PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air leak detector capable of detecting an air leak during sterilization operation.SOLUTION: An air leak detector 1 is used for a steam sterilization device 2 that performs sterilization of sterilization objects in a sterilization tank 3 by supplying steam to the inside of the sterilization tank 3 after discharging air from the sterilization tank 3. A heat exchanger 30 installed outside the sterilization tank 3 has a hollow part 33 communicating with the inside of the sterilization tank 3, and has a liquid passage part 34 of a liquid performing heat exchange with a fluid in the hollow part 33. Presence/no presence of an air leak into the sterilization tank 3 is determined on the basis of an inlet temperature, an outlet temperature and a flow rate of the liquid to the liquid passage part 34. When a set flow rate of the liquid passage to the liquid passage part 34 is kept, presence/no presence of the air leak into the sterilization tank 3 is determined on the basis of respective detection temperatures by an inlet temperature sensor 43 and an outlet temperature sensor 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2017,JPO&INPIT【課題】滅菌運転中に生じたエアリークを検知可能なエアリーク検知装置を提供する。【解決手段】滅菌槽3内から空気排除後に滅菌槽3内に蒸気供給して滅菌槽3内の被滅菌物を滅菌する蒸気滅菌装置2に用いられるエアリーク検知装置1である。滅菌槽3外に設けられる熱交換器30は、滅菌槽3内と連通する中空部33を有すると共に、その中空部33内の流体と熱交換する液体の通液部34を有する。通液部34に対する液体の入口温度、出口温度および流量に基づき、滅菌槽3内へのエアリークの有無を判定する。通液部34への通液を設定流量に保持できる場合、入口温度センサ43と出口温度センサ44の各検出温度に基づき、滅菌槽3内へのエアリークの有無を判定できる。【選択図】図1
