Modular Ozone Generator with Flat Plate Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ozone generators for producing ozone-air and ozone-oxygen gas mixtures face limitations in efficiency, scalability, cooling, safety, and environmental impact due to limited electrode surface area, precise air gap formation, complex cooling systems, and potential fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
The ozone generator employs flat plate electrodes with adjustable air gaps and a modular design, utilizing air or oxygen as both the ozone source and cooling medium, with a high-voltage generator controlled by microcontrollers to optimize ozone production based on environmental parameters, ensuring efficient and safe operation with minimal environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cylindrical grid electrodes with water cooling are used, then cooling is achieved, but the electrode surface area is limited and the structure is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ozone generator is divided into multiple modular electrode assemblies that can be arranged in series. Each assembly contains flat plate electrodes with a large surface area, and the modules can be stacked to increase total electrode surface area while maintaining efficient cooling through the gas flow path between modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas flow (air or oxygen) itself serves as the cooling medium, eliminating the need for separate water cooling systems. The gas passes through channels between the electrode assemblies, absorbing heat directly at the source and providing both cooling and ozone production functions in one system.
2Productivity
If the number of grid electrodes is increased, then ozone production capacity increases, but the air gap formation becomes more difficult and the structure more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into standardized modular assemblies, each containing a fixed number of flat plate electrodes with precisely maintained air gaps. These modules can be stacked in series to increase ozone production capacity while maintaining consistent, simple structure within each module, avoiding the complexity of designing and assembling individual electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from cylindrical grid electrodes to flat plate electrodes, changing the geometric parameters to achieve larger surface area with simpler construction. The flat plates provide uniform electric fields and easier gap maintenance compared to curved grid structures.
3Temperature
If water cooling system is used, then cooling is achieved, but fire hazard and environmental pollution risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces water cooling with gas-phase cooling, where the process gas (air or oxygen) flows through channels between electrode assemblies to absorb heat. This eliminates the need for separate water cooling systems, removing associated fire hazards and environmental pollution risks while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The process gas serves dual functions: as the source material for ozone generation and as the cooling medium. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling systems and their associated hazards, integrating thermal management into the core process flow.
4Volume of stationary object
If tube-shaped outer housing is used, then compact structure is achieved, but scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ozone generator uses modular electrode assemblies that can be stacked in series within an extended housing structure. Each module contributes additively to the total ozone production capacity, allowing straightforward scalability from small to large capacity systems by simply adding more identical modules rather than redesigning the entire housing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly increases ozone production capacity, simplifies construction and scalability, eliminates fire hazards, and reduces environmental pollution while maintaining low operating costs and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
operated on the principle of alternating current auxiliary electrode cold arc discharge with its capacity increased by limited arc discharge, with an alternating voltage voltage source
Implementation Method 2
ozone generator employs flat plate electrodes with adjustable air gaps and a modular design, utilizing air or oxygen as both the ozone source and cooling medium
Implementation Method 3
the air or oxygen which is used as an ozone source flowing through the apparatus also functions as a cooling medium itself
Implementation Method 4
having a simple structure, the number of ozone producing units may be easily increased modularly, the air or oxygen which is used as an ozone source flowing through the apparatus also functions as a cooling medium itself, having low operating costs
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the present invention is an ozone generator of a gas blow-through type, especially to produce a gas mixture of ozone/air or ozone/oxygen. In the apparatus according to the invention, an ozone producing structural unit in the path of the blown air or oxygen used as ozone source. The ozone producing structural unit is operated on the principle of alternating current auxiliary electrode cold arc discharge with its capacity increased by limited arc discharge, with an alternating voltage voltage source. This solution does not result in high-temperature arc discharges, thus the fire hazard may be eliminated, and at the same time the device is capable of producing extremely large quantities of ozone. The ozone producing structural unit of the ozone generator is placed in one or more insulating housings/air ducts, preferably having a tetragonal cross section, placed in a direction parallel to or coaxial to the air blowing direction. The discharge occurs on two flat electrode plates of the same size, preferably made of stainless steel, preferably slitted and corrugated by extrusion. The flat electrode plates are placed parallel to or at a small angle to each other. This flat electrode plate pair is parallel to the blowing direction. The flat electrode plates are separated from each other by a flat dielectric plate, preferably made of glass or ceramic. Suitably formed air gaps are provided between the flat electrode plates and the flat dielectric plate. Electrode groups comprising the flat electrode plates, resilient insulating shim plates, the flat dielectric plate and insulating spacer frame elements are placed into the outer insulating housing in a suitably selected number, in a side-by- side configuration in a modular manner, which is held and fastened together by suitable fastening screws. The apparatus has an electric generator producing high voltage and high frequency voltage connected to the ozone producing unit by high voltage cables. The high voltage generator has a power supply with a capability to improve power factor, signal generator and signal selecting unit, signal amplifier and breaker bridge drive unit, a high frequency breaker unit with a full bridge system, a high voltage high frequency transformer and filter unit, a microcontroller based central control unit and sensors measuring ambient air temperature, humidity and electric field strength.