JP2002052070A - Steam sterilizer and hot-air sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam sterilizer capable of reducing the running cost by saving the cost of electricity for heating water. SOLUTION: The steam sterilizer comprises a sterilization room 32 disposed inside a can body 31 as a pressure container for storing an article to be sterilized, a reservior part 34 disposed inside the can body 31 for saving water, and a heating means 39 for generating steam in the can body 31 by heating the water in the reservior part 34. The heating means 39 has a heat accumulating vessel 60 comprising a heat accumulating part 70 filed with a solid heat accumulating material and a liquid heat accumulating material, a heater 72 for heating the heat accumulating part 70 and a heating tube 62 disposed to run inside the heat accumulating part 72 for spouting overheated steam generated by overheating the water fed into the heat accumulating part 70, and an superheated steam supply pipe 36 connected to the heating tube 62 and disposed so that the superheated steam superheated/generated in the heat accumulating part 70 flows inside the reservior part 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized by filling a sterilization chamber with saturated steam, and a dry heat sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber using dry hot air. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a sterilizer for sterilizing medical instruments used in hospitals and the like and instruments used in experiments, there is a steam sterilizer using steam. The steam sterilizer has various differences depending on the size and the method of generating steam. In the steam sterilizer described below, a saturated steam generator is provided in a sterilization chamber as a pressure vessel. That is, the lower part of the can constituting the sterilization chamber is provided as a storage part capable of storing water, and generates steam directly in the sterilization chamber. Such a steam sterilizer is configured as a table-top steam sterilizer whose size has been reduced to such a degree that it can be placed on a table, or as a vertical steam sterilizer in which cans are arranged so as to face up and down. .

FIG. 7 shows a piping diagram of a tabletop steam sterilizer. A sterilization chamber 12 in which the object to be sterilized of the tabletop steam sterilizer 10 is stored is provided in a can 11 as a pressure vessel. A mounting plate 13 on which an object to be sterilized can be mounted is provided inside the can body 11, and a portion above the mounting plate 13 in the can body 11 is formed in the sterilization chamber 12. A storage portion 14 that can store water is formed below the mounting plate 13 in the can body 11. A heater 16 for heating water is provided in the storage unit 14. The heater 16 is an electric heater. In such a tabletop steam sterilizer, the heater 16 generates heat to evaporate water in the storage unit 14 to generate steam, and sterilizes the steam by filling the can 11 with the temperature, humidity, and pressure of the steam.

Next, a dry heat sterilizer will be described with reference to FIG. The dry heat sterilizer 20 does not perform sterilization using steam, but is a device that performs sterilization using dry hot air. Therefore, the sterilization efficiency is lower than that of a steam sterilizer using steam, and it takes a longer time to complete the sterilization than a steam sterilizer, but it is often used when it is not desired to attach moisture to an object to be sterilized.

[0005] The dry heat sterilization tank device 20 includes a sterilization chamber 22 for accommodating the object to be sterilized, and a sterilization chamber 2 adjacent to the sterilization chamber 22.
2 and a heating chamber 23 connected at two locations. Air circulating means 24 that feeds the heated air in the heating chamber 23 into the sterilization chamber 22 and sends the air in the sterilization chamber 22 into the heating chamber 23 at a portion where the sterilization chamber 22 and the heating chamber 23 are connected. Is provided. Heating room 23
Inside, a heater 26 for heating air is provided. As the heater 26, an electric heater for heating with electricity is used. Thus, a simple structure can be achieved by employing an electric heater as the heating means.

[0006]

Such a tabletop steam sterilizer and dry heat sterilizer can perform a sterilization operation with a relatively simple structure. However, an electric heater is usually used as a heater as a heating means when heating water or air. For this reason, the heater must always be energized during the sterilization process. Such a sterilization process is usually performed during the daytime, and has a problem that the electricity cost is higher than when the sterilization process is performed at midnight. On the other hand, even if an attempt is made to operate the sterilizer at midnight when the electricity rate is low, the idea cannot be adopted due to the problem of the operator operating the sterilizer. Therefore, the present inventors have studied to solve the above-mentioned problems. As a result, even if the sterilization process is performed during the day, if the electric power used there can be used in advance at midnight to store heat, the above-described problems can be solved. Can be solved, and arrived at the present invention.

That is, the object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide a steam sterilizer and a dry heat sterilizer that can reduce the running cost of the apparatus by saving electricity costs when heating water or air.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a steam sterilizer according to the present invention, which is provided in a can serving as a pressure vessel and accommodates an object to be sterilized, and is provided in the can and stores water. A steam sterilizer comprising: a storage section to be heated; and heating means for heating water in the storage section to generate water vapor in the can body, wherein the heating means is filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material. Heat storage provided with a heat storage unit, a heater for heating the heat storage unit, and a heat transfer tube that is disposed to pass through the heat storage unit and that overheats water supplied to the heat storage unit and discharges superheated steam. A tank, connected to the heat transfer tube,
And a superheated steam supply pipe arranged so that superheated steam generated by being superheated in the heat storage unit passes through the storage unit. By employing this configuration, the heat of the heat storage tank that has been stored in advance during the time when the sterilization process is not performed can be used for water heating. In other words, if the heat storage tank is energized with inexpensive midnight power at midnight to store heat, it is not necessary to use electricity for heating when performing daytime sterilization, so water can be heated at low cost, The running cost can be reduced by saving electricity costs during the sterilization process.

Further, the solid heat storage material in the heat storage section is composed of solid heat storage materials having different particle diameters, and a small particle size solid heat storage material enters the gap between the large particle size solid heat storage materials in the heat storage section. And the gap between the solid heat storage materials is filled with the liquid heat storage material, so that the packing density of the solid heat storage material and the liquid heat storage material per unit volume in the heat storage unit is increased. Can be. Therefore, the amount of heat stored in the heat storage unit can be increased, and more heat can be stored with as little power as possible to further reduce running costs.

[0010] Further, the solid heat storage material in the heat storage unit is characterized in that it is one or more particles selected from magnesia, magnetite, silica and alumina.
The heat storage effect of the amount of heat can be enhanced, and more heat can be stored with less electric power, thereby further reducing running costs. Further, even if the liquid heat storage material in the heat storage section is a nitrate, the heat storage effect of the heat amount can be enhanced, and more heat can be stored with a small amount of electric power to further reduce the running cost.

[0011] According to the dry heat sterilization apparatus of the present invention, a sterilization chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized, heating means for heating air in the heating chamber, and air in the heating chamber heated by the heating means for sterilizing the air in the heating chamber. In a dry heat sterilization apparatus including an air circulation unit that sends air in a sterilization chamber into a heating chamber while sending air into the room, the heating unit includes a heat storage unit filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material; A heat storage tank provided with a heater for heating the heat storage unit, and a heat transfer tube disposed to pass through the heat storage unit and discharging superheated steam by superheating water supplied to the heat storage unit; and And a superheated steam supply pipe arranged so that superheated steam generated in the heat storage tank passes through the heating chamber. By employing this configuration, the heat of the heat storage tank that has been stored in advance during the time when the sterilization process is not performed can be used for heating the air. In other words, if the heat storage tank is energized at midnight with inexpensive midnight power to store heat, it is not necessary to use electricity for heating when performing daytime sterilization, so air can be heated at low cost, The running cost can be reduced by saving electricity costs during the sterilization process.

[0012]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. (Tabletop Steam Sterilizer) First, the tabletop steam sterilizer 30 will be described with reference to FIG. As described in the related art, the tabletop steam sterilizer 30 is a small-sized sterilizer that sterilizes medical instruments used in hospitals and the like and instruments used in experiments and the like. Sterilization. The tabletop steam sterilizer 30 includes a can 31 which is a pressure vessel having a sterilization chamber 32, a storage section 34 provided below the can 31 for storing water, and a storage section 3.
And heating means 39 for heating the water in 4. The heating means 39 includes a heater 36 provided in the storage section 34.
And a heat storage tank 60 for heating the heater 36.
The heat storage tank 60 is provided separately from the apparatus main body 30a in which the sterilization chamber 32 is provided.

A water supply tank 64 is connected to the heat storage tank 60, and the water in the water supply tank 64 is overheated (su) in the heat storage tank 60.
superheated steam supply pipe 3 as superheated steam
6. The storage section 34 is connected to the superheated steam supply pipe 36.
The superheated steam which has exchanged heat with the water in the water is condensed and is
It is returned to the inside and heated again for use.

The can body 31 is a pressure vessel which can be hermetically sealed, and has a mounting plate 33 on which an object to be sterilized (not shown) can be mounted. Mounting plate 3 in can body 31
The lower part than 3 has a tank shape and is formed as a storage part 34 for storing water. During the sterilization process, the water in the storage section 34 is heated to become steam, and the steam fills the can 31. Water is supplied to the storage section 34 from a water storage tank 42 to which replenishment water is supplied via a water supply pipe 40 in which a three-way control valve 44 is provided in the middle. The other side of the three-way control valve 44 is connected via a pipe 45 to a dewatering pipe 48 in the water storage tank 42. The water storage tank 42 is provided with a drainage pipe and a transition water level gauge 61.

An air pump 47 is mounted on the distal end of the sterilization chamber 32 of the can body 31 so as to suck air, and a pipe 52 provided with a filter 49, a control valve 50, and a drying heater 51 is provided in the middle. Are linked. Further, the exhaust in the sterilization chamber 32 is performed through an exhaust pipe 54. A trap solenoid valve 55 is connected to the exhaust pipe 54, and water vapor at the time of exhaust is introduced into a dewatering pipe 56 in the water storage tank 42 through the trap solenoid valve 55. The exhaust pipe 54 includes a pressure gauge 59, an exhaust pressure switch 57, and a safety valve 58 provided in the water storage tank 42.
Is also linked.

The superheated steam supply pipe 36 provided in the storage section 34 for heating water is formed of a metal pipe through which the superheated steam generated in the heat storage tank 60 passes. The metal pipe is immersed in the water in the storage section 34, and the heat of the superheated steam is transmitted to the water to heat the water. The superheated steam supply pipe 36 is preferably wound in a coil shape or formed in a corrugated shape in order to increase the contact area with water.

A heat transfer tube 62 is provided in the heat storage tank 60, and a supply pipe 65 from a water supply tank 64 is connected to one end of the heat transfer tube 62. The water in the water supply tank 64 is supplied to the heat transfer tube 62 in the heat storage tank 60 by the pump 66. Then, from the other end of the heat transfer tube 62, superheated steam generated by overheating water by the heat storage material in the heat storage tank 60 is extracted. The other end of the heat transfer pipe 62 is connected to a pipe 68 that goes into the storage section 34. The pipe 68 is connected to one end of the superheated steam supply pipe 36 in the storage section 34 to store the superheated steam in the storage section 34.
Supply inside.

At the other end of the superheated steam supply pipe 36 in the storage section 34, a pipe 69 to the water supply tank 34 is connected. The pipe 69 returns superheated steam condensed by heat exchange in the storage section 34 to the water supply tank 64. Thus, the water in the water supply tank 64 circulates through the heat storage tank 60 and the superheated steam supply pipe 36. The water stored in the water supply tank 64 so as to be superheated in the heat storage tank 60 includes ions such as magnesium and calcium in the form of an ion exchange resin from the viewpoint of preventing the scale of the heat transfer pipe 62 and the superheated steam supply pipe 36. It is desirable to use the treated water removed in the above.

Hereinafter, the structure of the heat storage tank will be described. FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure of the heat storage tank 60 used in the saturated steam generator shown in FIG. A heat storage tank 60 shown in FIG. 2 includes an electric heater 7 for heating a heat storage material in a heat storage unit 70 filled with a heat storage material formed by mixing a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material.
2 and a heat transfer tube 62 to which water is supplied by a pump 66 are provided. Further, the outer periphery of the heat storage unit 70 is covered with a heat insulating material 74 to prevent heat radiation from the heat storage unit 70. The heat storage material filled in the heat storage unit 70 is composed of a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material having different particle sizes, and is filled such that the small particle size solid heat storage material enters the gap between the large particle size solid heat storage materials. ing. Further, a gap between the solid heat storage material having a large particle diameter and the solid heat storage material having a small particle diameter is filled with a liquid heat storage material.

FIG. 3 shows a state where the heat storage material is filled in the heat storage section. FIG. 3A shows a large-diameter solid heat storage material 76.
a and the solid heat storage material 76b having a small particle diameter are filled with two types of solid heat storage material 76 and a liquid heat storage material 78, and a small particle A solid heat storage material 78b having a diameter enters and is filled, and a gap between the solid heat storage materials 76 is filled with a liquid heat storage material 78.

FIG. 3B shows a state of the heat storage unit filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material having three kinds of particle diameters. The solid heat storage material is composed of a large-diameter solid heat storage material 76a, a small-diameter solid heat storage material 76b, and a medium-diameter solid heat storage material 76c having an intermediate particle size between the solid heat storage materials. The gap between the heat storage materials 76a is filled with the solid heat storage material 76c having a medium particle size, and the gap between the solid heat storage material 76a having a large particle size and the solid heat storage material 76c having a medium size has a small particle size solid. The heat storage material 76b is filled so as to enter.
Further, a gap between the filled solid heat storage materials 76 is filled with a liquid heat storage material 78. Thus, FIG.
As shown in (b), the gaps between the large-diameter solid heat storage materials 76a are filled so that the smaller-diameter solid heat storage materials 76b and 76c enter the gaps. In the heat storage unit 70 filled with the material 78, the packing density of the solid heat storage material 76 and the liquid heat storage material 78 is compared with the packing density of the solid heat storage material 76 and the liquid heat storage material 78 having one kind of particle diameter. The heat storage amount and the heat conduction to the heat transfer tube 62 can be improved.

A specific example of the heat storage tank will be described. FIG.
As the solid heat storage material 76 shown in (a) and (b), one or two or more kinds of particles selected from magnesia, magnetite, silica, and alumina can be suitably used. Can be suitably used. Nitrate is solid at room temperature, but melts above 142 ° C. to become a liquid. Here, a large-diameter magnesia having a particle diameter of 7 to 10 mm as the solid heat storage material 76 and a particle diameter of 1 mm
Magnesia 1800k consisting of the following small particle size magnesia
g and 370 kg of nitrate as the liquid heat storage material 78 were filled to form the heat storage section 70. The composition of the heat storage material forming the heat storage unit 70 is 55% of large-diameter magnesia, 25% of small-diameter magnesia, and 20% of nitrate.

The heat storage section 70 is provided with a 27 kW electric heater 72 and a heat transfer tube 62 so that the heat transfer area is 3.4 m ^2.
And the heat storage part 70 was surrounded by the heat insulating material 74 to form the heat storage tank 60. The heat insulating material 74 has a thickness of 5 microporous structure whose main component is silicon oxide and titanium oxide.
A heat insulating material of 0 mm was used. The formed heat storage tank 60 has a width of 8
The size was 30 mm, the width was 1200 mm, the height was 1900 mm, and the weight was 3000 kg.

Then, after the electric heater of the formed heat storage tank 60 is energized for about 10 hours at midnight, water is continuously supplied to the inlet of the heat transfer tube 62 by the pump 66 so that the outlet pressure of the heat transfer tube 62 becomes 0.5 MPa. Then, the temperature of the steam discharged from the outlet of the heat transfer tube 62 and the temperature of the heat storage material were examined. FIG. 4 shows the results. In FIG. 4, a curve A of the heat storage material temperature is a temperature curve of the heat storage material near the inlet of the heat transfer tube, and a curve B is a heat transfer material 62.
The temperature curve of the heat storage material near the middle of
Respectively shows the heat storage material temperature curves near the outlet of the above. The generated steam temperature is the temperature of the steam discharged from the outlet of the heat transfer tube 62. Further, the amount of heat output was calculated from the steam temperature discharged from the outlet of the heat transfer tube 62 and the amount of water supplied to the heat transfer tube, and the change over time in the amount of heat output is also shown in FIG.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, the heat storage material in the heat storage tank 60 is heated to a high temperature of 500 ° C. by the heating of the electric heater 72, and the steam discharged from the heat transfer tube 62 is also superheated steam of 500 ° C. is there. In addition, superheated steam at 500 ° C. can be continuously discharged for about 4 hours. Even if the temperature of the discharged superheated steam drops to 500 ° C. or lower, the superheated steam can still be discharged, and the superheated steam can be continuously discharged for 8 hours or more.
As a result, the heat output was stable until about 7 hours 30 minutes from the start of heat output.

This means that the temperature of the heat storage material also decreases near the inlet of the heat transfer tube 62 with the start of heat output, and begins to decrease near the center of the heat transfer tube 62 two and a half hours after the start of heat output. It is also understood from the fact that the vicinity of the outlet of the heat transfer tube 62 starts to decrease after the elapse of time. In other words, since the location where the heat stored in the heat storage unit 70 is taken out moves sequentially from the heat storage material near the inlet of the heat transfer tube 62 to the heat storage material near the outlet with the heat output, the heat is discharged from the heat transfer tube 62. The temperature of the superheated steam and the amount of heat output can be stabilized. As described above, since the heat storage material can be heated by the low-cost late-night power, clean and inexpensive superheated steam can be obtained. And
In order to generate steam from the steam sterilizer, superheated steam utilizing heat previously stored using such inexpensive late-night power is used for heating instead of an electric heater, so that running costs can be reduced.

(Vertical Steam Sterilizer) Hereinafter, as another embodiment of the steam sterilizer, a vertical steam sterilizer will be described with reference to FIG. The vertical steam surface sterilizer is a small sterilizer that sterilizes medical instruments used in hospitals and instruments used in experiments, etc., and sterilizes using steam. It is the same as a tabletop steam sterilizer. The vertical steam sterilizer 80 shown here is different from the tabletop steam sterilizer 30 described above in that the can body 31 is installed vertically so that the opening side 31a of the can body 31 faces upward. By the way. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The vertical steam sterilizer 80 is provided in the sterilization chamber 32
A can 31 which is a pressure vessel provided with the above, a storage part 34 provided at a lower portion of the can 31 for storing water, and a heating means 39 for heating the water in the storage part 34. Reservoir 3
4 may be connected to a water storage tank for supplying replenishing water, but is omitted here. And the drainage of the storage part 34 is performed via the drainage valve 82 connected to the pipe 83. In the sterilization chamber 32, a pipe 8 provided with a filter 86 and a drain trap 88 is provided.
9 is connected to an exhaust bottle 92 in connection with an exhaust pipe 91 provided with an exhaust valve 90.

Even in the vertical steam sterilizer having such a structure, when heating the water in the storage section 34,
The heating means 39 in the embodiment described above can be employed. That is, in the heating means 39, water is supplied by the electric heater 72 and the pump 66 for heating the heat storage material into the heat storage unit 70 filled with the heat storage material formed by mixing the solid heat storage material and the liquid heat storage material. It has a heat storage tank 60 in which a heat transfer tube 62 is provided, and a superheated steam supply pipe 36 for introducing superheated steam generated in the heat storage tank 60 into the storage section 34 to heat the water. In addition, such a heat storage tank 60
Is provided separately from the apparatus main body 80a in which the sterilization chamber 32 is provided.

The superheated steam that has passed through the superheated steam supply pipe 36 exchanges heat with water in the storage section 34, condenses, and returns to the water supply tank 34. Then, the water in the water supply tank 34 is again supplied into the heat storage tank 60 and becomes superheated steam. Due to such a configuration, the steam sterilizer generates steam by using superheated steam that utilizes heat previously stored using inexpensive midnight power, so that the running cost of the steam sterilizer is reduced. Can be reduced.

(Dry Heat Sterilizer) Next, the dry heat sterilizer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As described in the prior art, a dry heat sterilizer uses no steam,
This is a device that sterilizes with hot dry air. Therefore, the sterilization efficiency is lower than that of the steam sterilizer, and it takes more time to complete the sterilization than the steam sterilizer. However, it is often used when it is not desired to attach moisture to the object to be sterilized.

The dry heat sterilizer 100 shown here has a sterilization chamber 102 for accommodating an object to be sterilized (not shown), and a connecting portion 10 adjacent to and adjacent to the sterilization chamber 102.
And a heating chamber 106 connected to the heating chambers 3 and 104. For heating, the same heating means 39 as that described in the above-described steam sterilizer is used. Heating means 39
Is a superheated steam supply pipe 11 provided in the heating chamber 106.
0 and the heat storage tank 60 connected to the superheated steam supply pipe 110
And Here, the heat storage tank 60 has exactly the same structure as that of the above-described embodiment, and superheats supplied water to discharge superheated steam. The heat storage tank 60 is provided separately from the apparatus main body 100a in which the sterilization chamber 102 is provided.

A circulating means for circulating air between the sterilizing chamber 102 and the heating chamber 106 is provided in one of the connecting portions 103 and 104. In this embodiment,
A blower 108 is provided in the connecting portion 104. The blower 108 sends the air in the sterilization chamber 102 into the heating chamber 106. The air sent into the heating chamber 106 is heated and moves from the connecting portion 103 above the heating chamber 106 to the sterilization chamber 102.

The superheated steam supply pipe 110 is formed of a metal pipe through which the superheated steam generated in the heat storage tank 60 passes. The metal pipe extends vertically through the heating chamber 106. Both ends of the superheated steam supply pipe 110 are connected to pipes 68 and 69 from the heat storage tank. Then, the heat of the superheated steam passing through the inside of the superheated steam supply pipe 110 is conducted to the air in the heating chamber 106 to heat the air. Note that this superheated steam supply pipe 110
In order to increase the contact area with air, it is preferable that the is wound in a coil shape or formed in a wave shape.

According to the dry heat sterilizer, it is necessary to send hot air at 200 ° C. into the sterilization chamber 102 for about 6 hours for sterilization. However, by using the heat storage tank 60 to heat the air, heat is stored in advance. It can be heated using the heat. In other words, a power source for the heater need not be used during the sterilization process, and heating is performed using superheated steam utilizing heat stored with inexpensive midnight power, so that running costs can be reduced.

In the steam sterilizer and the dry heat sterilizer described above, one superheated steam supply pipe 36 is connected to each heat storage tank 60. However, it is also preferable to connect a plurality of superheated steam supply pipes 36 to one heat storage tank 60. That is, since the above-described heat storage tank 60 can supply superheated steam for about eight continuous hours, the sterilization process of a plurality of sterilizers can be performed by only slightly shifting the actual heating time of water or air. It can be done in a heat storage tank. In this way, the electricity bill can be saved in the heat storage tank using the late-night power, the electricity bill for a plurality of cars can be saved, and the running cost can be further reduced.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course.

[0038]

According to the steam sterilization apparatus of the present invention, a sterilization chamber provided in a can as a pressure vessel and containing an object to be sterilized, and a storage section provided in the can and storing water. In a steam sterilizer having heating means for heating water in a storage part to generate water vapor in a can body, the heating means includes a heat storage part filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material, and a heat storage part. A heat storage tank provided with a heater for heating, and a heat transfer tube disposed to pass through the heat storage unit and discharging superheated steam by superheating water supplied to the heat storage unit, and connected to the heat transfer tube. And a superheated steam supply pipe disposed so that superheated steam generated by being superheated in the heat storage unit passes through the storage unit. Therefore, heat can be stored in the heat storage tank in advance during the time when the sterilization step is not performed, that is, at midnight when the electricity rate is low, and the stored heat can be used for water heating. In other words, during daytime sterilization, heat from the heat storage tank can be used without using electricity for heating, so water can be heated at low cost, and running costs can be reduced by saving electricity costs during the sterilization process. Can be achieved.

According to the dry heat sterilization apparatus of the present invention, the sterilization chamber accommodating the object to be sterilized, the heating means for heating the air in the heating chamber, and the air in the heating chamber heated by the heating means are introduced into the sterilization chamber. In a dry heat sterilization apparatus including an air circulation unit that sends air in a sterilization chamber into a heating chamber while feeding air, the heating unit heats a heat storage unit filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material, and a heat storage unit. A heat storage tank provided with a heater and a heat transfer tube that is disposed to pass through the heat storage unit and that discharges superheated steam by superheating water supplied to the heat storage unit; A superheated steam supply pipe disposed so that superheated steam generated by being superheated in the section passes through the heating chamber. Therefore, heat can be stored in the heat storage tank in advance during the time when the sterilization process is not performed, that is, at midnight when the electricity rate is low, and the stored heat can be used for air heating. In other words, during daytime sterilization, heat from the heat storage tank can be used without using electricity for heating, so water can be heated at low cost, and running costs can be reduced by saving electricity costs during the sterilization process. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping diagram showing a configuration of a tabletop steam sterilizer as an example of a steam sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a heat storage tank.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of filling a heat storage material in a heat storage unit of a heat storage tank.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a change over time in output characteristics of a heat storage tank.

FIG. 5 is a piping diagram showing the configuration of a vertical steam sterilizer as an example of the steam sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a piping diagram showing a configuration of a dry heat sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a piping diagram showing a configuration of a conventional steam sterilizer.

FIG. 8 is a piping diagram showing the configuration of a conventional dry heat sterilizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 30 desktop steam sterilizer 31 can body 32 sterilization chamber 33 mounting plate 34 storage section 36 superheated steam supply pipe 39 heating means 40, 45, 52, 68, 69, 83, 89 pipe 42 water storage tank 44 three-way control valve 47 air pump 48 Dehumidifying pipe 49, 86 Filter 50 Control valve 51 Drying heater 54 Exhaust pipe 55 Trap solenoid valve 56 Dehumidifying pipe 60 Heat storage tank 62 Heat transfer pipe 64 Water supply tank 65 Supply pipe 66 Pump 70 Heat storage section 72 Electric heater 74 Insulation material 76 Solid heat storage material 78 Liquid heat storage material 80 Vertical steam sterilizer 82 Drain valve 88 Drain trap 90 Exhaust valve 91 Exhaust pipe 92 Exhaust bottle 100 Dry heat sterilizer 102 Sterilization chamber 103, 104 Connecting section 106 Heating chamber 108 Blower 110 Superheated steam supply tube

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A sterilization chamber provided in a can as a pressure vessel and containing an object to be sterilized; a storage provided in the can and storing water; and heating the water in the storage by heating the water in the storage. In a steam sterilizer having a heating means for generating water vapor in a can body, the heating means comprises: a heat storage unit filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material; a heater for heating the heat storage unit; A heat storage tank provided with a heat transfer tube that is disposed so as to pass through and heats the water supplied into the heat storage unit and discharges superheated steam, and is connected to the heat transfer tube and is heated by the heat storage unit. And a superheated steam supply pipe disposed so that the superheated steam generated by passing through the storage section is provided. 2. The solid heat storage material in the heat storage section is made of solid heat storage materials having different particle diameters, and the small-diameter solid heat storage material enters the gaps between the large-diameter solid heat storage materials in the heat storage section. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid heat storage material is filled in a gap between the solid heat storage materials. 3. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the solid heat storage material in the heat storage unit is one or more particles selected from magnesia, magnetite, silica, and alumina. . 4. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid heat storage material in the heat storage unit is a nitrate. 5. A sterilization chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized, heating means for heating air in the heating chamber, air in the heating chamber heated by the heating means is sent into the sterilization chamber, and air in the sterilization chamber is removed. In a dry heat sterilization apparatus including an air circulation unit that feeds into a heating chamber, the heating unit includes: a heat storage unit that is filled with a solid heat storage material and a liquid heat storage material; a heater that heats the heat storage unit; A heat storage tank provided with a heat transfer tube that is disposed so as to pass therethrough and discharges superheated steam by superheating water supplied to the heat storage unit; and a heat storage tank connected to the heat transfer tube and overheated by the heat storage unit. And a superheated steam supply pipe disposed so that the superheated steam generated in the heating chamber passes through the heating chamber. 6. The solid heat storage material in the heat storage section is made of solid heat storage materials having different particle diameters, and the small heat storage material having a small particle diameter enters a gap between the large particle diameter solid heat storage materials in the heat storage section. 6. The dry heat sterilizer according to claim 5, wherein a liquid heat storage material is filled in a gap between the solid heat storage materials. 7. The dry heat sterilization according to claim 5, wherein the solid heat storage material in the heat storage unit is one or more particles selected from magnesia, magnetite, silica, and alumina. apparatus. 8. The dry heat sterilizer according to claim 5, wherein the liquid heat storage material in the heat storage unit is a nitrate.