PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To circulate stored water at a suitable water level without submerging a material to be treated present in a treatment tank in water and to prevent air entrapment upon starting a circulation pump, in a sterilizer of a spray type.SOLUTION: Water is stored in a treatment tank 3 by a water supply means 4 to a water level at which a material 2 to be treated is not immersed therein. Water stored in the treatment tank 3 is circulated by a circulating means 9. The circulating means 9 ejects and returns water coming from the bottom of the treatment tank 3 to the material 2 to be treated present in the treatment tank 3 by the action of a circulation pump 29. Upon starting the circulation pump 29, the circulation pump 29 is intermittently run or the flow rate of circulating water is gradually increased. If the water level in the treatment tank 3 falls below the minimum water level, water is supplied into the treatment tank 3 up to a prescribed water level by the water supply means 4.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】スプレー式の殺菌装置において、処理槽内の被処理物を水没させることなく、適正な水位で貯留水を循環し、また循環ポンプの始動時におけるエア噛みを防止する。【解決手段】被処理物2を水没させない水位まで、給水手段4により処理槽3内に水を貯留する。処理槽3内の貯留水を、循環手段9により循環させる。循環手段9は、循環ポンプ29の作動により、処理槽3の底部からの水を、処理槽3内の被処理物2へ噴出させて戻す。循環ポンプ29の始動時、循環ポンプ29を間欠運転するか、循環水の流量を徐々に増加させる。処理槽3内の水位が下限水位を下回ると設定水位になるまで、給水手段4により処理槽3内に給水する。【選択図】図1
