JP4199736B2 - Liquid processing method and liquid processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid processing method and a liquid processing apparatus for stirring a liquid using ultrasonic waves.

Conventionally, as a method and apparatus for stirring a liquid using ultrasonic waves, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 or 2. What is described in Patent Document 1 is generated by ultrasonic irradiation by arranging an ultrasonic vibrator at the inner bottom of a stirring vessel (reaction vessel) and arranging a circulation auxiliary member at the middle or upper side in the stirring vessel. The acoustic flow of the liquid is actively circulated by the circulation auxiliary member. Further, in the device described in Patent Document 2, a horn connected to an ultrasonic transducer or a chip connected to the horn is immersed in a liquid to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid.
JP 2003-71277 A JP-A-8-113300

  However, according to the liquid stirring method and apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the liquid is expected to be convected by acoustic flow, so that stirring takes time, and stirring described in Patent Document 2 is required. According to the method and the apparatus, there is a problem that the stirring effect is exerted only around the horn or the tip, and the stirring ability is insufficient. In addition, according to the liquid stirring method and apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to dispose the circulation assisting member in the container, which causes a problem that the apparatus structure becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to provide a liquid processing method and apparatus capable of efficiently stirring a liquid using ultrasonic waves. .

  A first method invention for solving the above-described problem is to immerse the tip of a horn having a flow path extending from a tip surface to a side surface or a rear end surface connected to an ultrasonic vibrator in a liquid in a stirring vessel. Then, cavitation is intensively generated in the vicinity of the front end face of the horn by ultrasonic irradiation from the horn, and the liquid is circulated through the flow path in the horn and stirred.

  In addition, the second method invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that the tip of the horn has a flow path that is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and passes from the tip surface to the side surface or the rear end surface. Then, cavitation is intensively generated in the vicinity of the front end surface of the horn by ultrasonic irradiation from the horn, and the liquid is circulated through the flow path in the horn and stirred, and then the ultrasonic irradiation is performed. The liquid in the stirring vessel is transported to the outside through the flow path in the horn.

  In the first method invention, since cavitation is intensively generated near the tip surface of the horn by ultrasonic irradiation, the liquid in the stirring vessel is circulated through the flow path in the horn by the pumping action and efficiently stirred. The Further, in the second method invention, in addition to the operation of the first method invention, the liquid after stirring is transported out of the stirring vessel with high efficiency through the flow path in the horn by the same pumping action.

  A first device invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is used for carrying out the first method invention, and a horn connected to an ultrasonic transducer is caused to flow from a front end surface to a side surface or a rear end surface. A pedestal that forms a passage and is disposed so that the tip of the horn is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel, and is disposed in the stirring vessel so as to face the tip surface of the horn with a predetermined gap. Is provided.

  A second device invention for solving the above-described problem is used for carrying out the second method invention, and the horn connected to the ultrasonic transducer is caused to flow from the front end surface to the side surface or the rear end surface. A pedestal that forms a passage and is disposed so that the tip of the horn is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel, and is disposed in the stirring vessel so as to face the tip surface of the horn with a predetermined gap. And a reflux means that opens to the side face or rear end face of the horn and receives the liquid discharged from the mouth of the flow path and returns it to the stirring vessel, and the liquid discharged from the mouth. It is characterized by comprising transport means for receiving and transporting to the outside of the stirring vessel, and switching means for switching the reflux means and the transport means with respect to the mouth portion.

  In the first device invention, cavitation is intensively generated in the gap between the tip surface of the horn and the pedestal, and a strong pumping action is generated in the vicinity of the mouth of the flow path that opens to the tip surface of the horn. In the second device invention, by switching between the reflux means and the transport means, the liquid after stirring is transported out of the stirring container with high efficiency through the flow path in the horn by the same pumping action.

  According to the first method invention and the first device invention, the liquid in the stirring vessel can be stirred with high efficiency using ultrasonic waves, and the effect of greatly contributing to the improvement in productivity is achieved.

  Further, according to the second method invention and the second device invention, in addition to being able to stir the liquid in the stirring container with high efficiency using ultrasonic waves, the liquid after stirring is removed from the stirring container. It is very useful as ancillary equipment for various processing equipment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a liquid processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a stirring vessel having a bottomed cylindrical shape, and 2 is an ultrasonic irradiation horn connected to an ultrasonic transducer 4 driven by an oscillator 3. The horn 2 is disposed so as to stand upright in the stirring vessel 1 integrally with the ultrasonic transducer 3, and is arranged on the inner bottom of the stirring vessel 1 so as to face the front end surface of the horn 2 with a predetermined gap. A pedestal 5 is provided. Here, the height of the pedestal 5 is set so as to form a slight gap (for example, 1 to 5 mm) between the front end surface of the horn 2 and a smaller diameter than that of the horn 2. Its diameter is set. The liquid processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is for obtaining a uniform processing liquid (liquid) by dissolving powder particles 6 that are drugs in water, and above the stirring vessel 1, A water supply pipe 7 for supplying water and a chute 8 for supplying the powder particles 6 are disposed.

  In the present embodiment, a flow path 9 is formed inside the horn 2 so as to pass from the front end surface to the side surface. Further, a part of the side wall of the stirring vessel 1 is provided with a shielding plate (refluxing means) capable of shielding the front of the mouth portion (hereinafter referred to as a discharge port) 9a of the flow passage 9 that opens to the side surface of the horn 2. 10 is fixed. The stirring container 1 is placed on a rotating body 11a of a rotating unit (switching means) 11, and the shielding plate 10 is moved forward of the discharge port 9a by rotating the stirring container 1 by the rotating unit 11. Is arbitrarily positioned at a position where the light is blocked and a position where the discharge port 9a is retracted from the front. On the other hand, on the side of the stirring vessel 1, a transport pipe (transport means) 12 is disposed so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the discharge port 9a. The transport pipe 12 has the shielding plate 10 connected to the discharge port 9a. It can move forward in the vicinity of the discharge port 9a in a state of being retracted from the front. Note that a drainage port is provided on the bottom surface of the stirring vessel 1, and this drainage port is normally sealed with a stopper 13.

  Hereinafter, a liquid processing method using the liquid processing apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the liquid treatment, as shown in FIG. 2, first, a certain amount of water W is supplied into the stirring vessel 1 through the water supply pipe 7, and then the ultrasonic vibrator 4 is driven by the oscillator 3 to stir from the horn 2. The water W in the container 1 is irradiated with ultrasonic waves. Then, cavitation occurs intensively in the gap between the front end surface of the horn 2 and the pedestal 5, and a strong pumping action is generated in the vicinity of the mouth portion 9 b of the flow path 9 that opens to the front end surface of the horn 2. And by this pumping effect | action, the water W in the stirring container 1 is attracted | sucked in the flow path 9 from the said opening part 9b, and is further discharged toward the front from the discharge port 9a. At this time, the shielding plate 10 is positioned in front of the discharge port 9a, and the water W discharged from the discharge port 9a collides with the shielding plate 10 and flows down into the stirring vessel 1. That is, the water W in the stirring vessel 1 circulates through the flow path 9 in the horn 2 and is vigorously stirred thereby.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the powder particles 6 are introduced into the water W in the stirring vessel 1 by a certain amount through the chute 8. Then, the charged powder particles 6 are quickly dissolved in the vigorously stirred water W, and the treatment liquid L having a desired concentration can be obtained in a short time by adding the necessary amount.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the stirring unit 1 is rotated 180 degrees by the operation of the rotating unit 11, and the shielding plate 10 is moved and retracted to the opposite side of the discharge port 9a. At the same time, the transport pipe 12 advances to the vicinity of the discharge port 9 a on the side surface of the horn 2. During this time, the irradiation of ultrasonic waves from the horn 2 is continued, and the processing liquid L after the stirring is passed through the flow passage 9 in the horn 2 from the discharge port 9a in the same manner as in the stirring. It is discharged and flows into the transport pipe 12 as it is. The other end of the transport pipe 12 is extended to, for example, another processing facility that requires the processing liquid L (for example, wastewater processing equipment). It is transported to the processing facility.

  Since the transport of the processing liquid L is stopped when the liquid level of the processing liquid L in the stirring vessel 1 falls to the level of the opening 9b that opens at the front end surface of the horn 2, the ultrasonic wave from the horn 2 is at this stage. Irradiation is interrupted. At the same time, the stirring container 1 is rotated 180 degrees by the operation of the rotating unit 11, and the shielding plate 10 is positioned again in front of the discharge port 9a. Then, a predetermined amount of water W is supplied again into the stirring vessel 1, the operation is repeated, and the production of the processing liquid L and the transportation to the other equipment of the processing liquid L are sequentially performed. The processing liquid is intermittently transported to other equipment by repetition. When the transportation of the amount of processing liquid L required by other equipment is finished, the stopper 13 is pulled out, the processing liquid L remaining in the stirring vessel 1 is discharged, and the series of liquid processing is completed.

  Here, in the above-described embodiment, the flow path 9 is formed in the horn 2 that extends from the front end surface to the side surface. However, the flow path may be formed so as to extend from the front end surface of the horn to the rear end surface. In this case, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is provided with a flow channel extending the flow channel so that the water W is refluxed into the stirring vessel 1 from the upper end side of the ultrasonic transducer 4. Further, in this case, a means for refluxing water into the stirring vessel 1, a means for transporting the processing liquid to other equipment, and a switching means thereof are adapted to the discharge port at the upper end of the ultrasonic transducer 4, Use an appropriate installation form.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the powder particles 6 are stirred and dissolved in the water W has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a process in which liquid and liquid are stirred and mixed. It is.

It is a schematic diagram which shows one embodiment of the liquid processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the middle process of the liquid processing method by this liquid processing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the last process of the liquid processing method by this liquid processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stirring container 2 Horn 3 Oscillator 4 Ultrasonic vibrator 5 Base 9 Flow path 9a Discharge port (The opening of the flow path that opens on the side of the horn)
10 Shield plate (refluxing means)
11 Rotating unit (switching means)
12 Transport pipe (transportation means)

Claims (4)

  The tip of the horn is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel by immersing the tip of the horn connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and having a flow path extending from the tip surface to the side surface or the rear end surface. A liquid processing method characterized by intensively generating cavitation in the vicinity of a surface and circulating and stirring the liquid through a flow path in the horn.   The tip of the horn is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel by immersing the tip of the horn connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and having a flow path extending from the tip surface to the side surface or the rear end surface. Cavitation is intensively generated in the vicinity of the surface, and the liquid is circulated through the flow path in the horn and stirred, and then the ultrasonic wave is continued and the stirring vessel is passed through the flow path in the horn. A liquid processing method characterized by transporting the liquid in the inside to the outside.   In the horn connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, a flow path extending from the front end surface to the side surface or the rear end surface is formed, and the horn is disposed so that the front end portion is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel, A liquid processing apparatus, wherein a pedestal arranged to face the front end surface of the horn with a predetermined gap is disposed in the stirring vessel. In the horn connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, a flow path extending from the front end surface to the side surface or the rear end surface is formed, and the horn is disposed so that the front end portion is immersed in the liquid in the stirring vessel, A pedestal disposed opposite to the front end surface of the horn with a predetermined gap is disposed in the stirring vessel, and is further discharged from the mouth portion of the flow path that opens to the side surface or the rear end surface of the horn. A reflux means for receiving liquid and returning it into the stirring container; a transport means for receiving the liquid discharged from the mouth portion and transporting it to the outside of the stirring container; and the reflux means and the transport means for the mouth portion. A liquid processing apparatus comprising switching means for switching.