Ozone injection system

• US 6,276,304 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Ling Tai
• Original Assignee: Paul Ling Tai
• Inventors: Tai, Paul Ling
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABBOTT, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US09/285,568
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 119/448, 119/447, 119/416, 119/418, 119/420, 422/5, 422/186.07
• US Class Current: 119/448
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0047 Air-conditioning, e.g. ventilation, of animal housings
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/003 Enclosures for fumigation, e.g. containers, bags or housings
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/10 Preparation of ozone

Abstract

A method and system for ozone injection into a confined area is described. Ozone is homogeneously transferred throughout the air in the building at levels considered safe by OSHA. Ozone thus affects a reduction in odor, dust, flies, and relative humidity, thereby inhibiting primary disease-causing vectors. At steady state, a system and method of two-tier ozonation can generically be described as hyper-ozonation of air recirculated from a confined area into a plenum or chamber void of animals or humans. The hyper-ozonated air is then pumped back to the confined area wherein the ozone concentration is maintained at 0.1 PPM or less.

Claims

1. An ozone injection system for a confined area occupied by humans and/or animals, said confined area comprising air and said injection system comprising:

one or more perforated conduits extending about the air in the confined area;

means for recirculating a substantial amount of the air through said one or more perforated conduits; and

at least one ozone generator fluidly communicating with said one or more perforated conduits,

wherein said at least one ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said one or more perforated conduits, and said one or more perforated conduits distribute ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one ozone generator is remotely located respective to the confined area, and, said means for recirculating a substantial amount of the air draws ozone to the confined area.

3. An ozone injection system for a confined area comprising air and a manure pit containing a liquid volume, said injection system comprising:

one or more perforated conduits extending about the air in the confined area;

means for recirculating a substantial amount of the air through said one or more perforated conduits;

at least one ozone generator fluidly communicating with said one or more perforated conduits; and

an ozone dispersal system in fluid communication with said manure pit wherein said dispersal system creates an upper ozonated stratum in said liquid volume and maintains an anaerobic stratum below said ozonated stratum,

wherein said at least one ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said one or more perforated conduits, and said one or more perforated conduits distribute ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air and said at least one ozone generator fluidly communicates with said ozone dispersal system.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said ozone generator supplies about 0.1 to 1 milligrams of ozone per gallon of liquid treated per day.

5. An ozone injection system for a confined area comprising air and a manure pit containing a liquid volume, said injection system comprising:

one or more perforated conduits extending about the air in the confined area;

means for recirculating a substantial amount of the air through said one or more perforated conduits;

at least one ozone generator fluidly communicating with said one or more perforated conduits,

wherein said at least one ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said one or more perforated conduits, and said one or more perforated conduits distribute ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air;

a buoyant vehicle within said liquid volume;

a liquid pump secured to said vehicle for propelling said vehicle across said liquid volume, said pump comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port in fluid communication with said inlet port;

a gas injector in fluid communication with said outlet port, said injector comprising a liquid inlet port, a liquid outlet port in fluid communication with said liquid inlet port, and a gas injection port fluidly communicating with said at least one ozone generator; and

a propulsion manifold rotatably and fluidly communicating with said liquid outlet port, said propulsion manifold comprising one or more propulsion outlet ports for propelling said vehicle,

wherein said vehicle is propelled across the pit thereby creating an upper ozonated stratum in said liquid volume and maintaining an anaerobic stratum below said ozonated stratum.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said vehicle has at least one tapered end.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a grated cover extending above said manure pit wherein a gap comprising air exists between said grated cover and said liquid volume; and

a second set of one or more perforated tubes extending across said gap, wherein said ozone generator fluidly communicates with said second set of one or more perforated tubes extending across said gap thereby further homogeneously distributing ozone throughout the air.

8. An ozone injection system for a confined area comprising air and a manure pit containing a liquid volume, said injection system comprising:

a first set of one or more perforated tubes extending about the air in the confined area;

means for recirculating a substantial amount of the air through said first set of one or more perforated tubes;

a second set of one or more perforated tubes extending within an upper portion of the liquid volume in said pit; and

at least one ozone generator in fluid communication with said first and second sets of one or more perforated tubes,

wherein said second set of one or more perforated tubes creates an upper ozonated stratum in said liquid volume, and, said at least one ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said first set of one or more perforated tubes, and said first set of one or more perforated tubes distributes ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a grated cover extending above said manure pit wherein a gap comprising air exists between said grated cover and said liquid volume; and

a third set of one or more perforated tubes extending across said gap,

wherein said at least one ozone generator fluidly communicates with said third set of one or more perforated tubes extending across said gap thereby further distributing ozone.

10. An ozone injection system for a confined area occupied by humans and/or animals, said confined area comprising air and said injection system comprising:

one or more perforated conduit(s) extending about the air in the confined area;

a chamber in fluid communication with said one or more perforated conduit(s);

means for recirculating the air through said chamber, then through said one or more perforated conduits, and then back into the confined area; and

an ozone generator fluidly communicating with said chamber,

wherein said ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said chamber, and said one or more perforated tubes distribute ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising an ozone monitor within said chamber wherein said monitor detects an average ozone concentration in the air leaving the chamber.

12. An ozone injection system for a confined area comprising air, said injection system comprising:

a plenum;

means for recirculating the air through said plenum, and then back into the confined area;

an ozone generator fluidly communicating with said plenum for ozonating air therein; and

means for homogeneously distributing the ozonated air within the confined area,

wherein said ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said plenum, and said means for homogeneously distributing ozonated air within the confined area results in an average ozone concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM throughout the air in the confined area.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an ozone monitor within said plenum wherein said monitor detects an average ozone concentration in air leaving the plenum.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising an ultraviolet light within said plenum wherein the ultraviolet light maintains an average ozone concentration of 0.1 PPM or less in the air leaving the plenum when actuated by a signal from said ozone monitor.

15. A method of oxidizing airborne pollutants within a confined area comprising air, the method comprising the steps of:

circulating the air from the confined area into a plenum void of animals and humans;

ozonating the air within the plenum at ozone concentrations in excess of 0.1 PPM;

circulating the air back into the confined area; and

maintaining the average ozone concentration within the confined area at 0.1 PPM or less.

16. An ozone injection system for a confined area, said injection system comprising:

one or more perforated conduit(s) extending about the air in the confined area;

a chamber in fluid communication with said one or more perforated conduit(s);

means for recirculating the air through said chamber, then through said one or more perforated conduits, and then back into the confined area;

an ozone generator fluidly communicating with said chamber,

an ozone monitor within said chamber for detecting an average ozone concentration in the air leaving the chamber; and

an ultraviolet light within said chamber for maintaining an average ozone concentration of 0.01 PPM or less in the air leaving the chamber when actuated by a signal from said ozone monitor,

wherein said ozone generator supplies ozone in concentrations greater than 0.1 PPM within said chamber, and said one or more perforated tubes distribute ozonated air to the confined area resulting in an average concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 PPM ozone throughout the air.