Gas cooling and drying system for corona discharge ozone generating unit

Claim 2

IN COMBINATION, A CORONA DISCHARGE OZONE GENERATING UNIT; MEANS FOR COOLING THE CORONA DISCHARGE OZONE GENERATING UNIT COMPRISING A VORTEX TUBE UNIT FOR RECEIVING GAS TO BE OZONIZED AT A FIRST INLET AND SEPARATING THE HIGH ENERGY GAS MOLECULES FROM THE LOW ENERGY GAS MOLECULES THEREIN AND DELIVERING THE RESULTANT RELATIVELY COOL GAS MOLECULES TO A COOL GAS OUTLET THEREOF AND THE RELATIVELY WARM GAS MOLECULES TO A WARM GAS OUTLET THEREOF; A MAIN INLET FOR AN OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS TO BE OZONIZED; A DRYING UNIT PROVIDING FOR THE FLOW IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER THERETHROUGH OF GAS TO BE DRIED AND OZONIZED AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM THE GAS FLOWING THERETHROUGH WHICH MUST BE PERIODICALLY DRIED WITH WARM GAS, SAID GAS DRYING UNIT HAVING A FIRST INLET AT ONE END INTO WHICH OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS TO BE DRIED IS TO PASS INTO THE UNIT, AN OUTLET FOR A DE-MOISTURIZING GAS FROM WHICH OUTLET DRYING GAS PASSES FROM THE UNIT, AND AN OPENING FROM WHICH DRIED OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS CAN EXIT FROM THE UNIT OR DRYING WARM GAS CAN ENTER THE UNIT; CONDUIT MEANS FORMING A FIRST PASSAGEWAY INTERCONNECTING SAID MAIN INLET AND SAID FIRST INLET OF SAID DRYING UNIT; VALVE MEANS IN SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAY FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAY; CONDUIT MEANS FORMING A SECOND PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID OUTLET FOR DE-MOISTURIZING GAS OF SAID DRYING UNIT AND A DISCHARGE POINT THEREFOR; SECOND VALVE MEANS FOR SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING OR CLOSING THE SAME; CONDUIT MEANS FORMING A THIRD PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID OPENING IN SAID DRYING UNIT FROM WHICH DRIED OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS CAN EXIT AND SAID INLET OF SAID VORTEX TUBE UNIT; THIRD VALVE MEANS FOR SAID THIRD PASSAGEWAYS FOR CLOSING OFF THE ASSOCIATED PASSAGEWAY LEADING TO SAID INLET OF SAID VORTEX TUBE UNIT WHEN THE OPENING OF THE ASSOCIATED DRYING UNIT ACTS AS AN ENTRYWAY FOR DE-MOISTURIZING GAS AND FOR OPENING THE SAME WHEN THE OPENING OF THE ASSOCIATED DRYING UNIT IS TO ACT AS AN EXITWAY FOR DRIED OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS; CONDUIT MEANS FORMING A FOURTH PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING FROM THE WARM AIR OUTLET OF SAID VORTEX TUBE UNIT TO A POINT OF SAID THIRD PASSAGEWAY ON THE SIDE OF SAID THIRD VALVE MEANS NEAREST SAID OPENING IN SAID DRYING UNIT; FORUTH VALVE MEANS FOR SAID FOURTH PASSAGEWAY FOR CLOSING OFF THE ASSOCIATED PASSAGEWAY WHEN THE OPENING IN THE ASSOCIATED DRYING UNIT IS TO ACT AS AN EXITWAY FOR DRIED GAS TO BE OZONIZED AND FOR OPENING THE ASSOCIATED PASSAGEWAY WHEN THE OPENING OF SAID DRYING UNIT ACTS AS AN ENTRYWAY FOR DEMOISTURIZING GAS; AND CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE COOL GAS OUTLET OF SAID VORTEX TUBE UNIT AND THE INLET TO SAID OZONE GENERATING UNIT FOR FEEDING SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF COLD GAS THROUGH SAID OZONE GENERATING UNIT TO GENERATE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF OZONE AND TO COOL THE SURFACES WITHIN SAID OZONE GENERATING UNIT SO THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE OZONE PRODUCED DOES NOT REACH AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE AT WHICH OZONE SUNSTANTIALLY DISSOCIATES.

Claim 3

An ozone generating system comprising a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized, a first and a second drying unit each providing for the flow in one direction or the other therethrough of gas to be dried and including saturable means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which saturable means must be periodically dried with conduit means forming a pair of passageways respectively connecting said main inlet to inlets for gas to be ozonized of siad first and second drying units; a first pair of valve means respectively for said first pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said first pair of passageways; conduit means forming a second pair of passageways respectively extending between outlets for exiting de-moisturizing warm air therefrom of said first and second drying units and a discharge point therefor; a second pair of valve means respectively for said second pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said second pair of passageways; a corona discharge ozone generating unit; and means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit and supplying warm de-moisturizing air to said gas drying units comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving air at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof; conduit means forming a third pair of passageways respectively extending between openings in said drying units and said inlet of said vortex tube unit, from which dried oxygen containing gas exits or drying warm gas enters the units; a thrid pair of valve means respectively for said third pair of passageways each for closing off the associated passageways leading to said inlet of said vortex tube unit when the opening of the associated drying unit is to act as an entryway for de-mositurizing gas and for opening the same when the opening of the associated drying unit is to act as an exitway for dried oxygen containing gas; conduit means forming a fourth pair of passageways extending from the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit respectively to points of said third pair of passageways on the side of said third valve means nearest said openings in said drying units; a fourth pair of valve means respectively for said fourth pair of passageways each for closing off the associated passageways when the opening in the associated drying unit is to act as an exitway for dried gases and for opening the associated passageway when the opening of the associated drying unit acts as an entryway for de-moisturizing gas; and conduit means extending between the cold gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cool gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach the elevated temperature at which ozone substantially dissociates.

Claim 4

An ozone generating system comprising a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized, a first and a second drying unit each providing for the flow in one direction or the other therethrough of gas to be dried and including saturable means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which saturable means must be periodically dried with conduit means forming a pair of passageways respectively connecting said main inlet to inlets for gas to be ozonized of siad first and second drying units; a first pair of valve means respectively for said first pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said first pair of passageways; conduit means forming a second pair of passageways respectively extending between outlets for exiting de-moisturizing warm air therefrom of said first and second drying units and a discharge point therefor; a second pair of valve means respectively for said second pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said second pair of passageways; a corona discharge ozone generating unit; and means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit and supplying warm de-moisturizing air to said gas drying units comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving air at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof; conduit means forming a third pair of passageways respectively extending between openings in said drying units and said inlet of said vortex tube unit, from which dried oxygen containing gas exits or drying warm gas enters the units; a thrid pair of valve means respectively for said third pair of passageways each for closing off the associated passageways leading to said inlet of said vortex tube unit when the opening of the associated drying unit is to act as an entryway for de-mositurizing gas and for opening the same when the opening of the associated drying unit is to act as an exitway for dried oxygen containing gas; conduit means forming a fourth pair of passageways extending from the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit respectively to points of said third pair of passageways on the side of said third valve means nearest said openings in said drying units; a fourth pair of valve means respectively for said fourth pair of passageways each for closing off the associated passageways when the opening in the associated drying unit is to act as an exitway for dried gases and for opening the associated passageway when the opening of the associated drying unit acts as an entryway for de-moisturizing gas; and conduit means extending between the cold gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cool gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach the elevated temperature at which ozone substantially dissociates.

Claim 5

The ozone generating system of claim 2 wherein there is provided timer means for automatically periodically effecting the alternately opening and closing of said first, second, third and fourth pair of valve means so the oxygen containing gas to be ozonized is alternately automatically fed to the inlet of said drying units, said opening of the drying unit receiving oxygen gas to be ozonized is connected to the inlet of the vortex tube unit, said opening of the other drying unit is connected to the warm gas outlet of said vortex tube unit, and said outlet for de-moisturizing gas of the latter drying unit is coupled to said discharge point.

Claim 6

The ozone generating system of claim 3 wherein said third and fourth pair of valve means are one way valves operated by the pressure differentials present in said third and fourth pairs of passageways by the flow paths determined by said first pair of valve menas.

Claim 7

In combination, a corona discharge ozone generating unit; means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving gas to be ozonized at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and the relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof; a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized; a drying unit providing for the flow therethrough of gas to be dried and ozonized and including means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which must be periodically dried with gas, said gas drying unit having inlet means at which oxygen containing gas to be dried and warm de-moisturizing gas are to pass into the unit, outlet means from which de-moisturizing gas passes from the unit and the dried oxygen containing gas con exit from the unit; conduit means forming passageway means interconnecting said main inlet and said inlet means of said drying unit; valve means in said passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; conduit means forming passageway means extending between said outlet means for de-moisturizing gas and a discharge point therefor; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening or closing the same; conduit means forming passageway means extending between said outlet means from which dried oxygen containing gas can exit from the drying unit and said inlet of said vortex tube unit; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; conduit means forming a passageway mean extending from the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit to said inlet means for de-moisturizing gas; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; and conduit means extending between the cool gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cold gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach an elevated temperature at which ozone substantially disassociates.

Claim 8

In combination, a corona discharge ozone generating unit; means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving gas to be ozonized at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and the relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof; a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized; a drying unit providing for the flow therethrough of gas to be dried and ozonized and including means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which must be periodically dried with gas, said gas drying unit having inlet means at which oxygen containing gas to be dried and warm de-moisturizing gas are to pass into the unit, outlet means from which de-moisturizing gas passes from the unit and the dried oxygen containing gas con exit from the unit; conduit means forming passageway means interconnecting said main inlet and said inlet means of said drying unit; valve means in said passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; conduit means forming passageway means extending between said outlet means for de-moisturizing gas and a discharge point therefor; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening or closing the same; conduit means forming passageway means extending between said outlet means from which dried oxygen containing gas can exit from the drying unit and said inlet of said vortex tube unit; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; conduit means forming a passageway mean extending from the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit to said inlet means for de-moisturizing gas; valve means for the last mentioned passageway means for selectively opening and closing the same; and conduit means extending between the cool gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cold gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach an elevated temperature at which ozone substantially disassociates.

Claim 9

An ozone generating system comprising a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized, a first and a second drying unit each providing for the flow of gas to be dried and including saturable means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which saturable means must be periodically dried with a de-moisturizing gas; conduit means forming a first pair of passageways respectively connecting said main inlet to respective inlets for gas to be ozonized of said first and second drying units; a first pair of valve means respectively for said first pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said first pair of passageways; conduit means forming a second pair of passageways respectively extending between outlets for exiting de-moisturizing warm air from said first and second drying units and a discharge point therefor; a second pair of valve means respectively for said seconD pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said second pair of passageways; a corona discharge ozone generating unit; and means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit and supplying warm de-moisturizing air to said gas drying units comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving air at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof, conduit means forming a third pair of passageways respectively extending between openings in said drying units and said inlet of said vortex tube unit, from which openings dried oxygen containing gas can exit the drying units, a third pair of valve means respectively for said third pair of passageways each for selectively opening or closing the associated passageways, conduit means forming a fourth pair of passageways interconnecting respectively the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit and openings in said drying units; a fourth pair of valve means respectively for said fourth pair of passageways each for selectively opening and closing the associated passageways, and conduit means extending between the cold gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cool gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach the elevated temperature at which ozone substantially dissociates.

Claim 10

An ozone generating system comprising a main inlet for an oxygen containing gas to be ozonized, a first and a second drying unit each providing for the flow of gas to be dried and including saturable means for absorbing moisture from the gas flowing therethrough which saturable means must be periodically dried with a de-moisturizing gas; conduit means forming a first pair of passageways respectively connecting said main inlet to respective inlets for gas to be ozonized of said first and second drying units; a first pair of valve means respectively for said first pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said first pair of passageways; conduit means forming a second pair of passageways respectively extending between outlets for exiting de-moisturizing warm air from said first and second drying units and a discharge point therefor; a second pair of valve means respectively for said seconD pair of passageways for selectively opening one or the other of said second pair of passageways; a corona discharge ozone generating unit; and means for cooling the corona discharge ozone generating unit and supplying warm de-moisturizing air to said gas drying units comprising a vortex tube unit for receiving air at a first inlet and separating the high energy gas molecules from the low energy gas molecules therein and delivering the resultant relatively cool gas molecules to a cool gas outlet thereof and relatively warm gas molecules to a warm gas outlet thereof, conduit means forming a third pair of passageways respectively extending between openings in said drying units and said inlet of said vortex tube unit, from which openings dried oxygen containing gas can exit the drying units, a third pair of valve means respectively for said third pair of passageways each for selectively opening or closing the associated passageways, conduit means forming a fourth pair of passageways interconnecting respectively the warm air outlet of said vortex tube unit and openings in said drying units; a fourth pair of valve means respectively for said fourth pair of passageways each for selectively opening and closing the associated passageways, and conduit means extending between the cold gas outlet of said vortex tube unit and the inlet to said ozone generating unit for feeding sufficient quantities of cool gas through said ozone generating unit to generate the required amount of ozone and to cool the surfaces within said ozone generating unit so that the temperature of the ozone produced does not reach the elevated temperature at which ozone substantially dissociates.

Claim 11

The ozone generating system of claim 6 wherein there is provided timer means for automatically periodically effecting the alternately opening and closing of said first, second, third and fourth pair of valve means so the oxygen containing gas to be ozonized is alternately automatically fed to the inlet of said drying units, said opening of the drying unit from which dried oxygen gas to be ozonized passes is connected to the inlet of the vortex tube unit, said opening of the other drying unit into which de-moisturizing gas is to pass into the drying unit is connected to the warm gas outlet of said vortex tube unit, and said outlet for de-moisturizing gas of the latter drying unit is coupled to said discharge point.