up that occurs near the right wall 11a of the separation tank 11 on the inlet 11g side in the swirling flow Fw within the separation tank 11 of the culture solution Cm that flows in from the inlet 11g.

[0048] Then, gas is injected into the culture solution Cm in the separation tank 11 through the air supply pipe 5a. The gas is usually outside air collected by a compressor, that is, air, but may be a specific gas stored in a tank depending on the properties of the culture solution Cm and the microorganisms x.

[0049] The gas in the separation tank 11 turns into bubbles, which push the culture solution Cm upward together with the ascending flow Fw-up of the swirling flow Fw, accelerating the swirling flow Fw and imparting water force and flow velocity to it. In particular, in the separation tank 11 of this embodiment, the top surface 11c is curved in an arch shape, so the bubbles move along this curve and accelerate the swirling flow Fw of the culture solution Cm in this portion as well.

[0050] Therefore, even if the microorganisms x become clogged in the meshes of the screen 13, the swirling flow Fw with sufficient water force and flow velocity will remove them, thereby preventing clogging of the screen 13.

[0051] In particular, in this embodiment, the separation tank 11 has a vertically elongated elliptical shape, which increases the distance over which the upward flow Fw-up occurs and increases the acceleration distance caused by the bubbles in the swirling flow accelerator 5, thereby enabling the swirling flow Fw to be accelerated more powerfully.

[0052] The air bubbles injected into the separation tank 11 from the air supply pipe 5a gather on the arched top surface 11c, and then ascend through the adjustment port 11h at the top of the tank to the internal pressure adjustment pipe 4h and reach the internal pressure adjustment tank 4. The air bubbles are then discharged into the outside air from the opening 43 of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4.

[0053] As described above, according to the separation apparatus D of this embodiment, the swirling flow Fw generated in the separation tank 11 is sufficiently accelerated by the air bubbles supplied by the swirling flow accelerator, thereby increasing the water force and flow velocity. Therefore, in the separation tank 11, the microorganisms x can be efficiently separated from the culture solution Cm while preventing clogging of the screen 13 with the microorganisms x, and both can be recovered via separate routes.

[0054] In particular, the separation device D has the internal pressure adjustment tank 4, which prevents the water surface from forming inside the separation tank 11 and prevents the swirling flow Fw from re-entering air bubbles and light impurities, and the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 also makes it possible to exhaust air bubbles from the swirling flow accelerator 5 to the outside air after accelerating the upward flow Fw-up. At this time, the air bubbles efficiently cause the impurities to rise to the water surface of the internal pressure adjustment tank 4, thereby effectively removing them from the liquid.

[0055] Furthermore, by forming the side shape of the separation tank 11 into a circular cross section and connecting the separation and settling tank 2 to the bottom surface 11d of the separation tank 11 and the internal pressure adjustment tank 4 to the top surface 11c of the separation tank 11, it is possible to efficiently collect the microorganisms x with a high specific gravity and the air bubbles and floating impurities with a low specific gravity.

[0056] Furthermore, in the separation device D of this embodiment, the separation tank 11 has a vertically elongated elliptical shape, so that the distance of the upward flow Fw-up, which is the acceleration distance caused by the bubbles, can be sufficiently secured, and the acceleration of the swirling flow Fw in the separation tank 11 can be performed more efficiently.

[0057] (Other variations) The elliptical cross section of separation tank 11 can have a variety of aspect ratios as long as it is a shape that generates a swirling flow Fw, and it can also have a perfect circular shape with the same aspect ratio.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separation device has been described as a device for separating cultured microorganism x, but the separation device of the present invention can also be used as a device for separating mixtures with different specific gravities and sizes, and by varying the size of the device and the coarseness of the screen, it can also be used for filtering and separating chemical solutions in which components have solidified, or for treating waste liquids containing fine liquid debris.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the number of air supply pipes constituting the swirling accelerator is three, but depending on the overall size of the device (processing volume), the number of air supply pipes, the amount of air bubbles sent out, the size of the bubbles, whether they are bubbles or a continuous air column, and the shape of the air supply discharge can be optimally selected to suit the acceleration effect of the swirling flow and impurities. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] D Separation device 1 Separation tank frame 11 Separation tank 11c (arched) top 11d (arched) bottom 12 Outer tank 12h Discharge pipe (drainage channel) 13 screens 2 Separation and settling tank 3 Inflow adjustment tank 3g Inflow pipe (inflow path) 4. Internal pressure adjustment tank 5, 5A, 5B, 5C Air pipe (swirling flow accelerator) 5a Air supply pipe 5b Air supply pipe tip (gas supply port) Cm culture medium (liquid) x Microorganisms (small bodies) F. Flow of culture medium Fw swirl flow Fw-up Upward flow

Claims

1. A separation device for separating substances contained in a liquid, a separation tank having an inlet passage arranged to allow a liquid to flow therethrough and generate a swirling flow by the flow pressure of the liquid, and a screen attached to a side of the swirling flow; a drainage channel disposed outside the separation tank for collecting the liquid flowing out through the screen; a separation and settling tank disposed at the bottom of the separation tank and configured to settle the substance; a swirling flow accelerator connected to a lower portion of the separation tank so as to supply gas to a position in the separation tank where the swirling flow becomes an ascending flow.

2. 2. The separation device according to claim 1, The separation device further includes an internal pressure adjustment tank connected to the uppermost end of the separation tank, and configured to evacuate the liquid that does not fit in the separation tank above the separation tank, A separation apparatus characterized in that the gas supplied from the swirling flow accelerator passes through the internal pressure adjustment tank and is discharged to the outside of the separation tank.

3. 2. The separation device according to claim 1, the separation tank has an elliptical shape with its longitudinal direction being vertical in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the swirling flow, and when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the swirling flow, generates an upward flow in which the liquid rises approximately vertically on one side of the swirling flow and a downward flow in which the liquid descends approximately vertically on the other side, and the gas supply port of the swirling flow accelerator is connected to the separation tank below the upward flow.

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