KR20180112142A - Sterilizer using hydrogen peroxide vapor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide, which aims at maximizing sterilization efficiency by supplying hydrogen peroxide to a preheated sterilization chamber in a liquid state after preheating the inside of the sterilization chamber, will be.
To this end, the hydrogen peroxide sterilization apparatus according to the present invention comprises: A sterilization chamber 210 in which a sterilization chamber 210 is formed so that an object to be sterilized can be inserted therein, and a sterilization chamber 200 in which an open front face can be opened and closed through a chamber door 110; A blowing fan 320 partitioned at a rear portion of the sterilizing chamber 210 for blowing air in the sterilizing chamber 210 forcibly when the temperature of the sterilizing chamber 210 is raised and a blowing fan 320 for blowing air blown by the blowing fan 320 A heating chamber 300 in which an air heater 330 for heating is accommodated; The heat generated in the heating chamber 300 in the heating mode is dispersed to the front of the bottom of the sterilization chamber 210 and to the right and left of the sterilization chamber 210 in a longitudinal direction on the bottom of the sterilization chamber 210, A hot air duct 400 for blowing air; A vacuum pump 500 connected to the sterilization chamber 200 through a vacuum air line 510 provided with a first solenoid valve 520 to provide vacuum pressure to the sterilization chamber 200 in the vacuum mode; A hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 provided in the hot air duct 400 for sterilizing the sterilized object by evaporating hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber 210 in the sterilization mode; A hydrogen peroxide solution supply unit 700 connected to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 through a hydrogen peroxide supply line 720 provided with a second solenoid valve 710 for supplying liquid hydrogen peroxide to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 in a vacuum mode, )of; .

Description

[0001] STERILIZER USING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE VAPOR [0002]

The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus using a chemical sterilizing agent, and more particularly, to a sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide which can sterilize a sterilized object by using hydrogen peroxide which is a kind of chemical sterilant will be.

Generally, sterilization and disinfection of medical instruments and the like are usually performed by using a high pressure steam sterilization method using saturated steam under high pressure, or by using chemicals such as ethylene oxide which do not require high temperature, high humidity, high pressure and do not damage instruments or materials And an ethylene oxide gas sterilization method using an ethylene oxide gas.

Although sterilization using high-pressure steam is sterilized at a high temperature of 120 degrees or higher, the effect of the sterilization is considerable. However, medical instruments and the like made of synthetic resin may be deformed. And the lifetime is shortened. And ethylene oxide gas sterilizer should leave about 12 hours or more after sterilization in order to leave ethylene oxide in the sterilized product or to produce a carcinogen and toxic substance due to the reaction product. It has also been reported that ethylene oxide gas itself is highly explosive and can act as a genetically toxic substance that can cause mutations. Especially, ethylene oxide is defined as a carcinogen, so that it requires much attention to its use.

On the other hand, the sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide vapor can be sterilized with the space sterilization in the form of steam in various devices, and the sterilization power is excellent, so that even the apoptosis level of the microorganisms which can not be removed by the general disinfectant can be removed , The residue after sterilization is decomposed into water and oxygen, and is widely used because it is safe and environmentally friendly.

In the conventional sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide, the sterilization object is packed in a pouch or the like having air permeability, the sterilization is performed by repeatedly injecting hydrogen peroxide into the chamber and discharging the plasma in the chamber several times after sealing it in the chamber . At this time, the hydrogen peroxide is present in a liquid state at normal temperature at a boiling point of 150.2 ° C. (100 wt% concentration). However, even if hydrogen peroxide is vaporized externally, condensation may occur in the hydrogen peroxide vapor supply line, and hydrogen peroxide is diffused inside the pouch It is not easy. As described above, if sufficient concentration of hydrogen peroxide is not supplied to the inside of the pouch, the object to be sterilized may not be sufficiently sterilized.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0874770 (Registered on December 11, 2008)

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide which can maximize the sterilization efficiency by preheating the interior of the sterilization chamber, supplying hydrogen peroxide to the preheated sterilization chamber in a liquid state, .

According to an aspect of the present invention,

1. A sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide capable of sterilizing an object to be sterilized through a temperature rising mode, a vacuum mode, a sterilizing mode, and an exhausting mode;

A sterilizing apparatus using the hydrogen peroxide; A sterilizing chamber in which a sterilization chamber is formed so that an object to be sterilized can be inserted therein, and an open front face portion of which can be opened and closed through a chamber door; An air blowing fan provided at a rear portion of the sterilizing chamber for blowing air by forcibly sucking the air in the sterilizing chamber in the temperature raising mode and an air heater for heating air sucked and blown by the blowing fan, A heating chamber; A hot air duct provided in a longitudinal direction on the bottom of the sterilization chamber so as to communicate with a lower space of the heating chamber and distributing the heat generated in the heating chamber in the heating chamber to the front, A vacuum pump connected to the sterilization chamber through a vacuum air line provided with a first solenoid valve to provide vacuum pressure to the sterilization chamber in the vacuum mode; A hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit provided in the hot air duct for sterilizing the sterilized object by evaporating hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber in the sterilization mode; A hydrogen peroxide supply unit connected to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit through a hydrogen peroxide supply line provided with a second solenoid valve and supplying hydrogen peroxide liquid in the vacuum mode to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit; .

The present invention also provides Wherein the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit is disposed in a horizontal direction at a central portion of the hot air duct and the hydrogen peroxide supplied from the hydrogen peroxide supply unit flows into and stored in the reservoir; And a vaporization heater for heating and evaporating the hydrogen peroxide in the liquid phase.

According to the sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, In the heating mode, the air inside the sterilization chamber is heated through the air blowing fan and the air heater, and then distributed to the front of the sterilization chamber and the left and right sides through the hot air duct. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the inside of the sterilization chamber and the sterilization object inserted therein are rapidly and uniformly heated by the heat distributed and blown evenly through the hot air duct. In addition, the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit is heated and steamed directly in the sterilization chamber in the sterilization mode, so that the sterilization efficiency can be further improved by sterilizing the sterilization object evenly without condensation.

According to the sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention, Since the hydrogen peroxide vaporizing unit is provided in the middle portion of the hot air duct in the transverse direction, the hydrogen peroxide vapor is uniformly dispersed throughout the sterilizing chamber, thereby sterilizing the sterilizing object.

1 shows an outline of a sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention.
2 is a schematic view of a sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 schematically shows the flow of hot air in the temperature rising mode in the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows the process of supplying hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 schematically shows the generation of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the sterilization mode in the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic views of a sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 5 show the operation of a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention.

≪ Description of constitution of sterilization apparatus according to the present invention &

The sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention sterilizes the sterilized object through an elevated temperature mode, a vacuum mode, a sterilization mode, an exhaust mode, etc. The temperature of the sterilization chamber is raised to a predetermined temperature and then hydrogen peroxide It is possible to uniformly sterilize the object to be sterilized by vaporizing it directly in the sterilization chamber.

1 and 2, the apparatus includes a sterilization chamber 200 in which a sterilization chamber 210 is formed, and a sterilization chamber 200 in which the sterilization chamber 210 is partitioned at a rear portion of the sterilization chamber 210 A heating chamber 300 for heating the inside of the sterilizing chamber 210 while circulating the inside air of the sterilizing chamber 210 and a hot air duct (not shown) for distributing the heat generated in the heating chamber 300 to the front of the sterilizing chamber 210, And a hydrogen peroxide vaporizing unit 600 for sterilizing the sterilizing object by evaporating hydrogen peroxide in the sterilizing chamber 210. The hydrogen peroxide vaporizing unit 600 is provided in the sterilizing chamber 200, And a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 700 for supplying liquid hydrogen peroxide to the evaporation unit 600.

The detailed structure of each component constituting the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.

First, the sterilization chamber 200 has a front surface opened and an outer wall made of a metal (stainless steel in the embodiment of the present invention) rectangular tube structure to form a sterilization chamber 210 therein. The front side of the sterilization chamber 210 is opened and closed through a chamber door 110 with a locking unit. In addition, the sterilization chamber 210 is provided with a tray 220 so as to accommodate the sterilization object and insert the object. The sterilization chamber 200 is provided with a pressure sensor 230 and a temperature sensor 240 for checking an internal pressure and an internal temperature of the sterilization chamber 200. The sterilization chamber 200 is provided with an air- A pipe 250 is provided, and an air valve 260 (constituted by a solenoid valve in the embodiment of the present invention) is provided. The sterilization chamber 200 is accommodated in a main body 100 forming a contour of the product and a chamber door 110 and a control panel 120 are provided on a front surface of the main body 100.

The heating chamber 300 is partitioned at a rear portion of the sterilizing chamber 210. A suction port 310 for sucking air in the sterilizing chamber 210 is formed in the upper portion of the heating chamber 300. [ In the heating chamber 300, a blowing fan 320 for forcedly sucking the air in the sterilizing chamber 210 in the temperature rising mode and blowing air for heating the air forced in / out by the blowing fan, A heater 330 is disposed. (In the embodiment of the present invention, the air heater 330 is disposed in the lower part of the blowing fan 320 in the lateral direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the air heater 330 may be disposed on the upper side of the blowing fan 320 Of course you can.}

The hot air duct 400 is longitudinally provided at the bottom of the sterilizing chamber 210 so as to communicate with the lower space of the heating chamber 300. The heat generated in the heating chamber 300 during the temperature- Air outlets 410 and 420 are formed at predetermined intervals on the front and left and right sides of the hot air duct 400 so as to be dispersed to the front and the left and right sides of the floor. Particularly, the heat discharged through the front of the hot air duct 400 collides with the inner surface of the chamber door 110, thereby directly heating the chamber door 110.

The vacuum pump 500 is connected to the sterilization chamber 200 through a vacuum air line 510 provided with a first solenoid valve 520 and is for providing vacuum pressure to the sterilization chamber 200 in the vacuum mode.

The hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 is provided at the center of the hot air duct 400 to sterilize the sterilized object by evaporating the liquid hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber 210 in the sterilization mode. The hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 includes a water storage tank 610 provided in the center of the hot air duct 400 in a horizontal direction and in which liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied from the hydrogen peroxide supply unit 700 is stored, And a vaporization heater 620 disposed in the longitudinal direction and heating and vaporizing the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied to the water storage tank 620 in the sterilization mode. Therefore, the hydrogen peroxide in the liquid phase can be heated and evaporated directly in the sterilization chamber 210.

The hydrogen peroxide supply unit 700 is connected to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 through the hydrogen peroxide supply line 720 and the hydrogen peroxide in the liquid phase during the vacuum mode to the reservoir 610 of the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 .

The air valve 260, the first and second solenoid valves 520 and 710, the blowing fan 320 inside the heating chamber 300 and the air heater 330, the vacuum pump 500, the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600, The evaporation heater 620 and the like are controlled by a control program of a temperature rise mode, a vacuum mode, a sterilization mode, and an exhaust mode input to the control panel 120. [

<Description of Operation of Sterilization Device According to the Present Invention>

Hereinafter, operation and effect of the hydrogen peroxide sterilizing apparatus according to each mode according to the present invention will be described.

First, an object to be sterilized is put into the sterilization chamber 210 through the tray 220, the chamber door 110 is closed, and the sterilization apparatus is operated. At this time, the air valve 260 is opened and the inside of the sterilizing chamber 210 is kept at atmospheric pressure.

3, the blowing fan 320 and the air heater 330 are driven to raise the air in the sterilizing chamber 210 to the heating chamber 300 and then to heat the air heater 330 While being heated. Subsequently, the heated air is distributed and discharged to the front of the floor and the left and right sides of the sterilizing chamber 210 while being guided to the bottom side of the sterilizing chamber 210 through the hot air duct 400 (see the arrow direction of FIG. 3). Therefore, the interior of the sterilization chamber 210 and the object to be sterilized are heated by the heated air. The internal temperature of the sterilization chamber 210 is preferably set to 70 ° C or less in the control panel 120. In the embodiment of the present invention, the internal temperature of the sterilization chamber 210 is set to be raised to about 57 to 60 ° C. The reason for raising the temperature of the sterilization chamber 210 into which the sterilization object has been inserted is to prevent the hydrogen peroxide vapor from being condensed in the process of being hit and sterilized.

After the temperature rise mode as described above, the vacuum mode is executed. In the vacuum mode, the air valve 260 is closed and the first solenoid valve 520 is opened, and the vacuum pump 500 is driven (see FIG. 4). Accordingly, the air in the sterilization chamber 210 into which the sterilizing object is introduced is discharged to the outside (refer to the arrow direction of the solid line in FIG. 4). At this time, the second solenoid valve 710 is opened for a predetermined time, whereby the liquid hydrogen peroxide of the hydrogen peroxide supply unit 700 is supplied to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 720 through the hydrogen peroxide supply line 720 by the vacuum pressure of the sterilizing chamber 210, (See the dotted arrow direction in Fig. 4) to the water storage tank 610 of the water tank 600.

After the vacuum mode for a predetermined time has elapsed, the control panel 120 executes the sterilization mode. In the sterilization mode, the vaporization heater 620 of the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 is driven. 5, the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied to the water storage tank 610 of the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 is directly heated and evaporated through the vaporization heater 620, and is discharged into the sterilization chamber 210 by natural convection, So that the sterilized object is sterilized. At this time, since the hydrogen peroxide vapor is in a state in which the object to be sterilized is elevated in the temperature rising mode as described above, it does not condense and infiltrates into the minute portion of the object to be sterilized and sterilized. As a result, damage to the sterilized object can be minimized, and sterilized cloth such as sterilized cloth can be sterilized.

After the sterilization mode is executed, the control panel 120 executes the exhaust mode. In the exhaust mode, the opening and closing operations of the air valve 260 and the first solenoid valve 520 are repeated and the vacuum pump 500 is repeatedly driven to completely remove the remaining amount of hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber 210.

Therefore, in the sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide according to the present invention, the air inside the sterilizing chamber 210 is heated through the air blowing fan 320 and the air heater 330 in the temperature rising mode, and then is sterilized through the hot air duct 400 The sterilizing object 210 is rapidly and uniformly heated inside the sterilizing chamber 210 and the sterilizing object inserted therein by the heat that is uniformly distributed and blown. In addition, the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 can be directly heated in the sterilization chamber 210 by heating in the sterilization chamber 210 to sterilize the sterilization object without condensation, thereby improving the sterilization efficiency. In particular, since the hydrogen peroxide vaporizing unit 600 is provided in the middle of the hot air duct 400 in the transverse direction, the hydrogen peroxide vapor is uniformly dispersed throughout the sterilizing chamber 210, thereby sterilizing the sterilizing object.

100 .. body 110 .. chamber door 120 .. control panel
200 .. sterilization chamber 210 .. sterilization chamber 220 .. tray
230 .. Pressure sensor 240 .. Temperature sensor 250 .. Air-inlet pipe
260 .. Air valve 300 .. Heating chamber 310 .. Inlet
320 .. ventilation fan 330 .. air heater 400 .. hot air duct
410,420 .. Air outlet 500 .. Vacuum pump 510 .. Vacuum air line
520 .. first solenoid valve 600 .. hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 610 .. reservoir
620 .. vaporization heater 700 .. hydrogen peroxide supply unit 710 .. second solenoid valve
720 .. hydrogen peroxide supply line

Claims (2)

1. A sterilizing apparatus using hydrogen peroxide capable of sterilizing an object to be sterilized through a temperature rising mode, a vacuum mode, a sterilization mode, and an exhaust mode;
The sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide includes:
A sterilization chamber 210 in which a sterilization chamber 210 is formed so that an object to be sterilized can be inserted therein, and a sterilization chamber 200 in which an open front face can be opened and closed through a chamber door 110;
A blowing fan 320 partitioned at a rear portion of the sterilizing chamber 210 for blowing air into the sterilizing chamber 210 by forcibly sucking the air in the sterilizing chamber 210; A heating chamber (300) in which an air heater (330) for heating air to be blown is accommodated;
The sterilizing chamber 210 is provided at a bottom of the sterilizing chamber 210 so as to communicate with the lower space of the heating chamber 300. The heat generated in the heating chamber 300 during the temperature- A hot air duct 400 for distributing and blowing air to left and right sides;
A vacuum pump 500 connected to the sterilization chamber 200 through a vacuum air line 510 provided with a first solenoid valve 520 to provide vacuum pressure to the sterilization chamber 200 in the vacuum mode, ;
A hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit (600) provided in the hot air duct (400) for sterilizing sterilization object by evaporating hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber (210) in the sterilization mode;
A hydrogen peroxide solution supply unit 720 connected to the hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit 600 and the second solenoid valve 710 through a hydrogen peroxide supply line 720 for supplying the hydrogen peroxide solution in the vacuum mode to the hydrogen peroxide vaporization unit 600, (700); And sterilizing the hydrogen peroxide solution. The method according to claim 1,
The hydrogen peroxide evaporation unit (600) comprises:
A water storage tank 610 horizontally provided at a central portion of the hot air duct 400 for storing the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied from the hydrogen peroxide supply unit 700,
And a vaporizing heater (620) arranged in the longitudinal direction inside the water storage tank (610) for heating and evaporating the liquid hydrogen peroxide supplied to the water storage tank (610) in the sterilization mode. .

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