Ozonated Water Shelf Life Extension via Inert Gas Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ozonated water has a very short shelf life, requiring production facilities to be collocated with use sites, which is impractical for large-scale applications and poses health and environmental risks due to the use of alternative disinfectants like chlorine.
Innovation Solution
A method involving air subjected to high electrical potential corona, mixed with water in a constant differential pressure venturi, infusing ozone into the water to stabilize it, and using inert gases to extend shelf life, with optional additives for specific applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ozonated water is produced using conventional methods, then it provides effective disinfection, but its shelf life is very short (20-40 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by infusing inert gas into ozonated water immediately after production to prevent ozone decomposition before the product is used. This preliminary stabilization extends shelf life from 20-40 minutes to potentially years, while maintaining disinfection effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inert gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or argon) to create an inert atmosphere within the water matrix, preventing oxidative decomposition of ozone. This inert environment allows the ozonated water to be stored and transported without significant loss of disinfection capability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If production facilities are collocated with use sites to ensure fresh ozonated water, then shelf life is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stabilization function from the production process itself and applies it through a separate inert gas infusion step. This allows ozonated water to be produced at one location and stabilized for later use at different locations, eliminating the need for collocated production facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert gas acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the produced ozonated water and the storage/transport environment. This intermediary prevents direct interaction between ozone and oxygen that would cause decomposition, enabling extended shelf life without complex production facilities.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If chlorine is used as a substitute disinfectant, then shelf life is extended, but harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the water by infusing inert gas, which fundamentally alters the storage stability without introducing harmful substances. This parameter change extends shelf life while maintaining the benign nature of ozonated water, avoiding the harmful effects of chlorine substitutes.
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
Significantly extends the shelf life of ozonated water by four orders of magnitude to one year with 99.8% retained effectiveness, allowing for broader distribution and use in various containers without environmental harm.
Implementation Method 1
Air that has been subjected to a high electrical potential corona
Implementation Method 2
mixed with a fluid in a constant differential pressure venturi
Implementation Method 3
an inert gas is infused into the fluid such that the resultant stabilized fluid demonstrates significantly improved usable life
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for significantly extending the shelf life of an inert gas infused fluid. Air that has been subjected to a high electrical potential corona and then mixed with a fluid in a constant differential pressure venturi is delivered to an improved container apparatus wherein an inert gas is infused into the fluid such that the resultant stabilized fluid demonstrates significantly improved usable life. Alternatively, an additive may be combined to provide application specific characteristics. The combination of the method and apparatus, taken together, provide substantially increased shelf life of an inert gas infused fluid.