An apparatus for dissolving gas in a liquid

Abstract

This invention relates to a gas dissolving device capable of dissolving gas in a liquid at a high concentration and maintaining the concentration of dissolved gas even when the circulation operation is stopped. The gas dissolving device of this invention includes: a dissolving tank for receiving liquid and gas respectively from a circulation pump and a gas source, and discharging a liquid / gas mixture with increased gas concentration dissolved in the liquid; and a pressurized dissolving unit connected to the dissolving tank in a fluid-flow state, having a wound coil or multiple bends to further increase the concentration of the dissolved gas, thereby enabling the discharge of a high-concentration gas solution. The dissolving tank includes: a plurality of dispersing trays, each dispersing tray having an inclined surface extending downward to the outside; and a plurality of water collecting trays, each water collecting tray having an inclined surface extending downward to the inside, and having a through hole formed at the lower end of the water collecting tray, the plurality of dispersing trays and the plurality of water collecting trays being alternately distributed vertically.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for dissolving and storing a gas in a liquid. Specifically, it does not use an electrochemical catalyst or additive as a medium, but rather dissolves the gas in a liquid through a physical mechanism until a supersaturated concentration is reached, and maintains the dissolved state of the gas for a long time under normal pressure. Background Technology

[0002] Dissolved oxygen in water has many applications. For example, dissolved oxygen devices are widely used in biological wastewater treatment plants that utilize microorganisms to degrade organic matter, fish farms, and hydroponics.

[0003] It is understood that drinking oxygenated water, which contains a large amount of dissolved oxygen, is beneficial to human health. In other words, as a way to compensate for insufficient oxygen in respiration, if one ingests supersaturated oxygenated water with a dissolved oxygen concentration exceeding a certain level, it will increase the oxygen concentration in the blood, thereby promoting metabolism and benefiting health. For example, through pulmonary bypass, it can improve athletes' athletic performance without increasing heart rate, and can also improve muscle mass, endurance, and cardiopulmonary function, promoting fatigue recovery. Oxygenated water can increase blood oxygen levels, with some of this oxygen supplied to the brain; therefore, it can help students or researchers with high levels of mental activity improve their thinking ability and concentration. Furthermore, it is reported that high-concentration oxygenated water may help improve the treatment outcomes for patients with brain diseases caused by hypoxia.

[0004] The inventors of this application are focusing on the application of oxygenated water for COVID-19 infection. It is understood that the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 induces lung damage in infected individuals, leading to hypoxia (Wei-Haas M., "They don't struggle to breathe—but COVID-19 is starving them of oxygen," National Geographic, May 8, 2020. URL: https: / / www.nationalgeographic.com / science / 2020 / 05 / they-do-not-struggle-tobreathe-but-coronavirus-starves-them-of-oxygen-cvd / ). For critically ill or moderately ill patients whose lungs are damaged and unable to perform normal gas exchange in the alveoli, the intake of high-concentration oxygenated water in addition to the use of an oxygen concentrator can greatly help maintain the patient's bodily functions and aid in treatment.

[0005] It is understood that approximately 80% of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Among these mild cases, most may suffer from silent hypoxia, which cannot be detected through breathing (Rizzo, A., "Silent hypoxia and its role in COVID-19 detection", 2020.6.3, URL: https: / / www.news-medical.net / news / 20200603 / Silent-hypoxia-and-its-role-in-COVID-19-detection.aspx). Therefore, even for mild cases, if oxygen supplementation is neglected, leading to persistently low blood oxygen saturation, it will not only hinder metabolism but also damage organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver. This invention eliminates the need for expensive equipment like oxygen concentrators, and removes restrictions on patient activity; therefore, for mild cases, oxygenated water can be an effective means of supplementing oxygen.

[0006] As stated above, regardless of severity, in order to sustain the lives of COVID-19 patients and the function of bodily organs, especially the brain, and in order to treat the disease, it is necessary to develop effective solutions for supplying oxygen to the body, and oxygenated water may be the most effective solution for such problems.

[0007] The existing technologies disclosed regarding devices for dissolving oxygen in water can be divided into the following three categories.

[0008] The first method is aeration, which involves installing oxygen-generating pipes at the bottom of the tank to produce tiny amounts of gaseous oxygen, thereby increasing the contact area between oxygen and water. This technology is mainly used in aquaculture farms, hydroponics, and biological wastewater treatment plants. Using this technology, it's possible to fill insufficient oxygen concentrations to near saturation, but it's difficult to achieve supersaturation of dissolved oxygen to generate highly concentrated oxygenated water.

[0009] The second existing technology involves filling a sealed pressure vessel with water, applying pressure, and then injecting micro-oxygen bubbles from the bottom of the vessel. This pressurized state is maintained for a certain period to dissolve oxygen until the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water reaches supersaturation. However, this technology requires a high-pressure vessel, a high-lift water pump, and a high-pressure oxygen tank, and requires a certain residence time, resulting in a large overall equipment size and difficulty in continuous production. Furthermore, to extract water, atmospheric pressure must be used for depressurization, which rapidly removes oxygen, causing a significant drop in dissolved oxygen concentration. Therefore, this technology is difficult to use to obtain ultra-high concentration oxygenated water with a dissolved oxygen concentration of over 150 ppm, and it is not suitable for small-scale applications. Thus, this technology is only applicable to oxygenated water beverage plants and similar facilities.

[0010] The third prior art involves injecting oxygen into a flowing fluid to increase the contact between water and oxygen within the dissolving tube, thereby steadily improving dissolution efficiency. For example, a dissolved oxygen device described in Patent No. 10-0638799 can be cited. In this device, the dissolving tube has multi-stage planar trays. A water / oxygen mixture overflows from each tray and falls onto the tray directly below it, colliding and mixing with the water / oxygen mixture in the tray below, thus maximizing the contact between water and oxygen and improving dissolution efficiency. However, as mentioned above, this device relies on collisions between water / oxygen mixtures or between the water / oxygen mixture and the internal structure of the device. Therefore, these collisions actually promote the removal of dissolved oxygen, limiting its ability to dissolve oxygen at ultra-high concentrations, such as 150 ppm or higher, in a supersaturated state. Furthermore, a drawback of this device is that dissolved oxygen is gradually removed when the device is not in operation, resulting in a decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration over time. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0012] The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a device for generating high-concentration oxygen water. This device can dissolve oxygen at a high concentration to generate oxygen water. Even when the circulation is stopped, it can suppress the loss of dissolved oxygen to the greatest extent to maintain the concentration of dissolved oxygen. Furthermore, due to its small size and low noise, it can be installed in indoor places such as homes, offices, and hospitals, so that water can be obtained and consumed at any time.

[0013] Methods for solving problems

[0014] To address the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides an apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water. This apparatus generates high-concentration oxygenated water by dissolving oxygen from an oxygen source in water within a water tank. The apparatus includes: a circulation pump connected in fluid flow to the outlet of the water tank; a dissolving tank connected in fluid flow to the circulation pump and the oxygen source, which receives water from the water tank and oxygen from the oxygen source via the circulation pump and discharges oxygenated water with an increased concentration of dissolved oxygen; a pressurized dissolving unit connected in fluid flow to the dissolving tank, having a coiled section or multiple bends to further increase the dissolved oxygen concentration of the oxygenated water, thereby discharging high-concentration oxygenated water; and a water dispenser tank connected in fluid flow to the pressurized dissolving unit and the water tank, receiving and maintaining the high-concentration oxygenated water from the pressurized dissolving unit and providing it to the user. The dissolving tank includes: multiple dispersion trays, each with an inclined surface extending downwards and outwards; and multiple water collection trays, each with an inclined surface extending downwards and inwards, and a through hole formed at the lower end of each water collection tray. The multiple dispersion trays and the multiple water collection trays are arranged alternately, thereby maximizing the contact area and contact time between water and oxygen, while minimizing the impact of gravity on the water-oxygen mixture and the resulting oxygen removal.

[0015] The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygen water may also include a mixer connected to the circulating pump, which disperses oxygen from the oxygen source in the form of bubbles in flowing water to generate a water / oxygen mixture, and supplies the water / oxygen mixture to the dissolving tank.

[0016] At least a portion of the plurality of dispersible trays may be formed in a horn shape.

[0017] At least a portion of the plurality of water collection trays may be formed in a funnel shape, and a through hole may be formed at the lower end of each.

[0018] The outer corners of each of the plurality of water collection trays can be tightly attached to the inner wall of the dissolving tank.

[0019] The pressurized dissolution unit may include: a reducing tube having a first inlet and a first outlet larger than the first inlet; an increasing tube having a second inlet and a second outlet smaller than the second inlet; and a pressurized dissolution tube disposed between the first outlet of the reducing tube and the second inlet of the increasing tube, and having a coiled portion or multiple bends therein, thereby further increasing the concentration of dissolved oxygen under an environment with increased pressure compared to the first inlet and the second outlet.

[0020] The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water may further include: a stabilizing pipe disposed between the water tank of the water dispenser and the water tank, which, when the circulating pump is not working, uses the gravity of the water to suppress the removal of oxygen from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank of the water dispenser.

[0021] The stabilizing pipe may further include: a first stabilizing pipe having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the water tank of the water dispenser and formed at the upper end, and the outlet being formed at the lower side; and a second stabilizing pipe having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the first stabilizing pipe and formed at the lower side, and the outlet being formed at the upper side.

[0022] The first stabilizing tube may include a buffer tray disposed below the inlet of the first stabilizing tube to prevent high-concentration oxygen water flowing in through the inlet of the first stabilizing tube from falling freely downwards, so that the high-concentration oxygen water flows downwards along the inner wall of the first stabilizing tube.

[0023] From a general perspective, the present invention provides a gas dissolving device that is not limited to oxygenated water, but can dissolve gases in liquids at high concentrations and maintain the concentration of dissolved gases even when the circulation is stopped. The gas dissolving device of the present invention includes: a dissolving tank for receiving liquid and gas from a circulation pump and a gas source respectively, and discharging a liquid / gas mixture with increased gas concentration dissolved in the liquid; and a pressurized dissolving unit connected to the dissolving tank in a fluid-flow state, having a wound coil or multiple bends to further increase the concentration of the dissolved gas, thereby enabling the discharge of a high-concentration gas solution. The dissolving tank includes: a plurality of dispersing trays, each dispersing tray having an inclined surface extending downwards to the outside; and a plurality of water collecting trays, each water collecting tray having an inclined surface extending downwards to the inside, and having a through hole formed at the lower end of the water collecting tray, the plurality of dispersing trays and the plurality of water collecting trays being alternately distributed vertically.

[0024] Invention Effects

[0025] According to the present invention, the water / oxygen mixture flowing into the dissolving tank is dispersed downward along an inclined surface that extends to the maximum extent within the dissolving tank, thereby maximizing the contact area and contact time between water and oxygen, so that oxygen is fully dissolved in the water until the dissolved oxygen in the oxygen water and the gaseous oxygen filling the upper part of the dissolving tank reach equilibrium, thereby generating high-concentration oxygen water with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 180 ppm or more.

[0026] Because collisions between oxygen and water molecules, or between oxygen and water molecules and the internal structure of the apparatus, are minimized within the device for generating high-concentration oxygen-water mixture, not only is oxygen removal minimized, but collision sounds or other noises are also virtually eliminated. For example, the shape and arrangement of components within the dissolving tank are determined to minimize the impact caused by collisions between the falling water / oxygen mixture and the oxygen-water accumulating below it; for the same reason, the shape and arrangement of components within the first stabilizing pipe are determined. Therefore, the removal of oxygen from the impact-sensitive high-concentration oxygen-water mixture within the apparatus due to impacts can be prevented to the greatest extent possible.

[0027] Furthermore, when the machine is not in operation, and without applying additional artificial pressure to the water tank, a near-normal pressure is created. However, because the water in the first and second stabilizing pipes acts as a water curtain, blocking the flow, the movement of fluid inside the water tank is restricted. This effectively minimizes the removal of dissolved oxygen from the oxygenated water. Therefore, when a user wants to obtain water, they can immediately obtain and drink highly concentrated oxygenated water without restarting the dissolving tank.

[0028] This device for generating high-concentration oxygenated water can be installed anywhere indoors, such as in homes, offices, and hospitals. In particular, the device for generating high-concentration oxygenated water of this invention can be installed in hospitals or other relevant treatment facilities using medical oxygen cylinders as an oxygen source, providing high-concentration oxygenated water to COVID-19 patients worldwide upon the release of this application. Therefore, regardless of whether the patient is in mild, moderate, or severe condition, the device for generating high-concentration oxygenated water is of great help in maintaining the life of COVID-19 patients and the function of bodily organs, especially the brain, as well as in treating the disease. Of course, it is also helpful for patients with other respiratory illnesses and even other diseases. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygen water according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the melting tank shown in the figure;

[0031] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The diagram shows a distribution tray and a water collection tray.

[0032] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A detailed diagram of the structure of the pressurized dissolution unit is shown in the figure;

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a detailed view of the structure of the water tank of the water intake machine, the first stabilizing pipe, and the second stabilizing pipe.

[0034] Figure 6 It refers to the flow of water in the dissolving tank when the device is in operation.

[0035] Best practice

[0036] To more clearly understand the features and advantages of the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0037] In the accompanying drawings, the same symbols are used as much as possible for the same constituent elements. In the accompanying drawings, some constituent elements are either enlarged, omitted, or roughly shown. Therefore, it should be understood that the size of each constituent element does not completely reflect its actual size.

[0038] In the following description, only those aspects that contribute to understanding the embodiments of the invention are described. Detailed descriptions of well-known structures or functions related to the invention are omitted to facilitate understanding, where such descriptions might obscure the main points.

[0039] Furthermore, if a constituent element is involved in "connecting" or "contacting" other constituent elements, it means that the connection or contact can be logical, physical, or fluid. In other words, it can be understood that a constituent element can directly connect or contact other constituent elements, or that there may be other constituent elements in between them. In addition, it also includes connecting or contacting other constituent elements indirectly through other constituent elements as a medium.

[0040] The terminology used in this invention is merely for illustrating specific embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions should be understood to include the meaning of plural forms unless explicitly explained in the context. Furthermore, terms such as "comprising" or "having" as used in this specification should be understood to specify the presence of related features, quantities, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof, and therefore do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0041] In the following description, terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the drawings and are not used to define the shape and position of the constituent elements. Furthermore, the term "connecting pipe" refers to the fluid flow between components connected by this type of connecting pipe, and is not used to define a specific shape or material. Additionally, it should be noted that "~channel" or "~pipe" are names arbitrarily assigned based on relative size and do not imply any essential difference in shape or function; therefore, they are names that can be changed.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water involves dissolving oxygen in water within a water tank 10, returning the dissolved water to the water tank 10, and repeating this cyclic process multiple times until the dissolved oxygen in the water reaches a supersaturated state. The apparatus includes: a circulation pump 20, an oxygen source 30, a mixer 40, a cooler 50, a dissolving tank 60, a pressurized dissolving unit 70, a water intake tank 90, a first stabilizing pipe 100, and a second stabilizing pipe 110. Furthermore, the apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water also includes a printed circuit board (not shown) on which control circuitry is mounted to control the overall operation.

[0043] The circulation pump 20 includes: an inlet connected to the outlet at the lower end of the water tank 10 via a first connecting pipe 12; and an outlet connected to the mixer 40 via a second connecting pipe 22. The circulation pump is used to introduce water from the water tank 10 and discharge it through the outlet in the direction of the mixer 40, thereby circulating the water in the water tank 10 through the mixer 40, the cooler 50, the dissolving tank 60, the pressurized dissolving unit 70, the water tank 90, the first stabilizing pipe 100, and the second stabilizing pipe 110.

[0044] Oxygen source 30 supplies gaseous oxygen to mixer 40 via third connecting pipe 38. A medical oxygen cylinder filled with medical-grade gaseous oxygen can be used as oxygen source 30. An oxygen gauge 32 displaying oxygen flow rate or residual oxygen level and a knob 34 that can completely cut off the oxygen supply as needed are provided at the upper end of oxygen cylinder 30. Additionally, a solenoid valve 36 is provided at the connection between oxygen cylinder 30 and third connecting pipe 38, which controls the supply of oxygen to mixer 40 according to instructions from a printed circuit board. Furthermore, a check valve (not shown) can be provided at a point on third connecting pipe 38 to prevent oxygen or water from flowing back from mixer 40 to oxygen cylinder 30 through third connecting pipe 38. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, an oxygen generator employing pressure swing adsorption, membrane, or electrolysis methods, or other types of oxygen supply, can be used as the oxygen source. This oxygen source 30 can be a separate device, located outside the device generating high-concentration oxygen water and connected to the third connecting pipe 38, rather than being part of a device enclosed within the housing of the high-concentration oxygen water generating device.

[0045] The mixer 40 includes: a first inlet connected to the outlet of the circulation pump 20 via a second connecting pipe 22; a second inlet connected to the oxygen source 30 via a third connecting pipe 38; and an outlet connected to the cooler 50 via a fourth connecting pipe 42. The mixer disperses oxygen supplied from the oxygen source 30 in a bubble-like manner in the water flow passing through the first connecting pipe 12 and the second connecting pipe 22. In one embodiment, the mixer 40 is presented as a tee fitting. However, in other embodiments, the mixer 40 may be presented as a throat nozzle.

[0046] The cooler 50 cools the water / oxygen mixture supplied from the mixer 40 via the fourth connecting pipe 42, thereby maintaining the water / oxygen mixture at a certain temperature as much as possible to increase the solubility of oxygen during the dissolution of oxygen in water through the dissolution tank 60 and the like. The cooler 50 supplies the cooled water / oxygen mixture to the dissolution tank 60 via the fifth connecting pipe 52.

[0047] The dissolving tank 60 receives a water / oxygen mixture via a fifth connecting pipe 52 and dissolves gaseous oxygen in the water until a supersaturated state is reached. The dissolving tank 60 is generally cylindrical and vertically oriented. An inlet is formed at the center of the upper surface of the dissolving tank 60, which connects to one end of the fifth connecting pipe 52. An outlet is formed at the bottom of the dissolving tank, which connects to one end of a sixth connecting pipe 66, for connection to the pressurized dissolving unit 70. A pressure sensor 62 is provided on the outer side of the upper surface or one side of the dissolving tank 60 to detect and display the internal pressure. Additionally, a water level sensor 64 is provided on the other side of the dissolving tank 60 to detect the water level inside the dissolving tank 60.

[0048] Figure 2 This specifically demonstrates the structure of the melting tank 60. (Refer to...) Figure 2Between the inlet 202 at the upper end and the outlet 204 at the lower end of the dissolving tank 60, multiple dispersion trays 210a-210g and water collection trays 220a-220f are arranged in an alternating manner. Specifically, a first dispersion tray 210a is located below the inlet 202 of the dissolving tank 60; a first water collection tray 220a is located below the first dispersion tray 210a; a second dispersion tray 210b is located below the first water collection tray 220a; a second water collection tray 220b is located below the second dispersion tray 210b; a third dispersion tray 210c is located below the second water collection tray 220b; and a third water collection tray 220c is located below the third dispersion tray 210c. A fourth dispersion tray 210d is provided below c. A fourth water collection tray 220d is provided below the fourth dispersion tray 210d. A fifth dispersion tray 210e is provided below the fourth water collection tray 220d. A sixth dispersion tray 210f is provided below the fifth dispersion tray 210f. A seventh dispersion tray 210g is provided below the sixth water collection tray 220f.

[0049] The first dispersion tray 210a to the seventh dispersion tray 210g may have the same shape. In addition, the first water collection tray 220a to the sixth water collection tray 220f may have the same shape. Figure 2 Seven dispersion trays 210a–210g and six water collection trays 220a–220f are shown, but the number of trays is not limited to these; the number of trays can be varied during design depending on the size and specifications of the device generating high-concentration oxygenated water. Furthermore, Figure 2 The tray shown above the outlet 204 of the dissolving tank 60 is a dispersion tray 210g, but the bottom tray can be set as a water collection tray. Alternatively, the tray at the top can also be set as a water collection tray instead of a dispersion tray 210a.

[0050] like Figure 3As shown, each dispersion tray 210a-210g is formed into a cone shape with a gently sloping surface. When installed, the diameter of the outer corner of the dispersion tray 210a-210g is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the dissolving tank 60, thus creating a gap between the outer corner of the dispersion tray 210a-210g and the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60. Therefore, water or a water / oxygen mixture flowing into the dispersion tray 210a-210g flows from its upper sloping surface toward the outer corner, and then flows downward through the gap between the outer corner of the dispersion tray 210a-210g and the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60. During the manufacture of the dissolving tank, each dispersion tray 210a-210g can be fixed to the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60 by welding it to multiple points, using support members 212-218 as a medium, or by adhesive bonding.

[0051] Furthermore, each water collection tray 220a-220f is formed into a funnel shape with a gently sloping surface, i.e., an inverted cone shape. The lower corner of each water collection tray 220a-220f is cut open to form a through hole 222. The diameter of the outer corner of each water collection tray 220a-220f is the same as the inner diameter of the dissolving tank 60, ensuring that the water collection trays 220a-220f can be inserted and placed within the dissolving tank 60. Each water collection tray 220a-220f is fixed by welding its outer corner to the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60 or by using adhesive. In the assembled state, the water / oxygen mixture flowing into each water collection tray 220a-220f flows from above the sloping surface of the water collection tray 220a-220f toward the through hole 222, then converges in the through hole 222 and is discharged downwards through the through hole 222.

[0052] To minimize the impact of the water / oxygen mixture flowing in through inlet 202 as it falls onto the first dispersion tray 210a, the distance between the inlet 202 of the dissolving tank 60 and the uppermost first dispersion tray 210a is preferably minimized. Furthermore, to minimize the impact of the water / oxygen mixture falling from the outer corners of each dispersion tray 210a-210g, the distance between the outer corners of each dispersion tray 210a-210f and the outer corners of the water collection trays 220a-220f directly below them is also preferably minimized. Similarly, to minimize the impact of the water / oxygen mixture falling from the through-holes 222 of each water collection tray 220a-220f, the distance between the lower end of each water collection tray 220a-220f and the upper end of each dispersion tray 210b-210g is also preferably minimized.

[0053] As described above, within the dissolving tank 60, the water / oxygen mixture flowing in through inlet 202 falls to the top corner of the first dispersion tray 210a, then flows from the upper inclined surface of the first dispersion tray 210a toward the outer corner, and then falls through the gap between the outer corner of the first dispersion tray 210a and the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60, or along the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60, to the outer corner of the first water collection tray 220a. The water / oxygen mixture falling onto the first water collection tray 220a flows from the upper inclined surface of the first water collection tray 220a toward the through hole 222, then converges in the through hole 222, and falls through the through hole 222 to the top corner of the second dispersion tray 210b. This process is performed on all dispersion trays and water collection trays within the dissolving tank 60 until the water / oxygen mixture reaches the outlet 204 of the dissolving tank 60.

[0054] Gaseous oxygen is filled in the upper space of the dissolving tank 60, and pressure is applied to the interior of the dissolving tank by a pump. In this internal environment, as described above, the water / oxygen mixture flows down along the extended inclined surface as much as possible, thus maximizing the contact area and contact time between water and oxygen (i.e., oxygen filling the upper part of the dissolving tank and oxygen bubbles dissolved in the water). Therefore, oxygen can be fully dissolved in the water until the partial pressure of dissolved oxygen in the water and the gaseous oxygen filling the upper part of the dissolving tank reach equilibrium, thereby generating high-concentration oxygen water with oxygen supersaturation in the water. The oxygen water / oxygen mixture with oxygen bubbles mixed in the oxygen water is discharged from the dissolving tank 60 to the pressurized dissolving unit 70 through the sixth connecting pipe 66.

[0055] Refer again Figure 1 The pressurized dissolution unit 70 includes: a reducing pipe 72, a pressurized dissolution pipe 74, and a increasing pipe 76.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, the pressurized dissolving tube 74 is a hollow component with a relatively long length, having a coiled or repeatedly bent shape, and is made of nylon or other synthetic resins or metal materials. The pressurized dissolving tube 74 receives an oxygen-water / oxygen mixture from the dissolving tank 60 through a sixth connecting tube 66, and generates turbulence in the oxygen-water / oxygen mixture as it passes through, causing residual oxygen bubbles in the mixture to completely dissolve in the water, thereby increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration and stabilizing the dissolved state.

[0057] The pressurized dissolving pipe 74 of the pressurized dissolving unit 70 has a smaller diameter than the sixth connecting pipe 66 connected to the dissolving tank 60 or the seventh connecting pipe 78 connected to the water tank 80 of the water dispenser. The reducing pipe 72 is a pipe connection component that not only eliminates the diameter difference between the sixth connecting pipe 66 and the pressurized dissolving pipe 74, but also connects the two pipes. Furthermore, the increasing pipe 76 is a pipe connection component that not only eliminates the diameter difference between the pressurized dissolving pipe 74 and the seventh connecting pipe 78, but also connects the two pipes; it can be said that the same component as the reducing pipe 72 is used in reverse order. Due to the diameter difference between the pressurized dissolving pipe 74 and the sixth and seventh connecting pipes 66 and 78, the internal pressure of the pressurized dissolving pipe 74 is greater than the internal pressure of the sixth and seventh connecting pipes 76 and 78. The increased pressure in the pressurized dissolving pipe 74 promotes the secondary dissolution of residual oxygen bubbles and the stabilization of the oxygenated water. Furthermore, the internal pressure difference created by the reducing pipe 72 and the increasing pipe 76 eliminates the need for a valve to regulate pressure, thus preventing rotation and impact that may occur inside the valve when using a valve, as well as the resulting oxygen removal problems.

[0058] Refer to Figure 1 A solenoid valve 80 is installed on the seventh connecting pipe 78 that connects the pressurized dissolving unit 70 and the water tank 90. ​​The solenoid valve 80 is open when the circulation pump 20 is operating, allowing fluid to flow through the seventh connecting pipe 78; it is closed when the circulation pump 20 is not operating, thus preventing fluid flow. Therefore, when fluid circulation stops inside the device, the solenoid valve 80 prevents the fluid from unintentionally deviating towards the water tank 90 due to the pressure difference between the fluid inside the dissolving tank 60 and the pressurized dissolving pipe 74 and the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90.

[0059] The water tank 90 of the water dispenser receives high-concentration oxygenated water that has undergone secondary dissolution in the pressurized dissolution unit 70 via a seventh connecting pipe 78. Depending on whether the circulation pump 20 continues to operate, the high-concentration oxygenated water is maintained in its stored state or returned to the water tank 10. That is, when the circulation pump 20 is not operating, the water tank 90 maintains the state of storing high-concentration oxygenated water received from the pressurized dissolution unit 70. However, when the circulation pump 20 is operating, the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 is returned to the water tank via the first stabilizing tank 100 and the second stabilizing tank 110, thus circulating the water. Furthermore, a cooling coil is provided in the water tank 90 to surround its outer circumference, thereby maintaining the temperature of the high-concentration oxygenated water at 5 to 6°C. Additionally, a water inlet 94 with a stopcock 92 is provided on the outer circumference of the water tank 90, exposed to the outside. Therefore, regardless of whether the circulation pump 20 is working, the user can operate the stopcock 92 to obtain and drink high-concentration oxygenated water through the water inlet 94.

[0060] A first stabilizing tank 100 and a second stabilizing tank 110 are disposed between the water tank 90 and the water tank 10 of the water dispenser. When the circulating pump 20 is operating, the first stabilizing tank 100 and the second stabilizing tank 110 provide a circulation channel to return the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 to the water tank 10. However, when the circulating pump 20 is not operating, they prevent gaseous oxygen from being removed from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 and moving towards the water tank 10. Therefore, the removal of gaseous oxygen from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0061] Here, the first stabilizing tank 100 is connected to the water dispenser tank 90 via an eighth connecting pipe 96. Preferably, as shown... Figure 5 As shown, the inlet of the first stabilization tank 100 can be located on the upper side of the first stabilization tank 100, and the outlet can be located at the bottom or lower side of the first stabilization tank 100. Gaseous oxygen generated by the small-scale removal of high-concentration oxygenated water from the water tank 90 of the water dispenser moves to the first stabilization tank 100 through the eighth connecting pipe 96. Therefore, in the first stabilization tank 100, the lower part is filled with liquid, i.e., high-concentration oxygenated water, while the upper part is filled with gaseous oxygen.

[0062] A buffer tray 102 is provided on the upper inner side of the first stabilizing groove 100. The buffer tray 102 can be formed in the shape of a cup or a plate, or it can be formed as... Figure 3 The dissolving tank 60 shown has the shapes of dispersion trays 210a to 210g or water collection trays 220a to 220f. Regardless of the shape, the outer corner diameter of the buffer tray 102 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first stabilizing tank 100, thus forming a gap between the outer corner of the buffer tray 102 and the inner wall of the first stabilizing tank 100. Therefore, during the circulation process to increase the dissolved oxygen concentration of the oxygenated water, when the high-concentration oxygenated water flowing into the buffer tray 102 overflows from the outer corner of the buffer tray 102, it flows downward along the inner wall of the first stabilizing tank 100 in the gas-filled space above the first stabilizing tank 100, instead of falling freely immediately. Therefore, the impact caused by the collision between the oxygenated water moving downward from the buffer tray 102 and the oxygenated water accumulated below it can be minimized, and the noise caused by the collision and oxygen removal can be reduced.

[0063] Furthermore, the second stabilizing tank 110 is connected to the first stabilizing tank 100 via the ninth connecting pipe 104 and to the water tank 10 via the tenth connecting pipe 112. The second stabilizing tank 110 applies water pressure to the first stabilizing tank 100 corresponding to its water level, thereby suppressing the removal of oxygen from the oxygenated water in the first stabilizing tank 100 and preventing the gaseous oxygen accumulated on the upper side of the first stabilizing tank 100 from moving towards the water tank 10. As described above, under the action of the first stabilizing tank 100 and the second stabilizing tank 110, the decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration caused by the removal of oxygen from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 of the water dispenser can be suppressed to the greatest extent.

[0064] Figure 1 The apparatus shown for generating highly concentrated oxygenated water operates as follows.

[0065] Water in tank 10 is supplied to the inlet of circulation pump 20 through first connecting pipe 12, and then pressurized and supplied to mixer 40 through second connecting pipe 22. The water and oxygen mixture mixed by mixer 40 flows into inlet 202 at the upper end of dissolving tank 60 via cooler 50.

[0066] The water / oxygen mixture falling downwards from the inlet 202 of the dissolving tank 60 under gravity disperses towards the top corner of the dispersion tray 210a. At this time, because the distance between the inlet 202 and the first dispersion tray 210a is relatively short, and the upper surface of the first dispersion tray 210a is inclined, the impact when falling is not large.

[0067] In the water / oxygen mixture, most of the gaseous oxygen, in an undissolved state and mixed only with the water, is removed from the water / oxygen mixture within the dissolving tank 60 to fill the space above the dissolving tank 60. In this state, as... Figure 6 As shown, the water / oxygen mixture falling onto the first dispersion tray 210a is dispersed with a relatively thin thickness on the upper inclined surface of the first dispersion tray 210a and flows towards the outer corner. At this time, because the water / oxygen mixture diffuses with a relatively thin thickness from the upper inclined surface of the first dispersion tray 210a and falls laterally and downwards, the contact area with the gaseous oxygen accumulated on the upper part of the dissolution tank 60 is significantly increased compared to the case where it falls directly downwards from the inlet 202 of the dissolution tank 60, and the contact time also increases significantly with the extension of its residence time. As described above, because the contact area and contact time between water and gaseous oxygen are greatly increased under pressurized conditions, a large amount of oxygen can be dissolved in the water.

[0068] The water / oxygen mixture flowing from the upper inclined surface of the first dispersion tray 210a downwards and sideways falls through the gap between the outer corner of the first dispersion tray 210a and the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60, or along the inner wall of the dissolving tank 60, to the outer corner of the first water collection tray 220a. At this time, because the distance between the outer corner of the first dispersion tray 210a and the outer corner of the first water collection tray 220a is relatively short, the impact during the fall is negligible, and the oxygen removal caused by the impact during the fall is also minimal.

[0069] The water / oxygen mixture falling onto the first water collection tray 220a diffuses with a thin layer from the upper inclined surface of the first water collection tray 220a and flows down toward the through hole 222. At this time, the water / oxygen mixture diffuses and flows down with a thin layer from the upper inclined surface of the first water collection tray 220a, thus significantly increasing the contact area with the gaseous oxygen accumulated on the upper part of the dissolving tank 60 compared to the case of unrestricted downward flow, and the contact time also increases significantly with the extension of the residence time. Under pressurized conditions, the increase in the contact area and contact time between water and gaseous oxygen greatly contributes to increasing the dissolved oxygen content. The water / oxygen mixture accumulated in the through hole 222 falls through the through hole 222 to the apex point of the second dispersion tray 210b. At this time, since the distance between the through hole 222 of the first water collection tray 220a and the upper end of the second dispersion tray 210b is relatively close, the impact when it falls is so small that it can be ignored, and the oxygen removal caused by the impact when it falls is also negligible.

[0070] As described above, the process of diffusing the water / oxygen mixture down the inclined surface with a relatively thin thickness is carried out on all the dispersion trays 210a-210g and the water collection trays 220a-220f. Therefore, compared to the case of simply contacting water and oxygen or the water / oxygen mixture falling directly like a waterfall, the dissolved oxygen content in the dissolving tank 60 can be increased by tens or even hundreds of times. As a result, a sufficiently high concentration can be achieved after one oxygen dissolution in the dissolving tank 60. In addition, since the distance between the dispersion trays 210a-210g and the water collection trays 220a-220f located directly above and below is relatively short, the impact on the oxygen water or water / oxygen mixture when it falls is very small, and the generation of microbubbles from the impact and the resulting oxygen removal are negligible.

[0071] The dissolved oxygen concentration after one dissolution in the dissolving tank 60 varies depending on the number or frequency of oxygen-water circulation through the water tank 10, the pressure inside the dissolving tank 60, and the water level inside the dissolving tank 60. That is, the dissolved oxygen concentration increases with the increase in the number or frequency of oxygen-water circulation and the increase in the pressure inside the dissolving tank 60. Furthermore, the higher the water level inside the dissolving tank 60, the smaller the contact area and residence time between water and oxygen on the dispersion trays 210a-210g and the water collection trays 220a-220f, thus potentially decreasing the dissolved oxygen concentration. The control circuit installed on the printed circuit board controls the circulation pump 20 and the solenoid valve 36 based on the pressure sensor 62 for detecting the pressure inside the dissolving tank 60 and the water level sensor 64 for detecting the water level inside the dissolving tank 60, thereby enabling separate control of the circulation operation and oxygen supply.

[0072] The oxygen-water / oxygen mixture discharged from the dissolving tank 60 is supplied to the pressurized dissolving tube 74, thereby completely dissolving any remaining oxygen microbubbles in the water. The reduced tube diameter creates an enhanced internal pressure environment within the pressurized dissolving tube 74, and its geometry, with multiple bends or curves, generates turbulence as the oxygen-water / oxygen mixture passes through it. Under the influence of this pressure and turbulence, most of the residual oxygen bubbles in the water / oxygen mixture supplied from the dissolving tank 60 are forcibly dissolved in the water within the pressurized dissolving tube 74, thus maintaining a stable dissolved state.

[0073] High-concentration oxygenated water, after secondary dissolution in the pressurized dissolving tube 74 and in a stable dissolved state, is supplied to the water dispenser tank 90 for storage. With the high-concentration oxygenated water kept cool by a cooling coil surrounding the outer periphery of the water dispenser tank 90, the user can operate the stopcock 92 to obtain and drink the high-concentration oxygenated water through the water outlet 94.

[0074] The first stabilizing tank 100 and the second stabilizing tank 110 are arranged between the water tank 90 and the water tank 10 of the water dispenser. When the circulating pump 20 is working, they provide a circulation channel so that the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 of the water dispenser returns to the water tank 10. However, when the circulating pump 20 is not working, they act as a water curtain to prevent the gaseous oxygen in the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 from being removed and moving towards the water tank 10.

[0075] A small amount of gaseous oxygen may be removed from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 of the water dispenser. In this case, the gaseous oxygen produced by the removal moves to the first stabilizing tank 100 through the eighth connecting pipe 96. Therefore, the lower part of the first stabilizing tank 100 is filled with liquid, i.e., high-concentration oxygenated water, while the upper part is filled with gaseous oxygen. However, as described above, the gaseous oxygen filling the upper space of the first stabilizing tank 100 cannot displace the accumulated water in the lower part of the first stabilizing tank 100 due to the water pressure of the water (i.e., oxygenated water) filling the second stabilizing tank 110. Therefore, without external force, i.e., the pressure of a pump, not only can the movement of the gaseous oxygen filling the upper space of the first stabilizing tank 100 be prevented, but also, due to the internal pressure of the first stabilizing tank 100, the removal of dissolved oxygen from the water tank 90 of the water dispenser and the first stabilizing tank 100 can be significantly suppressed.

[0076] The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to the present invention does not require daily steps to dissolve oxygen in water. Instead, it increases the dissolved oxygen concentration through periodic or irregular circulation. For example, the apparatus can be configured such that, upon first operation, the control circuit opens solenoid valves 36 and 80, and the circulation pump 20 starts working to circulate the water in the water tank 10, thereby dissolving the oxygen in the water. At this time, the water in the water tank 10 is circulated approximately three times. It has been confirmed that after one circulation, the dissolved oxygen concentration of the oxygenated water taken from the water tank 90 is approximately 100 ppm. After two and three circulations, the dissolved oxygen concentrations are approximately 150 ppm and approximately 180 ppm, respectively.

[0077] Subsequently, during continuous use, the control circuit periodically or irregularly (e.g., after taking high-concentration oxygen water) opens solenoid valves 36 and 80 and restarts circulation pump 20 to circulate oxygen water and dissolve oxygen.

[0078] The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to the present invention can suppress the removal of oxygen from the oxygenated water as much as possible, even when the circulating pump 20 is stopped and in standby mode. This suppression of oxygen removal can be observed from two aspects.

[0079] First, the fluid blocking function of the circulating pump 20 and the function of the solenoid valve 80 when the system is stopped not only suppress the removal of dissolved oxygen from the oxygenated water remaining inside the cooler 50, the dissolving tank 60, and the pressurized dissolving unit 70, but also prevent the slow outflow of oxygenated water or water / oxygen mixtures from these components. Furthermore, because collisions between oxygenated water and components of the device, or between oxygenated water molecules themselves, are significantly reduced inside the dissolving tank 60, the oxygen removal caused by such collisions is also significantly reduced.

[0080] Secondly, the removal of dissolved oxygen from the high-concentration oxygenated water in the water tank 90 is suppressed due to the influence of the solenoid valve 80 and the first stabilizing tank 100 and the second stabilizing tank 110. In other words, the first stabilizing tank 100 is not full of water (i.e., oxygenated water), while the second stabilizing tank 110 is full. The water pressure exerted by the water filling the second stabilizing tank 110 not only prevents fluid from flowing from the water tank 90 and the first stabilizing tank 100 to the water tank 10, but also suppresses the removal of dissolved oxygen from the water tank 90 and the first stabilizing tank 100. Furthermore, since collisions between the oxygenated water and device components, or between oxygenated water components, are significantly suppressed inside the water tank 90 or the first stabilizing tank 100, the oxygen removal caused by such collisions is negligible. In particular, according to the present invention, such as the buffer tray 102 of the first stabilizing tank 100, it fundamentally prevents the oxygen water generated by the falling oxygen water from colliding with the device components, thereby minimizing the oxygen removal caused by the collision.

[0081] As previously stated, the present invention can suppress oxygen removal, thus maintaining a dissolved oxygen concentration in high-concentration oxygenated water and reducing the circulation frequency through the circulation pump 20. Furthermore, suppressing oxygen removal also reduces noise during bubble generation and bubble rising.

[0082] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific ways without changing its technical concept or essential features.

[0083] For example, the preceding description focused primarily on components directly related to oxygen dissolution, but may include a filter to supply filtered water to the water tank 10. In embodiments that modify the above embodiments, a mineral water cylinder may be provided within the device to supply mineral water to the water tank 10.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above description, the outer corner diameters of the water collection trays 220a to 220f within the dissolving tank 60 are described as being the same as the inner diameter of the dissolving tank 60. However, the outer corner diameters of the water collection trays 220a to 220f do not necessarily have to be the same as the inner diameter of the dissolving tank 60; a slight difference is acceptable. However, in this case, it is preferable that the outer corner diameters of the dispersion trays 210a to 210g are smaller than the outer corner diameters of the water collection trays 220a to 220f, so that most of the water flowing along the inclined surfaces of the dispersion trays 210a to 210g falls above the water collection trays 220a to 220f.

[0085] In addition, although the above description describes that water in the water tank 10 and oxygen from the oxygen source 30 are mixed and flowed into the dissolving tank 60 via the mixer 40 through the circulation pump 20, in a modified embodiment, the mixer 40 may not be provided, and water in the water tank 10 and oxygen from the oxygen source 30 may be poured into the dissolving tank 60 separately.

[0086] The embodiments described above are merely exemplary in many respects and should therefore be understood as not intended to limit the invention. Consequently, the scope of the invention should be determined based on the claims set forth below, rather than on the detailed description above. All modifications and variations derived from the meaning, scope, and equivalent concepts of the claims are included within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water, comprising: dissolving oxygen from an oxygen source in water in a tank to generate high-concentration oxygenated water, the apparatus comprising: A circulation pump is connected to the outlet of the water tank in a fluid flow state; A dissolving tank is connected to the circulating pump and the oxygen source in a fluid flow state. The circulating pump receives water from the tank and oxygen from the oxygen source, and discharges oxygenated water with an increased oxygen concentration dissolved in the water. A pressurized dissolution unit is connected to the dissolution tank in a fluid flow state and has a coiled part or multiple bends to further increase the dissolved oxygen concentration of the oxygen water, thereby discharging high-concentration oxygen water. as well as The water dispenser's water tank is connected to the pressurized dissolving unit and the water tank in a fluid-flow state, receiving and maintaining the high-concentration oxygenated water from the pressurized dissolving unit, and providing it to the user. The dissolving tank includes: Multiple distribution trays, each distribution tray being formed as a cone shape with an inclined surface extending outward and downward; and Multiple water collection trays, each water collection tray being formed into an inverted cone shape with an inclined surface extending inward and downward, and having a through hole formed at the lower end of the water collection tray. The multiple dispersing trays and the multiple water collecting trays are arranged alternately, thereby maximizing the contact area and contact time between water and oxygen. At the same time, it can minimize the impact on the water and oxygen mixture caused by gravity falling and the resulting oxygen removal.

2. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 1 further comprises: A mixer, connected to the circulation pump, disperses oxygen from the oxygen source in the form of bubbles in flowing water to generate a water / oxygen mixture, and supplies the water / oxygen mixture to the dissolving tank.

3. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygen water according to claim 1, At least a portion of the plurality of dispersible trays are formed in a horn shape.

4. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 1, The outer corners of each of the plurality of water collection trays are in close contact with the inner wall of the dissolving tank.

5. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 1, wherein the pressurized dissolution unit comprises: A reducing pipe having a first inlet and a first outlet larger than the first inlet; An increasing-diameter pipe having a second inlet and a second outlet smaller than the second inlet; as well as A pressurized dissolving tube is disposed between the first outlet of the reducing tube and the second inlet of the increasing tube, and has a coiled portion or multiple bends, thereby further increasing the concentration of dissolved oxygen under conditions of increased pressure compared to the first inlet and the second outlet.

6. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 1, further comprising: A stabilizing pipe is installed between the water tank of the water dispenser and the water tank itself. When the circulating pump is not working, the gravity of the water is used to suppress the removal of oxygen from the high-concentration oxygen water in the water tank of the water dispenser.

7. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 6, wherein the stabilizing tube further comprises: The first stabilizing pipe has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the water tank of the water dispenser and formed at the upper end, and the outlet being formed at the lower side; as well as The second stabilizing tube has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the first stabilizing tube and formed on the lower side, and the outlet being formed on the upper side.

8. The apparatus for generating high-concentration oxygenated water according to claim 7, wherein the first stabilizing tube comprises: A buffer tray is disposed below the inlet of the first stabilizing tube to prevent high-concentration oxygen water flowing in through the inlet of the first stabilizing tube from falling freely downwards, so that the high-concentration oxygen water flows downwards along the inner wall of the first stabilizing tube.

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