Apparatus and method for ozone production

• US 5,004,587 A
• Filed: 02/05/1990
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aqua PURA Group
• Original Assignee: Aqua PURA Group
• Inventors: Tacchi, Ernest J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhat, Nina
• Application Number:
  US07/475,432
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.07, 422/186.21, 422/186.22, 422/186.18, 422/186.19
• US Class Current: 422/186.19
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/10 Dischargers used for production of ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/24 Composition of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/32 Constructional details of the dielectrics
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/40 using several dischargers in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/74 by liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/76 Water

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for the production of ozone gas comprising: a parallel resonance circuit formed by a high voltage transformer and a companion flexible polymeric corona discharge chamber which encloses an electrode and serves as both a passageway and reservoir for oxygen bearing gas, and a fluid counter-electrode, all contained within an appropriate enclosure. Said corona discharge chamber possesses an electrical reactance which can be varied in order to match the electrical reactance of a companion high voltage transformer so that the components resonate, hereby maximizing the transfer of energy to the corona discharge gap. The dwell of corona discharge is further enhanced by an electrostatic potential incorporated across said tube wall (electret effect). Heat formed in said discharge gap (detrimental to ozone production) is advantageously transferred to said fluid counter-electrode which also serves as an electrolytic connection between said high voltage transformer and said corona discharge chamber. Within said chamber, relatively large volumes of oxygen may be exposed to the high field density, ozone producing, resonating discharges as consequence of its flexible and linear design. The apparatus and methods described herein permit and encourage the use of intermittent and cyclic application of resonating energy and therefore achieves an improved degree of electrical efficiency. The teachings of the present invention make practical the use of alternative sources of energy for the private and commercial generation of ozone gas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing ozone which comprises,

a vessel containing a fluid counter-electrode, said counter-electrode being in communication with the external surface of a flexible dielectric tubing which forms a corona discharge chamber, said corona discharge chamber having a passageway therethrough for acceptance of a flexible high tension electrode means and for acceptance of dry oxygen hearing gas;

a transformer having one end of its secondary winding ohmically connected to said flexible high tension electrode means and the ground potential end of said secondary winding is electrolytically connected to said fluid counter-electrode and the primary winding of said high voltage transformer is ohmically connected to a source of current for driving said transformer;

a power source controller means ohmically connected to said transformer and said corona discharge chamber whereby said power source controller means modulates the amplitude, duration, and interval of power application to said primary winding of said transformer and said corona discharge chamber; and

a heat exchanger means having an electrically conductive metallic member forming a reservoir through which a coolant fluid flows, said metallic member being ohmically connected to ground potential and said metallic member is immersed in said fluid counter-electrode to form an electrolytic junction therewith.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a multiplicity of corona discharge chambers connected in parallel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a multiplicity of corona discharge chambers connected in series.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible dielectric tubing maintains a rated dielectric constant of 5 or less.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall of said corona discharge chamber includes a high voltage, thermo-electret hetereocharge whereby the baseline electrical potential within said chamber is altered to increase the period of time during which there is sufficient ionization potential to produce ozone gas when an alternating high voltage current is applied thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said thermo-electret effect is formed and the magnitude of said thermo-electret effect is adjusted during the construction of said corona discharge chamber.

7. An apparatus for producing ozone gas which comprises,

a vessel containing a fluid counter-electrode, said counter-electrode being in communication with the external surface of a flexible dielectric tubing so as to form a corona discharge chamber, said corona discharge chamber having a passageway therethrough for acceptance of a flexible high tension electrode means and for acceptance of dry oxygen bearing gas;

a transformer having one end of its secondary winding ohmically connected to said flexible high tension electrode and the ground potential end of said secondary winding is electrolytically connected to said fluid counter-electrode and the primary winding of said transformer is ohmically connected to a source of current for driving said transformer;

a source of adjustable direct current voltage ohmically connected to the primary coil of said transformer through a semiconductor switching means which is driven by a variable frequency oscillator, whereby a predetermined frequency of resonance intrinsic to the components of said transformer and said corona discharge chamber are impedance matched when a current at the frequency of resonance is applied thereto;

a variable power source controller means connected to said transformer and said corona discharge chamber whereby said means modulates the duration and interval of resonating energy applied to said transformer and said corona discharge chamber; and

a heat exchanger having an electrically conductive metallic reservoir through which a coolant fluid flows, said metallic member being ohmically connected to ground potential and said metallic member being immersed in said fluid counter-electrode to form an electrolytic junction therewith.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said corona discharge chamber is driven by a high voltage alternating current, the frequency of which is below the intrinsic frequency of resonance common to said corona discharge chamber and its companion transformer.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said corona discharge chamber is driven by a high voltage alternating current, the frequency of which is above the intrinsic frequency of resonance common to said corona discharge chamber and its companion transformer.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein there are a multiplicity of corona discharge chambers connected in parallel.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein there are a multiplicity of corona discharge chambers connected in series.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said flexible dielectric tubing maintains a rated dielectric constant of 5 or less.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wall of said corona discharge chamber includes a high voltage, thermo-electret heterocharge whereby the baseline electrical potential within said chamber is altered to increase the period of time during which there is sufficient ionization potential to produce ozone gas when an alternating high voltage current is applied thereto.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said thermo-electret effect is formed and the magnitude of said thermo-electret effect is adjusted during the construction of said corona discharge chamber.