JP2013139000A - Ultrasonic atomizing device and ultrasonic atomization method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic atomizing device which can suppress the performance degradation of an ultrasonic transducer caused by components other than alcohol included in discarded alcohol, and can also control a work to detach the ultrasonic transducer to clean.SOLUTION: This ultrasonic atomizing device 1 includes a treatment container 10 where a liquid to be processed is put, one or more ultrasonic transducers 20a, 20b and 20c disposed on a bottom of the treatment container 10, and a controller 40 that drive-controls the ultrasonic transducers to be switchable among two or more stages to generate a frequency to atomize the processed liquid and to generate a frequency to clean the ultrasonic transducer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic atomizing apparatus for liquid containing waste alcohols and other substances that remain without being atomized and adhere to an ultrasonic vibrator, and a method thereof.

  A method is known in which Japanese sake is atomized with ultrasound to obtain a high-concentration alcohol and a low-concentration alcohol residue (Patent Document 1). In addition, it is known that an alcohol-containing liquid is atomized with ultrasonic waves and used as a fuel for a combustion device (burner) (Patent Document 2).

JP 09-187601 JP2008-309359

  However, there are many types of discarded sake, and some of them, like nigari sake, are mixed with solid matter without being filtered. If this is subjected to ultrasonic atomization as it is, solids and sugars adhere to or accumulate on the ultrasonic vibrator installed at the bottom of the ultrasonic atomizer. As described above, when solid matter or sugar adheres to or accumulates on the ultrasonic vibrator, there is a problem that ultrasonic waves having a predetermined energy cannot be generated, and the original performance of the ultrasonic vibrator is degraded in a short time. In particular, in the case of intermittent operation in which the apparatus is operated only for a predetermined time (for example, during the daytime), sedimentation and accumulation of solids and sugars during the ultrasonic stop are significant.

  If solid matter adheres to or deposits around the ultrasonic vibrator, all of the liquid to be processed in the apparatus is discharged, the ultrasonic vibrator is removed from the apparatus, and the ultrasonic vibrator is cleaned. It was necessary and very troublesome.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can suppress the deterioration of the performance of the ultrasonic vibrator due to components other than alcohol contained in the waste alcohols, and remove the ultrasonic vibrator and perform cleaning. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic atomizing device and an ultrasonic atomizing method thereof that can suppress the work to be performed. In addition, the present invention provides an ultrasonic atomizer that can suppress degradation of the performance of an ultrasonic vibrator due to inclusions that remain without being atomized and adhere to the ultrasonic vibrator, and the ultrasonic atomizer. A sonic atomization method is provided.

The ultrasonic atomizer of the present invention is
A processing container for storing a liquid to be treated with ultrasonic waves;
One or more ultrasonic transducers disposed at the bottom of the processing vessel;
The ultrasonic transducer capable of switching between a first frequency band for generating a frequency for atomizing the liquid to be treated and a second frequency band for generating a frequency for cleaning the ultrasonic transducer. And a control unit for driving and controlling the device.

  With this configuration, components other than the alcohol contained in the liquid to be treated (waste alcohol) (other than pure water if the liquid to be treated is tap water) (solid content, sugar, impurities, etc.) Even if it adheres to or accumulates on the surface, the ultrasonic vibrator or its surroundings can be easily washed to dissolve (or disperse) the solid matter in the liquid to be treated, thus reducing the performance of the ultrasonic vibrator. And continuous operation for a long time is possible. In addition, it is possible to suppress the trouble of removing and cleaning the ultrasonic vibrator, and periodic cleaning work becomes unnecessary. Examples of the “liquid to be treated” include alcohol fermentation liquids such as bioethanol, sake, wine, shochu, and the like, including those for disposal.

  The control unit drives the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in the first frequency band for a predetermined period (for example, 6 hours or 12 hours), and atomizes the liquid to be processed. The ultrasonic vibrator is driven to clean the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in the second frequency band for 1 to 10 minutes. The cleaning time may be about 2 to 5 minutes per time for a long atomization time. Since the cleaning processing time may be short, the atomization processing operation is not substantially affected. Depending on the liquid to be treated, the atomization treatment operation is not limited to one time (6 hours or 12 hours), and may be performed continuously for 12 hours or more, and the number of washing treatment operations is between the atomization treatment operations. It may be performed for a minute or periodically after the continuous operation of the atomization treatment.

  Moreover, a control part drives an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator so that a washing process operation may be performed before an atomization process driving | operation, when an ultrasonic atomizer is intermittently operated. Further, the control unit drives the ultrasonic transducer so as to perform the cleaning processing operation during the stop period in the intermittent operation.

  As an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to generate a frequency for aggregating a substance contained in the liquid to be treated, a third frequency band, the first frequency band, and the second frequency band. The ultrasonic transducer is further controlled to be switchable.

  According to this configuration, the control unit drives the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate the frequency of the frequency in the third frequency band, and the components other than the alcohol component (impurities, solids, sugars, etc.) in the liquid to be treated ) Can be agglomerated. By aggregating in advance, the concentration of components other than the alcohol component (other than pure water) in the liquid to be treated can be reduced, and adhesion / deposition to the ultrasonic transducer can be suppressed. Alternatively, after atomization, components other than the alcohol component adhering to the ultrasonic vibrator are removed and concentrated to agglomerate at a frequency in the third frequency band, whereby these components can be efficiently separated and discharged.

  The control unit drives the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in the first frequency band for a predetermined period (for example, 6 hours or 12 hours), and atomizes the liquid to be processed. The ultrasonic vibrator is driven to drive the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate the frequency having the frequency of the second frequency band for 1 minute to 10 minutes, and then, for example, the third frequency band for 1 minute to 10 minutes. The ultrasonic transducer is driven so as to generate a frequency having a frequency of agglomeration. The agglomeration treatment is a treatment for aggregating the lysate and / or dispersion in the liquid to be treated. The aggregation treatment time may be about 1 to 10 minutes, or about 2 to 5 minutes. The third frequency band (aggregation frequency) is preferably larger than the second frequency band (washing frequency) and smaller than the first frequency band (atomization frequency).

  As described above, the three-stage treatment cycle may be repeatedly operated in the order of the atomization treatment, the washing treatment, and the aggregation treatment. Further, the atomization process and the cleaning process may be repeated two or more times, and the aggregation process may be operated between the process cycles. Moreover, it is preferable to perform the exclusion process which excludes the aggregated solid substance after an aggregation process. In the exclusion process, the solid in the processing container may be discharged together with the liquid to be processed. A pipe for discharging the liquid to be processed is provided in the processing container via an on-off valve. By opening the on-off valve, the liquid to be processed and the agglomerated solid matter are discharged out of the processing container through the pipe. The configuration is illustrated.

  Further, a three-stage processing cycle may be repeatedly operated in the order of the cleaning process, the atomization process, and the aggregation process. Further, the two-stage processing cycle may be repeated a plurality of times in the order of the atomization processing and the aggregation processing. Moreover, it is preferable to periodically perform an exclusion process for eliminating the aggregated solid matter after the aggregation process.

  As an embodiment of the above invention, the first frequency band is 1.5 MHz to 2.4 MHz, and the second frequency band is 20 kHz to 40 kHz. As an embodiment of the above invention, the third frequency band is 50 kHz to 500 kHz.

  Depending on the liquid to be treated (for example, types, properties, mixed state of a plurality of objects), 1.5 MHz to 2.4 MHz of the first frequency band is set to an arbitrary frequency, for example, 1.6 MHz, 2.4 MHz, Atomize. In addition, the second frequency band of 20 kHz to 40 kHz is set to an arbitrary frequency, for example, 20 kHz or 40 kHz, and the cleaning process is performed. Moreover, 50 kHz-500 kHz of the 3rd frequency band is set to arbitrary frequencies, for example, 200 kHz and 500 kHz, and aggregation processing is performed.

  Moreover, as an embodiment of the above invention, the liquid to be treated is a waste alcohol. Examples of the discarded alcohols include discarded alcoholic beverages such as discarded sake, discarded wine, and discarded shochu. Examples of the alcohol include methanol, ethanol, butanol, and the like, and those containing impurities in the alcohol can also be used as the liquid to be treated. Examples of the waste liquor impurities include saccharides.

  Moreover, as an embodiment of the above invention, the liquid to be treated is tap water. Impurities other than pure water in tap water adhere to or accumulate on the ultrasonic vibrator when the atomization process is carried out for a long time, but the solid matter of impurities is again dissolved in the liquid to be treated by washing ( Or dispersed).

In addition, another ultrasonic atomization method of the present invention,
A supply step of supplying a liquid to be processed to be subjected to ultrasonic treatment to a processing container;
In the atomization operation period, an atomization step of performing atomization by driving an ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency of the first frequency band for the liquid to be processed in the processing container;
A cleaning step of cleaning the ultrasonic vibrator by driving the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in the second frequency band for the liquid to be treated in the cleaning operation period.

  With this configuration, components other than the alcohol contained in the liquid to be treated (waste alcohol) (other than pure water if the liquid to be treated is tap water) (solid content, sugar, impurities, etc.) Even if it adheres to or accumulates on the surface, the ultrasonic vibrator or its surroundings can be easily washed to dissolve (or disperse) the solid matter in the liquid to be treated, thus reducing the performance of the ultrasonic vibrator. And continuous operation for a long time is possible. And the trouble of removing the ultrasonic transducer and cleaning it can be suppressed.

  Further, as an embodiment of the above invention, the aggregation is performed by aggregating the substance by driving the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in a third frequency band for aggregating the substance contained in the liquid to be treated. And a discharging step of discharging the aggregates aggregated in the aggregation step.

  According to this configuration, the ultrasonic vibrator is driven so as to generate the frequency of the frequency in the third frequency band, and components other than the alcohol component (other than pure water) (impurities, solid content, sugar content) in the liquid to be treated Etc.) can be agglomerated. By removing the aggregated solids outside the device (outside the processing container), the concentration of components other than alcohol components (other than pure water) in the liquid to be processed is reduced, and adhesion and deposition on the ultrasonic transducer are suppressed. Can be made.

1 is an ultrasonic atomizer according to Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows the 1st driving | running flow of an ultrasonic atomizer. It is a figure which shows the 2nd driving | running flow of an ultrasonic atomizer. It is a figure which shows the 3rd driving | running flow of an ultrasonic atomizer. It is an ultrasonic atomizer which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the opening part of the partition wall of the ultrasonic atomizer which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
The ultrasonic atomizer of Embodiment 1 which concerns on this invention is demonstrated referring drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic atomizer. In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the ultrasonic atomizer shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 mentioned later. Hereinafter, the liquid to be treated will be described as waste sake R.

  The ultrasonic atomizer 1 includes a processing container 10 for storing a liquid to be processed (discarded sake R) to be subjected to ultrasonic processing, and a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators 20a, 20b, 20c arranged at the bottom of the processing container 10, An ultrasonic wave that can be switched between a first frequency band that generates a frequency for atomizing the waste sake R and a second frequency band that generates a frequency for cleaning the ultrasonic transducers 20a, 20b, and 20c. And a control unit 40 that drives and controls the vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c. Although not shown, the ultrasonic transducers 20a, 20b, and 20c are also installed. As another embodiment, there is a configuration in which the ultrasonic transducer is single. The ultrasonic transducer is not particularly limited, and the generated frequency (frequency) can be switched to a plurality of stages.

  Further, the processing vessel 10 is provided with a supply pipe 11 for supplying the waste sake R. The supply pipe 11 is connected to a cushion tank 30 that stores discarded sake R. Waste sake R in the cushion tank 30 is supplied to the processing container 10 through the supply pipe 11 by the pump P (supply process). When performing the atomization process, the height from the ultrasonic transducer to the liquid surface is made constant (substantially constant). The sensor 13 that detects the liquid level height detects the liquid level height, sends detection information to the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 drives and controls the pump P so that the liquid level height is maintained constant. . Moreover, since the amount of waste sake R is reduced by the atomization process, the decrease is replenished. The cushion tank 30 is supplied with waste sake R from an upstream waste tank.

  Further, the processing vessel 10 is provided with an overflow pipe 12 for returning the excess amount to the cushion tank 30 when the amount of waste sake R increases. The overflow pipe 12 may be installed according to a predetermined liquid level position. In addition, you may circulate the to-be-processed liquid using the overflow piping 12, without installing the detection sensor 13. FIG.

  Further, rectifying cylinders 14a, 14b, and 14c are installed above the liquid level of the waste sake R in the processing container 10 corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer. By this flow straightening cylinder, the lower mist (fog generated by the atomization process) is introduced and flowed upward to regulate the mist flow (suppress turbulence). A fan may be installed to generate a constant air flow inside the rectifying cylinder. Although the flow straightening cylinder is not an essential component, it is preferable that the flow straightening cylinder is installed as the space in the container is larger because variation in alcohol concentration in the mist discharged to the outside can be reduced.

  Further, a carrier supply pipe 16 for supplying a carrier gas is installed on the upper right side of the processing container 10 in FIG. 1, and this supply pipe 16 is connected to a carrier gas supply source. The carrier gas is, for example, air, an inert gas, or a high concentration oxygen gas. A mist discharge pipe 17 that discharges the mist generated by the atomization process and the carrier gas to the outside of the processing container 10 is provided on the upper left side of the processing container 10 in FIG. The mist discharge pipe 17 is connected to, for example, a combustion device (gas burner), and mist generated by the atomization process is used as fuel.

  Moreover, the discharge part 50 for discharging | emitting the waste sake R in a container is installed in the bottom part of the processing container 10, and the waste sake R can be discharged | emitted out of a container by opening an on-off valve. The control unit 40 can issue a command to the open / close valve to automatically open / close the valve. The open valve may be a manual type.

  The control unit 40 may be configured by dedicated hardware, or may be configured by a cooperative action of the information processing apparatus and the software program.

  Next, the control flow of the ultrasonic transducer by the control unit 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the control unit 40 generates a frequency of the first frequency (for example, 1.6 MHz) for the waste sake R in the processing container 10 during the atomization operation period (for example, the period from 8:00 to 17:00). Thus, the ultrasonic transducers 20a, 20b, and 20c are driven to perform atomization (S1: atomization step). During the atomization process, solid matter adheres to or accumulates on each ultrasonic transducer. Next, during the cleaning operation period (5 minutes from 18:00), the ultrasonic vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c are driven so that the frequency of the second frequency (for example, 40 kHz) is generated with respect to the waste sake R. The vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c are cleaned (S2: cleaning process). By this washing, the solid matter that has adhered to or deposited on each ultrasonic vibrator is dissolved or dispersed in the waste sake R.

  An aggregation process and a discharge process are further added to the processing flow of FIG. 3A. The atomization process and the cleaning process are the same as those in FIG. After the washing process in step S12, the control unit 40 sets the solid content, sugar content, etc. dissolved (dispersed) in the waste sake R at a third frequency (eg, 500 kHz) for a predetermined period (eg, about 5 to 10 minutes). The ultrasonic vibrators 20a, 20b, and 20c are driven so as to generate the vibration frequency to aggregate the solid content, sugar content, and the like (S13: aggregation process). Thereby, aggregates (solid matter) are formed in the waste sake R. Next, the agglomerates aggregated in the aggregation process are discharged from the discharge unit 50 together with the waste sake R (S14: discharge process). Thereby, the aggregate can be completely discharged from the processing container 10.

  In the operation flow of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, the atomization process time of the atomization process is set to the period from 8 o'clock to 17:00, and then the cleaning process is performed. You may perform a washing | cleaning process before chemical conversion processing timing.

  In the operation flow of FIG. 3A of Embodiment 1 described above, the atomization process, the cleaning process, the aggregation process, and the discharge process are described as a series of flows, but are not limited thereto, for example, the atomization process and the cleaning process, After repeating a plurality of times, the aggregation step and the discharge step may be performed. Moreover, you may perform in order of a washing | cleaning process, an atomization process, and an aggregation process.

  The operation flow of still another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3B. Here, the atomization process of step S21, the aggregation process of step S22, and the discharge process of step S23 are performed, and the cleaning process is omitted. That is, in the ultrasonic treatment method, in the supply step of supplying the treatment liquid to be treated with ultrasonic waves to the treatment container and the atomization operation period, the vibration of the first frequency band with respect to the treatment liquid in the treatment container An atomization step of atomizing by driving an ultrasonic transducer so as to generate a number, and generating a frequency of a frequency in a third frequency band for aggregating substances contained in the liquid to be treated The structure includes an aggregating step of aggregating a substance by driving the ultrasonic vibrator, and a discharging step of discharging the aggregate aggregated in the aggregating step. Instead of the cleaning process, the aggregation process is periodically performed to aggregate the solid content and sugar content in the liquid to be treated, thereby reducing the adhesion of the solid content to the ultrasonic vibrator.

  As switching from atomization operation to cleaning operation, in addition to the above-mentioned periodic intermittent operation (operation switching by timer control, manual switching operation), a decrease in alcohol concentration in the generated fog (decrease rate) The automatic operation can be switched to the washing operation. In such a case, for example, an alcohol concentration measuring device is installed in the processing container 10 (in the rectifying cylinder 14a, in the mist discharge pipe 17 or in the vicinity of the inlet thereof), and the alcohol concentration value of the mist during the atomization operation is measured. To the control unit 40. When the alcohol concentration value sent from the alcohol concentration measuring instrument becomes equal to or less than the threshold value (or when the decrease line slope of the alcohol concentration value becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value), the control unit 40 performs the performance of the ultrasonic transducer. Therefore, the control is switched to the cleaning operation.

(Embodiment 2)
The ultrasonic atomizer 1 of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 4 has the same configuration as that of Embodiment 1, and further has a partition wall. This partition wall will be described.

  A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 20a, 20b, and 20c are installed at a predetermined interval on the bottom of the processing vessel 10. Partition walls 18a, 18b, 18c are provided between adjacent ultrasonic transducers so as to extend from the bottom to above the liquid level. This partition wall may be provided in a block unit including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

  Each partition wall 18a shown in FIG. 5 has an opening 19a that can move up and down. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the opening 19a is positioned on the liquid surface, the liquid to be treated can move left and right through the opening 19a. On the other hand, when it is desired to discharge the liquid to be processed from the discharge unit 50, as shown in FIG. 5B, the opening 19a is positioned on the bottom of the container so that the liquid to be processed can be moved. In addition, you may form the same discharge | emission part in a bottom part among each surrounded with the partition wall.

  The control unit 40 can control the processing content to be different for each ultrasonic transducer unit partitioned by the partition walls 18a, 18b, and 18c. For example, the control unit 40 performs control so that the ultrasonic transducer 20c is cleaned while the ultrasonic transducers 20a and 20b are being atomized. As another example, the control unit 40 controls the ultrasonic transducer 20c to be agglomerated while the ultrasonic transducers 20a and 20b are being atomized. Moreover, the control part 40 can control each ultrasonic transducer | vibrator so that the operation flow of FIG. 2, 3A, 3B demonstrated in the said Embodiment 1 can be performed per ultrasonic transducer | vibrator unit divided by the partition wall.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first and second embodiments, waste sake has been described as an example of the liquid to be treated. However, the present invention can use tap water as the liquid to be treated and apply the ultrasonic atomizer to the humidifier. Pure water in tap water is atomized by an ultrasonic vibrator, but impurities (for example, chalk) adhere to or accumulate on the ultrasonic vibrator. In the present invention, by performing the cleaning treatment, the chalk attached to the ultrasonic vibrator can be dissolved (or dispersed) in tap water. Further, it is possible to agglomerate the calcite and the like in tap water in advance to suppress the amount of adhesion to the ultrasonic vibrator, or to easily eliminate it as an aggregate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic atomizer 10 Processing container 20a, 20b, 20c Ultrasonic vibrator 40 Control part

Claims (8)

A processing container for storing a liquid to be treated with ultrasonic waves;
One or more ultrasonic transducers disposed at the bottom of the processing vessel;
The ultrasonic transducer capable of switching between a first frequency band for generating a frequency for atomizing the liquid to be treated and a second frequency band for generating a frequency for cleaning the ultrasonic transducer. And an ultrasonic atomizing device.   The control unit is capable of switching between the third frequency band for generating a frequency for aggregating the substance contained in the liquid to be treated, the first frequency band, and the second frequency band, and the ultrasonic vibration. The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, further controlling driving of the child.   The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first frequency band is 1.5 MHz to 2.4 MHz, and the second frequency band is 20 kHz to 40 kHz.   The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the third frequency band is 50 kHz to 500 kHz.   The ultrasonic atomizer of Claim 1 whose said to-be-processed liquid is waste alcohols.   The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid to be treated is tap water. A supply step of supplying a liquid to be processed to be subjected to ultrasonic treatment to a processing container;
In the atomization operation period, an atomization step of performing atomization by driving an ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency of the first frequency band for the liquid to be processed in the processing container;
A cleaning step of cleaning the ultrasonic vibrator by driving the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in a second frequency band for the liquid to be treated during the cleaning operation period. Atomization method. An aggregating step of aggregating the substance by driving the ultrasonic vibrator so as to generate a frequency having a frequency in a third frequency band for aggregating the substance contained in the liquid to be treated;
The ultrasonic atomization method according to claim 7, further comprising a discharging step of discharging the aggregates aggregated in the aggregation step.

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