JP2008188490A - Adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwave - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adsorbent regeneration apparatus for obtaining a regenerated adsorbent, from which an adsorbed substance is almost perfectly removed, by treating the used adsorbent using microwave (high frequency) heating, especially the adsorbent regeneration apparatus capable of automatically treating the used adsorbent by utilizing the peculiar phenomenon of the change in temperature due to microwave heating to eliminate wasteful energy consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The adsorbent regeneration apparatus using the microwave is constituted so that an air permeable nonmetal container 20, in which the adsorbent 1 is housed, is arranged in a housing 10 to which a microwave oscillator 12 and an exhaust means 17 are attached and connected to a rotary drive source 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter for filtering impurities contained in gas, liquid, and the like, and an apparatus for regenerating an adsorbent used as a gas adsorption separation material.

  An adsorbent is used as a filter in a path through which gas or liquid passes. Some adsorbents have a function of physically adsorbing micro substances by a physicochemical function in addition to a function of physically stopping dust and foreign substances by an external configuration such as a mesh. For example, activated carbon is adsorbed as an adsorbent in the middle of the air pipe to adsorb oil mist or silica gel to adsorb moisture.

  These adsorbents must be regenerated continuously because their adsorptive capacity is saturated when a certain amount of substances are adsorbed. Discarding used adsorbents is not only economically undesirable, but may also cause secondary pollution, so reprocessing (recycling), specifically, processing to discharge adsorbed contaminants Since then, it has been reused.

  Conventionally, such regeneration of the adsorbent has been performed by a method in which the collected used adsorbent is placed in a container and placed in an oven, and heated for a certain period of time by increasing the temperature. Or the method of blowing warm air into the container which put the used adsorbent for a fixed time was taken. Furthermore, an example using high frequency dielectric heating as a heating means is known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which the adsorbed moisture of a zeolite / silica gel mixed desiccant is dried by high-frequency dielectric heating. A general household microwave oven is used for high-frequency dielectric heating.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an example in which a zeolite desiccant is dried and regenerated by high-frequency irradiation. It is described that high-frequency irradiation can use a microwave oven for cooking.

  However, the used adsorbents such as zeolite, which are recovered, have different adsorbed components and adsorbed amounts for each recovery, and in many cases, the adsorbed components and adsorbed amounts cannot be specified. It is not possible to predict whether it is appropriate to heat for hours. If the heating temperature and heating time are insufficient, the substance adsorbed on the adsorbent remains, and the adsorbability of the regenerated adsorbent becomes insufficient. If the heating temperature and heating time are sufficient, the adsorbed substance will once desorb from the regenerated adsorbent, but will be adsorbed again.

  Further, in the regeneration of the used adsorbent, it is necessary to change the processing conditions such as the heating temperature, the heating time, or the amount of hot air for each regeneration processing lot, but there is no method for finding an appropriate condition. For this reason, it was performed by the operator's can, but in order to pursue certainty, in many cases, energy due to excessive heating was wasted.

JP-A-9-75727 JP 2002-85936 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. A regenerated adsorbent from which an adsorbed substance has been substantially completely removed by treating the used adsorbent with heating by microwaves (high frequency) is obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an adsorbent recycling apparatus.

  Furthermore, the inventor of the present invention has advanced research on applying microwave heating to the regeneration of the adsorbent. When the amount of the residual material adsorbed on the adsorbent is changed by microwave heating, the adsorbent becomes unique. It was found to show a temperature change. Such a temperature change is a phenomenon peculiar to microwave heating, and an object of the present invention is to provide an adsorbent regenerator that can automatically process by eliminating this wasteful energy consumption.

  In order to achieve the above object, the microwave adsorbent regeneration apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with a microwave oscillator and installed inside a casing to which exhaust means is attached. A breathable non-metallic container for containing the adsorbent is disposed, and the non-metallic container is connected to a rotational drive source.

  Similarly, the adsorbent regenerating apparatus using microwaves according to the second aspect of the present invention is the apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the adsorbent adsorbs a molecular substance having moisture or —OH group. It is characterized by being.

  The microwave adsorbent regeneration apparatus according to the invention of claim 3 is the apparatus of the invention according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent is activated carbon, silica gel, calcium oxide, zeolite, ceramic porous body, diatomaceous earth, It is selected from bauxite, bone charcoal, wood-based adsorbent, metal oxide-based adsorbent, and polymer-based adsorbent.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the microwave adsorbent recycling apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the container is connected to the rotational drive source by a vertical rotation shaft. To do.

  An apparatus for regenerating an adsorbent using microwaves according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the container is connected to the rotational drive source by a horizontal rotation shaft. To do.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for regenerating an adsorbent using microwaves according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the rotation driving source is rotated from temperature measurement data of a temperature measuring means disposed in the casing. It is characterized by having means for controlling, means for controlling the oscillation output or / and oscillation time of the microwave oscillator.

  An apparatus for regenerating an adsorbent using microwaves according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a microwave oscillator is detected when temperature measurement data of temperature measuring means arranged in the casing is detected to be constant. It is characterized by having a means for controlling the oscillation output of OFF.

  The adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to the present invention is arranged such that a used adsorbent placed in a breathable non-metallic container is placed in a casing and irradiated with microwaves while being rotated, so that the adsorbed substance is removed from the used adsorbent. Is diffused and discharged through the exhaust means. Therefore, the adsorbed material from which the remaining adsorbed material is completely removed is regenerated without the adsorbed material adsorbed again by the adsorbent.

  In the adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to the present invention, in the configuration having means for converting the adsorption amount of the molecular substance having moisture or —OH group of the adsorbent, how much microwave is irradiated from the adsorption amount? Because it is accurately determined whether it is good or not, irradiation can be performed without excess or deficiency. Therefore, useless energy consumption can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to the present invention, the configuration having means for controlling the rotation of the rotation drive source from the temperature measurement data, the oscillation output of the microwave oscillator, and the means for controlling the oscillation time is optimal for unmanned operation. The adsorbent can be regenerated by the amount of microwave irradiation. Therefore, it is useful not only for energy saving but also for labor saving.

Preferred form for carrying out the invention

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is an external front view of an embodiment of an adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves to which the present invention is applied. The adsorbent regeneration apparatus is provided with a magnetron 12 that oscillates microwaves from one side wall of the metal housing 10 whose front can be opened and closed by a door 13 into the chamber 8. The front door 13 covering the chamber 8 has a metal net for electromagnetic wave shielding covered with heat-resistant glass. A turntable 15 connected to a motor 14 that is a rotational drive source is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 10. An exhaust cylinder 17 is installed on the ceiling portion of the housing 10 and opens to the outside via a fan (not shown). A metal net covers one place in the inner space of the exhaust cylinder 17 so as to ventilate but block electromagnetic waves.

  On the turntable 15, a ceramic mesh tube container 20 in which the used adsorbent 1 to be recycled is placed is placed. A metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18 is inserted into the chamber 8 through the side wall of the metal housing 10. The conductor of the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18 is connected to the temperature input terminal of the control box 22 of the apparatus. In the control box 22, a temperature indicator 24, a remaining time indicator 25, a time setting knob 27, and an oscillation output setting knob 28 are arranged.

  FIG. 2 is an electric system block diagram of the above-described adsorbent recycling apparatus using microwaves. It comprises a temperature change detection circuit 30 connected to the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18, a motor power supply control circuit 31 connected to the temperature change detection circuit 30, and an oscillation power supply control circuit 32. The temperature change detection circuit 30 has a function of storing the temperature every moment inputted from the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18, detecting the change, and outputting an output signal. A motor power supply control circuit 31 connected to a power supply source, for example, a commercial power supply, is connected to the motor 14, and an oscillation power supply control circuit 32 is connected to the magnetron 12. A temperature indicator 24 and a remaining time indicator 25 are connected to the temperature change detection circuit 30.

  This adsorbent recycling apparatus operates as follows.

  The used adsorbent 1 to be regenerated is placed in the cylindrical container 20 and placed on the turntable 15 in the chamber 8, and the door 13 is closed. For manual operation, an appropriate time is set with the time setting knob 27, and an appropriate output power is set with the oscillation output setting knob 28. Power is supplied from the power supply source, and the magnetron 12 is oscillated while rotating the motor 14. Then, the used adsorbent 1 is heated by resonating with the microwave that passes through without being cut off because the cylinder container 20 is a ceramic net, and residual adsorbents such as moisture and oil are diffused and the exhaust cylinder 17 is discharged. It is discharged after. Since the adsorbent is regenerated, it is removed from the chamber 8.

  In order to operate by automatic control, the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18 and the temperature change detection circuit 30 are operated. When the temperature change detection circuit 30 detects that the output temperature from the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer 18 has changed from rising to falling and becomes substantially constant over time (see FIG. 4), the motor power control circuit 31 and A command signal is issued to the oscillation power supply control circuit 32 to stop power supply. As a result, the used adsorbent 1 completely dissipates moisture and oil.

  In addition, it is more preferable to carry out warm air heating even after this.

  FIG. 3 shows an external front view of another embodiment of the adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves to which the present invention is applied. This adsorbent regeneration apparatus is provided with a magnetron 12 that oscillates microwaves from the ceiling of the metal housing 10 whose front can be opened and closed by a door 13 into the chamber 8. Further, an exhaust pipe 17 is installed on the ceiling portion of the housing 10.

  Both ends of the cylindrical container 20 of the ceramic net into which the used adsorbent 1 to be recycled is placed are closed with caps 21. Both caps 21 each have a rotation shaft 19 fixed thereto, and are supported on both side walls of the housing 10. A rotating shaft 19 penetrating one side wall is connected to the motor 14 so that the cylindrical container 20 rotates.

  The adsorbent recycling apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a structure in which the container 20 rotates laterally. On the other hand, the adsorbent recycling apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a structure in which the container 20 rotates vertically. By using a combination of the adsorbent regenerator in which the container 20 is rotated vertically and the adsorbent regenerator in which the container 20 is rotated laterally, microwaves are evenly irradiated and more perfect and efficient heating, Residual adsorbed material can be released. At this time, the container 20 that rotates vertically and horizontally and the container 20 that rotates horizontally have a common shape, so that the container 20 is rotated horizontally from the adsorbent regenerator that rotates vertically while the used adsorbent 1 is placed. By moving to an adsorbent regenerator, heating and regenerating operations can be performed efficiently.

  In order to confirm that the impurities are almost completely dissipated from the adsorbent when the output temperature of the metal sheath thermocouple thermometer becomes substantially constant, the following experiment was conducted.

  The used adsorbent was placed in a 100 cc crucible and processed by oscillating 2.45 GHz microwaves in the adsorbent regenerator. The adsorbent was taken out every 15 minutes and weighed precisely, and the temperature at that time was recorded.

  As a result of plotting the data, as shown by the solid line (left vertical axis) in FIG. 4, the temperature once increased with the lapse of time of the microwave oscillation, but after further lapsed, it converged to a constant temperature. At the same time, as indicated by the dotted line (right vertical axis), with the lapse of time of microwave oscillation, the mass of the adsorbent decreased (impurity diffusion progressed) and eventually converged to a constant temperature. And the convergence time of both was substantially the same time.

  This fact indicates that when there are many impurities, the temperature rises due to the microwave, and when the impurities are diffused and reduced, the temperature decreases, and when there are no impurities, the temperature does not increase or decrease. Such a phenomenon is considered to be caused by an increase or decrease in heat generation due to a large amount of resonance substances (impurities) caused by microwaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external front view showing an embodiment of an adsorbent recycling apparatus using microwaves to which the present invention is applied. It is an electric system block diagram of the adsorbent reproduction apparatus by the microwave which applies this invention. It is an external appearance front view which shows another one Embodiment of the adsorption material reproduction | regeneration apparatus by the microwave which applies this invention. It is a graph which shows the time-dependent change of the apparatus internal temperature at the time of using the adsorbent reproduction apparatus by the microwave which applies this invention, and the mass of an adsorbent.

Explanation of symbols

  1 is a used adsorbent, 8 is a chamber, 10 is a metal housing, 12 is a magnetron, 13 is a door, 14 is a motor, 15 is a turntable, 17 is an exhaust tube, 18 is a metal sheath thermocouple thermometer, 19 is Rotating shaft, 20 is a cylindrical container, 21 is a cap, 22 is a control box, 24 is a temperature indicator, 25 is a remaining time indicator, 27 is a time setting knob, 28 is an oscillation output setting knob, 30 is a temperature change detection circuit, 31 is a motor power supply control circuit, and 32 is an oscillation power supply control circuit.

Claims (7)

  A breathable non-metallic container for containing the adsorbent material is placed inside a housing with a microwave oscillator and exhaust means attached, and the non-metallic container is connected to a rotational drive source. A microwave adsorbent regeneration device.   2. The adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent adsorbs moisture or a molecular substance having an -OH group.   The adsorbent is selected from activated carbon, silica gel, calcium oxide, zeolite, ceramic porous body, diatomaceous earth, bauxite, bone charcoal, wood-based adsorbent, metal oxide-based adsorbent, and polymer-based adsorbent. Item 2. The adsorbent recycling apparatus using microwaves according to Item 1.   The adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to claim 1, wherein the container is connected to the rotation drive source by a vertical rotation shaft.   The adsorbent regeneration apparatus using microwaves according to claim 1, wherein the container is connected to the rotation driving source by a horizontal rotation shaft.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for controlling rotation of the rotary drive source from temperature measurement data of a temperature measuring means disposed in the housing; and means for controlling an oscillation output or / and an oscillation time of the microwave oscillator. 2. An adsorbent recycling apparatus using microwaves according to 1.   2. The adsorbent regeneration by microwave according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the oscillation output of the microwave oscillator to be turned off when temperature measurement data of the temperature measuring means arranged in the housing detects that the temperature is constant. apparatus.

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