Ozone retention method and system

• US 7,407,592 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nutech O3 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nutech O3 Incorporated
• Inventors: Mueller, Richard A., van Leeuwen, Johannes, Robinson, Jack H., Jennings, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US11/230,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 210/760, 210/764, 210/192, 210/199, 210/205, 210/242.1, 210/931, 422/28, 422/186.07, 114/74.R, 114/125
• US Class Current: 210/760
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 13/00 Conduits for emptying or ballasting; Self-bailing equipment; Scuppers draining means for hatches B63B19/26; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; arrangements of installations for treating ballast water B63J4/002; pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 4/002 for treating ballast water
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/10 Preparation of ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/008 Originating from marine vessels, ships and boats, e.g. bilge water or ballast water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/046 Recirculation with an external loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/931 Zebra mussel mitigation or treatment

Abstract

A method and system of ozone treatment diverts a portion of water from a flow of water in a conduit, injects ozone into the portion to provide an ozonated portion, and recombines the ozonated portion with the flow of water in the conduit. Another method and system identifies a species-destructive reaction product of ozone with a water constituent, determines a life of the reaction product, and contacts ozone with a water containing the species for a period determined according to the determined life of the reaction product.

Claims

1. A method of ozone treatment, comprising:

identifying a species-destructive reaction product of ozone with a water constituent;

determining a life of the reaction product; and

contacting ozone with a water containing the species for a period determined according to the determined life of the reaction product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is seawater and the species destructive reaction product is OBr⁻

.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is seawater and the species destructive reaction product is OBr⁻

and further wherein the ozone is contacted with seawater for a period controlled to maintain a molar ratio of B⁻

to OBr⁻

well above 2.7.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting period is controlled for a period specified below a limit according to the determined life of the reaction product.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the period is less than 5 seconds.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the period is less than 0.25 second.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the period is less than 0.21 second.

8. A method of ozone treatment, comprising:

diverting a portion of water charging into a ballast tank of a vessel;

injecting ozone into the portion to provide an ozonated portion; and

recombining the ozonated portion with the water charging into the ballast tank;

wherein the water is seawater containing bromine that reacts with ozone to provide an OBr⁻

reaction product, and a retention period between injecting the ozone into the portion and recombining the injected ozone portion with the water charging into the tank is controlled below a specified time limit such that the ozone is contacted with the seawater for a period controlled to maintain a molar ratio of Br⁻

to OBr⁻

above 2.7.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the retention period is limited by controlling bypass fluid flow velocity.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the retention period is limited by bypass pipe length.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the retention period is controlled for a period specified below a limit according to the determined life of a reaction product.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the retention period is controlled for a period specified below a limit according to the determined life of a reaction product by establishing a length between a point of ozone injection and a point of recombining the injected portion with the water charging to the ballast tank.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the retention period is controlled for the period by controlling a rate of flow of the diverted portion.

14. A method of ozone treatment, comprising:

diverting a portion of water charging into a ballast tank of a vessel;

injecting ozone into the portion to provide an ozonated portion; and

recombining the ozonated portion with the water charging into the ballast tank;

wherein a retention period between injecting the ozone into the portion and recombining the injected ozone portion with the water charging into the tank is controlled below a specified time limit of 5 seconds.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the retention period is less than 0.25 second.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the retention period is less than 0.21 second.