Spark cell ozone generator

Claim 1

In an apparatus having a chamber with an inlet and outlet for treating liquids with ozone, the improvement which comprises electrode means vertically spaced and horizontally disposed within said chamber, an expandable bed of electrically conductive particles disposed substantially throughout the space between said electrode means, said electrically conductive particles forming tortuous paths throughout, said fluid inlet means being located at the bottom portion of said chamber and said fluid outlet means being located at the top portion of said chamber for passage of the liquid upward through said chamber, said particles and said outlet, means for applying an electrical potential between said electrodes and for producing arcing in air spaces between said particles, and means for passing air upwardly through said particles along with said fluid in a manner adapted to expand said particle bed and thereby establish intermittent electrical contact between said electrodes and to cause arcing in air spaces between particles thereby to form ozone.

Claim 7

A method of treating a liquid with ozone which comprises: (a) passing the liquid to be treated upwardly between complementary spaced horizontal electrodes having therebetween an expandable bed of electrically conductive particles, (b) simultaneously passing pulses of air upwardly with said liquid through said bed, said pulsed air forming bubbles in said liquid, (c) establishing between said electrodes an electrical potential, said upwardly flowing liquid and pulsed air expanding said bed upwardly in a pulsed manner causing intermittent contact between the particles of said bed and said electrodes, said electrical potential being sufficient to create arcing between said particles and across said air bubbles and thereby converting oxygen to ozone therein, said ozone thus being dispersed as it is formed throughout said liquid to effect treatment thereof.

Claim 8

A method of treating a liquid with ozone which comprises: (a) passing the liquid to be treated upwardly between complementary spaced horizontal electrodes having therebetween an expandable bed of electrically conductive particles, (b) simultaneously passing pulses of air upwardly with said liquid through said bed, said pulsed air forming bubbles in said liquid, (c) establishing between said electrodes an electrical potential, said upwardly flowing liquid and pulsed air expanding said bed upwardly in a pulsed manner causing intermittent contact between the particles of said bed and said electrodes, said electrical potential being sufficient to create arcing between said particles and across said air bubbles and thereby converting oxygen to ozone therein, said ozone thus being dispersed as it is formed throughout said liquid to effect treatment thereof.