METHOD FOR ENRICHING WATER WITH OXYGEN

METHODE POUR ENRICHIR L'EAU AVEC DE L'OXYGENE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for
enriching water with oxygen, whereby the water to be enriched with
oxygen is fed to a suction-nozzle and air is drawn into the suction
area thereof, the said air having previously been passed through the
field of influence of an ion-generator.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.
1. A method of enriching water with oxygen comprising the
steps of:
(a) generating a supply of ionized air,
(b) mixing the ionized air with water to form a mixture
of ionized air and water,
(c) retaining the ionized air and the water in intimate
contact with one another in the mixture over an
extended period of time to ensure substantial
absorption of the oxygen into the water and
thereafter discharging the mixture.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water and
ionized air are each conveyed as a continuous stream to a point at
which the mixing takes place and the mixture is conveyed as a
confined stream from the mixing point to a discharge point.
3. An apparatus for enriching water with oxygen comprising:
(a) means for generating a supply of ionized air,
(b) mixing means for mixing the ionized air with a
stream of water to form a mixture,
(c) retaining means for retaining the ionized air and
water in intimate contact with one another in the
mixture over an extended period of time prior to
discharge from the apparatus.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for
generating the ionized air comprises ion-generator means.
-5-

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mixing
means comprises an air flow inducing suction nozzle which has an
air inlet which is located in close proximity to the ion-generator
to receive ionized air from the ion-generator.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ion-
generator means comprises two ion-generator means which are
arranged in a spaced face-to-face relationship to form a passage
therebetween in which the ionized air is generated by both ion-
generators, said mixing means comprising an air flow inducing
suction nozzle which has an air inlet which is located in close
proximity to and communicates with said passage to receive ionized
air.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the ion-
generators each have a front plate which has a front face which
has a concave arc of curvature, said front faces being located
opposite one another in said face-to-face relationship, each ion-
generator also having emission needles located at the front face
of its associated front plate.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the emission
needles located at the front face of each associated front plate
of each ion generator, are located at the lowest points on the
concave faces of the front plates.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claims 3, 4, or 5 wherein said
retaining means comprises a coiled pipe which communicates with
and extends from the mixing means.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, 4, or 5 further
comprising a housing in which said means for generating a supply
of ionized air, said mixing means and said retaining means are
housed, said housing being air and water permeable.
-6-

Description

~92~
This invention relates to a method for enriching water
with oxygen according to the preamble to the main claim, and to an
apparatus for the implementation of this method.
In many agricultural and horticultural operations, and in
fish-breeding installations, water needed to operate -the equipment
is taken out of the ground and is fed to the plants or animals.
Experience has shown that this water is relatively low in oxygen
and there have been numerous proposals for the general enrichment
of water with oxygen. For example, it is known from German A 27
05 2~3 or French A 23 90 989 to insert, into a water-supply line,
a suction nozzle having a suction connection in the form of an air-
suction-connection, so tha-t, when the unit is in operation, air is
drawn from the environment and is mixed with the water.
However, these known methods fail to provide a high or
satisfactory degree of oxygen enrichment.
On the other hand, it is known that geologically-active
oxygen promotes the well-being of mankind and has been found
beneficial for various diseases. Biologically-active oxygen is
found in health resorts, at the seaside and in the mountains, where
it is Eormed under normal weather conditions.
It is the purpose of the invention to achieve high oxygen
enrichment of wa-ter effectively with very simple means.
According to the invention, air drawn in by a suction
nozzle is passed through the field of influence of an ion-generator
and thus contains a large proportion of negative ions. This
ionized air brings about unusually high oxygen enrichment of the
water in the vicinity of the suction-nozzle. The mixture of water
and ionized-air is not released at this time, but is passed through
a pipe-coil to the release location, so that intensive mixing of
ionized air and watar is maintained over a long period of time, to
'"2
~.'. ..~
., . ~,

O~ .
wit over the entire length of the said pipe-coil; this ensures that
the oxygen enters the water.
In addition to increasing the amount of oxygen in the
water, which is of importance in rearing plants and animals, the
method and apparatus according -to the invention, as a result of
this large amount of oxygen, destroys the bacteria in the water of
makes the water or makes the water less susceptible to bacteria.
An example of embodiment of the invention is explalned
hereinafter, in conjunction with the drawing attached hereto.
In the said drawing, 1 is a water reservoir, -the water of
which must be replenished, or which serves as a storage-basin, the
water to be introduced into the said reservoir being required to
contain a large amount oE oxygen.
Water is supplied through a line 2 into which a so-called
suction-nozzle 3 is inserted. 4 is the suction-connection for
suction-nozzle 3, air-inlet opening 5 of this connection opening
freely above an ion-generator 6. In the example of embodiment
illustrated, two ion-generators 6, 7 are provided. These exhibit
concavely arched front plates 8, 9, at the lowest points of which
are arranged the emission-needles of the said ion-generators. The
said~front plates are at a distance from each other such that the
air drawn in by air-inlet opening 5 passes through the gap between
front plates 8, 9, as shown by arrow F in the drawing.
Connected to suction nozzle 3 is a pipe-coiI 10 which
opens into reservoir 1 and cons-titutes discharge point llo The
device described, consisting of suction nozzle 3, ion-generators
6 and 7, and pipe-coil 10 is arranged in a cylindrical connection
12 comprising passages 14. in the upper part o the said
cylindrical connection, these passages allow air to enter; in the
lower part they promote the exchange of water.

z~
When ion-generators 6 and 7 are put into operatlon, they
produce, in -the vicinity of front plates 8 and 9, air with a high
proportion of negatively charged ions. As soon as water is
supplied through line 2, suc-tlon nozzle 3 draws air through suction
connection 4, this air containing a large proportion of negative
ions, creating a mixture of ionized air and water. The mixture now
en-ters pipe-coil 10 and flows, over a relatively long path, to
discharge point 11, providing ample time for the water to absorb
oxygen from the ionized air.
The arrangement of ion-generators 6, 7 in front oE
suction-connection 4 not only ensures the desired oxygen-
enrichment of the water, but also destroys bacteria both in the air
and in the water. The water entering the reservoir thus contains
a large amount of oxygen and has a high degree of purity.
In short, the method and apparatus according to the
invention enriches the water with biologically active oxygen, thus
improving purifying ability, i.e. the water molecules are capable
of polarizing the particles of dirt and of killing bacteria.
Ground-water low in oxygen is converted into water which contains
a large proportion of biologically active oxygen, so that organisms
treated therewith improve with respect to quality, strength, growth
and fruitfulness. Tissue tonicity is increased (this is known in
medicine as "turgor"). Thls improves micrometabolism and leads to
improved absorption of magnesium and iron.
'
Tests carried out in a greenhouse showed that the use of
water enriched with biologically active oxygen makes it possible
to obtain stronger, more healthy plants, tha-t mould-diseases and
bacteriological infestation no longer occur, and that there is also
a decline in the number of harmful insects. Moreover, fruit thus
grown keeps fresh for longer periods of time.
~ .. r.

Representative Drawing