AN OZONE GENERATOR FOR GENERATING OZONE, A METHOD FOR GENERATING OZONE FROM AN OXYGEN RICH GAS AND USE OF THE GENERATOR

Abstract

Ozone generator (1) for generating ozone comprising at least one high voltage electrode HVE (2), two low voltage electrodes LVE (3), at least one dielectric (4) and an electric isolator (25) placed in an area between the two LVE (3′, 3″). The generator (1) further comprises a first gap (7) and a second gap (8) and at least one of the gaps (7, 8) is a corona chamber. The at least one dielectric (4) comprising a first surface (9) is turning towards a HVE-surface (22) and an opposite second surface (10) is turning towards a first surface (17) of one of the LVE (3). The second surface (10) of the dielectric (4) is directly or indirectly supported in its full extension by the first LVE-surface (17), and at least one of the gaps (7, 8) is placed between the first surface (9) of the dielectric (4) and a first HVE-surface (22), said gap is a corona-chamber adapted to develop ozone.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. An ozone generator for generating ozone comprising at least one high voltage electrode (HVE), a first electrode, having a first HVE surface, an opposite second HVE surface; two low voltage electrodes (LVE), a first LVE and a second LVE each comprising a first LVE surface and an opposite second LVE surface, said HVE(s) is/are placed in a region between the LVE; at least one dielectric and an electric isolator placed in an area between the two LVE; an inlet gas port for leading oxygen rich gas into the generator and an outlet gas port for leading generated ozone gas out of the generator; a first gap and a second gap and at least one of the gaps being a corona chamber that at least one dielectric comprising a first surface is turning towards the first HVE-surface and an opposite second surface is turning towards the first LVE surface of one of the LVE, at least one of the gaps is placed between the first surface of said dielectric and the first HVE-surface, said gap being a corona-chamber adapted to develop ozone and that the oxygen is led through the inlet gas port to a duct ending in a center portion of one of the gaps; the second surface of the dielectric is directly or indirectly supported in its full extension by the first LVE-surface, and the isolator has a plurality of communication holes placed in a distance from a center of the isolator and the communication holes being in fluid communication with the duct; and said communication holes are fluidly connecting the two gaps, whereby gas is allowed to flow from the gap being in fluid communication with the inlet gas port to the opposite placed gap being in fluid communication with the outlet gas port.

19. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the HVE(s) comprise(s) a circumferential edge delimiting the extension of the HVE(s), and that the dielectric(s) comprise(s) a circumferential edge delimiting the extension of dielectric(s) and the circumferential delimiting edge of the dielectric in the whole periphery extends all over the delimiting edge of the HVE.

20. The ozone generator according to claim 19, wherein the circumferential delimiting edge of the dielectric throughout the periphery extends all over and beyond the delimiting edge of the HVE said part located beyond the delimiting edge of the HVE is covered by the isolator.

21. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the isolator has a radial extension equivalent to the radial extension of the first and the second LVE and the isolator is located between the first and the second LVE, said isolator in the entire periphery of its two surfaces facing towards the first and the second LVE respectively is in contact with each LVE.

22. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the communication holes comprise several parallel channels located in the isolator substantially symmetrical around a center of the ozone generator, and each channel fluid-connects one gap with the other gap.

23. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the dielectric(s) is/are a continuous unbroken plate(s).

24. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the outlet gas port is located in the isolator.

25. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the inlet gas port is located in the first or the second LVE or is located in the isolator.

26. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein one of the gaps is placed in a region between the first surface of one of the LVE and the isolator nd the other gap is delimited by the first surface of one of the dielectric and the first surface of one of the HVE.

27. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein ring formed seals such as O-rings are placed between the surfaces of the isolator turning towards the LVE and the respective first surfaces of the LVE, said seals are placed in the periphery.

28. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the gaps is/are adapted to maintain a high AC voltage between one HVE and one LVE, and that a high voltage is applied to the at least one HVE by an electrical connection—such as a wire—to a connector part of said HVE.

29. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the generator (1) comprises one HVE, one dielectric and one corona-chamber.

30. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the generator comprises two HVE a first HVE and a second HVE and two dielectric a first dielectric and a second dielectric said first dielectric has a surface supported directly or indirectly in its full extension by the first LVE and the first gap being a corona-chamber is placed between the surface of the first dielectric turning towards the first HVE and the surface of the first HVE, and the second dielectric has a surface supported directly or indirectly in its full extension by the first LVE surface of the second LVE, and the second gap also being a corona-chamber is placed between the surface of the second dielectric turning towards the second HVE and the first HVE surface of the second HVE.

31. The ozone generator according to claim 18, wherein the width of the gaps measured between the limiting surfaces is throughout its extent uniform and around 50-1500 m.

32. A method for generating ozone from an oxygen rich gas comprising: leading the oxygen rich gas into an ozone generator comprising least one high voltage electrode (HVE)—a first electrode—having a first HVE surface, an opposite second HVE surface and two low voltage electrodes (LVE), a first LVE and a second LVE each comprising a first LVE surface and an opposite second LVE surface, said HVE(s) is/are placed in a region between the two LVE, the generator further comprises at least one dielectric and an electric isolator placed in an area between the two LVE, the generator further comprises an inlet gas port for leading oxygen reach gas into the generator and an outlet gas port for leading generated ozone gas out of the generator, the generator further comprises a first gap and a second gap and at least one of the gaps being a corona chamber; applying a voltage to the at least one HVE electrodes; leading the oxygen rich gas into a center of one of the gaps wherein the gas is flowing from the center to the periphery of said gap where the gas is flowing through communications holes in the electric isolator making fluidly communication between the first and the second gap; flowing the gas into the other gap; flowing said gas from the periphery of the other gap into center of said gap, said center of the gap being in fluid communication with the outlet port; and the gas is leaving the other gap through said outlet port said leaving gas being ozone gas.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the gas is running over the surface of the at least one dielectric said surface in question facing the gap said dielectric(s) comprising a continuous unbroken plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of the components for a first embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention comprising one HVE.

[0072] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the HVE shown in FIG. 1 A.

[0073] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the isolator shown in FIG. 1A.

[0074] FIG. 2A is an x-ray view of a generator according to the invention and seen from the top of the generator.

[0075] FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the generator shown in FIG. 2A along the line B-B.

[0076] FIG. 2C is an enlarged section of FIG. 2B.

[0077] FIG. 2D is showing the flow of a gas through a generator according to the first embodiment.

[0078] FIG. 2E is showing a second way of letting the gas flow through a generator according to the first embodiment and where the gas has been reversed compared with what is shown in FIG. 2D.

[0079] FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the components for a second embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention comprising two HVE.

[0080] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the isolator shown in FIG. 3A.

[0081] FIG. 4A is an x-ray view of a generator according to the invention and seen from the top of the generator.

[0082] FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the generator shown in FIG. 4A along the line B-B.

[0083] FIG. 4C is an enlarged section of FIG. 4B.

[0084] FIG. 4D is showing the flow of a gas through a generator according to the second embodiment.

[0085] The invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1A-C. FIG. 1A shows an explode view of an ozone generator 1 according to the invention comprising an isolator 25 made in a non-conductive material such as thermoplastic materials. A suitable material is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) also called Teflon. At one side of this a low voltage electrode is placed—a second low voltage electrode (LVE) 3″—and attached to the isolator 25 in the periphery for instance with screws. The low voltage electrode 3″ is advantageously made in pure aluminum and is flat plate shaped. At the other side of the isolator 25, a high voltage electrode (HVE) 2 is attached. This may also me fastened to the isolator 25 by screws. The surface of the HVE 2 turning away from the isolator 25—the first HVE surface 22 of the HVE—is facing first surface 9 of a dielectric 4, which in this case is a flat circular plate with a thickness in the interval of 500-700μ. It is made in a material such a ceramic (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), Teflon, glass or another non-conductive material.

[0086] As can be seen the components of the generator 1 is circular shaped but could be made in any shape such as square or rectangular etc. The HVE 2 is bounded by a peripheral edge 24 and the dielectric 4 is bounded by a peripheral edge 21. The edge 21 of the dielectric 21 protrudes the edge 24 of the HVE throughout the HVE when the device is assembled. When the components are circular shaped the diameter of the dielectric 4 is larger than the diameter of the HVE 2. The surface of the dielectric 4 turning away from the HVE 2—the second surface 10—is facing and directly or indirectly in its full extension resting against a surface of a first LVE surface 17 of a first LVE 3′.

[0087] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the HVE 2 shown in FIG. 1A. The surface of HVE 2 facing away from the dielectric 4—the HVE second surface 23 of the HVE 2—is constructed with a connector part 30. It connects a wire/a duct with the interior of the generator 1 with the external—through an inlet port—allowing gas to flow through the generator 1. Further, it is also the place for electrical wires to connect to the HVE 2 in order to provide the high voltage for producing ozone.

[0088] The HVE 2 is equipped with through holes 28 placed in the periphery in order to fasten the HVE 2 to the isolator 25 with for instance screws. This construction of the HVE 2 is used for embodiment one and two.

[0089] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the isolator 25 shown in FIG. 1A. It is a circular formed unit comprising a circular recess 31 placed in the center of the first surface 29 of the isolator 25 and making room for the connector part 30 when the generator 1 is assembled. The recess 31 is encircled in the periphery by a first circumferential shelf 26. The HVE 2 is resting against the shelf 26 attached to it preferably with screws. Above the first circumferential shelf 26, a second circumferential shelf 27 is placed. This is a narrow shelf and when the LVE and the dielectric is placed above the shelf 27, it will constitute a part of a gap, which will be explained below. In the narrow second shelf 27 through going communication holes 15 are placed. They are connecting the gap mentioned above with a gap placed at the opposite side of the isolator 25. The gap at the opposite side of the isolator 25 is delimited at one said by the second surface 35 of the isolator the surface being substantially even and flat. This construction of the isolator 25 is used for the first embodiment. The second embodiment of the ozone generator 1 according to the invention comprises an opposite surface constructed as the first surface 29 of the first embodiment comprising the recesses. The isolator 25 in the second embodiment is actually made by two isolators 25 as known from the first embodiment but where the second surfaces of the two isolators 25 constructed for the first embodiment are connected to each other by being molded or glued. Thereby an isolator 25 suitable for the second embodiment is constructed. The dielectric and the HVE used for the first embodiment are also used for the second embodiment without significant adjustments.

[0090] A first embodiment according to the invention is disclosed in FIG. 2A which is an x-ray view of a generator 1 shown from the top of a generator 1 while FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the generator shown in FIG. 2A along the line B-B. A circle is indicating an enlarged section shown in 2C. Further, FIG. 2D is showing how gas is running through the generator leading oxygen rich gas OX into the generator, and ozone OZ generated in the generator leaving it through the outlet port.

[0091] The generator 1 comprises two LVE 3—a first LVE 3′ and a second LVE 3″—placed on either side of the other components of the generator 1. An inlet port 5 is placed in the center of the second LVE 3″ leading into an inlet duct 12. It ends in a gap—the second gap 8—delimited at one side of the inner surface 17 of the second LVE 3″ and on the other side by a flat and even surface—a second surface 35—of the isolator 25. O-rings 32 are placed in the periphery seeing to that the gap 8 is a closed chamber. Oxide rich gas is led into the second gap 8 in a center portion 13 of the gap 8 and moves to the periphery of the gap 8 and escapes through communication holes 15 placed with openings in the periphery of the gap 8. The through going holes 15 are placed in the isolator 25 and connects the second gap 8 with a first gap 7 placed at the opposite side of the isolator 25 as explained above. They are channels located in the isolator 25. The HVE 2 is placed at the same side of the isolator 25 as the first gap 7 as explained above. The first HVE surface 22 of the HVE 2 turning towards the first gap 7 is even, flat, and delimits the first gap 7 at one side.

[0092] The first gap 7 is at the other side delimited by the first surface 9 of dielectric 4, which is a thin ceramic plate. O-rings 32 are placed in the periphery seeing to that the gap 7 is a closed chamber.

[0093] One side of the ceramic plate 4—the second surface 10—is supported by the first LVE 3′ (ground electrode) in its full extension. The support may be a directly support the two surfaces touching each other, or it may be indirectly by having for instance a thin conductive material incorporated between them. The gas is now flowing from the periphery of the first gap 7 to the center of the first gap 7 where it escapes though a connection duct 34 connecting the first gap 7 with the outlet port 6 through a duct 33 in the isolator 25 and the connection part 30.

[0094] The corona chamber—that is where ozone is produced—is the first gap 7 where the oxygen rich gas is converted to ozone in the know way. The dielectric 4 is covering an area that exceeds the area of the HVE 2 whereby an electrical short circuit is avoided. The HVE 2 comprises a circumferential edge 24 delimiting the extension of the HVE 2. A circumferential edge 21 delimiting the extension of dielectric extends all over the delimiting edge 24 of the HVE 2.

[0095] The electricity is led to the connector part 30 of the HVE 2 placed on the second HVE surface 23 through an opening in the isolator 25 that also comprise the outlet duct 33. A high AC voltage between the HVE 2 and the first LVE 3′ is established.

[0096] The communication holes 15 are placed with the same distance to the center of the generator 1 and with the same distance between them.

[0097] However, the same generator can be used for producing gas where the flow has been reversed. This is shown in FIG. 2E. In this case the same generator as shown in FIG. 2B is used but where the outlet duct 33 is used for leading oxygen rich gas into the generator (is equivalent to the inlet duct 12). The reference signs/terms may so to speak be a little misleading but is kept in order to underline that the construction in principle is the same as the one used for the gas flow shown in FIG. 2D. The gas is led into the middle of the generator 1 and through the connector part 30 flowing through the connection duct 34 towards the center portion 13 of the first gap 7. From here, it is flowing to the periphery of the gap 7. During the flow, the oxygen gas is transformed to ozone due to the high voltage applied to the HVE. The gas leaves the gap 7 through the communication holes 15 and passes into the second gap 8. Here it flows towards the middle of the gap 7 and leaves the generator through what is denoted the inlet port in FIG. 2B but here is an outlet port. The flow inside the generator may be regulated as a function of the diameter of the outlet port placed in the LVE.

[0098] FIG. 3A is an explode view of the components for a second embodiment of a generator according to the invention comprising two HVE: a first HVE 2′ and a second HVE 2″. The reference sign used for this embodiment is the same as for the first embodiment representing same technical features. A further difference between the two embodiments is that the device shown in FIG. 3 comprises two dielectrics: a first dielectric 4′ and a second dielectric 4″. The isolator 25 is as explained above constructed different compared The communication holes 15 are placed in a recess as explained with reference to the first embodiment.

[0099] On the side of the isolator 25 two ports 5,6 are placed each having access to the connector part 30 of each HVE 2. Through one of the ports—the inlet port 5—the oxygen rich gas is led and ozone gas is leaving the generator through the outlet port 6. Two electric wires for generating the high voltage currency is also placed in the ports 5, 6 and each engaging the connector part 30 of a HVE 2.

[0100] The construction of the second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 4B being a sectional view of the generator shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4C being an enlarged section of FIG. 4B. The flow of the gas is shown in FIG. 4D.

[0101] The generator 1 comprises two LVE 3—a first LVE 3′ and a second LVE 3″—placed on either side of the inner components of the generator 1. An inlet port 5 is placed in the isolator as explained above leading into an inlet duct 12 which ends in the connector part 30 of the first HVE 2′. From here, a connection duct 34 is provided through the first HVE 2′ leading the gas up to a center portion 13 of a first gap 7. This is at one side delimited of the facing surface (flat and even)—the first HVE surface 22—of the first HVE 2′ and on the other side by a flat and even surface—the first surface 9—of the first dielectric 4′ placed on and supported by the first LVE surface 17 of the first LVE 3′. The dielectric 4′ is supported in its full extension by the first LVE surface 17 of the first LVE 3′. The dielectric 4′ has an extension so a delimiting edge 21 of the first dielectric 4′ in the whole periphery extends all over a circumference of the first HVE 2′.

[0102] O-rings 32 are placed in the periphery seeing to that the first gap/chamber 7 is a closed chamber. Oxide rich gas is led into the first gap 7 and through the inlet port 5, the inlet duct 12 and through the connection duct 34 and moves to the periphery of the gap 7 escaping through the communication holes 15 placed with openings in the periphery of the gap 7. The holes 15 are placed in the isolator 25 and connect the first gap 7 with a second gap 8 placed at the opposite side of the isolator 25. They are formed as channels located in the isolator 25.

[0103] The second gap 8 is delimited by a second dielectric 4″ and the second HVE 2″ and the construction of it is as explained above for the first gap 7. The gas is running into the middle of the second gap 8 from both periphery sides of the gap 8. In the middle a connection duct 34 is provided letting the gas escape form the second gap 8 to the connector part 30 of the second HVE 2″ and from here the gas is leaving the generator 1 through the outlet duct 33 and out through the outlet gas port 6.

[0104] The surfaces of both the HVEs 2′, 2″ turning towards the gaps are even and flat and delimits the gaps in question at one side. At the other side the dielectrics 4′,4″ are delimiting their respective gaps 7,8. O-rings are placed in the periphery as explained above.

[0105] One side of the ceramic plates 4′,4″ the second surface 10—is supported by the LVE 3′,3″ (ground electrode) in the full extension. The support may be a directly support the two surfaces touching each other or it may be indirectly by having for instance a thin metal net/plate incorporated between them.

[0106] The gas flows from the middle to the periphery of the first gap 7 to the periphery and enters the second gap 8 through the communication holes 15, flows to the middle of the second gap 8 where it escapes though the connection duct 34 connecting the outlet duct 33 and out through the outlet port 6.

[0107] The corona chambers—that is where ozone is produced—is in this second embodiment the first gap 7 and the second gap 8 where the oxygen rich gas is converted to ozone in the know way. The communication holes 15 are placed with the same distance to the center of the generator 1 and with the same distance between them.

[0108] The LVE are made in pure aluminum and the dielectric are preferably made in a ceramic material Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or another non-conductive material. The isolator is made in an isolating material such as Teflon while the HVEs preferably are made in pure aluminum.

[0109] Due to the gas in the second embodiment is running over two HVE and thereby providing two corona chambers separated from each other and producing ozone at different time the utilization factor is very high. A lot of ozone is produced compared with the known devices using the same amount of oxide.

[0110] The dielectric is in the examples shown as ceramic plates. However, they could also be coatings applied on the surface of the LVE and with an extension as explained for the plate-formed dielectric having a circumferential edge exceeding the circumferential edge of the HVE.