U.S. patent application number 15/896949 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for multiple oxygen allotrope generator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Robert de la Torre STONE. Invention is credited to Robert de la Torre STONE.
Application Number | 20180170753 15/896949 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58051952 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180170753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STONE; Robert de la Torre |
June 21, 2018 |
MULTIPLE OXYGEN ALLOTROPE GENERATOR
Abstract
An oxygen allotrope generator having a tube with an electrically
grounded outer surface and an electrically positive inner surface.
A plurality of corona reaction plates are spaced along the interior
of the tube, the plates being longitudinally inter-connected by
wires and being in electrical connection with the electrically
positive inner surface of the tube. An outer jacket encloses the
tube and provides a second linear pass for partially ozonated gas
to flow in the generator. An alternative embodiment includes
external distributed ground connections at the locations of the
corona reaction.
Inventors: |
STONE; Robert de la Torre;
(Cardiff by the Sea, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STONE; Robert de la Torre |
Cardiff by the Sea |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58051952 |
Appl. No.: |
15/896949 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/US2016/046303 |
Aug 10, 2016 |
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15896949 |
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15405838 |
Jan 13, 2017 |
9896335 |
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PCT/US2016/046303 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C01B 2201/12 20130101;
C02F 2201/782 20130101; C01B 13/11 20130101; C01B 2201/82 20130101;
C02F 1/325 20130101; C02F 1/78 20130101; C02F 1/4608 20130101; C01B
2201/22 20130101; C01B 2201/40 20130101; C01B 13/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C01B 13/11 20060101
C01B013/11; C01B 13/00 20060101 C01B013/00 |
Claims
1. An oxygen allotrope generator comprising: a tube having a wall
of a predetermined thickness, said tube wall having an inner
surface and an outer surface and having a first end and a second
end; an inlet connected to said first end of said tube and adapted
to be coupled to a source of oxygen-containing gas; a first
electrically conductive element on the outer surface of said tube,
said first element being adapted to be connected to ground; a
second electrically conductive element on the inner surface of said
tube; a conductor for connecting said second electrically
conductive element to a source of electrical power; a tubular
jacket surrounding said tube and being spaced from said tube wall
by a predetermined distance; an outlet for oxygen
allotrope-containing gas to exit from said jacket; and a plurality
of spaced corona reaction plates across the interior of said tube,
said corona reaction plates being electrically conductive and being
electrically connected to said second electrically conductive
element.
2. The oxygen allotrope generator claim 1, and further comprising a
longitudinal central support wire interconnecting said corona
reaction plates.
3. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, and further
comprising a plurality of corona reaction wires interconnecting
said corona reaction plates.
4. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, and further
comprising a plurality of support wires interconnecting said corona
reaction plates.
5. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, wherein adjacent said
corona reaction plates are rotationally offset with respect to each
other.
6. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 4, wherein adjacent said
corona reaction plates are rotationally offset with respect to each
other.
7. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 4, wherein said support
wires are spirally arranged through said plurality of corona
reaction plates.
8. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 6, wherein said support
wires are spirally arranged through said plurality of corona
reaction plates.
9. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, and further
comprising a ground connector external to said tube at the location
of each corona reaction plate location within said tube.
10. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 9, wherein said ground
connectors each comprise a wire wrapped around said tube outside of
said first electrically conductive element.
11. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, wherein one corona
reaction plate of said plurality of corona reaction plates is
connected across each end of said tube and the remainder of said
plurality of corona reaction plates are generally equally spaced
along the length of said tube between said corona reaction plates
at each end of said tube.
12. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, each said corona
reaction plate is comprised of a mesh of electrically conductive
wires.
13. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, and further
comprising a support ring at the end of said tube opposite to the
inlet end, said support ring supporting the end of said tube within
said jacket, said support ring having an opening therethrough for
partially ozonated gas to exit said tube and distributive holes
around the periphery thereof for the partially ozonated gas to pass
along the outside of said tube inside said jacket.
14. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, and further
comprising a base for mounting to the oxygen allotrope
generator.
15. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, wherein said first
electrically conductive element is a wire mesh that generally
surrounds the outer surface of said tube.
16. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, wherein said second
electrically conductive element is a wire mesh that generally
covers the inner surface of said tube.
17. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 15, wherein said second
electrically conductive element is a wire mesh that generally
covers the inner surface of said tube.
18. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 1, wherein the
apparatus as structured operates above atmospheric internal
pressure.
19. The oxygen allotrope generator of claim 18, wherein the
pressure within the apparatus is from about 1.0 psi to about 25
psi.
20. An oxygen allotrope generator comprising: a tube having a wall
of a predetermined thickness, said tube wall having an inner
surface and an outer surface and having a first end and a second
end; an inlet connected to said first end of said tube and adapted
to be coupled to a source of oxygen-containing gas; a first
electrically conductive element on the outer surface of said tube,
said first element being adapted to be connected to ground; a
second electrically conductive element on the inner surface of said
tube; a conductor for connecting said second electrically
conductive element to a source of electrical power; a tubular
jacket surrounding said tube being spaced from said tube wall by a
predetermined distance; an outlet for oxygen allotrope-containing
gas to exit from said jacket; a plurality of spaced corona reaction
plates across the interior of said tube, said corona reaction
plates being electrically conductive and being electrically
connected to said second electronically conductive element; a
longitudinal central support wire interconnecting said corona
reaction plates a plurality of corona reaction wires
interconnecting said corona reaction plates; and a plurality of
support wires interconnecting said corona reaction plates.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/405,838,
filed 13 Jan. 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,896,335, issued 20 Feb.
2018, which is a continuation of PCT/US2016/0046303, filed 10 Aug.
2016, which is a non-provisional application based on provisional
application No. 62/205,619, filed 15 Aug. 2015.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to apparatus and
methods for generating ozone and/or other oxygen allotropes.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Oxygen occurs in several allotropic forms. Oxygen is a
stable molecule when it occurs in diametric form as O.sub.2 and is
one of the most plentiful elements on earth. Ozone (O.sub.3) occurs
naturally in the atmosphere during lightning strikes and other
electric discharge phenomena as well as by the action of
ultraviolet light. In addition, some combinations of oxygen
allotropes can be formed, such as O.sub.3 . . . O.sub.n or ozone
dimers ((O.sub.3).sub.2) (see Gadzhiev et al. (2013) J. Chem.
Theory Comput. 9:247-262). Yet other allotropes of oxygen are known
to be produced under particular temperature and pressure
conditions. For example, another allotrope of oxygen, tetraoxygen
(O.sub.4), also called oxozone, is thought to be short-lived, and
is believed to be a far more potent oxidizing agent than ozone (see
Oda and Pasquarello (2004) Physical Review B, 70 (13) id 134402 and
Cacace et al. (2001) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 40:4062-4065). Some
other allotropes such as O.sub.5, O.sub.6, O.sub.7, and/or the
various phases of solid oxygen also exist--.alpha.-phase (light
blue in color), .beta.-phase (faint blue to pink), .gamma.-phase
(faint blue), .delta.-phase (orange), .epsilon.-phase (dark-red to
black; O.sub.8) and .zeta.-phase (metallic; O.sub.9) (see, for
example, Shimizu et al. (1998) Nature 393 (6687): 767-769; Freiman
and Jodl (2004) Physics Reports 401:1-228; and Luyndegaard et al.
(2006) Nature 443: 201-204).
[0004] Ozone is the best understood oxygen allotrope aside from
O.sub.2. It is a violet/bluish colored gas with a
pungent/chlorine-like odor. The ozone allotrope, when mixed in
water, is generally colorless or the color becomes undetectable,
and the gas is sparingly soluble in water. Ozone is produced when
an electrical charge molecularly disassociates a stable diametric
molecule (O.sub.2), splitting it apart and forming two unstable
atoms of oxygen. Seeking stability, these atoms attach to other
oxygen molecules to create ozone (O.sub.3).
[0005] There are three main approaches typically used to produce
ozone: corona discharge, ultraviolet treatment, and cold plasma
generation. In corona discharge generation of ozone, dry air or an
oxygen-containing gas is passed through a high energy electrical
field. Generally, a corona discharge ozone generating device has
multiple electrostatic plates separated by dielectric plates. This
type of organization can be found in many patents and patent
publications. For example, interleaved dielectric and electrostatic
plates have been described at least as early as 1946 (see U.S. Pat.
No. 2,405,728). U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0197244 purports to provide
a corona discharge with improved ozone generation output and
efficiency and reduced heat generation by generating a corona
discharge from interleaved longitudinal stacks of flat perforated
metal electrode plates separated by ceramic dielectric plates. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,525,310 (Decker et al.) also discloses a corona
discharge ozone generating device having a plurality of stainless
steel wire mesh grid electrodes interposed with ceramic dielectric
plates. In some instances, a catalyst, such as a lead dioxide
catalyst, is deposited on the surface of a metal plate to increase
ozone production (see EP 1 777 323, for example).
[0006] In the past, heat generation from corona discharge has been
a problem. This has been addressed by incorporating some type of
cooling apparatus, such as the cooling jacket of U.S. Pat. No.
2,405,728, or by using metal rods or dielectric rods in the
discharge spaces between inner and outer electrodes or between
outer electrodes and dielectric tubes, as in U.S. Pat. No.
4,960,570. In some instances, high voltage has been used in an
attempt to enhance ozone production (U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,673 and
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0047907).
[0007] Ultraviolet treatment of air can split di-oxygen molecules
(O.sub.2) into oxygen atoms, which then attach to other di-oxygen
molecules to form ozone. However, this method of ozone production
is inefficient and almost every industrial ozone producer relies
upon the corona discharge method.
[0008] Cold plasma ozone generators use pure oxygen gas exposed to
a plasma created by dielectric barrier discharge. This acts to
split di-oxygen into single atoms, which then recombine to form
ozone. While more efficient than ultraviolet treatment, cold plasma
machines produce a maximum concentration of about 5% ozone and are
consequently primarily used in clinical situations.
[0009] Ozone decomposes spontaneously in water, producing hydrogen
peroxy (HO.sub.2) and hydroxyl (OH) free radicals, which have great
oxidizing capacity and serve as a powerful disinfectant that
readily oxidizes organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, and
microorganisms, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The other
reactive allotropes of oxygen are also believed to behave
similarly, although they have a more powerful effect on pollutants
and microorganisms.
[0010] Little is known and understood about other oxygen
allotropes, such as O.sub.4, O.sub.5, O.sub.6, O.sub.7, O.sub.8,
etc., and generating these allotropic forms has been difficult,
inefficient, and fraught with controversy due, in part, to their
transitory nature and lack of abundant samples for study. There
does not appear to be presently available an efficient oxygen
allotrope generator which is self-contained, does not require
elaborate dielectric materials, does not generate excess heat, uses
little electricity, and has a low operating cost.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A purpose of the present apparatus is to provide an
efficient oxygen allotrope generator which is self-contained, does
not require elaborate dielectric materials, does not generate
excess heat, uses minimal power (electricity), and has relatively
low operating cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] The objects, advantages, and features of the invention
embodiments disclosed herein will be readily perceived from the
following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-section of ozone generator in accordance
with the prior art;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic representative of a prior art ozone
generator;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an oxygen allotrope ozone
generator, somewhat schematically, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment showing a partial
cut-away view of the central tube portion of FIG. 3 with
distributed grounding wires connected to the outer mesh;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along cutting plane 5-5 of
FIG. 3, showing an enlarged face view of a corona reaction plate as
employed in the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4;
[0018] FIG. 6A is a partial sectional view of a base to which the
oxygen allotrope generator of FIG. 3 is mounted;
[0019] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the base shown in FIG. 6A;
and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the support ring employed at the
top end of the generator of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The apparatus disclosed herein is an improvement over the
oxygen allotrope generator shown in FIG. 1, which is shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,314,600. For context, this prior art will be described
in some detail. While the oxygen allotrope generators are generally
depicted herein in a horizontal orientation, that is for
presentation convenience. The generator embodiment described would
normally be employed in a vertical orientation, with the gas
entrance and exit at the bottom end, as will be discussed
below.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows prior art apparatus 5 for generating oxygen
allotropes, one being ozone. Interior element or tube 10 is located
within jacket 25. The tube is generally hollow. Positioned around
the interior of tube 10 is inner mesh 15 and positioned around the
outer surface of the tube is outer mesh 20. An exemplary mesh is a
number 10 mesh made of stainless steel wires. Titanium can also be
employed. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 7,314,600, elements 15 and 20
need only be an appropriate form of electrically conductive wires
and need not be in the form of a mesh, but that term will be used
herein for convenience.
[0023] An electrical energy source 17 supplies energy through
connector 19 to inner mesh 15. Outer mesh 20 is connected to
electrical ground 22. In operation, the electrical energy source
provides a DC voltage to inner mesh 15. When the amount of voltage
applied to inner mesh 15 is sufficient, an arc is formed that
passes through tube 10 to outer mesh 20.
[0024] As an example, tube 10 is cylindrical, having an outer
diameter of about 1.5 inches and may be manufactured from fused
quartz or synthetic fused silica. This structure creates
ultraviolet radiation in an ozone allotrope-generating wavelength
of about 185 nanometers (nm).
[0025] Surrounding tube 10, and inner and outer meshes 15 and 20,
is jacket 25. The jacket is substantially transparent and
constructed of the same quartz or silica used to construct tube 10
so that the jacket has the same thermal, optical, and other
physical qualities as tube 10. Jacket 25 confines the flow of
oxygen-containing gas over outer mesh 20.
[0026] Inlet 40 is located at an end of tube 10 and
oxygen-containing gas is directed through the inlet and along the
interior of the tube. The incoming oxygen-containing gas is exposed
to inner mesh 15 that is generating a multiplicity of electric
arcs, which radiate UV radiation. The oxygen in the
oxygen-containing gas is converted to ozone upon exposure to the UV
radiation as the gas progresses along the length of tube 10. Upon
reaching the end of tube 10, the oxygen-containing gas contacts the
inner surface of jacket 25 and is redirected along the outer
surface of tube 10, contacting outer mesh 20 and again being
exposed to the ultraviolet radiation generated by the electric arcs
present in outer mesh 20. This second exposure to the ultraviolet
radiation generates more oxygen allotropes, significantly
increasing the amount of oxygen allotropes that are generated and
increasing the efficiency of the oxygen allotrope generator. For
simplicity, the term "ozone" is employed herein and is intended to
include ozone and other allotropes of oxygen where appropriate.
[0027] After the oxygen-containing gas is exposed to both inner
mesh 15 and outer mesh 20, it passes through ozone return line 45
positioned at one end of jacket 25.
[0028] Housing 30 encompasses both tube 10 and jacket 25 and
contains and directs contaminated fluid around the jacket. Housing
30 includes fluid inlet 50 and fluid exit 55. Ozone return line 45
connects into fluid inlet 50. The ozone return line delivers ozone
from jacket 25 to fluid inlet 50, injecting ozone into the fluid.
Because jacket 25 is substantially transparent to ultraviolet
radiation generated by the electric arcs formed between inner mesh
15 and outer mesh 20, additional ozone is formed in the fluid from
oxygen present in the fluid. This structure simultaneously injects
ozone gas into a fluid and exposes the fluid to ultraviolet
radiation which creates additional ozone in the fluid.
[0029] As shown, reflective surface 35 on the interior surface of
the housing 30, which may be made of stainless steel, reflects the
ultraviolet radiation generated by inner mesh 15 and outer mesh 20,
thereby exposing the fluid to additional ultraviolet radiation.
[0030] A typical prior art ozone generator is shown schematically
in FIG. 2. Oxygen enters through tube 140 into main ozone
generating tube 110 where heat is generated by the process and,
because both ends of tube 110 are closed, except for entrance and
exit tubes or port (141), heat is retained within the center tube.
In order for the (in) oxygen gas to exit the interior (center) of
the prior art chamber, the now converted oxygen to ozone gas had to
exit out of its top supporting end/sleeve via "one" center hole.
Then via a Teflon hose be re-entered back into the generator into
"one side" of the exterior of the generator and then out to the
fluid being treated.
[0031] A cold start is when all the parts of the generator,
including the oxygen gas, are still cold. When the generator is on
after about a 15 minute warm up time, for example, the generator
parts would start accumulating/retaining heat, and this
accumulation of heat within the center of the generator would start
having a reduction effect in the generator's ozone production. The
re-entered ozone gas into the outside chambers of the generator is
now hot and more heat is added to the already heated outside
chamber. This prior art system also only had "one" exit point.
Although earlier prior art generators did generate a useful amount
of ozone, several air chillers had to be used to inject cooled
oxygen into the generator to keep it cool.
[0032] Almost all ozone generators have big heat retention
challenges/issues, and so some ozone generators require water
jackets or heavy fans to keep the generator cool enough to produce
ozone gas after the generator has warmed/heated up.
[0033] The present apparatus addresses the unwanted heat generation
as will be explained below.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows the central portion of an embodiment of the
present ozone generator 101 having inlet pipe 102 at one end of
crystal tube 103. Inlet 102 may be a tube of suitable material,
such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, sold under the trademark
Teflon), preferably with an inside diameter of 0.375 inch (9.53
mm). The incoming gas is preferably at least 90-95% dry O.sub.2
which can be supplied from a tank, or external source, or an oxygen
generator. A suitable oxygen generator is available, for example,
from AirSep Industrial in Buffalo, N.Y., with their Advanced
Technology Fractionators (ATF) series systems.
[0035] Grounded (108) electronically conductive wire lining or
element 104 is applied around tube 103 and electrically positive
element or lining of wires 105 (power source 109 connected by wire
110) is on the inside surface of the tube. Linings 104 and 105 are
preferably in the form of a mesh, and that term will generally be
used herein, although those linings can take any form. Arrows 106
indicate the direction of oxygen-containing gas flowing through
tube 103, exiting around open end 107 of the tube as shown by flow
arrows 111. Tube 103 is surrounded by exterior, preferably metallic
or reflectively polished, jacket 112, forming flow space or chamber
113 between jacket 112 and tube 103. The fluid flows back toward
the entrance end of the tube and exits ozone generator 101 through
tubes 114 and out through pipe 115 for use as a disinfectant, for
example. Outflow fluid 119 has an ozone concentration as generated
by ozone generator 101. Tests show that when a typical ozone meter
is employed at the exit end of pipe 115 it maxes out, showing that
output 119 of the ozone generator is at least 400 instant grams of
ozone per Normal cubic meter (O.sub.3 gNm.sup.3), based on a 90-95%
oxygen input.
[0036] Within tube 103 are corona reaction plates 116, of which
there are several (ten are shown). These plates will be discussed
in greater detail below, and will also be referred to as mesh
plates.
[0037] Connecting plates 116 together and supporting them in place
within the tube are positive spiraled support wires 117, corona
reaction positive straight wires 118, and longitudinal central
positive straight support wire 121. The corona reaction plates 116
are at about 3.0 inch (7.6 cm) spacing throughout the length of
tube 103 as shown, and two of them, corona reaction plates 131 and
132, are fixed on the respective ends of the tube. Central support
wire 121, spiraled support wires 117, and straight support wires
118 are secured to end plates 131 and 132 and to each plate 116
along the length of the tube. Each corner 123 (FIG. 5) of each mesh
plate 116, 131, 132, is in physical and electrical contact with
inner wire mesh 105. Thus, all electrically conductive elements
inside tube 103 are electrically positive.
[0038] An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. Negative or
grounded outside wire mesh 104 is represented in the FIG. 4 side
view. In contrast with the single ground 108 in FIG. 3, each
position of a mesh plate 116, 131, 132 includes grounding wire 122,
preferably formed as multiple turns of wire, wrapped around tube
103 and over mesh 104. It has been found that by adding grounding
wires 122 in physical and electrical contact with outer mesh 104 at
the locations of positive corona reaction plates 116, 131, 132
within tube 103, the effective charge difference between the inside
and the outside of the tube produces more static reaction inside
the tube, increases the effectiveness, both inside and outside the
tube, of the arcing, in creating ozone and allotropes of oxygen,
and increases the UV wavelength energy by producing a brighter UV
arcing effect. This distributed grounding embodiment (FIG. 4) has
been found to increase ozone throughput by as much as 60 to 100%
compared with the FIG. 3 embodiment. At the same time that UV
wavelength energy is being produced, it is also enhanced by the
charge differences just described. Further, the static electricity
encountered by the oxygen containing gas passing down the length of
tube 103 through corona reaction plates 116, 131, 132 also
increases the production of ozone.
[0039] There is a spacing of about 0.25 inch (6.35mm) between outer
mesh 104 and the inner surface of exterior jacket 112. Therefore,
every extra wire buildup due to the grounding wires (FIG. 4) over
the outer mesh creates a small mound or bump (bottle neck effect)
that the oxygen has to pass over as it travels down chamber 113 of
the generator. This bottle neck effect forces the oxygen to backup,
buildup, and expand, prolonging the exposure of the gas to the UV
light. The more the oxygen is exposed to the UV light the more are
the chances that the oxygen has a magnetizing effect with other
oxygen molecules wanting to bond with other electrons. Tests show
that there is a substantial increase in ozone production when these
extra, or grounding, wires are added to the generator due to the
two effects stated above: the multiple or distributed grounding,
and the extra exposure of the flowing oxygen to UV radiation.
[0040] A corona reaction plate 116 is shown in enlarged detail in
FIG. 5. Each plate is nominally about 1.13 inch (2.9 cm) square and
is shown with 11.times.11 holes defined by 12 mesh wires in each
orthogonal dimension. For this size ozone generator this
arrangement works. However, the ozone generator may be larger or
smaller and the number and size of the openings through each
reaction plate may be different. Positive support wire 121 is in
the middle and spiraled supportive positive wires 117 are shown
spaced from the middle toward the corners of the plate. Straight
support wires 118 are also shown in FIG. 5, adjacent to the corners
of plate 116. Note that in this view, partially rotated, in
longitudinal stepwise fashion, are three more plates 116, corners
123 of which are shown. As constructed, each corner 123 of each
plate 116 is in physical and electrical contact with inner positive
mesh 105.
[0041] By way of example only, tube 103 is about 34.5 inches (87.6
cm) long and about 2.0 inches (5.1 cm) in outer diameter. The wall
is about 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) thick and the tube is a crystal,
preferably made of fused quartz or synthetic fused silica. Of
course, the tube could be longer (for example, 36 inches) or
shorter (for example, six inches), have a greater or lesser
diameter (0.5 inch to 2.0 inches), and the tube wall thickness can
be 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, or thinner or thicker, all depending upon the
size of the ozone generator. Suitable fused quartz crystal tubes
are available from General Electric, Sylvania, and Momentive
Performance Materials, for example.
[0042] Exterior jacket 112 may be made of stainless steel, fused
quartz crystal, aluminum, or Pyrex glass, having an inner diameter
of about 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) and a wall thickness of about 0.12
inch (3.0 mm). Jacket 112 is longer than tube 103, as shown in FIG.
3, by about 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) at each end. Jacket 112 is internally
polished so the inside surface is reflective. The inner and outer
mesh electrodes, 105, 104, are preferably made of stainless steel
wires and could also be titanium, platinum, gold, nickel, silver,
or aluminum. Various stainless steels are suitable, including low
carbon SS, 304 SS, 309 SS, 310 SS, 316L SS, 321 SS, 347 SS, 400 SS,
and 405 SS. The mesh wire sizes can be 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, or 19, among others, with smaller wires being
preferred. The wires of inside and outside meshes 105 and 104, the
mesh of plates 116, as well as support wires 117, 118, and 121, are
preferably 0.025 inch (0.6 mm) diameter stainless steel. Wire sizes
can be between 0.015 inch and 0.028 inch, among others. A 316 SS
(stainless steel), size 10, wire is preferred for corona reaction
plates 116.
[0043] Referring again to FIG. 3, elongated annular chamber 113
between jacket 112 and tube 103 is an ultra-violet (UV) generating
chamber having a negative charge. The tube structure within the
jacket generates UV energy at a wavelength of about 185
nanometers.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, between each two plates 116 within tube
103 is formed an oxygen reactive allotrope chamber 124.
[0045] Power source 109 can apply a DC voltage of about six volts
up to at least about 25 kilovolts, and can be supplied by any
suitable DC source, including from a transformer powered from an AC
source. The wattage of the power source can range from about 100
watts to about 5 kilowatts, at about 0.5 to about 1 amp. These
relatively broad ranges are provided to show that the sizes of the
oxygen allotrope generators constructed in accordance with this
teaching can vary in scale.
[0046] It should be noted that the allotrope generator described
herein is, effectively, a pressure tank. The apparatus operates at
an internal back pressure of at least about 1 to at least about 25
pounds-force per square inch (psi). It has been found that greater
back pressure results in higher ozone production. The back pressure
is believed to force the oxygen molecules together and cause
binding of oxygen molecules, thereby increasing the concentration
of the ozone that is produced, and producing O.sub.3 and multiple
oxygen allotropes. No external pressure tank is necessary in this
apparatus. For the size example discussed above (34.5 inches long
and about two inches in outer diameter) the back pressure would
preferably be at least about 3 psig.
[0047] As the incoming gas flows through the interior of tube 103,
it encounters the rotationally offset electrically positive mesh
plates 116, forcing the gas into a swirling, cyclonic effect. This
applies centrifugal force to the flowing gas so that it tends to
force it to encounter inner positive mesh 105, resulting in
increased UV production. The gas exits generator 101 via small
holes, preferably two such holes coupled to tubes 114 which are
about 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) in diameter, for example, which also
forces the highly excited molecules together. When combined with
the back pressure the oxygen molecules have a greater chance to
attract and bond, thereby creating allotropes O.sub.4 and higher.
The gas flows along the outside of tube 103 through chamber 113
after it passes the initial length of the tube. In the alternative
embodiment of FIG. 4, as stated above, grounding wires 122
constitute a bulge or increase in diameter of the mesh enclosed
tube. As the gas flows through annular chamber 113, these increased
diameter grounding wire locations cause a thinning-out
disbursement, turbulence, or spreading of the gas, creating further
corona between outside mesh 104 and the inside surface of jacket
112.
[0048] Thus, the back pressure and the offset mesh plates force the
gas to make multiple exposures or contacts with arcs, static
electricity, and UV energy. While the term, "arc," is employed
herein, there is only arcing through the wall of tube 103. There is
no internal arcing within tube 103 or between tube 103 and jacket
112. It is believed that up to about 75% of the ozone created by
the instrument herein described is accomplished inside tube 103,
and the UV radiation outside tube 103 creates the remaining
25%.
[0049] An exemplary base to which the oxygen allotrope generator of
FIG. 3 can be mounted is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The right hand
end of the apparatus of FIG. 3 is shown mounted to base 201 in a
typically vertical operating orientation. The base is adapted to be
mounted at the operational location with bolts, as appropriate,
through holes 202. In the middle of the base is hole 203 through
which passes tube 102 supplying oxygen to the interior of tube 103.
Electrically positive connecting wire 110 is shown passing through
hole 204 and is connected to support wires 117, 118, and 121, and
inside mesh 105.
[0050] Flange 210 is secured to the end of generator 101 and is
mounted to base 201 by suitable means such as bolts 211 through
holes 212. Holes 215 are connected to allotrope exit tubes 114.
[0051] It is anticipated that both base 201 and flange 210 would be
formed of CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) but other materials
having similar appropriate properties could be used.
[0052] Support ring 240 is shown in FIG. 7. This ring fits on the
end of tube 103 opposite to the end mounted to base 201, as seen in
FIG. 3. Holes 241 provide for flow of partially ozonized gas 111
from inside tube 103 to chamber 113 between the tube and jacket
112. Center opening 242 accommodates gas flow out from the left
hand end of tube 103, as shown in FIG. 3. Support ring 240 is
preferably made of PTFE or equivalent.
[0053] With respect to the effectively reduced heat feature of this
apparatus, in contrast with the closed-ends configurations of the
prior art, as discussed above, the present system is not closed at
the top (left end in FIG. 3). Support ring 240 supports the top end
of tube 103 within jacket 112 with free flow out the end of the
tube and down the outside of tube 103 through chamber 113.
[0054] Support ring 240 thus serves two purposes: it supports the
top end of tube 103; and it evenly distributes the oxygen allotrope
gas around that end and directs it down to the exit holes in base
201.
[0055] This structure results in an effective self-cooling of the
oxygen allotrope generator.
SOME ADVANTAGES OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE
PRIOR ART
[0056] Within each separated chamber 124 (that portion within tube
103 and between two adjacent mesh plates 116 in FIG. 4) there are a
number of simultaneous actions reacting with the oxygen molecules:
1) radiation (UV); 2) electrical charge (arc) at the wall of tube
103; 3) static charge (offset mesh plates, and offset mesh plate
wires); and 4) elevated pressure. As the oxygen enters tube 103 it
is immediately introduced to UV radiation, light radiation/arc,
direct electrical/static, and non-direct electrical type of
environment. The oxygen molecules are immediately affected by the
UV (radiation), then contact is made with the arcing effect
(corona), then the oxygen is forced through the offset mesh plates
(static). The positive electric corona (arc) effect takes place
when the positive charge seeks ground through the tube wall. This
positive charge (wall arcing) produces a UV light effect (via the
positive charge grounding through the fused quartz crystal tube
wall) and a static positive charge on each offset plate 116 (each
square offset mesh plate is 11 holes square in this exemplary
embodiment). There is also static electricity on the wires (117,
118, 121) supporting the offset mesh plates.
[0057] It is estimated that there is a 30% to 35% ozone (multiple
allotropes) conversion that takes place via the offset mesh plates.
As for oxygen allotropes, tri-atomic O.sub.3 is an unstable
triangular structural combination of (-O, +O, -O), that is, one
positively charged oxygen molecule and two negatively charged
oxygen molecules, creating six half bonds and three full bonds.
Though this has a higher energy level, because the oxygen is trying
to reform into its original two half-bond structure it is
exceptionally/indiscriminately reactive and acts as a little time
bomb with the first foreign molecule it reacts with (hence needing
a far greater amount of ozone to treat a water source). A multiple
tetra-oxygen O.sub.4 allotrope bond also takes place when oxygen
molecules are subject to appropriate pressure. This might look like
this: (-O, +O, -O, +O). The tetra-oxygen will have a tetrahedral
bond, with eight half bonds, or four full bonds, creating a much
more stable form of oxygen with a higher potential energy.
[0058] In relation to the UV light effect, a positively charged
wire 110 is connected to an electrically conductive mesh-like
material (inner mesh 105) (FIGS. 3 and 6A) which is in contact
against the full length of the inner tube wall (the inner mesh is
"tightly" molded around and against the inner surface of the tube)
and a similar electrical "grounding wire" (negative) 108 is
connected to electrically conductive mesh-like material which, too,
is in contact with (again, the outer mesh 104 is "tightly" molded
to the tube surface) the outer surface of the tube wall. By
"molded" it is meant that the mesh is closely fitted on the tube
surfaces. When electricity at an appropriate voltage (for example,
15 KV) from power source 109 is applied an arcing will take place
between meshes 104, 105 through the fused quartz crystal wall. This
arcing creates a UV effect that can be increased or decreased by
the level of voltage being used. The UV radiation effect
(violet/pink in color) can be seen when the generator is activated
in a dark room. The UV can be controlled like a dimmer on a light
switch by controlling the amount of electricity being applied. It
has been determined that fused quartz crystal is excellent for the
transference of the ultraviolet spectrum, but it is not the only
material that can function adequately.
[0059] It should be noted that this generator does not produce a
corona effect within tube 103. Further, with this generator there
is no arcing within the fused quartz crystal tube; arcing occurs
only through the tube wall. It has been observed that known other
corona type generators are designed to create a corona reaction
within its tube or inner circumference. For example, in such prior
art devices, one inner wall arcs to the opposite inner wall, or the
inner wall arcs to a metal rod located down the middle of the round
tube or ring-like generator. As used herein, the term "corona
effect" is used interchangeably with "arcing effects" and is
intended to mean the same thing.
[0060] There are at least three different operational aspects of
this system which produce ozone. One is ultraviolet light (UV),
which can be produced by a light at about 140-250 nm wavelength
radiation. A UV light effect in the stated wavelength range of a
positive electrical charge is produced within fused quartz crystal
tube 103 without the presence of mercury gas, which gas is
typically employed in UV bulbs. This UV wavelength radiation
results from a positive electrical wire 110 connected to inner wire
mesh 105 within tube 103 which arcs through the wall of the tube to
outer grounding mesh 104.
[0061] As the gas, with some ozone already created due to the
positive UV radiation within tube 103, passes in the opposite
direction outside tube 103 through annular chamber 113, there is a
second exposure to UV radiation, this time at a negative charge.
Thus, the oxygen molecules are doubly exposed to UV radiation,
resulting in increased oxygen allotrope production, further adding
or stripping the oxygen molecules that were previously converted to
O.sub.3, and possibly O.sub.4, or other allotropes, within the
internal portion of the oxygen allotrope generator. A negative ion
is an oxygen atom with an extra electron. It is odorless. A
positive ion is an oxygen atom with one less electron. Through the
following UV, corona, and static process, oxygen molecules will add
or lose electrons.
[0062] By way of further explanation, UV has a stripping effect on
the oxygen molecules, that is, it strips an electron from an oxygen
molecule, causing it to convert from a stable molecule, O.sub.2, to
a nascent oxygen molecule, O.sub.1, thereby potentially producing
an O.sub.3 molecule. O.sub.1 is a hyperactive species, unstable and
short lived. For this reason it has to be generated in situ where
and when it is needed.
[0063] A second ozone producer is a corona charge. Here, oxygen is
passed through the center of a ring-like diode where it is passed
(arced) from the inside, or positive, mesh to the outside, or
ground, mesh. The corona effect has a charging effect on the oxygen
molecules.
[0064] The third ozone producer in operation here is the static
electrical charge. This is the same phenomenon as the common effect
which results from shoes on a carpet of certain materials, or
rubbing a balloon surface. The static electrical charge further
magnetizes the oxygen molecules. O.sub.2 is, by nature, a magnetic
molecule.
[0065] This apparatus is scalable and can produce ozone at a
minimum rate of about 0.5 to at least about 1,050 g/Nm.sup.3 (gas
phase grams of ozone per normal cubic meter) of instant ozone. The
conversion of oxygen molecules to O.sub.3 (ozone) and additional
oxygen allotrope clusters, even possibly including solid oxygen,
increases by as much as tenfold with every encounter of the
incoming gas with each offset mesh plate 116. It is believed that
in addition to O.sub.3, other oxygen allotropes, including O.sub.4,
O.sub.6, and stable oxygen O.sub.8 are being produced by the
process of this system. It may also produce a constant flow of
O.sub.8 (solid oxygen), and possibly O.sub.9 (metal oxygen). The
more O.sub.3 and allotropes that are created, the greater the
disinfecting value of the output of this system.
[0066] The oxygen allotropes resulting from the factors set out
above are enhanced in volume or number by the increased pressure
previously described.
[0067] Based on the expectation that multiple oxygen allotropes are
being created other than just O.sub.3, for every mesh plate chamber
that the oxygen-laden gas passes through, there is a multiplication
of oxygen allotropes that are being created. Tests have shown that
O.sub.3 allotropes are the most obvious at the outset. When the
proper back pressure is applied and the proper contact time is
allowed between the fused quartz chamber meshes 104, 105 (corona
arc), mesh offset plates 116 (static), and UV exposure (nanometer
wavelength radiation), the O.sub.3 allotropes alone increase from
about 3 grams to as much as 30 grams. When ten mesh plates are
applied, the generator reaches a level of 300 grams of O.sub.3
g/Nm.sup.3 (the amount of ozone estimated in an approximate three
feet by three feet (0.91.times.0.91 meter) square area. Further,
with this apparatus more ozone output can be achieved than would
ordinarily be expected in relation to the size of the generator,
electrical input, oxygen gas amount, and oxygen temperature. For
some purposes a proportionately smaller ozone generator might be
appropriate. Conversely, larger generators are contemplated.
[0068] There are many potential markets in which, and purposes for
which, this apparatus can be used, such as fluids decontamination
and enhancer for water, even including ocean water, storm water,
waste waters, gases, chemicals, and many others.
[0069] An additional benefit of this apparatus is that, considering
its size and required applied power, it produces more stable ozone
molecules than similar size prior art devices, thereby resulting in
the potential to decrease, if not eliminate, the production of
possible negative by-products and providing a more stable
decontamination effect.
* * * * *