Atomizing apparatus and process of substance

Abstract: In atomizing apparatus having a body (12), the body (12) includes a cylinder (16) having an inlet (14) which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder (16) and an outlet (15) directed to the axial direction, and an inner cylinder (17) moving in the axial direction by operating from opposite side from the outlet (15), a large number of holes (18) of a plurality of groups (18a,18b,18c) are formed in the inner cylinder (17), the holes (18) having the same diameter of one of the groups are exposed to a chamber connected to the inlet (14) by operating and moving the inner cylinder (17) in the axial direction.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present Invention relates to an apparatus and a process for atomizing a substance handled in various fields such as foods, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and more particularly, to an apparatus for uniformly (or homogeneously) atomizing an emulsified, dispersed, stirred, or crushed substance into micron or submicron size of particular diameter, thereby obtaining atomized matter having stable particulate distribution. As a related atomizing apparatus of substance investigated by the present inventor, an APV-type Gorlin homogenizer is known. This uses a principle shown in Fig.1 as one example. That is, in Fig. 1, a valve 2 is opposed to a valve seat 1 with a slight clearance therebetween, a raw material is injected from the clearance radially outward under high pressure, thereby allowing the raw material to collide against an inner diameter wall of an impact ring 3 so that substance in the raw material is atomized and homogenized, and the resultant is taken out from a body 4. The conventional apparatus uses this principle to obtain a desired processing amount (10 ton/h) of material under processing pressure of material of several 107 Pa. As another related atomizing apparatus of substance investigated by the present inventor, there is known an apparatus for atomizing pressurized raw material by a generator (apparatus body) having a thin tube having a certain hole diameter or orifice (small hole) (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application No.3002432 filed by the present inventor). In the former conventional apparatus, however, although there is merit that the apparatus can atomize the substance even though the particle diameter is varied within some ranges because of its characteristics of impact principle, there is demerit that atomizing processing efficiency is inferior. In the latter conventional apparatus, the atomizing processing efficiency is superior because of its characteristics of orifice flow, the generator must be exchanged whenever the particle size is varied. Further, FR 1 384 481 discloses an apparatus for detecting contaminant in liquids. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thereupon, the present inventor studies hard concerning the latter conventional apparatus and as a result, result, the i developed atomizing apparatus of a substance in which the merit of excellent atomizing efficiency is kept, and the demerit that the generator must be exchanged whenever the particle size is varied is overcome, and the apparatus functions as a multi-generator which can widely be used in various field. According to claim 1 of the present invention, there is provided an atomizing apparatus of substance for pressurizing a raw material supplied to a raw material supply port and sending the pressurized raw material to an apparatus body where substance in the raw material is atomized by the apparatus body and taken out, wherein the body includes a cylinder having an inlet which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder and an outlet directed to the axial direction, and an inner cylinder movable in the axial direction by operating from opposite side from the outlet, a large number of holes of a plurality of groups are formed in the inner cylinder, the holes having the same diameter of one of the groups are exposed to a chamber connected to the inlet by operating and moving the inner cylinder in the axial direction. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 2 of the present invention, the holes of the plurality of groups are arranged in the axial direction in the order of diameter. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 3 of the present invention, an outer periphery of the inner cylinder abuts against an inner periphery of the cylinder, the inner cylinder being slidable with respect to the cylinder. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 4 of the present invention, the plurality of holes are opposed to one another on the same circumference. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 5 of the present invention, the chamber connected to the inlet is a pressurizing chamber, and a high-pressure processing of atomization is carried out in this pressurizing chamber. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 6 of the present invention, an inner diameter portion of the cylinder is provided a plurality of grooves formed over an entire inner diameter of the cylinder, pressure-leakage preventing members are fitted into the grooves. The operation of the present invention is as follows . The inner cylinder is formed with three groups of holes respectively having small, middle and large diameters. When the pressurized raw material supplied to the inlet passes through the group of the large diameter holes exposed to the chamber (pressurized chamber), the substance in the raw material is atomized into rough particle size depending upon the size of the holes, and the substance flows into the outlet through the passage in the inner cylinder. Next, if one of the inner and outer cylinders is relatively moved so that the holes having middle diameter smaller than the above holes are exposed, the substance is atomized into middle particle size. If the cylinder is further moved so that the holes having small diameter are exposed, the substance is atomized into the smallest particle size (super-fine). That is, the substance is atomized efficiently in proportion to the diameter of the holes (inversely proportional if frequency of sound wave undulations is utilized). Here, the number of holes having large diameter may be reduced, and the number of holes having small diameter may be increased. The number of holes of the three groups may be the same or not the same, and the number of the holes is not limited. This is because that when the substance is atomized into the large, middle or small size, since the speed is in inverse proportion to the diameter of the hole, the processing amount is almost equal. Therefore, the apparatus of this invention can process the substance having different particle size using one apparatus body, and the apparatus can widely be utilized in various fields, and can exhibit a function as a so-called multi-generator. If this apparatus is compared with a conventional APV-type apparatus, the apparatus of the invention is superior by 30 to 50% in terms of processing efficiency. Further, there is great merit since the apparatus can be produced easily. In the atomizing apparatus of substance of claim 1, according to claim 7 of the present invention, the inner cylinder is further provided with a passage of the cylinder, a temperature at the time of atomization processing is adjusted by flowing water of a desired temperature through the passage. According to claim 7 of the present invention, it is possible to conduct a desired atomization processing by adjusting a temperature at the time of atomization processing. In addition, according to claim 8 of the present invention, there is provided an atomizing process of substance using an atomizing apparatus having a body for pressurizing a raw material supplied to a raw material supply port and sending the pressurized raw material to an apparatus body and atomizing a substance in the raw material and taking out the same, and a passage for returning the atomized substance to the raw material supply port, wherein the body includes a cylinder having an inlet which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder and an outlet directed to the axial direction, and an inner cylinder movable in the axial direction by operating same from an opposite side from the outlet, a large number of holes of a plurality of groups are formed in the inner cylinder, the holes having the same diameter of one of the groups are exposed to a chamber connected to the inlet by operating and moving the inner cylinder in the axial direction, in which process the atomized substance taken out from the body is returned to the raw material supply port through the passage, and the atomized substance is further atomized by one group newly exposed by operating and moving the inner cylinder in its axial direction. According to Claim 8 of the present invention, it is possible to increase the number of processing cycles to achieve super-fine atomization and efficient processing of homogenization of the substance. It is preferable in terms of processing efficiency to use the group of large holes is used in the initial cycle, to use the group of middle holes is used in the next cycle, and to use the group of small holes is used in the last cycle. The reason is that if an attempt is made to finely atomize the substance from the beginning, since coarse particles are mixed, there is an adverse possibility that clusters are prone to be generated and holes are blocked with the clusters. Secondly, when the flow of raw material through the holes or orifices is generated by a pump, since the frequency of sound wave undulations is in inverse proportion to the diameter of hole, if the diameter is large, the frequency is low. That is, it is better to use great wave having long wavelength for greater particle, and if the diameter of hole is small an the contrary, it is better to use high frequency, i.e., small wave is preferably used for small particle. In this manner, the efficiency of the atomization processing and homogenization processing becomes most excellent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.1 is an explanatory view of a principle of a conventional apparatus; Fig.2 is a view showing an entire system including an apparatus body of the present invention; Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus body of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig.4 is a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in Fig.3; and Fig.5 is a vertical sectional view of a system including an apparatus body of a second embodiment of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. In Fig. 2, when a raw material is supplied to a raw material supply port 10, the material is pressurized by a high-pressure pump (plunger type pump having pressure of 106 to 107 Pa) 11, and sent to a body (generator) 12 of an apparatus of this invention. In the generator 12, the material is atomized and sent to a receiving container 13 through a passage shown with a solid line X. When a material is atomized through some cycle passages , the material is returned to the raw material supply port 10 through a passage shown with a chain line, and further atomized. In Fig.3, the body 12 includes a hard stainless cylinder (outer cylinder) 16 and a super-hard ceramic inner cylinder 17 which is slidably and movably fitted into the cylinder 16. The cylinder 16 includes an inlet 14 which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder 16 at right angles, and an outlet 15 in the axial direction. The inner cylinder 17 has a large number of holes 18 passing into a passage 24 therein. Among the holes 18, four large holes 18a each having a diameter of 0.8 mm are arranged in the axial direction in four rows to constitute a group A. Six middle holes 18b each having a diameter of 0.5 mm are arranged on the left side of the large holes 18a to constitute a group B. Seven small holes 18c each having a diameter of 0.2 mm are arranged on the left side of the middle holes 18b to constitute a group C. The groups A, B and C are arranged in this order. In Fig.3, he holes 18b of the group B are exposed to a chamber (pressurizing chamber, i.e. , a high-pressure processing chamber) 19 which is in communication with the inlet 14 (see Fig.4). The groups A and C may be exposed to the chamber 19. This can be achieved by turning a handle 23 to move the handle 23 leftward along a screw 20 shown in Fig.3, and separating the handle 23 from a lid 21 which is integral with the cylinder 16, and turning the screw 20 which is integral with the inner cylinder 17 to move the handle 23 to the original position with respect to the lid 21 along the screw and fastening the handle 23 and setting the latter to a normal position. A number 22 represents an inner-diameter portion of the outer cylinder 16, i.e., a pressure-leakage preventing member for preventing high pressure from leaking outside by means of O-rings fitted to four grooves formed in the axial direction. Here, in a stage in which the handle 23 is set normally, all of the holes 18a, 18b and 18c of the groups A, B and C exposed to the chamber 19 are equally accommodated between adjacent O-rings 22 in the axial direction. In Fig.4, for example, since the eight holes 18b are opposed to one another on the circumference, when high-speed flow flowing into the holes 18b from the pressurizing chamber 19 collide against with each other in head-on manner at the center passage 24, the energy caused by the collision becomes as great as eight times of that of one hole flow speed, and excellent processing efficiency in terms of atomization is achieved. In this case, it is preferable to select an optimal value for the inner diameter of the center passage 24. That is, if the inner diameter is too small, the high speed flow can not be obtained due to resistance, and if the inner diameter is too large, a great collision effect can not be obtained due to dispersion and dissipation. In this embodiment, the inner and outer cylinders are mechanically formed concentrically in many cases, and which is easy. Further, the hole formation of the plurality of groups is different from groove formation, and the hole may pass through the cylinder wall, which is extremely easy, and there is merit in terms of manufacture. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, in the second embodiment, the inner cylinder 17 is provided with a cooling water (hot water) passage 25. At the time of atomization processing, if a temperature adjusting device 26 is used, it is possible to cool the apparatus when heat should be avoided (pharmaceuticals, foods and the like), and to heat the apparatus for crystal structure when atomization is facilitated at high temperature (when viscosity is great or crystal structure should be deformed on a trial basis). In any cases, excellent atomization processing can be achieved. In Fig.5, a screw rod 20 may be formed integrally with the inner cylinder 17, but if the screw rod 20 is formed as a separate long tube 27 the tube 27 is screwed and fixed to a base 17a of the inner cylinder 17, the screw rod 20 can be formed easily.

Claims: An atomising apparatus of substance for pressurizing a raw material supplied to a raw material supply port (10) and sending the pressurized raw material to an apparatus body (12) where substance in said raw material is atomized by the apparatus body (12) and taken out, wherein said body (12) includes a cylinder (16) having an inlet (14) which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder (16) and an outlet (15) directed to said axial direction, and an inner cylinder (17) movable in the axial direction by operating same from an opposite side from said outlet, a large number of holes (18a, 18b, 18c) of a plurality of groups (A, B, C) are formed in said inner cylinder (17), the holes (17b) having the same diameter of one of the groups (B) are exposed to a chamber (19) connected to said inlet (14) by operating and moving said inner cylinder (17) in said axial direction. An atomizing apparatus of substance according to claim 1, wherein said holes (18a, 18b, 18c) of the plurality of groups (A, B, C) are arranged in said axial direction in the order of diameter. An atomizing apparatus of substance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an outer periphery of said inner cylinder (179 abuts against an inner periphery of said cylinder (16), said inner cylinder being slidable with respect to said cylinder. An atomising apparatus of substance according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of holes (18a, 18b, 18) are opposed to one another on the same circumference. An atomizing apparatus of substance according to claim 1, wherein said chamber (19) connected to said inlet (14) is a pressurizing chamber, and a high-pressure processing of atomization is carried out in this pressurizing chamber. An atomizing apparatus of substance according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter portion of said cylinder (14) is provided a plurality of grooves formed over an entire inner diameter of said cylinder, pressure-leakage preventing members are fitted into said grooves. An atomizing apparatus of substance according to claim 1, wherein said inner cylinder (17) is further provided with a passage (25) of said cylinder, a temperature at the time of atomiziation processing is adjusted by flowing water of a desired temperature through said passage (15). An atomizing process of substance using an atomising apparatus having a body for pressurizing a raw material supplied to a raw material supply port (10) and sending the pressurized raw material to an apparatus body (12) and atomising a substance in said raw material and taking out the same, and a passage (4) for returning the atomized substance to said raw material supply port (10), wherein said body (12) includes a cylinder (16) having an inlet (14) which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the cylinder (16) and an outlet (15) directed to said axial direction, and an inner cylinder movable in the axial direction by operating same from an opposite side from said outlet (15), a large number of holes (18a, 18b, 18c) of a plurality of groups (A, B, C) are formed in said inner cylinder (17), the holes having the same diameter of one of the groups (A, B, C) are exposed to a chamber (19) connected to said inlet (14) by operating and moving said inner cylinder (17) in said axial direction, in which process said atomized substance taken out from said body is returned to said raw material supply port (10) through said passage (y), and said atomized substance is further atomized by one group newly exposed by operating and moving said inner cylinder (17) in its axial direction.

Inventors: NAITO TOMIHISA, NAITO, TOMIHISA
Applicants: S G ENGINEERING CORP, S.G ENGINEERING CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B05B15
IPC codes: B01F3, B01F5, B02C19