Ozone generator

Details Ozone generator Ozone generator

2000-02-17

2001-08-07

Mayekar, Kishor (Department: 1741)

Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser

Chemical reactor

With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...

C422S186180, C204S176000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270733

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ozone generator and to a process for converting oxygen into ozone.
Ozone is a chemical agent used in industrial oxidation, water and air treatment and in many chemical syntheses. Ozone is an unstable gas, which is produced by the disassociation-association of oxygen in an electric field derived from a high voltage alternating sinusoidal current operating at frequencies typically between about 60 and 5000 Hz and voltages frequently above 20 kilovolts. Ozone generators create the electric field by corona discharge between an electrode and opposing electrode with intervening dielectric.
A tubular type generator
10
is shown in FIG.
1
and is described in Chamblee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,125. The generator
10
includes a tubular inner electrode
11
and an outer tubular electrode
13
concentric with the inner electrode
11
and mounted so as to define an annular flow path
12
for oxygen containing gas between the electrodes
11
,
13
. The inner electrode
11
is coated with a dielectric
14
on a surface between the inner
11
and outer
13
electrodes. The inner electrode
11
includes a hollow interior
15
for the passage of coolant. The inner electrode
11
is connected to a voltage source
16
by a high voltage line and the outer electrode is grounded. An oxygen containing gas (O
2
) flows into the annular path
12
between the dielectric
14
and outer electrode
13
where a corona discharge between the electrodes
11
,
13
converts some oxygen to ozone (O
3
). The discharge also generates heat. The heat suppresses ozone generation by converting some product ozone back to oxygen. A coolant
17
is passed into the hollow interior
15
of the inner electrode
11
to prevent heat buildup and consequential loss of product ozone. However, ozone is produced on the interior (inside diameter) of the inner electrode
11
, particularly at and near the connection of the high voltage line. The coolant gas can sweep ozone from the interior
15
of the inner electrode
11
into the work area
18
. Ozone is a gas that is environmentally deleterious in closed work areas. Sweeping the interior
15
of the inner electrode
11
with a cooling fluid can create an environmental hazard to workers in the vicinity of the ozone generator.
Another type of ozone generator is shown in
FIG. 2
, which is reproduced from Conrad et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,990. In
FIG. 2
, tubular generator
20
includes a first electrode
25
and a second, larger diameter, electrode
26
. Electrode
25
has a layer of dielectric material
27
disposed on the surface thereof and is positioned within electrode
26
to form a gap
28
. A flow of feed oxygen or oxygen enriched air is directed as shown by the top arrows into a longitudinal spacing between tubular electrode
25
and dielectric
27
and thence as illustrated by the arrows, to discharge gap
28
between tubular electrode
26
and concentric electrode
25
/dielectric
27
, thence to an exit port near the entry port of the flow of feed oxygen or oxygen enriched air. Heat and ozone produced on the surface of the inside diameter of electrode
25
/dielectric
27
are swept by the feed oxygen/oxygen enriched air as a part of the charge to the discharge gap
28
.
The production of ozone by application of corona discharge to oxygen-containing gas is a temperature dependant process. Ozone generators tend to overheat, which results in conversion of ozone back to oxygen thereby decreasing product yield. Additionally, intricacy of the generator structure as required to provide electrical energy to the electrodes can increase the cost of manufacturing the generator structure. There is a need for a simplified generator structure that does not overheat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simplified generator structure that eliminates expensive to manufacture electrical connections to the generator electrodes and that effectively cools for increased ozone yield. The present invention relates to a tubular ozone generator comprising an outer tubular electrode, concentric inner tubular electrode, dielectric between said electrodes to define a corona discharge zone and a tubular gas injector within and concentric with said inner tubular electrode and in conductive electrical contact with the inner tubular electrode.
Additionally, the invention relates to a plurality of the tubular ozone generators, arranged to provide ozone enriched gas product to a treatment zone.
Additionally, the invention relates to a tubular ozone generator, comprising concentric inner tubular electrode/dielectric with inner electrode in intimate length-to-length contact with dielectric and outer tubular electrode with corona discharge zone between the inner tubular electrode/dielectric and outer tubular electrode. A dielectric of the inner tubular electrode/dielectric has a sealed end and an open end. The outer tubular electrode has an open exhaust end concentric with the sealed end of the dielectric and a closed end that forms a port with the open end of the dielectric. A tubular gas injector is situated within and concentric with the inner tubular electrode/dielectric and in conductive electrical contact with an electrode portion of the inner tubular electrode/dielectric. The sealed end of the dielectric is sealed with a transparent end cap to permit visual inspection of an electrode of the electrode/dielectric during operation of the generator.
Finally, the invention relates to a method of producing ozone in an ozone generator comprising an outer tubular electrode, concentric inner tubular electrode, dielectric between the electrodes to define a corona discharge zone and a tubular gas injector within and concentric with the inner tubular electrode. The method comprises providing electrical contact between the inner tubular electrode and an electrical current source by conductive electrical contact between the injector and the inner tubular electrode to provide the electrical discharge zone. A flow of oxygen or oxygen enriched air is injected by the injector into the electrical discharge zone to convert oxygen in the air to ozone.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5552125 (1996-09-01), Chambles et al.
patent: 5630990 (1997-05-01), Conrad et al.
patent: 6060027 (2000-05-01), Conrad et al.
patent: 6139809 (2000-09-01), Rodden

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