Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-04-03
Mayekar, Kishop (Department: 1741)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
C204S258000, C204S283000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210643
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ozonizer and more particularly to an ozonizer for obtaining ozonized water by means of an electrolysis (electrolytic process) to obtain ozone-dissolved water in which ozone is dissolved.
2. Prior Art
As conventional methods of obtaining ozonized water, a discharge method and an electrolytic method are generally known, wherein the former method has steps of an oxygen gas (or, in some cases an air) is passed through silent discharge electrolysis to produce an ozone gas of a high concentration and subjecting this ozone gas to be contacted with water to dissolve the ozone in the water. However, the discharge method described above requires a large scale equipment and, moreover, involves some dangers in leakage of ozone gas because an ozone gas of a high concentration is once generated before it is dissolved in the water. Further, there are cases that undissolved ozone of a vapor phase is remained in the water and then discharged to the atmosphere, with the result of problems of malodor or offensive odor of ozone.
With respect to the ozonizer of the latter method, that is, electrolytic method, water is electrolyzed and, since ozone is mixed with an oxygen which is generated at an anode (positive) electrode side, the ozone is directly dissolved in the water of the electrolysis. In the conventional electrolytic ozonizer, a thin ion exchange membrane is disposed between the two electrodes for electrolytic process to effectuate the electrolytic process, so that an ozone concentration becomes high. In this method, it is known that an application of a platinum, which inherently has a catalytic effect, as an anode electrode will increase an efficiency of ozone generation.
Further, it is known that if the electrodes for the electrolytic process are formed into a wire netting (or wire screen) structure, a further efficient electrolytic operation is expected and, therefore, platinum electrodes of a wire netting structure have been disposed on both sides of a plate-like ion exchange membrane in an overlapping relation so that the water flows along the anode (positive) electrode side such that the water contacts both the anode electrode and an exposed surface of the ion exchange membrane. This method is known to be the most efficient method of the ozonizer.
In the ozonizer of the electrolytic process described above, the generated ozone is immediately dissolved in the water and, therefore, there is less danger of ozone leakage and, in addition, this type of ozonizer has an advantage that it can be formed in a smaller scale. However, there are other problems that it requires a relatively large ion exchange membrane having an area of 30 cm
2
or more and still has a problem of a large-scale configuration, and requires an extremely high dimensional accuracy in production because, unless the electrode is constantly pressure-held on the ion exchange membrane, a constant efficiency of ozone generation is not realized. In other words, in the conventional ozonizer of a planar type, an accurate and high machinability and preparation of special materials of plastic deformation for electrodes or an electric collector are required for the purpose of obtaining a constant pressure-contact of the electrodes against the ion exchange membrane.
Further, when the electrolytic ozonizer is used, fine bubble-like ozone is suspended and remained in the ozone water, and the ozone water immediately after obtained has malodor of ozone and, therefore, there is a problem that such an electrolytic ozonizer will not suitable for use in a closed room such as a clear room, a medical consulting room, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in view of the problems and situations of the conventional ozonizers, an object of the present invention is to provide a new ozonizer, which permits a highly efficient ozone generation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new ozonizer, which is a small-sized and can be produced readily without a substantial labor and difficulty.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new ozonizer, which permits an effective dissolution of the fine bubbles of ozone, which are suspended in the ozone water.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ozonizer comprising:
(1) an ozonizer element, the ozonizer element having:
a columnar shaft body,
a positive electrode of a platinum net pressure-wounded around an outer surface of the columnar shaft body,
an ion exchange membrane pressure-wounded around the positive electrode,
a negative electrode of a metal net pressure-wounded around the ion exchange membrane,
wherein the positive electrode is wound around the columnar shaft body to thereby form the ozonizer element,
(2) a tubular passage for permitting water to flow therethrough and housing therein the ozonizer element in such a manner that an axis of the ozonizer lies in the flowing direction of the water, and
(3) means for applying DC electric voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode so that a discharge portion and non-discharge portion are alternately disposed in the flowing direction of the water.
By the structure described above, the water flowing in the tubular passage is electrolyzed at the portion of the ozonizer element to generate hydrogen, oxygen and ozone. Ozone, which is soluble in water, is dissolved immediately in the water so that ozone water is obtained as similar as in the conventional planar type ozonizer of an electrolytic method.
In the present invention, since the ozonizer element is formed not in the form of planar type as in the conventional ozonizer but in the form of a cylindrical or columnar shape, the entire structure can be made compact and in a smaller size, and the ozonizer element in the columnar shape is formed by simply winding the positive electrode, the ion exchange membrane, and negative electrode, in turn, and therefore these elements can be fixed easily in position by a natural pressure-contact with each other. In this connection, a fastening band is used to fasten the wound layers of the elements and, in the illustrated embodiment, a string made of Teflon is used to wind around the outermost surface to fasten the wound layers of the ozonizer element.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ozonizer comprising:
(1) an ozonizer element, the ozonizer element having:
a columnar shaft body having a thin groove extending from one end thereof to the other end,
a positive electrode of a platinum net plate pressure-wound around an outer surface of the columnar shaft body,
an ion exchange membrane pressure-wound around the positive electrode,
a negative electrode of a metal net pressure-wound around the ion exchange membrane to thereby form the ozonizer element,
(2) a tubular passage for permitting water to flow therethrough and housing therein the ozonizer element in such a manner that an outer surface of the positive electrode is contacted with an inner surface of the tubular passage, or otherwise, in such a manner that the ozonizer element is concentrically suspended between the negative electrode and the tubular passage by means of a holding ring disposed at an upstream of the tubular passage, and
(3) means for applying DC electric voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
In the second aspect of the invention described above, a flow rate of water on the negative electrode side is limited to an amount of water crossing in the planar direction of the metal mesh plate and, on the other hand, the water on the positive electrode side flows not only across in the planar direction of the mesh plate but also through the groove and, therefore, difference of water flow rate can be achieved between the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ozonizer comprising:
(1) an ozonizer element, the ozonizer element having:
a columnar shaft body having a thin
Bachman & LaPointe P.C.
Mayekar Kishop
Shiota Hirokazu
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