Apparatus and method for treatment of fluid with ozone

Claim 1

An apparatus for purifying water comprising: a first ozone generator, said first ozone generator including a pair of spacially displaced electrodes and means for creating an ionizing electrostatic field between said electrodes, said electrodes defining a passage for the flow of gas through said first ozone generator; at least a second ozone generator, said second ozone generator including a pair of spacially displaced electrodes and means for creating an ionizing electrostatic field between said electrodes, said electrodes of said second ozone generator defining a passage for the flow of gas through said second ozone generator; means connecting the gas flow passages of said first and second ozone generators in a series, said connecting means comprising a conduit; means for delivering air to a first end of the gas flow passage of said first ozone generator whereby a corona discharge will be established in said first ozone generator and the air will be partially ozonated, the ozone concentration in the air thereafter being increased in said second ozone generator to a percent by weight of the air exiting said second ozone generator exceeding 1.2%; a fluid treatment conduit, said fluid treatment conduit being partially in the form of a spiral and having a length of at least 10 feet, said fluid treatment conduit having an inner diameter of less than 1 inch and being free of turbulence promoting irregularities; means for supplying water to be purified to a first end of said fluid treatment conduit under a pressure of at least two atmospheres; means for producing and causing entrainment of microbubbles in the water flowing through said fluid treatment conduit, said microbubbles having an average diameter in the range of 10 to 20 microns and being uniformly dispersed in the water, said entrainment causing means being located adjacent the first end of said conduit; means for delivering the ozonated air exiting the gas flow passage of said second ozone generator as the supply gas to said entrainment causing means whereby the microbubbles entrained in the water include ozone molecules; and storage tank means, said storage tank means being connected to the discharge end of said fluid treatment conduit.

Claim 2

An apparatus for purifying water comprising: a first ozone generator, said first ozone generator including a pair of spacially displaced electrodes and means for creating an ionizing electrostatic field between said electrodes, said electrodes defining a passage for the flow of gas through said first ozone generator; at least a second ozone generator, said second ozone generator including a pair of spacially displaced electrodes and means for creating an ionizing electrostatic field between said electrodes, said electrodes of said second ozone generator defining a passage for the flow of gas through said second ozone generator; means connecting the gas flow passages of said first and second ozone generators in a series, said connecting means comprising a conduit; means for delivering air to a first end of the gas flow passage of said first ozone generator whereby a corona discharge will be established in said first ozone generator and the air will be partially ozonated, the ozone concentration in the air thereafter being increased in said second ozone generator to a percent by weight of the air exiting said second ozone generator exceeding 1.2%; a fluid treatment conduit, said fluid treatment conduit being partially in the form of a spiral and having a length of at least 10 feet, said fluid treatment conduit having an inner diameter of less than 1 inch and being free of turbulence promoting irregularities; means for supplying water to be purified to a first end of said fluid treatment conduit under a pressure of at least two atmospheres; means for producing and causing entrainment of microbubbles in the water flowing through said fluid treatment conduit, said microbubbles having an average diameter in the range of 10 to 20 microns and being uniformly dispersed in the water, said entrainment causing means being located adjacent the first end of said conduit; means for delivering the ozonated air exiting the gas flow passage of said second ozone generator as the supply gas to said entrainment causing means whereby the microbubbles entrained in the water include ozone molecules; and storage tank means, said storage tank means being connected to the discharge end of said fluid treatment conduit.

Claim 8

A method for the purification of water comprising: establishing a corona discharge in an air stream to partially ionize the air and generate ozone molecules; establishing a second corona discharge in the stream of partially ionized air to increase the percent by weight of ozone in the air stream to an amount exceeding 1.2%, the sequential subjection of the air stream to the first and second corona discharges being spaced in time; dividing the ionized air stream into microbubbles having an average diameter of from 10 to 20 microns; entraining the microbubles in a stream of water to be purified; maintaining a hydraulic pressure of at least two atmospheres in said stream of water while causing the stream to travel along a spiral path for a distance of at least ten feet while the ozone molecules are dissolved therein; and collecting the water stream in a storage container.

Claim 9

A method for the purification of water comprising: establishing a corona discharge in an air stream to partially ionize the air and generate ozone molecules; establishing a second corona discharge in the stream of partially ionized air to increase the percent by weight of ozone in the air stream to an amount exceeding 1.2%, the sequential subjection of the air stream to the first and second corona discharges being spaced in time; dividing the ionized air stream into microbubbles having an average diameter of from 10 to 20 microns; entraining the microbubles in a stream of water to be purified; maintaining a hydraulic pressure of at least two atmospheres in said stream of water while causing the stream to travel along a spiral path for a distance of at least ten feet while the ozone molecules are dissolved therein; and collecting the water stream in a storage container.