Ozone generator, system, and methods for retrofit of enclosed and air-conditioned environments

• US 10,342,246 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quail Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quail Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spamer, Donald R
• Application Number:
  US15/691,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/152 in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O ; Elimination of such other gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3445 in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/115 characterised by the electrical circuits producing the electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/12 Plate-type dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/90 Control of the process

Abstract

An ozone generator includes at least four independent ozone generation control channels that energize at least four independent ozone generation plates. The at least four independent ozone generation control channels allow for multiple modes of operation, including sterilization, disinfecting, and managing, in addition to interleaved operation, which significantly extends the useful life of the individual ozone generation plates. The ozone generator is placed in a preexisting conditioned airflow that enters a conditioned airspace enclosed by a container. Being placed in the preexisting conditioned airflow, the ozone generator does not require a fan or other air movement device to actively transport ozone-enriched air or oxygen through the ozone generator.

Claims

1. A previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system for an enclosed airspace comprising:

an enclosure including a back attached to a front through a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side,

where from 10% to 70% of the surface area of the back and the front includes perforations allowing passage of a previously existing conditioned airflow,

where from 30% to 95% of the surface area of the bottom includes perforations allowing passage of the previously existing conditioned airflow;

at least four independently operable ozone generation plates mounted within the enclosure, where the at least four independently operable ozone generation plates form at least four independent ozone generation control channels; and

at least one plate energizer in electrical communication with the at least four independently operable ozone generation plates through the at least four independent ozone generation control channels,

where the at least one plate energizer is in electrical communication with at least one processor,

the at least one processor configured to operate the at least one plate energizer to sterilize an enclosed airspace lacking produce and other foods, where the at least one processor maintains from 4 to 8 ppm ozone for a time period from 10 to 20 minutes in the enclosed airspace lacking produce and other foods during sterilization,

the at least one processor configured after the sterilization to operate the at least one plate energizer to disinfect an enclosed airspace including produce and other foods, where the at least one processor maintains from 2 to 3.9 ppm ozone for a time period from 15 minutes to 2 hours in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during disinfecting, and

the at least one processor configured after the disinfecting to operate the at least one plate energizer to manage the produce and other foods within the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during transport of the produce and other foods, where the at least one processor maintains from 0.5 to 1.5 ppm ozone in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during managing the transport of the produce and other foods.

2. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to manage the ozone level within the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during the transport of the produce and other foods in response to an ozone sensor, a conditioned air sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

3. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, further comprising the at least one processor configured to interleave the at least four independent ozone generation control channels.

4. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, further comprising the at least one processor responsive to a display controller.

5. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, where the perforations allowing passage of the previously existing conditioned airflow are not present in at least 30% of the surface area of the back and the front closest to the top of the enclosure.

6. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, further comprising at least eight ozone generation plates mounted within the enclosure.

7. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 6, further comprising at least eight ozone generation control channels.

8. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to activate the at least four independent ozone generation control channels during the sterilization.

9. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 4 to 7 ppm ozone for a time period from 12 to 18 minutes in the enclosed airspace lacking produce and other foods during the sterilization.

10. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 4 to 6 ppm ozone for a time period from 14 to 16 minutes in the enclosed airspace lacking produce and other foods during the sterilization.

11. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to kill at least 90% of microorganisms in the enclosed airspace lacking produce and other foods during the sterilization.

12. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to activate at least two of the at least four ozone generation control channels during the disinfecting.

13. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to activate no more than one-half of the at least four ozone generation control channels simultaneously during the disinfecting.

14. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 2.5 to 3.9 ppm ozone for a time period from 15 minutes to 1 hour in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during the disinfecting.

15. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 3 to 3.9 ppm ozone for a time period from 15 to 30 minutes in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during the disinfecting.

16. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to kill at least 70% of microorganisms on the produce and other foods during the disinfecting.

17. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to oxidize at least 70% of pesticide residue on the produce and other foods during the disinfecting.

18. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to activate no more than one-quarter of the at least four ozone generation control channels simultaneously during the managing.

19. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 0.7 to 1.3 ppm ozone in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during the managing.

20. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain from 0.9 to 1.1 ppm ozone in the enclosed airspace including produce and other foods during the managing.

21. The previously existing conditioned airflow ozone generator system of claim 1, the at least one processor configured to maintain ozone ppm concentrations in response to an ozone sensor and a conditioned air sensor.