JP3747469B2 - A device for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid, and more specifically, used for releasing a gas into a liquid in an aquatic animal / plant rearing tank, an interior water tank for viewing bubbles, a gas-liquid mixing device, and the like. The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid.

  In order to keep the oxygen concentration in the water above a certain level in aquariums for aquatic organisms such as ornamental fish, pressurized air or oxygen is released from nozzles installed in the water tank, and the oxygen in the generated bubbles is dissolved in water. The way is done. However, in the method of simply releasing the gas into the liquid, the generated bubbles tend to be spherical with a surface area having the smallest surface area due to the surface tension, so that it is not efficient for dissolving the gas in the liquid.

  Conventionally, when a gas is released into a liquid for the purpose of dissolving the gas, a method has been used in which the bubbles formed are reduced to increase the surface area relative to the volume, thereby improving the dissolution efficiency. These include a method of covering the gas discharge port with a porous material such as an air stone, a method of diffusing bubbles by providing a stirrer in the immediate vicinity of the gas discharge port. However, the porous material has a problem that clogging is likely to occur, and when a stirrer is used, power for the stirrer is required.

  When bubbles are generated for ornamental use in a liquid, the bubbles generated by the conventional method are uniform in shape (spherical or flat spherical) and have a weak visual impression, so one bubble is used for ornamental purposes. Instead, many bubbles are generated and used for ornamental purposes.

  The above problem is caused by the shape of the bubble, and can be improved by making the shape of the bubble a ring. It is known that ring-shaped bubbles are created by some dolphins expelling air from fumaroles in the sea. It is a phenomenon called a vortex ring, and the vortex ring is formed by adjusting the conditions (discharge amount, pressure, discharge time, discharge port shape, etc.) and releasing the gas upward in the liquid by experiments. It has been confirmed.

  A vortex ring formed of gas in a liquid can be considered as a ring formed by connecting the tip and end of a vortex extending in the horizontal direction. Just as the vortex generated in the sea leads from the sea surface to the bottom of the sea and stabilizes, the vortex is stabilized by the existence of the edge at the interface between gas and liquid or the surface of a solid. A vortex ring can be said to be stable because the vortex whose end cannot be grounded becomes a ring. The visible ring-shaped bubble portion is the center of the vortex, and the liquid surrounding it is also rotating in the poloidal direction from the inside to the outside.

  For the purpose of improving the dissolution efficiency of a gas in a liquid and improving the visual impression of bubbles, “an apparatus for creating a gas vortex ring in a liquid” (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-056817, Japanese Examined Publication No. 63-0666279), and A device for generating a vortex ring has been proposed in "Ring-shaped bubble generator" (Japanese Patent No. 3216924).

  “A device for creating a gas vortex ring in a liquid” (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-056817) has a discharge port with a valve that opens when the internal pressure of the pressure vessel is slightly higher than the ambient pressure by a diaphragm and a spring. An elastic nozzle attached to the tip (closed by water pressure in a non-actuated state and spreads and opens when gas is supplied) is installed in the liquid to supply pressurized gas to the pressure vessel It is a device that generates a gas vortex ring in the liquid that operates.

  “A device for creating a gas vortex ring in a liquid” (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-0666279) is an electric valve operating part of a valve mechanism mechanically operated by a diaphragm and a spring of an apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-056817. It is a device that generates a gas vortex ring in a liquid that is replaced by a device and an electromagnetic on-off valve.

  "Ring-shaped bubble generator" (Japanese Patent No. 3216924) discharges a gas whose flow rate and pressure are controlled by a flow rate adjustment valve and a pressure adjustment valve from a nozzle having a bowl-shaped inclined wall for a predetermined time using an electromagnetic on-off valve. This is a device that generates vortex rings (ring-shaped bubbles).

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-056817 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-066279 Japanese Patent No. 3216924

  The method of releasing the pressurized gas from a nozzle installed in the liquid is to dissolve the gas by contacting it with the liquid in order to make the generated bubbles into a spherical shape with the smallest surface area relative to the volume due to surface tension. There is a problem that the efficiency is low. When used for ornamental purposes, there is a problem that the shape is uniform and the visual impression is weak.

  Conventionally, in order to increase the surface area with respect to the volume of bubbles and increase dissolution efficiency, the gas discharge port is covered with a porous material such as air stone, or a bubble is diffused by installing a stirrer in the immediate vicinity of the gas discharge port. A method of reducing the size of bubbles, such as a method of performing the method, has been performed. However, the porous material has a problem that it is easily clogged, and the method using the stirrer requires power for the stirrer.

  The above technical proposal for generating a vortex ring has the following problems. The device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-056817 has a complicated structure, and there is a problem that the operating pressure and the gas discharge amount are affected by the spring characteristics used. The device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-066279 and the device described in Japanese Patent No. 3216924 require an electrical device such as an electromagnetic on-off valve.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention generates a vortex ring without using a complicated structure or an electric device, and increases the surface area with respect to the volume of bubbles due to the formation of the vortex ring and the stirring effect due to the rotational motion of the vortex ring. It is an object to improve the dissolution efficiency in water. Furthermore, this invention makes it a subject to strengthen the visual impression when gas is discharge | released in the liquid.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a columnar space whose upper and lower ends are open, and a shape in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower opening toward the upper opening having an area smaller than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space. Space (hereinafter, the structural part forming this space is referred to as a bubble deforming part) is arranged vertically with a gap between the columnar space and a bubble is formed in the columnar space. An amount of gas that forms bubbles with a horizontal section larger than the horizontal section is supplied to the columnar space, and the columnar space and the space disposed on the columnar space are continuously passed through, so that the bubbles are smaller than the columnar space horizontal section. The gas vortex ring is generated in the liquid by being discharged from the liquid.

  By supplying gas to the columnar space in the liquid, bubbles are generated, and the bubbles are floated while contacting the sides of the bubbles with the members that make up the columnar space, thereby stabilizing the shape of the bubbles and further preventing meandering of the rising bubbles (If bubbles are allowed to rise freely in the liquid, they will rise while meandering.) In addition, by providing a gap between the upper end of the columnar space and the bubble deforming part, the liquid in the columnar space that is pushed up as the bubble rises is discharged from the gap. To surface.

  When the bubble reaches the bubble deformed portion, the release from the opening and the movement spreading along the inside of the bubble deformed portion start simultaneously, but the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the upper opening of the bubble deformed portion. The spread of bubbles is suppressed by the surface tension generated between the upper end of the columnar space and the bubble deformed portion, and the portion that has been pushed back and spread is also released from the opening.

  The bubbles are discharged from the narrow opening above the bubble deforming part, so that the difference in flow velocity between the peripheral part and the central part in the opening part becomes large when passing through the opening part, and the inside of the bubble formed in the liquid is released. A vortex is generated from the outside to the outside, forming a vortex ring.

  As described above, the apparatus for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid according to the present invention generates a vortex ring with a simple structure without using an electric device such as an electromagnetic on-off valve, and the surface area relative to the volume of bubbles due to vortex ring formation. And the stirring effect by the rotational motion of the vortex ring improve the efficiency of dissolving the gas in the liquid and at the same time enhance the visual impression of the bubbles.

  The purpose of forming a vortex ring in the liquid, improving the dissolution efficiency of the gas into the liquid and enhancing the visual impression of the bubbles was realized with a simple structure without using an electrical device such as an electromagnetic on-off valve.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 and 3 are a top view and a side view of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a series of photographs taken from the lateral direction of the process from when the gas is supplied into the columnar space 4 in the liquid to when the vortex ring is formed, and FIG. These are two photographs taken from above (shooting interval is 1/15 seconds in both FIGS. 4 and 5). When the states of a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 in FIG. 5 are arranged in the order of occurrence, they become a1, a2, b1, b2, c1, c2. Further, a, b, and c in FIG. 4 and a1, b1, and c1 in FIG. 5 are substantially the same state.

  Example 1 is an apparatus for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid according to claim 1, wherein when a bubble is formed in a columnar space, an amount of gas that forms a bubble having a horizontal section larger than the horizontal section of the columnar space is columnar. An apparatus for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid in which the structure for supplying the space forms a space in the liquid for storing the pressurized gas to be supplied and flows into the columnar space when the gas overflows from the space. It is.

  Example 1 is a structure in which a vortex ring is generated at regular intervals when a pressurized gas is gradually supplied instead of instantaneously by a compressor or the like when installed in a liquid. The structure portion 4a and the bubble deformation portion 2 constituting the columnar space 4 and a supporting member for maintaining the positional relationship therebetween.

  The base plate 10 has a weight that can stably hold the present invention in a liquid, or a structure for fixing the base plate 10 at an installation location. The gas chamber 6 is formed as a space whose lower side is opened by the upper surface and the outer peripheral portion, and has the gas supply port 8 at a position higher than the lower end of the columnar space 4. The lower end of the columnar space 4 is configured to be higher than the bottom surface of the outer peripheral portion of the gas chamber 6 in order to allow gas to flow in from the gas chamber 6. Further, the columnar space 4 is arranged substantially vertically and has a length that allows the upper side of the bubbles to be parabolic and to stabilize the shape while the supplied gas becomes bubbles and rises inside. The bubble deforming part 2 is supported by providing a gap 3 on the upper end of the columnar space 4, and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower opening serving as a bubble inlet to the upper opening 1 serving as a discharge opening. Create a space of any shape.

  In the columnar space 4, the most stable vortex ring is formed when the shape of the horizontal section is circular, but the vortex ring is formed even in an ellipse. Even if the bubble deforming portion 2 is fixedly attached to the support column 5, a vortex ring is formed. In many cases, the bubble deforming portion 2 is preferably supported by a cushioning method.

  A process of generating a vortex ring according to the first embodiment will be described. When the gas is gradually supplied from the gas supply port 8, the gas accumulates while pushing down the liquid level in the gas chamber 6. The liquid level in the gas chamber 6 forms a concave meniscus by surface tension. When the gas is continuously supplied, the lowest position of the liquid level in the gas chamber 6 exceeds the lower end of the member forming the columnar space 4. Further, when the limit retained by the surface tension is exceeded, the gas instantaneously flows into the columnar space 4. At this time, the amount of gas flowing into the columnar space 4 is influenced by the characteristics of the liquid, but is determined by the shape and area of the downward opening portion of the gas chamber 6 and changes the shape of the gas chamber 6. Can be adjusted. In addition, by adjusting the gas supply speed to the gas chamber 6, the interval at which the gas flows into the columnar space 4 can be changed, and the interval at which the vortex ring is discharged can be adjusted.

  The gas flowing into the columnar space 4 in the liquid becomes bubbles, and the bubble upper part is formed in a parabolic shape while rising in the columnar space 4 (a in FIG. 4 and a1 in FIG. 5). When the bubble rises, the liquid filling the portion above the bubble in the columnar space 4 is discharged from the gap 3 between the bubble deforming portion 2 and the upper end of the columnar space 4. Ascends in the columnar space 4 at approximately the same speed. Since the rising air bubbles have a horizontal cross section larger than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space 4, they rise without meandering in the columnar space 4. Usually, when bubbles are allowed to rise freely in a liquid, they rise while meandering. An external liquid is supplied to a portion below the bubbles in the columnar space 4 through a gap 9 with the base plate 10.

  In the first embodiment, the gas periodically overflowing from the gas chamber 6 is supplied to the columnar space 4 and floats in the columnar space 4. Therefore, a constant amount of stable bubbles are discharged from the columnar space 4 at regular intervals. The internal pressure of the bubbles released at this time is the same as the pressure of the liquid at the depth of discharge regardless of the pressure supplied from the compressor or the like.

  The bubbles released from the columnar space 4 pass through the gap 3 and reach the bubble deforming portion 2. When the gap 3 is narrow, the resistance when the liquid in the columnar space 4 pushed up by the rising of the bubbles is discharged increases, the rising speed of the bubbles in the columnar space 4 is reduced, and no vortex ring is formed. When the gap 3 is gradually increased from a state where there is no gap 3, there is an interval at which the rising speed of bubbles suddenly increases and a vortex ring is formed. The interval is the minimum interval of the gap 3. If the gap 3 is further widened, the probability that a vortex ring is formed suddenly decreases. This state is a state in which when the bubble reaches the bubble deformation part 2, the bubble deformation part 2 cannot be connected to the upper end of the columnar space 4 by the bubble. It becomes.

  The gap 3 is not less than the minimum interval at which no resistance is generated when the liquid passes, and when the bubble reaches the bubble deforming portion 2, the bubble deforming portion 2 and the upper end of the columnar space 4 can be connected by the bubble. Set within the maximum interval. The vortex ring is not formed when the gap 3 is less than the minimum interval, and becomes unstable when the maximum interval is exceeded. Since the minimum and maximum intervals of the gap 3 have variable widths, the gap 3 needs to be set with a margin.

  The bubbles that have passed through the gap 3 and reached the bubble deforming portion 2 spread laterally along the inside of the bubble deforming portion 2, but when the bubbles are in a state of connecting the bubble deforming portion 2 and the upper end of the columnar space 4, the surface tension is increased. This suppresses the expansion of the bubbles, suppresses the phenomenon that the peripheral portions of the bubbles are separated due to excessive expansion, and stabilizes the shape of the bubbles in the bubble deforming portion 2 (b1 and b2 in FIG. 5).

  The bubbles that have reached the bubble deforming portion 2 are discharged from the discharge port 1 into the liquid, but the discharge speed is increased by being discharged from the opening portion 1 that is narrower than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space 4. The difference in flow velocity between the peripheral part and the central part becomes large. Due to the difference in flow velocity between the peripheral portion and the central portion generated when passing through the opening 1, a vortex directed from the inside to the outside is generated in the bubbles discharged from the opening 1 and formed in the liquid, and the vortex ring (FIG. 4) is formed. It is formed.

  The smaller the opening 1 is, the faster the bubbles are released and the vortex ring formed becomes stable. However, when the opening 1 is made extremely small, the gas in the bubble deformed portion 2 is not released due to the surface tension. In addition, when the opening 1 is small and the bubbles supplied to the bubble deforming part 2 are large, the discharge time becomes too long and the bubble is divided into two or more during discharging from the opening 1 or the inside of the bubble deforming part 2 As a result, a phenomenon occurs in which the bubbles are excessively spread and the peripheral portions of the bubbles are separated. The size of the opening 1 is determined by the volume of the bubbles supplied to the bubble deforming portion 2 and the shape (mainly the inclination angle) of the bubble deforming portion 2. The inclination angle of the bubble deforming portion 2 is preferably small enough that the bubbles do not spread too much.

  In experiments with water and air at room temperature, it was confirmed that a stable vortex ring was formed when the inclination angle of the bubble deformed portion 2 was between 15 ° and 25 °. Further, in the bubble deforming portion 2 having an inclination angle of 15 °, the opening 1 is circular with a diameter of 4 mm for bubbles having a volume of 4 ml, and the opening 1 is circular with a diameter of 5 mm for bubbles having a volume of 8 ml. It was confirmed that a stable vortex ring was formed. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are examples of the bubble deforming portion 2 in which the shape of the upper opening 1 is changed. In the experiment, vortex rings were formed in all four cases.

  Further, in Example 1, it has been confirmed by experiments that when the gap 3 is changed within an allowable range, the way in which the vortex ring formed changes. When the gap 3 is reduced, the spreading direction is reduced and a thick vortex ring having a small diameter is formed. When the gap 3 is enlarged, the spreading direction is enlarged and a thin vortex ring having a large diameter is formed. In the present invention, it is possible to change the spread of the vortex ring formed by adjusting the gap 3 within a certain range. The material constituting the present invention may be a metal or a resin as long as it is stable in the environment of use, but it is preferable that the surface of the portion in contact with the bubbles is smooth and the bubbles can move smoothly.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gas discharge unit of Example 2, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the gas supply unit of Example 2 installed in the gas. Example 2 is a gas supply unit of FIG. 7 in which the function of instantaneously supplying a certain amount of gas performed by causing the pressurized gas supplied in Example 1 to overflow from the gas chamber 6 is installed in the gas. To do.

  Example 2 is a device for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid according to claim 1, wherein when a bubble is formed in a columnar space, an amount of gas that forms a bubble having a horizontal section larger than the horizontal section of the columnar space is columnar. The structure that supplies the space is a device that generates a gas vortex ring in the liquid that is a gas supply unit in the gas connected to the columnar space in the liquid by a conduit.

  An example of the gas supply unit (FIG. 7) includes a pressurizing mechanism 12, a check valve 13a, and a check valve 13b, and is connected to the gas supply port 8 of the gas discharge unit (FIG. 6) in the liquid by a conduit 14. A certain amount of pressurized gas is supplied to the columnar space 4. From the gas supply unit (FIG. 7) to the gas discharge unit (FIG. 6), an appropriate amount of pressurized gas is supplied at the depth in the liquid in which the gas discharge unit (FIG. 6) is installed. The gas supply unit (FIG. 7) supplies an amount of gas necessary to generate the vortex ring once by one cycle of intake and exhaust. The operation in the gas discharge part (FIG. 6) after supplying the gas to the columnar space 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Bubbles are formed in the columnar space 4 and discharged from the gas deforming part 2 to form a vortex ring. Form.

  In the second embodiment, a vortex ring is generated once by one cycle of supply / exhaust operation of the gas supply unit (FIG. 7). To repeatedly generate the vortex ring, the gas supply unit (FIG. 7) is operated repeatedly. In Example 1, since the amount of gas to be supplied is determined by the shape of the gas chamber 6, it is difficult to change (it can be reduced using a spacer or the like), but in Example 2, the gas supply unit (FIG. 7) It can be changed freely by changing the amount of intake air. Moreover, the gas supply pressure should just be more than the pressure which can be supplied to the gas discharge part (FIG. 6) in a liquid, and the apparatus etc. which adjust gas supply pressure are not required.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. 9 is a top view of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. In the third embodiment, the bubble deforming portion 2 is supported by the support column 5a fixed to the support plate 11b, and the support plate 11b is fixed by the support column 5b fixed to the base plate 10, so that the gas chamber 6 and the bubble deformation are fixed. The spacer 17 can be inserted between the support plates 11b of the portion 2.

In the third embodiment, the structure for supporting the bubble deforming portion 2 of the first embodiment is separated from the structure for supporting other portions, so that the spacer 17 can be inserted. The gap 3 at the upper end of the space 4 can be adjusted by the spacer 17. In the present invention, it has been confirmed through experiments that the way in which the vortex ring formed changes depending on the gap 3. When the gap 3 is reduced, the spreading direction is reduced and a thick vortex ring having a small diameter is formed. When the gap 3 is enlarged, the spreading direction is enlarged and a thin vortex ring having a large diameter is formed. In the third embodiment, the spread of the formed vortex ring can be easily adjusted by the spacer 17.

  Using the effect of improving the dissolution efficiency of gas into liquid by the vortex ring, it can be applied to the gas supply method and gas-liquid mixing device of aquatic animals and plants breeding aquarium, and the vortex ring with a strong visual impression can be applied to the interior aquarium for ornamental purposes.

It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 2 of Example 1 of the apparatus of generating the gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention. It is a top view of Example 1 of an apparatus which generates a gas vortex ring in the liquid of the present invention. It is a side view of Example 1 of the device which generates a gas vortex ring in the liquid of the present invention. It is the photograph which continuously image | photographed the formation process of the vortex ring generated with the apparatus which generate | occur | produces a gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention at a 1/15 second interval from the horizontal direction. It is the photograph for 2 times which image | photographed the moment when a bubble is discharge | released from the apparatus which generate | occur | produces a gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention continuously from the diagonally upward direction at 1/15 second interval. It is sectional drawing of the gas discharge part of Example 2 of the apparatus which generate | occur | produces the gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the gas supply part of Example 2 of the apparatus which generate | occur | produces the gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 9 of Embodiment 3 of the apparatus for generating a gas vortex ring in the liquid of the present invention. It is a top view of Example 3 of the apparatus which generates a gas vortex ring in the liquid of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bubble deformation | transformation part of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bubble deformation | transformation part of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bubble deformation | transformation part of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bubble deformation | transformation part of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Opening part 2 Bubble deformation | transformation part 3 Space | gap 4 Columnar space 4a Structure which comprises columnar space 5 Support column 5a Bubble deformation part support column 5b Gas chamber support column 6 Gas chamber 7 Gas chamber peripheral flange 8 Gas supply port 9 Gap 10 Base Plate 11a Support plate 11b Support plate 12 Pressurization mechanism 13a Reverse support valve 13b Reverse support valve 14 Conduit 15 Elastic body 16 Spring 17 Spacer

Claims (2)

  A columnar space in which upper and lower ends through which bubbles pass is opened, and a space in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower opening toward the upper opening having an area smaller than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space. A structure in which a gap is formed with the gap on the bottom and a vertical space is formed, and when bubbles are formed in the columnar space, an amount of gas is formed in the columnar space so that bubbles with a horizontal section larger than the horizontal section of the columnar space are formed. A device for generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid comprising a supply structure.   In the method of releasing gas into the liquid, the shape of the columnar space where the upper and lower ends are open and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower opening toward the upper opening having an area smaller than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space. The space is arranged vertically with the columnar space on the bottom, and a bubble having a horizontal cross section larger than the horizontal cross section of the columnar space is formed in the columnar space, and the columnar space and the space disposed thereon are formed. A method of generating a gas vortex ring in a liquid, characterized in that bubbles are continuously passed and bubbles are discharged from an opening smaller than a horizontal cross section of a columnar space.