Flow-through oxygenator

Abstract

An oxygen emitter which is an electrolytic cell is disclosed. When the anode and cathode are separated by a critical distance, very small microbubbles and nanobubbles of oxygen are generated. The very small oxygen bubbles remain in suspension, forming a solution supersaturated in oxygen. A flow-through model for oxygenating flowing water is disclosed. The use of supersaturated water for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. Methods for applying supersaturated water to plants manually, by drip irrigation or in hydroponic culture are described. The treatment of waste water by raising the dissolved oxygen with the use of an oxygen emitter is disclosed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 372,326, filed on Dec. 10, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 872,017, filed on Feb. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,262, issued Feb. 10, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 358,534, filed Feb. 22, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to the electrolytic generation of microbubbles of oxygen for increasing the oxygen content of flowing water. This invention also relates to the use of superoxygenated water to enhance the growth and yield of plants. The flow-through model is useful for oxygenating water for hydroponic plant culture, drip irrigation and waste water treatment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many benefits may be obtained through raising the oxygen content of aqueous media. Efforts have been made to achieve higher saturated or supersaturated oxygen levels fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0047] It is known that oxygen is important for the growth of plants. Although plants evolve oxygen during photosynthesis, they also have a requirement for oxygen for respiration. Oxygen is evolved in the leaves of the plants, while often the roots are in a hypoxic environment without enough oxygen to support optimum respiration, which can be reflected in less than optimum growth and nutrient utilization. Hydroponically grown plants are particularly susceptible to oxygen deficit in the root system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,383 describes a liquid supply pump unit for hydroponic cultures which attain oxygen enrichment by sparging with air. Such a method has high energy requirements and is noisy. Furthermore, while suitable for self-contained hydroponic culture, the apparatus is not usable for field irrigation. In a report available on the web, it was shown that hydroponically grown cucumbers and tomatoes supplied with water oxygenated with a device similar to that described in the '429 patent had increased biomass of about 12% and 17% respectively. It should be noted that when sparged with air, the water may become saturated with oxygen, but it is unlikely that the water is superoxygenated.

[0048] Two small hydroponic systems were set up to grow two tomato plants. Circulation protocols were identical except that the 2½ gallon water reservoir for the Control plant was eroated with and aquarium bubbler and that for the Test plant was oxygenated with a five-inch strip emitter for two minutes prior to pumping. The cycle was set at four minutes of pumping, followed by four minutes of rest. The control water had an oxygen content of about 97% to 103% saturation, that is, it was saturated with oxygen. The test water had an oxygen content of about 153% to 165% saturation, that is, it was supersaturated. The test plant was at least four times the volume of the control plant and began to show what looked like fertilizer burn. At that point the fertilizer for the Test plant was reduced by half. Since the plants were not exposed to natural light but to continuous artificial light in an indoor environment without the natural means of fertilization (wind and / or insects), the experiment was discontinued after three months. At that time, the Test plant but not the Control plant had blossomed.

Problems solved by technology

For example, fish held in a limited environment such as an aquarium, a bait bucket or a live hold tank may quickly use up the dissolved oxygen in the course of normal respiration and are then subject to hypoxic stress, which can lead to death.

Organic pollutants from agricultural, municipal and industrial facilities spread through the ground and surface water and adversely affect life forms.

Many pollutants are toxic, carcinogenic or mutagenic.

Therefore, the electrodes tend to foul or pit and have a limited life in these corrosive environments.

Pumps to supply oxygen have high power requirements and the noise and bubbling may further stress the animals.

The available electrolytic generators likewise have high power requirements and additionally run at high voltages and produce acidic and basic water which are detrimental to live animals.

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