Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HOLDING TANK-LESS WATER OZONATING SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates generally to devices, and related methods,
that
provide ozonated liquid. More particularly, the present application relates to
tank-less
devices, and related methods, that provide ozonated liquid on demand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ozone is a naturally occurring allotrope of oxygen. It has been known and used
as
an oxidant and disinfectant. In aqueous solutions, ozone is capable of killing
bacteria in
seconds at appropriate concentrations. It is often desirable to use ozone as a
disinfecting
or sanitizing agent as it imparts no odor and leaves no residue. The
sanitizing properties
of ozone dissolved in water, as well as its lack of odor and residue, make
such a solution
desirable to use for cleaning and disinfecting. Ozonated water can be used to
disinfect or
sanitize in both commercial and home settings. For example, ozonated water can
be
used to disinfect or sanitize bathroom counters, produce, dishes and cutlery,
or floors.
One convenient method for using ozone as a disinfectant or sanitizer is to
dissolve
it in water or a water based solution. The stability of ozone is often a
complicating factor
in its use as a disinfecting or sanitizing agent since the high reactivity of
ozone, which
imparts its disinfecting and sanitizing properties, also results in reaction
with reducing
agents and, therefore, decomposition. In light of the poor stability of ozone,
however, one
difficulty is the delivery of ozonated water in an "on demand" basis. Ozone in
ozonated
water, produced in anticipation of demand, will eventually decompose and
return to being
non-ozonated water.
Known ozonation systems for producing ozonated water suitable for cleaning,
disinfecting
or sanitizing are designed with a tank of water and a recirculating ozonating
flow path.
The water flows through the ozonating flow path and dissolves an amount of
ozone
therein. Low efficiency in the ozonating flow path results in the need to
recirculate the
ozonated water back through the ozonation flow path in order to achieve the
desired
amount of dissolved ozone. This is typically achieved by recirculating the
ozonated water
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back into the tank of water and running the ozonation system for a period of
time until all
the water in the tank is sufficiently ozonated.
Known ozonation systems have addressed the delay between (a) starting the
system and (b) delivery of ozonated water having a usable level of ozone, by
increasing
the efficiency of the ozonating flow path and/or by using a continuously
recirculating
system.
It is possible to produce ozonated water "on demand" using a continuously
recirculating system. Continuously recirculating systems have an ozonation
flow path that
recirculates ozonated water back to the holding tank, and the system ozonates
the water
in the system regardless of whether ozonated water is being dispensed. In such
systems,
ozone is continuously added to the water to replace any ozone that has
decomposed, or
to ozonate any fresh water that has been added to replace ozonated water
removed from
the system. A steady-state of ozonated water is eventually reached based on
the inlet
and outlet flow rates, as well as the efficiency of the ozonation flow path.
However, at the
start of ozonation, the level of dissolved ozone is low and gradually
increases until the
steady-state is achieved.
There are a number of disadvantages with continuously recirculating systems.
For
example: they require energy to produce the constantly required ozone; ozone
is
corrosive with some materials; and there may be a fluctuation in the level of
dissolved
ozone if a significant amount of ozonated water is removed from the tank.
In traditional ozonation systems, both continuously and non-continuously
recirculating systems, there is a delay between the start of the ozonation and
the delivery
of the ozonated water. A user must wait for the tank of water to be ozonated
before the
ozonated water can be used. In recirculating systems, starting the ozonation
system and
removing water from the tank before the ozonation is finished results in non-
ozonated
water or water with a low level of ozone dissolved therein. In continuously
recirculating
systems, a user must still wait for the level of ozonation in the water to
increase to a
usable level. During this time, the continuously recirculating system is
either discharging
water with low levels of ozone dissolved therein or not discharging water at
all.
It is therefore desirable to provide an ozonation system that can dispense
ozonated water "on demand" without the need for a continuously recirculating
system,
(i.e. an ozonation system that dispenses ozone via a single pass through the
ozonating
flow path) thereby doing away with the need for a holding tank.
Some ozonation systems use devices to separate, for example, water from
undissolved ozone gas. Such devices are generally known as "off-gas" units,
"degassing"
units, or "gas-liquid" separators. All such devices take, as an input stream,
a mixture of
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gas and liquid and provide, as separate output streams, a degassed liquid and
a separated gas.
The degassed liquid can have gas dissolved therein, even though bubbles of gas
have been
removed. Depending on the desired outlet stream, an off-gas unit can be used
to produce, for
example, a humidified gas stream, a gas-enriched liquid stream, or a
completely degassed liquid.
Under conditions where the flow rate of a liquid is not crucial, the liquid
can be degassed
simply by letting the liquid and gas naturally separate due to differences in
density between the
liquid and gas. This process can be accelerated by placing the gas-liquid
mixture under an
external vacuum. In this situation, the reduced solubility of the gas is
caused by the external
vacuum, which encourages the gas to separate from the liquid in order to fill
the vacuum.
Some known system use centrifugal separation to encourage the separation of
gas from a
gas-liquid mixture. In such systems, the degassing is achieved by the
centrifugal forces on a liquid
having a vortex flow. The centrifugal flow of liquid results in pressure
differences in the liquid as a
function of distance from the center axis of rotation. The low density gas and
gas-liquid mixture are
collected in the low pressure zone along the center of rotation, while the
high density liquid is
collected in the high pressure zone around the perimeter of rotation.
Increasing the flow rate in a given size of gas-liquid separator increases the
centrifugal
force in the vortex flow, resulting in a lower pressure in the low pressure
zone and a higher
pressure in the high pressure zone. This increase in centrifugal force hastens
the separation of
gas from the liquid. However, higher flow rates also lead to increased
turbulence in the liquid flow
as well as a lower residence time in the gas-liquid separator. This increased
turbulence and lower
residence time discourage separation of gas from liquid and lead to bubbles
entering the degassed
liquid output stream.
It is desirable to provide an off-gas unit that can separate a gas-liquid
mixture into a
degassed liquid and a separated gas at a high flow rate.
As discussed above, ozonated water can be used to sanitize items and surfaces,
and is an
effective replacement to chemical cleaners. Residential/consumer and
commercial water
ozonation systems are available to provide such functionality.
One example of a consumer water ozonation system is described in commonly
assigned
United States Patent Application Publication No. US-2008-0190825-A1. Such a
system can
include a removable filter cartridge. The removable filter cartridge
facilitates better ozonation of
water by way of a desiccant material provided therein to remove moisture,
thereby achieving a
higher concentration of ozone gas in the ozonated water.
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Some cartridges and systems can include functionality to assist in determining
when the cartridge should be replaced. For example, the cartridge in the '825
publication
referred to above can have a "window" to assist in determining when the
cartridge should
be replaced, based on an observed colour of desiccant material. Other systems
can
provide an alarm or other indication when the cartridge reaches or approaches
an end of
life condition.
While different types of commercial ozonation systems or devices can both use
cartridges, the cartridges used in each type of device are typically different
from each
other, and count usage in different ways, such as by cycles completed or by
time used.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a cartridge and ozonation system that
enable
use of the same cartridge in different types of ozonation devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present application to obviate or mitigate at least one
disadvantage of previous ozonation systems. In one aspect, a system for
providing an
ozonated liquid is described. The system comprises a liquid inlet and a liquid
outlet. The
liquid inlet is arranged to continuously accept a liquid into the system at a
desired flow
rate; the liquid outlet to dispense ozonated liquid out of the system, the
ozonated liquid
having an oxidation-reduction potential of at least 450 mV due solely to ozone
dissolved
in the liquid, the liquid outlet being in fluid communication with the liquid
inlet and
arranged to dispense the ozonated liquid out of the system at the desired flow
rate. The
system also comprises a tank-less ozonation flow path which is adapted to
ozonate the
accepted liquid, producing the ozonated liquid to be dispensed out of the
system, the
accepted liquid having a fluid residence time in the ozonation flow path of
less than about
5 minutes prior to being dispensed as the ozonated liquid.
In another aspect, a system for providing an ozonated liquid is described. The
system comprises a tank-less ozonation flow path having a liquid inlet and a
liquid outlet.
The liquid inlet is arranged to continuously accept a substantially unozonated
liquid into
the ozonation flow path at a desired flow rate; a liquid outlet to dispense
ozonated liquid
out of the system, the ozonated liquid having an oxidation-reduction potential
of at least
450 mV due solely to ozone dissolved in the liquid, the liquid outlet being in
fluid
communication with the liquid inlet and arranged to dispense the ozonated
liquid out of
the system at the desired flow rate. The tank-less ozonation flow path is
adapted to
ozonate the accepted liquid, producing the ozonated liquid to be dispensed out
of the
system, the accepted liquid having a fluid residence time in the ozonation
flow path of
less than about 5 minutes prior to being dispensed as the ozonated liquid.
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The liquid can be accepted at an accepted pressure less than 110 psi. The
ozonated liquid can be dispensed at a dispensing pressure which is directly
dependent on
the accepted pressure. The accepted pressure can be between about 20 and about
100
psi, and the dispensing pressure can be between about 20 and about 100 psi.
The ozonated liquid discharged from the system can have an oxidation-reduction
potential of at least 650 millivolts. The fluid residence time in the system
can be less than
1 minute.
The ozonation flow path can comprise a liquid-gas mixer, in fluid
communication
with the liquid inlet, to mix the accepted liquid with gaseous ozone to
produce a gaseous
liquid; and a gas-liquid separator, in fluid communication with the liquid-gas
mixer, to
separate the gaseous liquid into degassed ozonated liquid and separated
gaseous
ozone. The liquid-gas mixer can be a venturi for mixing the liquid with ozone
gas. The
fluid residence time between the liquid-gas mixer and the gas-liquid separator
can be
between about 0.01 and 0.1 seconds. In particular aspects, the liquid inlet of
the
ozonation flow path can be the liquid-gas mixer and the residence time of the
ozonation
flow path can be measured between the liquid-gas mixer and the liquid outlet.
The gas-liquid separator is for separating a gaseous liquid into a degassed
liquid
and a separated gas, the gaseous liquid comprising bubbles of undissolved gas
and a
liquid, the degassed liquid comprising dissolved gas. The gas-liquid separator
can
comprise a tubular member having a side wall, and top and bottom end walls,
the tubular
member having an upper portion and a lower portion; a gaseous liquid inlet for
entry of
the gaseous liquid, the inlet located in the lower portion of the tubular
member and
arranged to create a vortex of the gaseous liquid in the gas-liquid separator;
a gas outlet
located in the upper portion of the tubular member, the gas outlet arranged to
vent the
separated gas out of the gas-liquid separator; a liquid outlet for egress of
the degassed
liquid from the lower portion of the gas-liquid separator; and a separating
mixer positioned
in the lower portion of the tubular member and secured to the side wall of the
tubular
member.
The separating mixer can comprise an annular separating baffle concentric with
the tubular member and arranged to direct the flow of the degassed liquid
towards the
liquid outlet and to direct the separated gas away from the liquid outlet, the
separating
baffle and the side wall defining an annular degassed liquid region
therebetween; and an
annular mixing baffle concentric with the annular separating baffle, the
radius of the
annular mixing baffle is smaller than the radius of the annular separating
baffle.
The annular separating baffle and the annular mixing baffle can be concentric
and
share a common center. The annular separating baffle can be positioned in line
with the
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liquid outlet. Theannular degassed liquid region can be open at both a top end
and a
bottom end, the degassed liquid flowable between the top end and the bottom
end. The
liquid outlet can be for egress of the degassed liquid from the annular
degassed liquid
region.
The gaseous liquid inlet can be positioned substantially tangential to the
side wall
of the tubular member. The liquid outlet can be an annular aperture defined by
the side
wall or can be positioned substantially tangential to the side wall of the
tubular member.
The gas-liquid separator can alternatively comprise a tubular member having a
side wall, and top and bottom end walls, the tubular member having an upper
portion and
a lower portion; a gaseous liquid inlet for entry of the gaseous liquid, the
inlet located
in the lower portion of the tubular member and arranged to create a vortex of
the gaseous
liquid in the gas-liquid separator; a gas outlet located in the upper portion
of the tubular
member, the gas outlet arranged to vent the separated gas out of the gas-
liquid
separator; an annular separating baffle positioned in the lower portion of the
tubular
member and secured to the side wall of the tubular member, the annular
separating baffle
arranged to direct the flow of the degassed liquid towards the liquid outlet
and to direct
the separated gas away from the liquid outlet, the annular separating baffle
and the side
wall defining an annular degassed liquid region therebetween which is open at
both top
and bottom ends, the degassed liquid flowable between the top and bottom ends;
and a
liquid outlet for egress of the degassed liquid from the annular degassed
liquid region.
The annular separating baffle can be positioned in line with the liquid
outlet. The
gaseous liquid inlet can be positioned substantially tangential to the side
wall of the
tubular member. The liquid outlet can be an annular aperture defined by the
side wall.
positioned substantially tangential to the side wall of the tubular member.
In an aspect, a gas-liquid separator is provided for separating a gaseous
liquid
into a degassed liquid and a separated gas, the gaseous liquid comprising
bubbles of
undissolved gas, the degassed liquid comprising dissolved gas.
The gas-liquid separator comprises a tubular member having a side wall, and
top
and bottom end walls, the tubular member having an upper portion and a lower
portion; a
gaseous liquid inlet for entry of the gaseous liquid, the inlet located in the
lower portion of
the tubular member and arranged to create a vortex of the gaseous liquid in
the gas-liquid
separator; a gas outlet located in the upper portion of the tubular member,
the gas outlet
arranged to vent the separated gas out of the gas-liquid separator; a
separating mixer
positioned in the lower portion of the tubular member and secured to the side
wall of the
tubular member; and a liquid outlet for egress of the degassed liquid from the
lower
portion of the gas-liquid separator.
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The separating mixer comprises an annular separating baffle concentric with
the
tubular member and arranged to direct the flow of the degassed liquid towards
the liquid
outlet and to direct the separated gas away from the liquid outlet, the
separating baffle
and the side wall defining an annular degassed liquid region therebetween; and
an
The annular separating baffle and the annular mixing baffle can share a common
center. The annular separating baffle can be positioned in line with the
liquid outlet. The
annular degassed liquid region can be open at both a top end and a bottom end,
with the
The gaseous liquid inlet can be a tangential inlet. The liquid outlet can be
an
annular aperture defined by the side wall or a tangential outlet positioned in
the side wall.
15 In another aspect, the separator comprises a tubular member having a
side wall,
and top and bottom end walls, the tubular member having an upper portion and a
lower
portion; a gaseous liquid inlet for entry of the gaseous liquid, the inlet
located in the
lower portion of the tubular member and arranged to create a vortex of the
gaseous liquid
in the gas-liquid separator; a gas outlet located in the upper portion of the
tubular
The annular separating baffle can be positioned in line with the liquid
outlet. The
gaseous liquid inlet can be a tangential inlet. The liquid outlet can be an
annular aperture
In an aspect of the present application, a cartridge-enhanced water treatment
system is provided. The water treatment system includes a cartridge; a first
ozonation
device of a first type including a first device cycle count manager configured
to signal the
cartridge upon completion of an ozonation cycle of the first ozonation device
with respect
second type, the second type different from the first type, the second
ozonation device
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including a second device cycle count manager configured to signal the
cartridge upon
completion of an ozonation cycle of the second ozonation device with respect
to a second
ozonation device cycle count condition; the cartridge being arranged for
integration and
independent use with the first ozonation device and with the second ozonation
device,
and including: an air inlet to receive atmospheric air; a material to remove
moisture and/or
nitrogen from the received atmospheric air; an air outlet for interfacing with
one of the first
and second ozonation devices to provide dry and/or oxygen enriched air to an
ozone
generator; a usage counter arranged to modify a stored usage count in response
to
receipt of a signal from the first or second cycle count managers, and a
device interface
arranged to provide an expiry indication indicating that the cartridge is no
longer suitable
for further use, based on the stored usage count.
The first and second cycle count managers can each comprise a cycle memory
arranged to keep track of partially completed cycles.
The cartridge can include a cartridge compatibility identifier; and the first
and
second ozonation devices can include: first and second device compatibility
identifiers,
respectively, and first and second device compatibility managers can be
arranged to
determine whether the cartridge is compatible with the first or second
ozonation device,
respectively, based on a comparison of the cartridge compatibility identifier
with the first
and second device compatibility identifiers, respectively.
The first and second device compatibility managers can determine that the
cartridge is compatible with the first or second ozonation device when the
cartridge
compatibility identifier is the same as the first or second ozonation device
compatibility
identifier, respectively.
The first and second device compatibility managers can determine that the
cartridge is compatible with the first or second ozonation device when the
first or second
ozonation device compatibility identifier identifies a device class with which
the cartridge
compatibility identifier is compatible.
The cartridge can be compatible with a plurality of types of ozonation device
of the
identified device class.The usage counter can be reset in response to receipt
of a usage
counter reset signal.
The system can further include a usage counter reset manager, in communication
with the cartridge, arranged to send a usage counter reset signal to reset the
usage
counter in the cartridge. The usage counter reset manager can be arranged to
determine
an expected life of a dried desiccant material prior to sending the usage
counter reset
signal. The usage counter reset manager can be arranged to provide a modified
value
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with which the usage counter can be reset, the modified value being based on
measured
properties of the desiccant material.
The cartridge can be a desiccant cartridge that includes a material to remove
moisture from the received atmospheric air.
The first ozonation device of a first type can be a water ozonation system
that
includes a liquid inlet arranged to continuously accept a liquid into the
system at a desired
flow rate; a liquid outlet to dispense ozonated liquid out of the system, the
ozonated liquid
having an oxidation-reduction potential of at least 450 mV due solely to ozone
dissolved
in the liquid, the liquid outlet being in fluid communication with the liquid
inlet and
arranged to dispense the ozonated liquid out of the system at the desired flow
rate; a
tank-less ozonation flow path between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet,
the flow path
adapted to ozonate the accepted liquid, producing the ozonated liquid to be
dispensed
out of the system, the accepted liquid having a fluid residence time in the
ozonation flow
path of less than 5 minutes prior to dispensing as the ozonated liquid; an
ozone generator
having an air inlet for interfacing with the air outlet of the cartridge and
arranged to
provide generated ozone to the ozonation flow path. The second ozonation
device of a
second type can be a water ozonation system that includes a reservoir for
containing and
dispensing a liquid; an ozone generator having an air inlet for interfacing
with the air
outlet of the cartridge and arranged to provide generated ozone to a liquid-
gas mixer for
increasing the level of oxidative properties in said liquid; a circulation
flow path
communicating with said reservoir and said liquid-gas mbcter to allow at least
some of
said liquid in said reservoir to flow from said reservoir to said liquid-gas
mixer and back to
said reservoir.
In another aspect of the present application, a cartridge, arranged for
integration
and use with first and second ozonation devices of different types, is
provided. The
cartridge includes an air inlet to receive atmospheric air; a material to
remove moisture
and/or nitrogen from the received atmospheric air; an air outlet for
interfacing with one of
the first and second ozonation devices to provide dry and/or oxygen enriched
air to an
ozone generator; a usage counter arranged to modify a stored usage count in
response
to receipt of a first cycle completion signal received from the first
ozonation device
representing completion of an ozonation cycle with respect to a first
ozonation device
cycle count condition, and to modify the stored usage count in response to
receipt of a
second cycle completion signal received from the second ozonation device
representing
completion of an ozonation cycle with respect to a second ozonation device
cycle count
condition; a device interface arranged to provide an expiry indication
indicating that the
cartridge is no longer suitable for further use based on the stored usage
count.
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In a further aspect of the present applicant, a method is provided of removing
moisture from atmospheric air using a cartridge described above. The method
includes
receiving the atmospheric air from the air inlet; contacting the desiccant
material with the
received atmospheric air; providing dry air to an ozone generator through the
dry air
outlet; modifying the stored usage count in response to: (a) the first cycle
completion
signal received from the first ozonation device representing completion of an
ozonation
cycle with respect to a first ozonation device cycle count condition, or (b)
the second
cycle completion signal received from the second ozonation device representing
completion of an ozonation cycle with respect to a second ozonation device
cycle count
condition; providing an expiry indication when the cartridge is no longer
suitable for
further use based on the stored usage count.
The first and second cycle count managers can each comprise a cycle memory,
and the method further can include keeping track of partially completed cycles
using the
cycle memory.
The method can further include resetting the usage counter in response to
receipt
of a usage counter reset signal.
The method can further include sending the usage counter reset signal by a
usage counter reset manager in communication with the cartridge.
The method can further include determining, at the usage counter reset
manager,
an expected life of a dried desiccant material prior to sending the usage
counter reset
signal.
The method can further include providing a modified value with which the usage
counter can be reset, the modified value being based on measured properties of
the
desiccant material and being provided by the usage counter reset manager
Other aspects and features of the present application will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of specific
embodiments of the application in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present application will now be described, by way of
example
only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic of a holding tank-less ozonation system according to
one embodiment of the present application;
Fig. 2 is an cross-sectional view of a known gas-liquid separator;
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Fig. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a gas-liquid separator usable
in a holding tank-less ozonation system according to one embodiment of the
present application;
Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Fig. 5 is a close-up, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a gas-
liquid separator usable in a holding tank-less ozonation system according to
one
embodiment of the present application;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a floor scrubber fitted with a holding
tank-less ozonation system according to one embodiment of the present
application;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a cartridge-enhanced water treatment system
including a first ozonation device, a second ozonation device, and a cartridge
arranged to interface with the first and second ozonation devices according to
an
embodiment of the present application.
Fig. 8A is a top front right perspective view of a cartridge according to an
embodiment of the present application.
Fig. 8B is an exploded, top front right, perspective view of a cartridge
according to an embodiment of the present application.
Fig. 9 is a mechanical system diagram of an exemplary water ozonation
system with which a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present
application can be used.
Fig. 10 is a back perspective view of a removable cartridge installed in a
base unit of a water ozonation device according to an embodiment of the
present
application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Generally, the present application provides a method and system for generating
ozonated liquid. While the following description describes the ozonation of
water, it is
appreciated that the principles of the application, which are demonstrated by
the following
embodiments, can be equally applied to the ozonation of other liquids (for
example:
organic solvents, oils, mixtures of water and additives). It is appreciated
that additives can
affect the oxidation-reduction potential of ozonated water and/or the
stability of the
ozonated water. It may, therefore, be desirable to include such additives when
producing
ozonated water. Contemplated additives include, for example, acetic acid.
Additionally,
while the following description describes the separation of ozone from water,
it is to be
understood that the principles described herein, which are described in
relation to
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particular embodiments, can be equally applied to the separation of other
gases (for
example: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine) from other liquids
(for example:
organic solvents, oils).
The present application describes a system which provides an ozonated liquid.
In
one aspect, the system can comprises a liquid inlet arranged to continuously
accept a
liquid into the system at a desired flow rate; a liquid outlet to dispense
ozonated liquid out
of the system, the ozonated liquid having an oxidation-reduction potential of
at least 450
mV due solely to ozone dissolved in the liquid, the liquid outlet being in
fluid
communication with the liquid inlet and arranged to dispense the ozonated
liquid out of
the system at the desired flow rate. This system has a tank-less ozonation
flow path
between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, the flow path being adapted to
ozonate the
accepted liquid, producing the ozonated liquid to be dispensed out of the
system. The
accepted liquid has a fluid residence time in the ozonation flow path of less
than 5
minutes prior to being dispensed as the ozonated liquid.
In another aspect, the system can comprises a tank-less ozonation flow path
having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet arranged to
continuously accept a
substantially unozonated liquid into the ozonation flow path at a desired flow
rate; the
liquid outlet to dispense ozonated liquid out of the system, the ozonated
liquid having an
oxidation-reduction potential of at least 450 mV due solely to ozone dissolved
in the
liquid, the liquid outlet being in fluid communication with the liquid inlet
and arranged to
dispense the ozonated liquid out of the system at the desired flow rate. The
tank-less
ozonation flow path is adapted to ozonate the accepted liquid, producing the
ozonated
liquid to be dispensed out of the system. The accepted liquid has a fluid
residence time in
the ozonation flow path of less than 5 minutes prior to being dispensed as the
ozonated
liquid.
Embodiments of the present application are non-recirculating systems having a
holding tank-less ozonation flow path with a liquid inlet and liquid outlet.
Such tank-less,
non-recirculating systems accept liquid so long as liquid is being dispensed
from the
system, and dispense liquid so long as the system is accepting liquid. Liquid
is only
dispensed when more accepted liquid enters the system. In order to dispense
ozonated
liquid, the accepting, dispensing and ozonating must all occur at the same
time.
One particular embodiment of a system according to the present application is
illustrated as element 10 in Figure 1. The liquid inlet 12 is arranged to
accept water to be
ozonated into the system. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid inlet 12
accepting
water into the system accepts liquid directly into the ozonation flow path.
However, it is to
be understood that it is not necessary for the liquid inlet 12 to accept
liquid into the
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ozonation system and that the ozonation flow path can accept liquid which has
already
been accepted by the ozonation system. The liquid inlet 12 continuously
accepts the
water as long as ozonated water is being produced. Water flows at a desired
flow rate
into venturi 14. Ozone gas provided by an ozone generator 16 is mixed with the
water in
venturi 14.
The ozone-water mixture flows into gas-liquid separator 18, which separates
the
gas-liquid mixture into degassed ozonated water and separated ozone gas. The
separated ozone gas is destroyed in ozone destructor 20 and oxygen gas is
vented to the
atmosphere. Degassed ozonated water is provided to liquid outlet 22 by the gas-
liquid
separator 18. Liquid outlet 22 dispenses ozonated liquid at the desired flow
rate (e.g. for
use by an end user). The flow rate out of the liquid outlet 22 is the same as
the flow into
the liquid inlet 12 since the flow in is directly dependent on the flow out
and any liquid
accepted by the system must displace liquid within the system. It is
appreciated that in a
system having a tank, the flow in is not directly dependent on the flow out
and liquid could
be dispensed from the tank even if no liquid was flowing into the system.
In the context of the present application, "directly dependent on" is to be
understood to mean that the ozonation flow path is connected such that changes
to the
accepted pressure result in changes to the dispensing pressure and, similarly,
that
changes to the inlet flow rate result in changes to the dispensing flow rate.
Changes to
the accepted pressure result in changes to the dispensing pressure since the
contemplated systems do not include any pressure regulating systems. For
example, if
the accepted pressure is initially 80 psi and the dispensing pressure is 60
psi, and the
accepted pressure was dropped to 60 psi, the dispensing pressure would drop to
40 psi
since the dispensing pressure is directly dependent on the accepted pressure.
Likewise,
changes to the inlet flow rate result in changes to the dispensing flow rate
since there is
no holding tank and accepted liquid displaces liquid already in the system,
resulting in
dispensed liquid.
Ozonation systems according to embodiments of the present application can also
have the dispensing pressure be substantially equal to accepted pressure.
Substantially
equal pressure is to be understood to mean that the dispensing pressure is
about 60 psi
less than the accepted pressure, and in particular embodiments is about 40
psi, about 30
psi, about 20 psi or about 10 psi less than the accepted pressure.
Ozonation systems according to embodiments of the present application can also
have the dispensing flow rate be substantially equal to the accepted flow
rate. In
particular embodiments of the ozonation system according to the present
application, the
system can have a dosing system to add an additive to the accepted liquid,
resulting in an
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dispensing flow rate that is larger than the accepted flow rate. In particular
embodiments
of the ozonation system according to the present application, the system can
have a leak
or other liquid outlet in advance of the dispensing liquid outlet, resulting
in an dispensing
flow rate that is less than the accepted flow rate. Substantially equal flow
rate is to be
understood to mean that the dispensing flow rate is between about 80% and 120%
of the
accepted flow rate, and in particular embodiments is between about 90% and
about
110%, about 95% and about 105%, or about 99% and about 101% of the accepted
flow
rate.
Liquid-Gas Mixer. Ozonation systems according to embodiments of the present
application can have a liquid-gas mixer for mixing the ozone and the liquid.
In the system
illustrated in Figure 1, the liquid-gas mixer is venturi 14. As described
above, the liquid-
gas mixer 14 is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet 12 and is
arranged to dissolve
ozone gas in the liquid to produce the ozonated liquid. Liquid-gas mixers are
well known
in the art, and include such mixers as venturi mixers. Briefly, a venturi
mixer is a tube with
a constricted flow path, which causes an increase in flow velocity and a
corresponding
decrease in pressure. The decrease in pressure results in a pressure
differential, which
draws gas into the liquid.
Gas-liquid separator. Contemplated systems can also have a gas-liquid
separator in fluid communication with both the liquid gas-mixer and the liquid
outlet. The
gas-liquid separator, shown as element 18 in the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 1, can
be arranged to separate undissolved ozone gas from the ozonated liquid.
In particular embodiments, the ozonation system according to the present
invention includes a gas-liquid separator which can separate ozone from water
at high
flow rates. The gas-liquid separator can comprise a tubular member; a gaseous
liquid
inlet for entry of the gaseous liquid, the inlet arranged to create a vortex
of the gaseous
liquid in the gas-liquid separator; a gas outlet arranged to vent the
separated gas out of
the gas-liquid separator; a separating mixer secured to the tubular member;
and a liquid
outlet for egress of the degassed liquid from the annular degassed liquid
region.
The separating mixer can comprise an annular separating baffle concentric with
the tubular member and arranged to direct the flow of the degassed liquid
towards the
liquid outlet and to direct the separated gas away from the liquid outlet, the
separating
baffle and the side wall of the tubular member defining an annular degassed
liquid region
therebetween. The separating mixer can further comprise an annular mixing
baffle
concentric with the annular separating baffle, the radius of the annular
mixing baffle being
smaller than the radius of the annular separating baffle.
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Previously known gas-liquid separators are illustrated in Figure 2 and include
gas-
liquid inlet 10 for inducing vortex flow 112. The gaseous liquid injected via
inlet 110
separates into separated gas and degassed liquid. The separated gas coalesces
into
bubbles 114 and is vented out of the gas-liquid separator via gas outlet 116.
The
degassed liquid is dispensed from the gas-liquid separator via degassed liquid
outlet 118.
Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a gas-liquid separator as described
herein.
In use, gaseous liquid enters a tangentially positioned gas-liquid inlet 110,
which is
positioned in a lower portion 120 of tubular interior chamber 122. The gas-
liquid inlet 110
induces a vortex flow 112 of gaseous liquid. The gaseous liquid is injected at
a flow rate
sufficient to induce a vortex flow 112 of the gaseous liquid within the
interior chamber
122. Such a vortex flow 112 has a center of rotation and a low-pressure zone
located at
the center of rotation. The vortex flow 112 has a high-pressure zone around
the periphery
of the vortex flow 112, for example where the liquid contacts the tubular
interior chamber
122.
The vortex flow 112 of liquid first encounters mixing baffle 124, which
creates
turbulence in the vortex flow 112 of gaseous liquid, thereby breaking up
bubbles and
increasing the total surface area of the bubbles. This increase in surface
area can
enhance the dissolution of the gas into the liquid. A mixer, therefore, should
be
understood to be a turbulence enhancer which increases the amount of dissolved
gas in
the degassed liquid. Mixing baffle 124 defines a plurality of apertures 126
for fluid
communication between the inner and outer regions defined by the mixing baffle
124. The
apertures 126 are illustrated as slots extending axially along the central
longitudinal axis.
The slots can be evenly spaced around the baffle and equally spaced from each
other.
In an embodiment of a gas-liquid separator according to the present
application, a
mixer can also act to direct bubbles of separated ozone gas in to the upper
portion of the
tubular interior chamber, thereby ensuring that the bubbles are directed to
the gas outlet.
It is to be understood that, in a vortex flow, the pressure on a fluid element
is a
function of the centrifugal force exerted on that fluid element, which is a
function of the
velocity and the distance from the central longitudinal axis. The pressure is,
therefore,
lowest along the center of rotation (where the centrifugal force is smallest)
and the
pressure is greatest along the periphery of the vortex (where the centrifugal
force is
largest). The low pressure zone expedites bubbles of undissolved gas
coalescing
together. Gas separates from the liquid due to the vortex flow 112, coalesces
and rises
towards the upper portion 128 of the tubular interior chamber 122. The vortex
flow 112 of
gaseous liquid eventually becomes a vortex flow of degassed liquid as the
degassed
liquid separates from the separated gas.
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The vortex flow 112 of liquid next encounters separating baffle 130, which is
positioned in line with degassed liquid outlet 132. It is desirable to prevent
bubbles of gas
from exiting the gas-liquid separator through the degassed liquid outlet 132.
In a situation
of vortex flow, where the degassed liquid outlet 132 is positioned in the high-
pressure
zone at the periphery of the vortex flow 112, bubbles of gas can be swept into
the
degassed liquid outlet 132 before they coalesce in the low pressure zone. In
order to
direct bubbles of gas away from the degassed liquid outlet 132, devices as
described
herein have a separating baffle 130 positioned in line with the degassed
liquid outlet 132.
Separating baffle 130 can be positioned to create a thin slit between the side
wall and
baffle, the thin slit for directing the degassed liquid to the degassed liquid
outlet 132 and
for trapping bubbles of gas that have not coalesced in the upper portion 128
of the tubular
interior chamber 122. In an embodiment according to the present application,
the
separating baffle can be co-axial to the degassed liquid outlet 132.
Degassed liquid outlet 132 is positioned at the periphery of the vortex, in
the high-
pressure zone, in order to provide egress for liquid which has been degassed.
The
separating baffle 130 directs separated gas away from the degassed liquid
outlet 132 and
degassed liquid towards degassed liquid outlet 132. The combination of mixing
baffle 124
and separating baffle 130 are one embodiment of separating mixer 134. It is to
be
understood that a separating mixer enhances the turbulence in a fluid,
increasing the
amount of dissolved gas in the degassed liquid, and directs separated gas away
from the
liquid outlet while directing the degassed liquid towards the liquid outlet.
The degassed liquid outlet 132 is positioned above the gas-liquid inlet 110
and
below gas outlet (not shown). The liquid outlet 132 accepts the degassed fluid
from the
high-pressure zone and allows the degassed fluid to flow out of the interior
chamber 122.
The degassed liquid outlet 132 is understood to be properly positioned when it
is
sufficiently far away from both the gaseous liquid inlet 110 and the gas
outlet that neither
the gaseous liquid nor the separated gas exits via the degassed liquid outlet
during
conditions of vortex flow. It can also be desirable to position the degassed
liquid outlet
132 close to the gaseous liquid inlet 110 and the gas outlet so that the gas-
liquid
separator does not become overly large. In this manner, the gas-liquid
separator can be
as small as possible without compromising the effectiveness of the gas-liquid
separator.
The separating baffle 130 and side wall of the interior chamber 122 define a
degassed liquid region 136 therebetween. The separating baffle 130 is spaced
apart from
the side wall. The degassed liquid region 136 is open at the top and bottom
ends, and
liquid can flow through the degassed liquid region 136 between the top and
bottom ends.
Figure 3 illustrates the liquid outlet 132 as an annular aperture defined by
side walls of
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the interior chamber 122. The liquid outlet 132 leads to collecting outlet
138, which
provides a flow of the degassed liquid.
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that in the embodiment
illustrated in
Figure 3, liquid in the upper portion 128 of the tubular interior chamber 122
has a higher
ORP value as it has had a longer contact time with the ozone gas. It is
further believed
that this liquid can flow into the degassed liquid outlet 132 via the open top
end of the
degassed liquid region 136 without impediment. In contrast, in a gas-liquid
separator
having a degassed liquid region with a closed top end, it is believed that
liquid in the
upper portion 128 of the tubular interior chamber 122 would have to flow into
the
degassed liquid outlet 132 by first flowing down the center area, against the
direction of
flow of the remaining liquid.
One possible arrangement for securing both the mixing baffle 124 and the
separating baffle 130 to the side wall is via holder 140, which engages the
side wall and
the top ends of both the mixing baffle 124 and the separating baffle 122 so
that none of
the holder 140, mixing baffle 124 and separating baffle 130 disengage from the
side wall
when the gas-liquid separator is subjected to vortex flow 112.
Holder 140 and the side wall of the tubular chamber 122 defines apertures 142
through which fluid can flow into or out of the annular degassed liquid region
126 and
further defines at least one center opening through which the gaseous liquid
and bubbles
can flow. Holder 140, mixing baffle 136 and separating baffle 122 illustrate
one
embodiment of a separating mixer 134 secured to the side wall.
Figure 4 is a view along line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the annular
degassing liquid region 136, the mixing baffle 124 and the apertures 126
defined therein.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the mixing baffle 124 as being positioned
concentrically with
separating baffle 130 with the separating baffle 130 having a larger radius
than the mixing
baffle 124. That is to say that the separating baffle and tubular interior
chamber share a
common longitudinal axis.
Although Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the separating baffle 124 and mixing
baffle 130
as having a common center, it is to be understood that they would still be
"positioned
concentrically" as long as the longitudinal axis is shared, even if the mixing
baffle 124 is
positioned below the separating baffle 130 and they no longer share a common
center.
As illustrated in Figure 3, the degassed liquid outlet 132 can be a
substantially
annular aperture defined by the side walls of the substantially tubular
interior chamber
122. In other embodiments, the degassed liquid outlet 132 can be a plurality
of apertures
defined by the side walls of the chamber. In yet other embodiments, the
degassed liquid
outlet can be a tangential outlet in the side wall. The total cross-sectional
area of the
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degassed liquid outlet 132 can be equal to or slightly larger than the cross-
sectional area
of the gas-liquid inlet 110. For example, if the cross-sectional area of the
gas-liquid inlet
110 is 78.5 mm2 (e.g. a tube having a radius of 5 mm), then the degassed
liquid outlet
132 can be an annular aperture having a vertical height of 0.5 mm if the
substantially
tubular interior chamber 122 has a radius of 25 mm (area = 2-rrrh).
In embodiments where the degassed liquid outlet is an annular aperture defined
by the side walls or a plurality of apertures defined by the side walls, the
separating baffle
can be annular in shape and define an annular degassed liquid region (as
illustrated by
element 136 in Figure 3) between the separating baffle 130 and the side wall
of the
substantially tubular chamber 122. The cross-sectional area of the annular
degassed
liquid region 136, measured as the area between the separating baffle 130 and
the side
wall when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the interior chamber, can be
1.5x to 2.5x
the cross-sectional area of the liquid-gas inlet 110 and/or the degassed
liquid outlet 132.
In embodiments where the degassed liquid outlet is a tangential outlet in the
side
wall, the separating baffle can be an annular baffle, one or more than one
ribs or
deflecting guides extending from the side or wall of the substantially tubular
chamber, or
the like.
Another embodiment of a gas-liquid separator as described herein is
illustrated in
Figure 5. As discussed with regard to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3
and 4,
gaseous liquid enters a tangentially positioned gas-liquid inlet 110, which is
positioned in
a lower portion 120 of tubular interior chamber 122. The gas-liquid inlet 110
induces a
vortex flow 112 of gaseous liquid. The gaseous liquid is injected at a flow
rate sufficient to
induce a vortex flow 112 of the gaseous liquid within the interior chamber
122. Such a
vortex flow 112 has a center of rotation and a low-pressure zone located at
the center of
rotation. The vortex flow 112 has a high-pressure zone around the periphery of
the vortex
flow 112, for example where the liquid contacts the tubular interior chamber
122.
The vortex flow 112 of liquid encounters separating baffle 130, which is
positioned
in line with degassed liquid outlet 132. Separating baffle 130 and the side
wall of the
tubular chamber 122 define degassed liquid region 136. As discussed above,
degassed
liquid region is open at the top and bottom ends, and liquid can flow through
the
degassed liquid region 136 between the top and bottom ends.
As discussed previously, it is desirable to prevent bubbles of gas from
exiting the
gas-liquid separator through the degassed liquid outlet 132. In a situation of
vortex flow,
where the degassed liquid outlet 132 is positioned in the high-pressure zone
at the
periphery of the vortex flow 112, bubbles of gas can be swept into the
degassed liquid
outlet 132 before they coalesce in the low pressure zone. In order to direct
bubbles of gas
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away from the degassed liquid outlet 132, devices as described herein have a
separating
baffle 130 positioned in line with the degassed liquid outlet 132. The liquid
outlet 132
leads to collecting outlet 138, which provides a flow of the degassed liquid.
As discussed with regard to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the
separated gas coalesces in the low-pressure zone to form bubbles, which
further
coalesce, leading to accumulation of the separated gas. The coalesced bubbles
rise into
the upper portion 128 of the interior chamber 122 and exit out of separated
gas outlet
144. The separated gas outlet 144 allows the gas to escape the interior
chamber 122 and
is, therefore, positioned in the upper portion 128 of the interior chamber,
where the
separated gas would accumulate when the gas-liquid separator is use.
The gas-liquid separator can have a float (not shown) positioned in the
interior
chamber 122. When in use, the float is pushed up by the liquid and closes off
the
separated gas outlet 144. Separated gas accumulates and once sufficient gas
collected,
the float is displaced and separated gas outlet 144 is opened, allowing the
collected gas
to escape out of the separated gas outlet 144. Once the separated gas has been
vented,
the float rises and again close off the separated gas outlet 144. This allows
the gas-liquid
separator to maintain a relatively constant pressure within the interior
chamber 122.
It is to be understood that a mixture of gas and liquid is injected into a gas-
liquid
separator. This mixture of gas and liquid includes bubbles of gas mixed in
with the liquid.
In the context of the present application, such a mixture is termed a "gaseous
liquid".
Inside the gas-liquid separator, the gaseous liquid is separated into a
"degassed liquid"
and "separated gas".
In particular embodiments as described herein, the gas-liquid separator can
promote dissolving the gas into the liquid. In particular embodiments as
described herein,
the gas-liquid separator can promote vaporizing or otherwise adding liquid to
the gas. It
is, therefore, to be understood that the degassed liquid can have gas
dissolved therein,
and/or the separated gas can have liquid added thereto.
The term "degassed liquid" is, however, understood to represent liquid
substantially lacking bubbles therein, even if the liquid has a gas dissolved
therein. The
term "separated gas" is to be understood to be the gas when it has
substantially
coalesced together, even if the gas has liquid added thereto.
It is to be understood that devices, as described herein, separate gas and
liquid at
high flow rates. It is to be understood that the term "high flow rate", when
used in the
context of the overall flow capacity of a gas-liquid separator as described
herein, would
mean a flow rate of greater than four volumes per minute, where one volume is
equal to
the volume of the gas-liquid separator.
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Gas-liquid separators, as described herein, generally operate in a
substantially
vertical orientation, with a gaseous liquid inlet stream entering a lower
portion of the
device, separated gas exiting the device via a separated gas outlet in an
upper portion of
the device, and degassed liquid exiting the device via a degassed liquid
outlet positioned
between the gas-liquid inlet and the separated gas outlet.
The terms "upper" and "lower" are understood to refer to relative portions of
the
device when the device is positioned as it would be when it is in use. The
term "lower
portion" refers to the portion of the gas-liquid separator which through in
which gaseous
liquid and degassed liquid flow. The term "upper portion" refers to the
portion of the gas-
liquid separator in which the separated gas is collected before being vented
out of the
separator. In particular embodiments, the lower portion is conical or
frustoconical with a
half angle between about 5 and 7 degrees.
As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the gas-liquid inlet 110 can be
positioned
substantially tangential to the interior chamber 122. However, it is to be
understood that
vortex flow 112 can be induced by methods other than the tangential entry of
the gaseous
liquid. For example, a gaseous liquid inlet can be positioned coaxial to the
central
longitudinal axis if the inlet includes a flow-deflection component to deflect
axially
inflowing liquid so that the desired vortex flow is induced.
One example of a flow-deflection component is a rotation-symmetrical base body
element as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,053,967. This flow deflection
component
includes deflection vanes, which are curved in planes perpendicular relative
to the
longitudinal axis of the chamber, to direct the axially inflowing water to
form the desired
vortex flow. Additionally, it is to be understood that vortex flow can be
induced through
mechanical methods, such as by the positioning of a motor-driven paddle in the
substantially tubular chamber, where the motor-driven paddle drives vortex
flow through
physical displacement of the liquid.
In view of the desire to create a vortex flow inside the interior chamber, the
term
"substantially tubular interior chamber" is to be understood to mean a chamber
that is
shaped to encourage, not deter, a vortex flow. A chamber that deters a vortex
flow may,
for example, have a substantially square or rectangular horizontal cross-
section since the
side walls would discourage the flow of liquid circularly around the interior
chamber. In
contrast, a chamber that encourages a vortex flow could, for example, have a
substantially oval or circular horizontal cross-section since the side wall(s)
would direct
the flow of liquid around the interior chamber. It is understood, however,
that chambers
with square or rectangular cross-sections can include other features that
encourage
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vortex flow. In such situations, it is to be understood that the term
"substantially tubular
interior chamber" would encompass those chambers.
Ozone Source. Ozone gas can be provided to the liquid-gas mixer (e.g. venturi
14 in Figure 1) from a number of different sources. For example, a corona
discharge
system can be used to generate and provide the ozone gas. A corona discharge
system
uses an electrode with a high potential and takes oxygen gas and passes a
current
through the gas so as to ionize the gas and create a plasma around the
electrode. The
ionized gas recombines with oxygen to form ozone. The oxygen gas used in a
corona
discharge system can be oxygen from the air or from another oxygen source, for
example
the output from an oxygen concentrator. If air is used to generate ozone gas,
a higher
concentration of ozone can be achieved by reducing the amount of moisture in
the
provided air and/or increasing the concentration of oxygen (for example by
removing
nitrogen) in the provided air. Reducing the amount of moisture or increasing
the
concentration of oxygen can be achieved, for example, by using a removable
cartridge,
as described below. Corona discharge systems can use sustained ionization or
intermittent ionization to generate ozone. Corona discharge typically uses two
asymmetric
electrodes: a highly curved electrode (e.g. tip of a needle or small diameter
wire) and an
electrode with a low curvature (e.g. a plate or ground). Coronas may be
positive or
negative, depending on the polarity of the voltage on the highly curved
electrode. In
particular embodiments, a negative corona discharge system is used. In some
embodiments of known corona discharge systems, as much as 10 grams of ozone
per
hour can be provided.
Ozone Destructor. Systems according to the present application may also
include an ozone destruction assembly, or "ozone destructor", as illustrated
by element
20 in Figure 1. Ozone destructors are known in the art. Briefly, the ozone
destruction
assembly can include a gas inlet for accepting ozone gas from the gas-liquid
separator
18. Ozone gas can be directed from the gas inlet to a destruction chamber with
a catalyst
for accelerating the decomposition of ozone into oxygen. The decomposition can
be
further accelerated by heating the destruction chamber and/or the ozone gas to
be
destroyed to an elevated temperature. In particular embodiments of the ozone
destruction
assembly, the catalyst is manganese dioxide or activated carbon. The resulting
oxygen
gas produced from the destruction of the ozone gas can be discharged to the
atmosphere
via an oxygen outlet.
Scrubber/Extractor. The system for providing ozonated liquid according to the
present application can be adapted or retrofitted to a mobile floor scrubber
or extractor.
Scrubbers and extractors are floor cleaners which eject a cleaning solution
from a
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reservoir of clean liquid onto the floor and then remove the solution by
vacuuming it into a
reservoir of dirty liquid. Scrubbers and extractors are typically used in
hospitals, hotels or
other commercial or industrial settings.
When adapted to scrubbers or extractors, the contemplated system takes water
from the clean reservoir as the liquid to be ozonated, passes the water
through the
ozonation flow path, and ejects the ozonated water as the cleaning solution.
Used
ozonated water vacuumed from the floor is then stored in a dirty reservoir
until the
scrubber or extractor is emptied.
One embodiment of a scrubber 210 is illustrated in Figure 6. The scrubber 210
has a clean reservoir 212 holding water to be ozonated 214. The water to be
ozonated
214 passes through inlet 216 in order to enter the ozonation flow path. The
water flows at
a desired flow rate through venturi 218. Venturi 218 mixes the water with
ozone produced
in ozone generator 220 to provide an ozone-water mixture, which flows through
gas-liquid
separator 222. The gas-liquid separator 222 separates the mixture into gaseous
ozone
and ozonated water. The gaseous ozone passes through ozone destructor 224
before
being vented as oxygen. The ozonated water passes through outlet 226 as it
leaves the
ozonation flow path to be used by the scrubber as the cleaning solution. The
scrubber
210 can include scrubbing brushes 228 which use the ozonated water to scrub
the floor,
resulting in dirty ozonated water. The dirty ozonated water 230 is sucked into
dirty
reservoir 232 via vacuum inlet 234.
In particular embodiments, the system can be adapted to interface with a
commercially available scrubber or extractor. In such situations, it is
desirable to ozonate
water after it leaves the clean reservoir, instead of ozonating all of the
water in the clean
reservoir as a recirculating ozonating system would do. To achieve this, a
system
according to the present application can be installed downstream from the
clean reservoir
and upstream from the scrubbing brushes. Installing the system in a hose
connecting the
clean reservoir and scrubbing brushes allows the system to provide ozonated
water on
demand.
Ozonation. In ozonation systems according to embodiments of the present
application, since the ozonation flow path is non-recirculating, the liquid
passes through
the ozonation flow path only once before being dispensed from the liquid
outlet. The
ozonation flow path must, therefore, dissolve sufficient ozone in the liquid
in a single pass
to provide the ozonated liquid.
In particular embodiments of the ozonation system according to the present
application, the liquid accepted by the ozonation flow path is substantially
unozonated.
"Substantially unozonated" is to be understood to mean that the accepted
liquid does not
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exceed a threshold value. In particular embodiments, the threshold value can
be an ORP
value of about 250 millivolts (mV), preferably about 150 and more preferably
about 50
mV. It is appreciated that the threshold value can alternatively be measured
in ppm of
dissolved ozone, and the threshold value can be about 0.1, preferably about
0.05, more
preferably about 0.02 and even more preferably about 0.01 ppm of dissolved
ozone.
For example, an ozonation flow path according to the present application can
take
an accepted liquid having 0 ppm dissolved ozone and an ORP of 0 mV and,
passing the
fluid through the ozonation flow path only once, dispense an ozonated liquid
having at
least about 8 ppm ozone and/or an ORP due to the dissolved ozone of at least
about 900
mV. A similar final amount of dissolved ozone and/or a final ORP value can be
observed
in the dispensed ozonated liquid when the accepted liquid already has a non-
zero amount
of dissolved ozone and/or a non-zero ORP.
It is appreciated that "ozonated liquid" can generally refer to liquid with
any
amount of ozone dissolved therein. However, in the context of the present
application,
when the liquid is water or a water-additive mixture, the term "ozonated
liquid" is to be
understood to be liquid that has sufficient ozone dissolved therein that the
oxidation-
reduction potential (ORP), solely due to the dissolved ozone, is at least
about 450 mV.
In particular embodiments, the ORP solely due to the dissolved ozone is at
least
about 600, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100 or 1150 mV. It is
appreciated that
an alternative definition for "ozonated liquid" according to another
embodiment is a liquid
that has sufficient ozone dissolved therein to reach a concentration of least
3 parts per
million (ppm), and preferably at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ppm.
Oxidation-reduction potential is a measure of disinfectant levels in water
systems,
independent of the oxidant (e.g. ozone, chlorine, peroxide, peroxyacetic
acid). It is
generally accepted that liquids with ORP values of 650 to 700 mV kill bacteria
within a
few seconds. Yeast and other fungi can be killed with such a liquid upon
contact for a few
minutes. Liquids with an ORP value of 450 mV are termed "sanitizing liquids".
Liquids
with an ORP value of 600 mV are termed "disinfecting liquids". Liquids with an
ORP value
of 800 mV are termed "sterilizing liquids".
An ORP value "due solely to dissolved ozone" is to be understood to mean that
the ORP is a measure of the oxidation potential of the dissolved ozone and
does not take
into account the oxidation and/or reduction potential of other additional
components of the
liquid. For example, chlorine dissolved in water has an oxidation potential.
Adding ozone
to the chlorinated water would increase the ORP. In this example, the ORP
value "due
solely to dissolved ozone" corresponds to the ORP value of the water if it was
not
chlorinated, regardless of the ORP value of the ozonated and chlorinated
water.
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In contrast to holding tank-less systems according to the present application,
ozonation systems having a recirculating ozonation flow path only dissolve a
small
amount of ozone every time the liquid travels through the recirculating flow
path.
Repeatedly recirculating the liquid adds a small amount of ozone every time
the liquid is
recirculated, eventually resulting in a larger amount of dissolved ozone and
higher ORP
value.
Pressure. Ozonation systems according to the present application can be
connected to a municipal water supply. Typical municipal water supplies
provide water at
a pressure between approximately 20 psi and approximately 60 psi. An ozonation
system
according to the present application accepts water from the municipal water
supply or
from another water source (for example from a pressurized holding tank). In
some
instances, for example if water is accepted from a pressurized tank, water may
be
provided at pressures as high as 80 or 100 psi. In the embodiment shown in
Figure 1, the
accepted water enters the liquid inlet 12 at the desired flow rate and
accepted pressure
and travels through the ozonation flow path, which does not include any
pressure
regulation systems, for example pressure reducing valves or pressure pumps. In
an
embodiment, the ozonated water dispensed from the system has a dispensing
pressure
that is directly dependent on the accepted pressure.
Flow Rate. The accepted water flows into the liquid inlet of the ozonation
flow at a
desired flow rate, which is a function of the water pressure and cross-
sectional area of the
liquid inlet. The desired flow rate typically ranges from 3 to 10 liters per
minute, but can
be as high as about 38 liters per minute. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1,
the
accepted water enters the liquid inlet 12 at the desired flow rate and
accepted pressure
and travels through the ozonation flow path. In an embodiment, the flow rate
of the
ozonated water dispensed from the system is the same as the flow rate accepted
by the
system.
Residence Time. A system with a "holding tank" is to be understood to be a
system with a reservoir, for example a vessel, tank, pipe, pool, drum or any
other
container, for storing, accumulating or saving liquid until it is needed. A
systems that is
"holding tank-less" is to be understood to be a system that does not store,
accumulate or
save liquid until it is needed. In such a holding tank-less system, liquid
would be accepted
into the system, flow through the flow path, and be dispensed from the system
without
being placed in a reservoir.
Since the ozonation flow path does not have a holding tank for producing
ozonated liquid on a recirculating basis, the overall volume of the system is
small in
comparison to the flow rate of dispensed ozonated liquid. The ratio between
volume and
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flow rate is understood to be a measure of the average fluid residence time of
the liquid in
the ozonation flow path.
The fluid residence time of a system is an expression of how long it takes a
fluid
element to move through a volume which is in equilibrium. It is to be
understood that fluid
residence time is a measure of the residence time of the liquid in that
volume. It is the
average time a fluid element spends within a specified region of space, such
as a
reservoir. In a well-mixed system with all fluid elements in equilibrium,
residence time can
be calculated by dividing the volume in question by the volumetric flow rate
of the liquid.
Embodiments of the present application have an average fluid residence time of
the liquid
in the ozonation flow path of less than about 5 minutes. In other particular
embodiments,
the average fluid residence time is less than about 1, about 0.7 or about 0.05
minutes.
In particular embodiments of the ozonation system according to the present
application, the ozonation system has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, with
the ozonation
flow path therebetween. In other embodiments, the ozonation system according
to the
present application includes ozonation flow path with a liquid inlet and
liquid outlet.
For example, in one embodiment, the liquid inlet can correspond to the nozzle
which accepts liquid into the ozonation system and the fluid residence time is
measured
from the nozzle to the liquid outlet which dispenses ozonated liquid from the
ozonation
system. In another particular embodiment, the liquid inlet corresponds to the
liquid-gas
mixer and the fluid residence time is measured from the liquid-gas mixer to
the liquid
outlet which dispenses ozonated liquid from the ozonation system.
In one particular embodiment of an ozonation flow path according to the
present
application, a venturi mixer is joined to a gas-liquid separator by 3" of 3/8"
tubing. In such
an embodiment, and at average flow rates, the average residence time between
the
venturi mixer and the gas-liquid separator is in the range of about 0.01 and
about 0.1
seconds. In such an embodiment, the average residence time in the ozonation
flow path
can be less than about 0.7 or less than about 0.05 minutes, depending on the
flow rate of
the liquid.
Cartridge and usage tracking. As discussed, water ozonation devices (such as
a holding tank-less water ozonation system of the present application) can
optionally use
a removable filter cartridge when the ozonation device includes an ozone
source such as,
for example, a corona discharge system. The removable filter cartridge can be
used to
increase the concentration of ozone generated by the corona discharge system
by
reducing the amount of moisture in the provided air and/or increasing the
concentration of
oxygen (for example by removing nitrogen) in the air provided to the corona
discharge
system.
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The cartridge can be arranged for integration and use with first and second
ozonation devices, and can include a usage counter to increment a usage count
in
response to a received signal from an ozonation device, and a device interface
to provide
an expiry indication when the cartridge is no longer suitable for use. The
devices count
usage can be based on different first and second cycle count conditions. The
same
cartridge can be used in different devices, such as, for example, a consumer
water
ozonation device (such as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,964,739, incorporated
herein by
reference), a high capacity commercial water ozonation device, a large volume
ozone
sprayer, a holding tank-less water ozonation device, etc. The devices can
include logic to
disable usage of the system after the cartridge has reached a predetermined
usage
condition. Compatibility identifiers can be used in the cartridge and devices
to restrict use
of the cartridge with certain devices.
While some known systems offer a limited type of usage tracking or counting,
embodiments of the present application count usage of a cartridge in a way
that permits
the cartridge to be used, and re-used, in systems having a different type, or
which
measure usage cycles differently. This can be described as providing universal
usage
counting in a water treatment system having a plurality of ozonation devices
which count
usage according to different cycle completion conditions.
In an embodiment, the present application provides a cartridge-enhanced water
treatment system including a cartridge and first and second ozonation devices.
The first
and second ozonation devices can be the same or different. For example, the
first and
second ozonation devices can be first and second holding tank-less ozonation
devices; or
the first ozonation device can be a holding tank-less ozonation device and the
second
ozonation device can be a residential ozonation device (such as described in
United
States Patent Application Publication No. US-2008-0190825-A1).
The first ozonation device is of a first type, and includes a first device
cycle count
manager configured to signal the cartridge upon completion of an ozonation
cycle of the
first ozonation device with respect to a first ozonation device cycle count
condition. The
second ozonation device is of a second type, the second type being different
from the first
type. The second ozonation device includes a second device cycle count manager
configured to signal the cartridge upon completion of an ozonation cycle of
the second
ozonation device with respect to a second ozonation device cycle count
condition.
In one embodiment, the cartridge is a desiccant cartridge, is arranged for
integration and independent use with both the first ozonation device and the
second
ozonation device, and includes: an air inlet to receive atmospheric air, a
desiccant
material to remove moisture, and a dry air outlet for interfacing with one of
the first and
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second ozonation devices to provide dry air to an ozone generator. In another
embodiment, the cartridge is a nitrogen-removing cartridge, is arranged for
integration
and independent use with both the first ozonation device and the second
ozonation
device, and includes: an air inlet to receive atmospheric air, a material to
remove nitrogen
gas from the air so as to increase the concentration of oxygen in the air, and
an oxygen-
enriched air outlet for interfacing with one of the first and second ozonation
devices to
provide oxygen-enriched air to an ozone generator. In yet another embodiment,
the
cartridge is both a nitrogen-removing and desiccant cartridge, and includes
both a
desiccant material to remove moisture and a material to remove nitrogen gas
from the
received air.
The cartridge further includes a usage counter arranged to modify a stored
usage
count in response to receipt of a signal from the first or second cycle count
manager, and
a device interface arranged to provide an expiry indication indicating that
the cartridge is
no longer suitable for further use, based on the stored usage count. The
cartridge can
optionally include a chronological counter arranged to modify a stored time
count. The
device interface in such a cartridge can provide an expiry indication based on
the stored
usage count or the stored time count. In a cartridge that includes a
chronological counter,
the cartridge could be stored in a vacuum packed container and, once the
container is
opened and the cartridge exposed to atmospheric air, the chronological counter
could be
started by the removal of a tab. Removal of the tab could, for example, engage
a battery
with dedicated circuitry for modifying the stored time count.
The first and/or second cycle count managers can comprise a cycle memory
arranged to keep track of partially completed cycles.
In an example, the cartridge includes a cartridge compatibility identifier,
and the
first and second ozonation devices include first and second device
compatibility
identifiers, respectively. First and second device compatibility managers are
arranged to
determine whether the cartridge is compatible with the first or second
ozonation device,
respectively, based on a comparison of the cartridge compatibility identifier
with the first
and second device compatibility identifiers, respectively.
The first and second device compatibility managers can determine that the
cartridge is compatible with the first or second ozonation device when the
cartridge
compatibility identifier is the same as the first or second ozonation device
compatibility
identifier, respectively. Therefore, in an example, if the cartridge is
compatible with the
first and second ozonation devices, all three have the same compatibility
identifier.
The first and second device compatibility managers can determine that the
cartridge is compatible with the first or second ozonation device when the
first or second
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ozonation device compatibility identifier identifies a device class with which
the cartridge
compatibility identifier is compatible. The cartridge can then be compatible
with a plurality
of types of ozonation device of the identified device class.
The usage counter (with the optional chronological counter) in the cartridge
can
be reset in response to receipt of a usage and/or chronological counter reset
signal. The
system can further include a usage counter reset manager (with an optional
chronological
counter reset manager), in communication with the cartridge, arranged to send
a usage
and/or chronological counter reset signal to reset the usage and/or
chronological counter
in the cartridge. The usage counter reset manager and/or chronological counter
reset
manager can be arranged to determine an expected life of a dried desiccant
material
and/or a nitrogen-removing material prior to sending the usage and/or
chronological
counter reset signal. The usage and/or chronological counter reset managers
can be
arranged to provide a modified value with which the usage and/or chronological
counters
can be reset, the modified value being based on measured properties of the
desiccant
material and/or the nitrogen-removing material.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cartridge arranged for
integration and use with first and second ozonation devices of different
types, and
including: an air inlet to receive atmospheric air; a desiccant and/or
nitrogen removing
material to remove moisture and/or nitrogen; an air outlet for interfacing
with one of the
first and second ozonation devices to provide dry and/or oxygen enriched air
to an ozone
generator; and a usage and/or chronological counter. The usage counter (with
an optional
chronological counter) is arranged to modify a stored usage count in response
to receipt
of a first cycle completion signal received from the first ozonation device
representing
completion of an ozonation cycle with respect to a first ozonation device
cycle count
condition. The usage counter is also arranged to modify the stored usage count
in
response to receipt of a second cycle completion signal received from the
second
ozonation device representing completion of an ozonation cycle with respect to
a second
ozonation device cycle count condition. The cartridge also includes a device
interface
arranged to provide an expiry indication indicating that the cartridge is no
longer suitable
for further use based on the stored usage count. In cartridges with the
optional
chronological counter, the chronological counter is arranged to modify a
stored time
count. The device interface in such a cartridge can provide an expiry
indication based on
the stored usage count or the stored time count. In a cartridge that includes
a
chronological counter, the cartridge could be stored in a vacuum packed
container and,
once the container is opened and the cartridge exposed to atmospheric air, the
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chronological counter could be started by the removal of a tab. Removal of the
tab could,
for example, engage a battery with dedicated circuitry for modifying the
stored time count.
Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a cartridge-enhanced water treatment system 300
including a first ozonation device 310, a second ozonation device 320 and a
cartridge
330. The first ozonation device 310 includes a cycle count manager 312, and
optionally
includes a compatibility identifier 314, and a compatibility manager 316.
The cycle count manager 312 is configured to signal the cartridge 330 upon
completion of an ozonation cycle of the first ozonation device 310. The cycle
count
manager 312 is particularly configured with respect to a first ozonation
device cycle count
condition, such as a cycle count threshold. For example, if the first
ozonation device 310
is a high capacity ozonation device or system, the cycle count manager 312 can
be
configured to signal the cartridge 330 after 45 seconds of operation. In this
case, the first
ozonation device cycle count condition, or threshold, is 45 seconds of
operation.
The cycle count manager 312 can include a cycle memory, to keep track of
partially completed cycles. For example, suppose an ozonation device has a
cycle count
threshold of 45 seconds. If the ozonation device runs for 30 seconds and the
device is
stopped, the cycle count manager memory will store the partially completed
cycle
information. When the ozonation device next starts, it calculates after 15
seconds of
operation that a cycle has been completed, based on the partially completed
cycle
information.
In an embodiment, the cycle count manager 312 maintains the cycle memory
value when the cartridge is removed from a first ozonation device of a first
type and is
installed in a second ozonation device of the same type. For example, if the
two
ozonation devices use the same ozonation device cycle count condition, the
cycle
memory value is maintained. If the cartridge is subsequently installed on an
ozonation
device of a different type, or which uses a different ozonation device cycle
count
condition, the cycle memory can be converted based on a relationship between
the two
conditions, or can be cleared if such conversion cannot be completed.
The compatibility identifier 314 is an identifier that can be used within a
cartridge-
enhanced water treatment system to identify compatible cartridges and water
ozonation
devices. The identifier 314 can also be referred to as a first device
compatibility identifier.
The compatibility manager 316 determines whether a cartridge is compatible
with the first
ozonation device based on stored compatibility identifiers. The compatibility
manager 316
can determine that the cartridge is compatible if it has the same
compatibility identifier as
the first ozonation device. Alternatively, a positive determination can be
made if the
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cartridge and device compatibility identifiers have another predetermined
relationship with
each other, for example are the opposite of each other.
The second ozonation device 320 also includes a cycle count manager 322, and
optionally a compatibility identifier 324 and compatibility manager 326, which
are similar
to the above-described cycle count manager 112, compatibility identifier 314,
and
compatibility manager 316. The cycle count manager 322 is configured to signal
the
cartridge 330 upon completion of an ozonation cycle of the second ozonation
device 320.
The cycle count manager 322 is particularly configured with respect to a
second
ozonation device cycle count condition. For example, suppose the second
ozonation
device 320 is a low capacity commercial ozonation device capable of performing
two or
more different ozonation cycles, associated with different types of container
or attachment
used. The second ozonation device cycle count condition can then be different
depending
on the selected ozonation cycle.
For example, a second ozonation device cycle count condition for a vegetable
bowl cycle can include achieving a desired ozone concentration in the water
during a
running time of about 3 to 4 minutes. In that case, the second ozonation
device cycle
count condition can be dependent on a detection of an ozone concentration in
the water,
as compared to a desired ozone concentration for a particular cycle, and
optionally within
an operation time window. Regardless of the potential variation in the actual
time taken to
complete the cycle, the cycle count manager 326 can be configured to signal
the
cartridge 330 after meeting one or more conditions to satisfy completion of a
second
ozonation device cycle.
In an embodiment, if the first and second ozonation device compatibility
identifiers
314 and 324 are the same, then this signifies that a cartridge having that
compatibility
identifier will work and be compatible with both the first and second
ozonation devices
310 and 320.
The cartridge 330 includes an air inlet 332, an air outlet 334, and houses at
least
one material 336 to remove moisture and/or nitrogen. The cartridge is arranged
for
integration and use with the first ozonation device with the second ozonation
device. The
air inlet 232 is to receive atmospheric air, and the air outlet 334 is for
interfacing with one
of the first and second ozonation devices to provide dry and/or oxygen-
enriched air to an
ozone generator.
The cartridge 230 includes a usage counter 338, a stored usage threshold 340,
and includes a device interface 342. The usage counter 338 modifies a stored
usage
count in response to receipt of a signal from the cycle count manager 316 or
326. The
modification of the usage count can include incrementing or decrementing the
count,
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depending on the implementation of the counter. The usage counter 338 can be
implemented in a flash memory, or other computer-readable memory or computer-
readable medium.
The usage threshold 340 is stored in a memory in the cartridge 330. The
cartridge
For example, with a commercial ozonation device including a trigger sprayer,
650
cycles can be run before the cartridge is marked as expired. The trigger
sprayer sends a
signal to the cartridge to remove a cycle every time the system is run. With a
high
capacity ozonation device, the cartridge lasts for 1,200 gallons. Typical flow
can be about
In an embodiment, if the usage count stored in the usage counter 338 exceeds
25 In another embodiment, the usage count begins at the maximum capacity
value,
and is decremented until it reaches zero. In this case, the first and second
ozonation
devices signal the cartridge to decrease, or decrement, the usage count by one
upon
completion of an ozonation device cycle count condition. The providing of a
usage count
of zero can be an embodiment of providing an expiry indication to the device
interface
30 342.
In another example, the usage counter increments upon cycle completion. If the
usage count exceeds the usage threshold, the cartridge can change the usage
counter to
read "999" or some other value that indicates to the compatibility manager
that the
cartridge is not to be used.
35 In another embodiment, the usage counter 338 can be reset, and the
desiccant
material 336 in the cartridge 330 can be dried, thus permitting re-use and
recycling of the
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cartridge. In an example, the usage counter 338 can be reset in response to
receipt of a
usage counter reset signal. The usage counter reset signal can be received
from an
ozonation device with which the cartridge is to be used, or from another
specialized
device including dedicated circuitry to reset the cartridge.
The ozonation device or the specialized device can comprise a usage counter
reset manager, in electrical communication with the device interface 342 of
the cartridge
when the cartridge is in use or is in place for usage counter resetting. The
usage counter
reset signal can be issued after a determination has been made that the
desiccant
material has been sufficiently dried for re-use. Optionally, the usage counter
reset
manager can determine an expected life of the dried desiccant material. The
usage
counter reset manager can provide a modified value with which the usage
counter can be
reset, the modified value being based on measured properties of the desiccant
material.
An advantage of providing the usage counter reset manager as part of a
specialized device, such as a usage counter resetting apparatus, is to remove
the ability
of users of the ozonation devices to reset the usage counter. In an example
where the
usage counter reset manager is provided in the ozonation device, an access
controller
can be provided to restrict access to the usage counter reset manager. The
access
controller can be implemented as any mechanical and/or electrical form of
access control,
such as a physical key, a security card access control, a biometric
identifier, etc.
The cartridge 330 optionally includes a compatibility identifier 344, also
referred to
as a cartridge compatibility identifier 344. Based on a comparison between the
cartridge
compatibility identifier and the first or second ozonation device
compatibility identifier, a
determination is made whether the cartridge is compatible with the device. For
example, if
the cartridge compatibility identifier 344 is the same as the first or second
compatibility
identifiers 314 and 324, then that cartridge is activated or enabled for use
with the first or
second ozonation devices, respectively.
In an embodiment, the compatibility identifiers 314, 324 and 344 can each be
stored as a line of code in a memory provided in the first and second
ozonation devices
310 and 320, and the cartridge 330, respectively. If the stored cartridge and
device
compatibility identifiers correspond, or are the same, then the water
ozonation device
permits use of the cartridge in the device. This permits a manufacturer to
identify or
encode cartridges for use only with apparatuses produced by a particular
distributor or for
a particular reseller. The cartridge can be used with water ozonation devices
of different
types, for example low capacity and high capacity commercial devices, as long
as the
devices have the same identifier as the cartridge.
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Embodiments have been described herein with respect to different types of
commercial ozonation devices and systems. Such commercial devices can include
a
commercial floor scrubber, or a carpet extractor, equipped with a liquid
ozonation device
as described herein. In other embodiments, the features described herein can
be
incorporated in other classes of ozonation devices or systems, such as
industrial or
consumer ozonation devices. In such embodiments, the compatibility identifier
can be
used to ensure that a cartridge is compatible only with different types of
ozonation
devices of the same class. For example, a consumer compatibility identifier,
commercial
compatibility identifier, or industrial compatibility identifier can be
included in cartridges to
be used with one of those classes of ozonation devices having the same, or a
corresponding, compatibility identifier.
The cartridge-enhanced water treatment system 300 can include logic to disable
usage of an ozonation device after the cartridge has reached a predetermined
usage
and/or chronological condition or threshold. This condition may be different
depending on
the type of ozonation device in which the cartridge is used. The logic can be
provided in
the first and second ozonation devices 310 and 320, and/or in the cartridge
330.
For example, when a cartridge is inserted and an ozonation device is turned
on, a
base unit of the ozonation device can read the cartridge identifier and check
to make sure
that the code matches what has been preprogrammed on the control board in the
base
unit, or otherwise results in a positive compatibility determination. If it
does not, then the
unit will not run. A similar methodology can apply with respect to reading the
usage
and/or chronological count, and not permitting the device to operate when the
usage or
chronological count exceeds the programmed threshold.
Fig. 8A is a front right perspective view of a cartridge according to an
embodiment
of the present application. In an embodiment, the usage counter 338, the usage
threshold
340, and the optional compatibility identifier 344 are in electrical
communication with the
device interface 342, such as wired communication, wireless communication, or
infrared
(IR) communication. In the embodiment of Fig. 8A, one, some, or all of the
usage
counter 338, the usage threshold 340, the optional compatibility identifier
342, and the
device interface 344 can all be provided in a printed circuit 346 provided on
an outer
surface of the cartridge, which mates with the ozonation device. Fig. 8B shows
an
exploded view of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present
application. In
this embodiment, the printed circuit 346 can include the features noted above
with
respect to the embodiment of Fig. 8A and the cartridge can be disassembled and
the
desiccant material, the nitrogen removing material and/or the battery for
powering the
printed circuit 346 can be replaced.
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Fig. 9 is a mechanical system diagram of an exemplary water sanitization
system
with which a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present application
can be
used. The system illustrated in Fig. 9 shows both water and air paths, and
illustrates a
filter that can perform air dryer and water filtration. This system is
described herein for
illustration, as a background for understanding the operational environments
of the
present application. Another exemplary water sanitization system with which a
cartridge
according to an embodiment of the present application could be used is the
system
illustrated in Fig. 1, where the cartridge can be used with ozone generator
16. Ozone
generator 16 of Fig. 1 and ozone generator 416 of Fig. 9, discussed below, can
be used
interchangeably.
While the embodiments above have described a cartridge which can perform air
drying, such functionality can be provided in a removable filter cartridge
that also provides
water filtration. In discussions of Fig. 9, the terms "after" and "before" are
used with
respect to the water or air flow within the system. The direction of water
flow is illustrated
at pump motor 406, whereas the direction of air flow is illustrated at air
dryer 410.
A reservoir 402 is provided for containing water that is to be, or is being,
sanitized/purified. The reservoir 402 is a removable water container. Examples
of such
containers are discussed in commonly assigned International Patent Application
No. WO
2004/113232, published on December 29, 2004, which is incorporated herein by
reference. A fluid transfer port or valve 404 is provided at the interface of
the reservoir
402 with a base unit incorporating the other elements of the system according
to an
embodiment of the present invention. The fluid transfer valve 404, or fluid
control port or
liquid interface, allows the control of fluids, and in particular, but not
limited to, the control
of fluids into and out of the container, which allows the container to be
removed without
leaking.
The flow into and out of the container may occur simultaneously or
sequentially. In
the case of simultaneous outflow and inflow, water is taken from the reservoir
402,
processed, and pumped back to the reservoir. This is preferably done in such a
way that
the fluid level in the reservoir is maintained during processing (i.e. the
fluid is not drained
from the reservoir, processed and then pumped back into the reservoir). The
fluid transfer
valve 404 can be implemented in any number of ways, such as by way of separate
check
valves for inflow and outflow, or a single double check valve (DCV) for both
inflow and
outflow. The double check valve arrangement allows water to flow out of and
into the
container simultaneously while using a single connection point.
In order to improve mixing, a DCV cap (not shown in the figures) can be
provided
at the fluid transfer valve when it is implemented as a double check valve. An
angled
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section of the DCV cap can preferably be removed to allow the water entering
the
reservoir from the base unit to be less impeded and therefore faster moving.
This faster
moving water causes greater mixing in the reservoir and means the dissolved
ozone level
gets up higher and faster in the reservoir.
Water flows from the reservoir 402, through the fluid transfer valve 404 to a
pump
motor 406 provided after the reservoir 402 to draw water from the reservoir.
Although the
pump head and motor functions can be separated, they are typically implemented
in a
unitary motor/pump assembly, such as the pump motor 406, and will be discussed
as
such herein, keeping in mind that other implementations are possible. The
electronics are
typically connected to the motor portion, but the pump and motor are
interconnected.
A replaceable cartridge 408, which is removable and preferably disposable, is
provided. The cartridge 408 can include an air dryer 410 for function in the
air flow path,
or air line, of the system and/or a water filter 412 for function in the water
flow path, or
water line, of the system. In terms of air circulation in the system, air
typically is drawn in
from the atmosphere via the air dryer 410, and can then pass through an inlet
valve 414,
an ozone generator 416, an outlet valve 418, and an ozone contacting device,
or mixing
device, 420, such as a venturi.
The inlet and outlet valves 414 and 418, alternatively referred to as transfer
ports,
are optional components of the system and can be implemented as check valves.
They
serve to improve performance of the system, and particularly the ozone
generator 416.
The valves 414 and 418 co-operate to ensure that when the unit is not running,
little or no
residual ozone gas can diffuse out of the system to atmosphere. Some
governmental
safety guidelines and regulations include a virtual no ozone gas emissions
requirement.
The valves 414 and 418 assist in achieving such requirements. The outlet valve
418
prevents water from backing up into the ozone generator 416 via the ozone
contacting
device 420 when the unit is at rest with a reservoir, or attachment, on it.
The ozone generator 416, which can be a corona-discharge type, converts a
portion of the oxygen in the air (drawn from the atmosphere) into ozone. The
ozone is
mixed with the water in the ozone contacting device 420. The water ozone
mixture then
preferably passes through an ozone gas atomizer 422 before passing into an off-
gas unit
424, which removes the air and undissolved ozone. The removed gas is directed
to an
ozone destructor 426, which converts ozone into oxygen and safely releases it
into the
atmosphere.
The ozone gas atomizer 422 is provided downstream of the ozone contacting
device 420 and just before the inlet port of the off-gas unit 424 in order to
increase the
contact time between the micro bubbles of ozone gas and the water. The
geometry of a
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preferably necked down inlet port of the off-gas and the cyclonic action of
the gas/liquid
mixture in the off-gas unit 424 makes the off-gas unit 424 also act as a
mixing device.
This feature can significantly increase the dissolved ozone level in the
water. An
accumulator (not shown in the figures) can preferably be provided at the top
of the off-gas
unit 424 that captures excess water that escapes out of the off-gas unit 424
via the gas
line. This accumulator can drain the excess water back into the off-gas unit
424 when the
unit is at rest. Having this accumulator prevents water from getting into
ozone destructor
426 when the unit is inverted. If the ozone destructor 426 (such as provided
by
CARULITEO) gets wet, it is rendered ineffective at destroying ozone gas.
A sealing check valve (not shown in the figures) can preferably be provided
between the off-gas unit 424 and the ozone destructor 426. This sealing check
valve
seals the system from atmosphere in such a way that when the unit is inverted
in an
attempt to drain water out of it, water is prevented from leaving the system.
It is the same
principle as inserting a straw in a drink, covering the end of the straw and
then removing
the straw - the drink stays trapped in the straw. This is advantageous in a
unit according
to an embodiment of the present invention as it can keep all components wet
and the
pump primed.
As described earlier with respect to Fig. 9, embodiments of the present
application
include a removable filter cartridge provided in a base unit of a water
sanitization system.
The removable filter cartridge 408 can include an air dryer 410 and optionally
a water
filter 412. In other embodiments, the removable filter cartridge 408 can
include a nitrogen
remover and optionally a water filter 412. In yet other embodiments, the
removable filter
cartridge 408 can include both an air dryer 410 and a nitrogen remover, and
can
optionally include a water filter 412. As mentioned earlier, the present
invention takes
advantage of the fact that dry air and/or oxygen-enriched air reacts better in
an ozone
generator, yielding better ozone concentration output, which in turn results
in a better "kill
rate" with respect to bacteria when ozonated water is applied to food, items
or surfaces.
In an embodiment, the removable filter cartridge includes an air dryer 410 and
does not include a water filter. The air dryer 410 comprises a desiccant
material that
removes moisture from air.
The air dryer 410 can be placed anywhere in the base unit as long as it is
before
the ozone generator 416 and the ozone contacting device 420 with respect to
air flow.
The ozone contacting device 420 draws air from the atmosphere into the air
dryer 410
and then into the ozone generator 416. Dry air can achieve much higher
concentrations
of ozone gas than humid air in a corona discharge ozone generator. As such,
embodiments of the present invention provide a significant increase to the
concentration
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of dissolved ozone in the water. An examination of experimental test results
shows an
increase in ozone concentration from approximately 1 ppm without the air dryer
to over
3.5 ppm with the air dryer.
Although Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment where fluid is recirculated (i.e.
transported from a reservoir, to an ozone contacting device and returned to
the reservoir),
a cartridge according to the present application could also be used in a non-
recirculation
system. In a non-recirculating system, a fluid is transported from a fluid
source to an
ozone contacting device and then discharged as a sanitizing ozonated fluid.
Since an
ozone generator, which provides ozone to the ozone contacting device, yields
better
ozone concentration output from dry and/or oxygen enriched air, it may be
beneficial to
use a cartridge according to the present application to dry and/or remove
nitrogen from
the air used by the ozone generator.
Fig. 10 is a back perspective view of a removable air dryer cartridge 430
installed
in a base unit 440 of a water ozonation device according to an embodiment of
the present
invention. The removable air dyer cartridge 430 is a particular embodiment of
the
removable cartridge 408 having an air dryer and no water filter, and also
having features
specific to its use and interconnection with a base unit.
In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details
are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the
application.
However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific
details are not
required in order to practice the application.
Embodiments described herein can be represented as a software product stored
in a machine-readable medium (also referred to as a computer-readable medium,
a
processor-readable medium, or a computer usable medium having a computer-
readable
program code embodied therein). The machine-readable medium can be any
suitable
tangible medium, including magnetic, optical, or electrical storage medium
including a
diskette, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), memory device (volatile or
non-
volatile), or similar storage mechanism. The machine-readable medium can
contain
various sets of instructions, code sequences, configuration information, or
other data,
which, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps in a method according
to an
embodiment described herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that other
instructions and operations necessary to implement the described embodiments
can also
be stored on the machine-readable medium. Software running from the machine-
readable
medium can interface with circuitry to perform the described tasks.
The above-described embodiments of the application are intended to be examples
only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the
particular
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embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of
the
application, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
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