Flow-through oxygenator

• US 20040118701A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxygenator Water Technologies, Inc., Roy H. Lecy
• Original Assignee: Oxygenator Water Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Senkiw, James Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/633
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/00 Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics growth substrates therefor A01G24/00; cultivation of seaweed A01G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46138 Electrodes comprising a substrate and a coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4612 Controlling or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4615 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/26 using pure oxygen or oxygen-rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 7/00 Aeration of stretches of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

An oxygen emitter which is an electrolytic cell is disclosed. When the anode and cathode are separated by a critical distance, very small microbubbles and nanobubbles of oxygen are generated. The very small oxygen bubbles remain in suspension, forming a solution supersaturated in oxygen. A flow-through model for oxygenating flowing water is disclosed. The use of supersaturated water for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. Methods for applying supersaturated water to plants manually, by drip irrigation or in hydroponic culture are described. The treatment of waste water by raising the dissolved oxygen with the use of an oxygen emitter is disclosed.

Claims

1. A flow-through oxygenator comprising an emitter for electrolytic generation of microbubbles of oxygen comprising an anode separated at a critical distance from a cathode and a power source all in electrical communication with each other, wherein the emitter is placed within or adjacent to a conduit for flowing water.

2. The emitter of claim 1 wherein the anode is a metal or a metallic oxide or a combination of a metal and a metallic oxide and the anode is platinum and iridium oxide on a support and the cathode is a metal or metallic oxide or a combination of a metal and a metallic oxide.

3. The critical distance of claim 1 which is 0.005 to 0.140 inches.

4. The critical distance of claim 1 which is 0.045 to 0.060 inches.

5. The product of claim 1 wherein the water is supersaturated with oxygen and of an approximately neutral pH.

8. A method for treating waste water comprising passing the waste water through a conduit comprising the emitter of claim 1.

6. A method for enhancing growth and yield of plants comprising the administration of supersaturated water on said plants.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the supersaturated water is delivered to the plants in hydroponic culture or through drip irrigation.