AIR LEAKAGE DETECTION DEVICE AND STEAM STERILIZER EQUIPPED WITH SAME

摘要

The present invention is used for a steam sterilizer (2) in which after purging a sterilization tank (3) of air, steam is fed into the sterilization tank (3) to sterilize an object to be sterilized inside the sterilization tank (3). A heat exchanger (30) is disposed outside the sterilization tank (3) and has: a hollow part (32) which is connected to the interior of the sterilization tank (3); and a liquid passage part (33) for causing a liquid to exchange heat with a fluid within the hollow part (32). A determination means determines the presence/absence of air leakage into the sterilization tank (3) or determines an amount of the air leakage on the basis of the inlet temperature, outlet temperature, and flow rate of the liquid in the liquid passage part (33). The hollow part (32) of the heat exchanger (30) has one end thereof connected to the sterilization tank (3), and has the other end provided with a protruded part (34) that protrudes outward from the liquid passage part (33). During a sterilization process, air remaining uncondensed within the heat exchanger (30) is pushed out to the protruded part (34).