Ozonation system for treatment of water in cooling towers

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling the condition of cooling tower system water, comprising one or more ozone generator electrodes having inner and outer concentric electrode tubes, a concentric dielectric tube therebetween creating an annular space between said dielectric tube and outer electrode tube for the passage of oxygen-containing air for conversion of a portion of said oxygen to ozone and first and second opposed end caps for supporting said electrode tubes and dielectric tube in a concentric orientation and for the entry of air into and exit of ozone-containing air from said annular space; means for providing dry, filtered input air at a depressed dewpoint and at constant flowrate to the first end caps of said electrodes; sensor means for determining the oxidation-reduction potential of a water sample obtained from the system; means coupled to said sensor means and to said ozone generator electrodes for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said cooling tower system water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 6750 mv by comparing the determined oxidation-reduction potential with said target value and controlling the production of ozone in response thereto to allow the generation and maintenance of containment oxidation by-product secondary biocides at an elevated level; means for combining the ozone produced by said electrodes with a portion of said cooling tower system water for return of resulting ozonated water to the system for introduction of the ozone thereto; and means for monitoring the flow of said input air and the output of said electrodes whereby an alarm condition is indicated if said flow or output depart from established parameters.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling the condition of cooling tower system water, comprising one or more ozone generator electrodes having inner and outer concentric electrode tubes, a concentric dielectric tube therebetween creating an annular space between said dielectric tube and outer electrode tube for the passage of oxygen-containing air for conversion of a portion of said oxygen to ozone and first and second opposed end caps for supporting said electrode tubes and dielectric tube in a concentric orientation and for the entry of air into and exit of ozone-containing air from said annular space; means for providing dry, filtered input air at a depressed dewpoint and at constant flowrate to the first end caps of said electrodes; sensor means for determining the oxidation-reduction potential of a water sample obtained from the system; means coupled to said sensor means and to said ozone generator electrodes for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said cooling tower system water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 6750 mv by comparing the determined oxidation-reduction potential with said target value and controlling the production of ozone in response thereto to allow the generation and maintenance of containment oxidation by-product secondary biocides at an elevated level; means for combining the ozone produced by said electrodes with a portion of said cooling tower system water for return of resulting ozonated water to the system for introduction of the ozone thereto; and means for monitoring the flow of said input air and the output of said electrodes whereby an alarm condition is indicated if said flow or output depart from established parameters.

Claim 6

An apparatus for controlling the condition of cooling tower system water by variable ozonation to maintain the level of intermediate biocides at a desired elevated level, comprising means for monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential of at least a portion of the cooling tower system water; ozone-generating means for generating ozone and introducing said ozone generated into said water; and control means coupled to said monitoring means and said ozone-generating means for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 650 my to promote the generation and maintenance of secondary biocides by adjusting the production of ozone by said ozone-generating means in a continuous manner in response to the oxidation-reduction potential sensed by said monitoring means.

Claim 7

An apparatus for controlling the condition of cooling tower system water by variable ozonation to maintain the level of intermediate biocides at a desired elevated level, comprising means for monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential of at least a portion of the cooling tower system water; ozone-generating means for generating ozone and introducing said ozone generated into said water; and control means coupled to said monitoring means and said ozone-generating means for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 650 my to promote the generation and maintenance of secondary biocides by adjusting the production of ozone by said ozone-generating means in a continuous manner in response to the oxidation-reduction potential sensed by said monitoring means.

Claim 9

An apparatus for fostering the development and maintenance of secondary biocides in the water of a recirculating cooling water system, comprising conduit means for removing a portion of the cooling water from the system for ozone treatment and returning the treated water to the system for blending with the contents thereof; means for monitoring the oxidation-production potential of said removed portion prior to the ozone treatment thereof; electrode means for generating ozone from the oxygen of ambient air passed through the electrode means, the output of said electrode means including said generated ozone; control means coupled to said monitoring means and said electrode means for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said cooling system water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 650 mv to maximize the generation and maintenance of intermediate biocide products of the oxidation of water contaminants by adjusting the production of ozone by said electrode means in response to the oxidation-reduction potential value sensed by said monitoring means; and means for combining at least a portion of said removed portion of cooling system water with the ozone-containing output of said electrode means.

Claim 10

An apparatus for fostering the development and maintenance of secondary biocides in the water of a recirculating cooling water system, comprising conduit means for removing a portion of the cooling water from the system for ozone treatment and returning the treated water to the system for blending with the contents thereof; means for monitoring the oxidation-production potential of said removed portion prior to the ozone treatment thereof; electrode means for generating ozone from the oxygen of ambient air passed through the electrode means, the output of said electrode means including said generated ozone; control means coupled to said monitoring means and said electrode means for maintaining the oxidation-reduction potential of said cooling system water at a target level in the range of about 550 to 650 mv to maximize the generation and maintenance of intermediate biocide products of the oxidation of water contaminants by adjusting the production of ozone by said electrode means in response to the oxidation-reduction potential value sensed by said monitoring means; and means for combining at least a portion of said removed portion of cooling system water with the ozone-containing output of said electrode means.