LOW POWER OZONE GENERATOR IN MOISTURE RICH CLIMATE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Abstract

A device for generating an ozone in a high moisture content environment is provided. The ozone generator features an enclosure with an interior space, an assembly within this interior space, at least one sheet of glass, and a power control board positioned in the housing and which houses the at least one sheet of glass. The assembly features at least one anode and at least one cathode where there is some overlap between the anode and cathode, which are preferably constructed out of aluminum. When in use, the ozone generator creates a plasma discharge which is used to prevent potential corrosive effects that may arise.

Claims

1. A device for generating a ozone in a high moisture environment, comprising: an enclosure with an interior space; an assembly within the interior space, comprising: a housing, at least one anode electrode, and at least one cathode electrode, wherein the anode electrode and the at least one cathode electrode overlaps one another, wherein the at least one anode electrode and the at least one cathode electrode are comprised of aluminum, and wherein said at least one electrode generates a plasma discharge to prevent corrosive effects of the at least one cathode electrode and the at least one anode electrode; at least one sheet of glass positioned between an overlap of the at least one anode electrode and the at least one cathode electrode, a power control board positioned in the housing and which houses the at least one sheet of glass; said power control board adapted and configured to discharge corona.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the overlap is at least 2 mm.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the overlap ranges between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the glass is comprised of borosilicate.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the glass is at least 1.2 millimeters in thickness.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the glass has a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.4 mm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the glass has a dielectric constant of at least 4.6.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the glass has a dielectric constant ranging between 3.4 and 4.6.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the glass has a dielectric strength of 3 kV/mm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the glass has a dielectric strength in the range of 3.7 Kv/mm to 50 kV/mm.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein ozone is generated between 0.5 ppm and 2 ppm for a period of time between 3 and 7 hours per day.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein ozone is generated between 0.5 ppm and 2 ppm for a period of time of at least three hours per day.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the amount of ethylene in the enclosure is reduced by ozone.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are composed of a plurality of shapes.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrodes comprise sharp edges and are angular.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the generator creates an electrical current with a voltage measuring at least one kiloVolt.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the generator creates an electrical current with a voltage measuring at least 470 volts at a frequency of 80 kilohertz.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device produces both ozone and air ions.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the aluminum is placed on the glass by vapor deposition after a copper ground layer is deposited via chemical vapor deposition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the packaging of the tent of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the enclosure of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the tent poles of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the tent of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the tent of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the climate unit of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the tent present invention, filled with a climate unit and some crops.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows one location where the solar panel of the present invention may be installed.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the climate unit of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 10 shows the internals of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

[0048] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the corona discharger of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the corona discharger of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 13 shows the mechanism for ozone breaking down ethylene.

[0051] FIG. 14 shows another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0053] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0054] The device creates a closed environment that is sterile and by adding an anti-fungal product the fruits and vegetables protect the crops from water loss, bruises and fungi. The device only uses two liters of water a week and is self-sufficient by utilizing a 3 watt solar panel. In another embodiment the device may be larger or small, use more or less water and be powered by a larger or smaller wattage solar panel depending on the needs of the farmer, market vendor or consumer.

[0055] The unique cell structure of fruits and vegetable allows such crops to withstand high temperatures as long as they have a high turgor presage provided by the continuous flow of sap from the plant to keep the crop dehydrated. When a crop is harvested and removed from its root the link to their sap is lost and the dehydration clock begins to tick. A vegetable or fruit cell that is dehydrated ruptures easily and quickly causing vacuole fluid, an acid to form. This acid liquid contains enzymes which causes irreversible cell damage and decomposes the crop from the inside out. As such the dehydrated fruit or vegetable bruises easily. Bruising causes ethylene gas to be produced which attracts insects and fungi. If the fruit or vegetable is stored in an environment that mimics that can preserve the stability of their firm cell structure, the crops remain fresh and unbruised for a longer period of time. Buying time is what the present invention does. The present invention allows the crops cell structure to remain intact and prevents dehydration by creating a saturated humidity inside the device so that the crop doesn't lose water which is the primary effect of harvested dehydrated crop. The present invention not only protects the crops cells structure by creating high humidity but also destroys fungi and prevents further contamination of rotting crops by creating ozone. Ozone is created by a corona discharge, which is generated by multiplying the voltage from the solar panel so that no additional inputs it fungicides are needed.

[0056] Ozone also for the elimination of ethylene production which is the ripening hormone of fruits and vegetables. Without ethylene and in the presence of high temperatures, crops do not bruise easily and rotting is slowed down. The ozone created by the present invention oxidizes ethylene into carbon dioxide and water, which prevents the rotting process. Any ozone produced by the present invention is below any dangerous level to human beings or animals.

[0057] The present invention creates an environment where the hardness and weight loss of the crop is retained. Hardness is a good indicator for the transport suitability a crop may have while a crops weight loss is directly linked with how sellable a crop is. The less weight a particular vegetable or fruit undergoes or the more hard a fruit or vegetable is directly indicative to its freshness, ripeness and consumer consumptions. Depending on the particular fruit or vegetable, the present inventions allows for the weight loss of the fruit or vegetable to be dramatically decreased.

[0058] The present invention operates by creating air ions. Air ions are short lived, lasting only minutes before they lose their charge. Their life-time is reduced by contacting walls or surfaces, or by interactions with pollutants or humidity in the air. Negative air ions (NAI) reduce airborne mold and bacterial contaminants. The growth of cultured bacteria is retarded and the viability of bacteria and fungal spores in aerosols is reduced by exposure to NAI in concentrations ranging from 5×10.sup.4 to 5×10.sup.6 ions/cm.sup.3. A combination of ozone (O.sub.3) with NAI is reported to be more effective than either of them alone, in suppressing microbial growth and decay of fresh produce. When cultures of Erwinia caratovora were exposed to 10.sup.6 NAI/cm.sup.3 and/or 50 ppb O.sub.3 at 10° C. for 6 hours, viability of O.sub.3 treated bacteria was 70%, whereas viability of those treated with O.sub.3 and NAI was only 4%. The synergistic effect of NAI with O.sub.3 could explain the variable effectiveness of O.sub.3 in reducing decay of stored produce. In two separate studies, the lesion growth rates of Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on fresh carrots was reduced by 12% and 16%, respectively, when held in 1 ppm O.sub.3 without NAI. However, in a similar trial where carrots were held in 0.1-0.5 ppm O.sub.3 in combination with 2×10.sup.4 to 7×10.sup.4 NAI/cm.sup.3, growth rates of B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum were reduced by 69% and 57%, respectively. The apparent synergism of NAI with O.sub.3 could provide an effective method to reduce postharvest decay of fresh produce.

[0059] The present invention allows for the addition of various natural product such as essential oils or the odorless hydrogen peroxide to be added to the device in order to eliminate/reduce the amount of fungicides the crop may grow. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention 5 hours of sunlight a day is needed to provide the energy to run the device. The present invention is lightweight and weighs about 5 kg or roughly 11 pounds. The present invention is collapsible and requires minimal set up and installation.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is capable of optimizing the properties of the inner chamber for various crops. This embodiment allows a user to adjust the humidity, ozone level, and ionization level of the present invention. These levels can be correlated to optimally store a particular crop or crops. In various embodiments, this functionality is achieved by a fan to control the humidity. Further, preferred embodiments will provide for the ozone generator to be at full power, half power, or simply be off. Additionally, other embodiments will have the ability to selectively turn off the ionization caused by the present invention.

[0061] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is capable of entering a sterilization mode where the ozone generator is left of full power for a predetermined period of time. This setting is intended to be used when the present invention is not filled with produce. Further, some embodiments of the present invention are capable of merely generating ionizing air, so that a walk-in embodiment of the present invention may be used. It should be noted that in various embodiments, the present invention may take a wide variety of sizes.

[0062] While this disclosure refers to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed.

[0063] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.