Modular ozone water treatment apparatus and associated method

• US 5,427,693 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerogenix, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: O-Three Limited
• Inventors: McEachern, Dennis H., Mausgrover, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nessler, Cynthia L.
• Application Number:
  US08/049,488
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 210/760, 210/192, 210/739, 210/200, 210/201, 210/202, 210/241, 210/242.1, 210/242.2, 210/220, 210/221.2, 210/748, 210/759, 210/96.1, 210/143, 261/77, 422/24, 422/186.3
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/14 Concentric/tubular dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/40 Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators

Abstract

An apparatus includes a frame carrying a process tank, ozone generating tubes, a venturi, and an infusion chamber for treating water with ozone. A pump circulates water from the process tank and through the venturi to the infusion chamber. The infusion chamber is connected immediately downstream from the venturi. The infusion chamber has a predetermined pressure to produce a head space and thereby generate a relatively large number of bubbles of relatively small size to enhance the mass transfer of ozone into the water. A length of tubing is connected downstream from the infusion chamber to enhance the contact time between the ozone and the contaminants. An ozone generator tube including an inner electrode formed of a mass of helical windings produces a high concentration of ozone from a cooled air supply.

Claims

1. A modular apparatus for treating contaminated water, said apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a process tank carried by said frame for being initially filled with contaminated water to be treated;

ozone generating means carried by said frame for generating ozone gas; and

ozone treatment means carried by said frame and connected to said ozone generating means and in fluid communication with said process tank for transferring ozone gas into the water, said ozone treatment means comprising

a venturi having a gas inlet connected to said ozone generating means,

an infusion chamber connected in fluid communication with said venturi and downstream therefrom, said infusion chamber comprising a generally vertically oriented tube having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and opposed closed ends, and

pump means connected in fluid communication with said venturi, said infusion chamber, and said process tank for circulating water from said process tank and through said venturi and said infusion chamber to produce a closed head space above the inlet opening and within the closed upper end of said infusion chamber so that the inlet opening is below a level of water within said infusion chamber, and

means connected downstream from said infusion chamber for producing a back pressure in said closed head space,

said ozone treatment means producing a relatively large number of relatively small bubbles in the water to enhance transfer of ozone into the water.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ozone treatment means further comprises means for mounting said tube in a generally vertical orientation, and wherein said inlet opening is in an upper portion of said tube and said outlet opening is in a lower portion of said tube.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet opening is below said inlet opening.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tube has a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of each of said inlet and outlet openings.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an inlet opening of said tube is located immediately downstream from said venturi.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet opening of said tube is not greater than about 3 feet from said venturi.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising inlet filter means carried by said frame and connected in fluid communication with said process tank for filtering an inlet flow of contaminated water into said process tank.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising outlet filter means carried by said frame and connected in fluid communication with said process tank for filtering an outlet flow of treated water from said process tank.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

sensor means coupled to water within said process tank for sensing an oxidation reduction potential of the water in said process tank indicative of an ozone level in the water; and

control means connected to said ozone generating means for controlling same responsive to said sensor means to produce a desired level of ozone in the water of said process tank.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising ultraviolet treatment means carried by said frame for exposing the contaminated water to ultraviolet light.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising hydrogen peroxide treatment means carried by said frame for adding hydrogen peroxide to the contaminated water.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ozone treatment means further comprises dwell reaction means connected in fluid communication with said infusion chamber and downstream therefrom for containing a flow of ozonated water for a time to enhance reaction of ozone with contaminants in the water.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said dwell reaction means comprises a length of tubing having an inlet end connected to said infusion means and an outlet end positioned within said process tank.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said length of tubing is in the range of about 50 to 200 feet.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said length of tubing is arranged in a series of generally circular coils positioned within an interior of said process tank.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said dwell reaction means further comprises nozzle means connected to the outlet end of said tubing for discharging water into said process tank while producing a back pressure in said tubing, said nozzle means defining said means for producing a back pressure.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ozone generating means comprises:

a housing;

at least one corona discharge ozone generator positioned within said housing; and

means connected to said housing for cooling air within said housing to thereby provide a cool air supply for said at least one corona discharge ozone generator.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said at least one corona discharge ozone generator comprises a dielectric tube, an outer electrode surrounding said dielectric tube, and an inner electrode positioned in an interior portion of said dielectric tube underlying said outer electrode, and wherein said inner electrode comprises a mass of helical windings.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a thermal insulation layer positioned adjacent interior surfaces of said housing.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for cooling comprises a thermoelectric cooler.

21. An apparatus for transferring ozone into a flow of contaminated water, said apparatus comprising:

a venturi having a gas inlet for being connected to a source of ozone gas;

an infusion chamber connected in fluid communication with said venturi and downstream therefrom, said infusion chamber comprising a generally vertically oriented tube having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and opposing closed ends, and

pump means connected in fluid communication with said venturi and said infusion chamber for circulating contaminated water through said venturi and said infusion chamber to produce a closed head space above the inlet opening and within the closed upper end of said infusion chamber so that the inlet opening is below a level of water within said infusion chamber, and

means connected downstream from said infusion chamber for producing a back pressure in said closed head space,

said apparatus defining means for producing a relatively large number of relatively small bubbles in the water to enhance transfer of ozone into the water.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising means for mounting said tube in a generally vertical orientation, and wherein said inlet opening is in an upper portion of said tube and said outlet opening is in a lower portion of said tube.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said outlet opening is below said inlet opening.

24. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said tube has a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of each of said inlet and outlet openings.

25. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein an inlet opening of said tube is located immediately downstream from said venturi.

26. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said inlet opening of said tube is not greater than about 3 feet from said venturi.

27. A method for treating contaminated water comprising the steps of:

generating ozone gas;

circulating a flow of contaminated water through a venturi while drawing generated ozone gas into the flow of water; and

passing the ozonated water through an infusion chamber comprising a generally vertically oriented tube having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and opposed closed ends and being located downstream from the venturi while producing a back pressure and maintaining a closed head space above the inlet opening and within the closed upper end of the infusion chamber so that the inlet opening is below a level of water within the infusion chamber thereby producing a relatively large number of relatively small bubbles in the water to enhance transfer of ozone into the water.

28. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of flowing the ozonated water through a length of tubing downstream from the infusion chamber so that the ozonated water is contained within the tubing for a time to enhance reaction of ozone with contaminants in the water.

29. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the steps of sensing an oxidation reduction potential of the ozonated water indicative of an ozone level in the water, and controlling the generation of ozone responsive to the sensed oxidation reduction potential to thereby achieve a desired ozone level in the water.

30. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of additionally treating the contaminated water with ultraviolet light.

31. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of additionally treating the contaminated water with hydrogen peroxide.

32. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of generating ozone gas comprises providing a housing and at least one corona discharge ozone generator within the housing, and cooling air within the housing to serve as a supply of cool air for the at least one corona discharge ozone generator.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the step of cooling the air within the housing comprises cooling the air with a thermoelectric cooler connected to the housing.