Method and apparatus for ozone generation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a source of high energy alternating electric power to generate ozone, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first electrode; and
(b) an insulated second electrode comprising;
(i) a sealed dielectric envelope having first and second portions, said first portion being positioned remote from said first electrode, and said second portion being positioned proximate to said first electrode, thereby to define between said second portion and said first electrode a reaction space wherein ozone is generated from an oxygen-bearing feed gas; and
(ii) discharge means for generating electrical phenomena in said dielectric envelope, thereby to generate ozone from the feed gas in said reaction space, said discharge means comprising;
(A) an inert gas under low pressure filling said dielectric envelope; and
(B) an electric terminal located in said first portion of said dielectric envelope and being couplable through said dielectric envelope to said first electrode when the source of high energy alternating electric power is applied between said first electrode and said electric terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ozone generator utilizes one or more cylindrical anodes having disposed centrally therein an elongated cylindrical dielectric tube. The dielectric tube is filled with an inert gas at low pressure and contains at a first end thereof beyond the encirclement of the anode a relatively short electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode takes the shape of a cone having the small end thereof coupled through the first end of the dielectric envelope to a source of high energy alternating electric power. The large end of the cone is open and directed toward the far end of the dielectric envelope. Electrons are emitted from the electrode and focused down the length of the dielectric envelope, creating an electron haze which induces a variety of electron focusing phenomena in an annular reaction space between the dielectric envelope and the encircling anode. These electron focusing phenomena include a corona on the outside of the dielectric envelope, high voltage spikes between the dielectric envelope and anode, and a virtual plasma filling the annular reaction space. The electron focusing phenomena induce ozone formation when oxygen bearing feed gas is pumped down the length of the reaction space. The exterior of the anode is provided with a water jacket for heat removal. Use of the ozone generator in a water purification system is disclosed for illustrative purposes.
58 Citations
89 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a source of high energy alternating electric power to generate ozone, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first electrode; and (b) an insulated second electrode comprising; (i) a sealed dielectric envelope having first and second portions, said first portion being positioned remote from said first electrode, and said second portion being positioned proximate to said first electrode, thereby to define between said second portion and said first electrode a reaction space wherein ozone is generated from an oxygen-bearing feed gas; and (ii) discharge means for generating electrical phenomena in said dielectric envelope, thereby to generate ozone from the feed gas in said reaction space, said discharge means comprising; (A) an inert gas under low pressure filling said dielectric envelope; and (B) an electric terminal located in said first portion of said dielectric envelope and being couplable through said dielectric envelope to said first electrode when the source of high energy alternating electric power is applied between said first electrode and said electric terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86)
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12. An apparatus for generating ozone, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a tubular outer electrode having open opposed first and second ends; (b) heat exchanger means located about said outer electrode for removing heat generated therein; (c) an elongated dielectric envelope having closed first and second ends, said dielectric envelope being located in said outer electrode with said first end of said dielectric envelope extending out of said outer electrode, thereby to form an elongated reaction space between said outer electrode and the exterior of the portion of said dielectric envelope located therein; (d) ventilation means for advancing a feed gas containing oxygen through said reaction space from said first to said second end of said outer electrode; (e) a source of high energy alternating electric power; (f) an electrical lead from said source of electric power through and into said dielectric envelope; (g) an inert gas in said dielectric envelope; and (h) an electric terminal connected to said electrical lead and located in said first end of said dielectric envelope, said terminal generating electrical phenomena in said inert gas, thereby to generate ozone in said reaction space. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 85)
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23. An apparatus for generating ozone, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a cylindrical outer electrode having open opposed first and second ends; (b) heat exchanger means located about said outer electrode for removing heat generated therein; (c) a cylindrical dielectric envelope having closed first and second ends, said dielectric envelope being partially located within said outer electrode with said first end of said dielectric envelope extending out of said outer electrode, thereby to form an elongated reaction space between said outer electrode and the exterior of the portion of said dielectric envelope located therein; (d) ventilation means for advancing a feed gas containing oxygen through said reaction space from said first to said second end of said outer electrode; (e) a source of high energy alternating electric power; and (f) electrical means for inducing electron focusing in said reaction space thereby to generate ozone from the feed gas therein, said electrical means comprising; (i) an inert gas in said dielectric envelope; (ii) an electrical lead from said source of electric power through and into said dielectric envelope; and (iii) an electric terminal located in said first end of said dielectric envelope and connected to said electrical lead. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for purifying a fluid with ozone, the system comprising:
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(a) a source of high energy alternating electric power; (b) a tubular ozone generator unit comprising; (i) a elongated cylindrical outer electrode having open opposed first and second ends; (ii) a cylindrical dielectric envelope having closed first and second ends and being located in said outer electrode with said first end of said dielectric envelope extending out of said outer electrode, thereby to form an elongated reaction space between said outer electrode and the exterior of the portion of said dielectric envelope located therein; (iii) an inert gas under low pressure filling said dielectric envelope; (iv) an electrical lead from said source of electric power into said dielectric envelope; and (v) gun means located in said first end of said dielectric envelope for emitting high energy electrons and for focusing said high energy electrons towards the second end of said dielectric envelope into said inert gas to form an electron haze; (c) heat exchanger means located about said outer electrode for removing heat generated therein; (d) ventilation means for advancing feed gas containing oxygen through said reaction space from said first to said second end of said outer electrode, said electron haze in said dielectric envelope inducing electron focusing in said reaction space to generate ozone from said feed gas advanced by said ventilation means; and (e) mixing means for injecting into the fluid the feed gas advanced from said first to said second end of said outer electrode. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An ozonation apparatus comprising:
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(a) a plenum chamber for receiving oxygen-bearing feed gas from which to generate ozone; (b) at least one tubular ozone generator unit in communication with said plenum chamber to permit oxygen-bearing feed gas therefrom to flow through said ozone generator unit, said ozone generator unit comprising; i. a water jacket surrounding said ozone generator unit for removing heat therefrom; ii. a cylindrical outer electrode extending through said water jacket; and iii. an inner electrode partially disposed within said outer electrode, thereby to define between said outer electrode and the portion of said inner electrode therewithin a reaction space through which said feed gas flows from said plenum chamber and wherein forms of electron focusing are developed and maintained by application of a source of high energy alternating electric power to said inner electrode relative said outer electrode, said inner electrode comprising; A. a tubular envelope of dielectric material filled with an inert gas at low pressure, said envelope having first and second portions, said first portion being positioned remote from said outer electrode and said second portion being positioned within said outer electrode; B. an electrical conductor sealed into and passing through a first end of said envelope of dielectric material and being couplable at the end thereof outside said envelope to said source of high energy alternating electric power; and C. an electric terminal of hollow conical construction located in said first end of said envelope of dielectric material and connected to the end of said electrical conductor interior thereto to excite in said inert gas electrical phenomena which are field-coupled to said outer electrode to develop said forms of electron focusing and to generate ozone in said reaction space. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. An inner electrode for use with an encircling outer electrode of a tubular ozone generator, said inner electrode comprising:
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(a) envelope means for electrically containing high energy electrical phenomenon, said envelope means being so configured as to be positioned in the encircling outer electrode with a first portion of said envelope means extending out of the outer electrode; (b) carrier means filling said envelope means for diffusing said high energy electrical phenomena throughout the interior thereof; and (c) gun means located in said first portion of said envelope means for emitting high energy electrons and for focusing said high energy electrons into said carrier means, thereby to produce said high energy electrical phenomena. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 87, 88)
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74. An inner electrode for use with an encircling outer electrode of a tubular ozone generator, said inner electrode comprising:
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(a) a closed glass tube having opposed first and second ends and being so configured as to be positioned in the encircling outer electrode with said first end of said glass tube extending out of the outer electrode; (b) an inert gas in said glass tube; (c) an electrical lead passing through said first end of said glass tube and being couplable on the exterior thereof to a source of high energy alternating electric power; and (d) an electric terminal located in said first end of said glass tube and connected to said electrical lead to emit electrons in alignment with and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said glass tube. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 89)
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Specification