Multi-Stage Ozonation Columns With Gravity Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ozonation systems for liquids, such as water and sewage, face challenges in maintaining consistent residence time during varying water flow rates, leading to the formation of harmful byproducts, including carcinogenic compounds, and often require complex and costly setups with inefficient ozone recycling.
Innovation Solution
The use of multi-stage contact columns with controlled overflow systems and an aerator-desorber for ionized air allows for consistent residence time across varying flow rates, reducing carcinogenic compound formation and efficiently recycling ozone for pre-oxidation processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable water flows are used in conventional ozonation reactors, then processing flexibility is improved, but residence time control deteriorates leading to formation of carcinogenic compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The ozonation process is divided into multiple stages with separate contact tanks, each optimized for specific residence time control. This segmentation allows independent control of oxidation and degassing functions, maintaining consistent residence time even when total flow varies.
Solution Approach 2:
Pre-aeration is performed before ozonation using recycled ozone from the degassing stage. This preliminary action prepares the water for ozonation while ensuring that subsequent contact tanks receive pre-conditioned water, stabilizing the overall process parameters.
2Productivity
If conventional ozonation systems are used, then ozonation function is achieved, but ozone recycling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding excess ozone from the ozonation process, the system recovers it through degassing in the second contact tank and reuse it for pre-aeration. This recovery mechanism significantly improves ozone utilization efficiency and reduces energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own byproduct (excess ozone from ozonation) to perform the pre-aeration function, creating a self-sustaining cycle where waste materials are converted into useful resources for the same process.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex mechanical devices are used in ozonation systems, then process control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical control devices with a gravity-based flow control mechanism. Water flow between tanks is controlled by overflow weirs and height differences, eliminating the need for mechanical valves, pumps, or complex control systems while maintaining precise residence time control.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact tanks are arranged with specific height relationships creating equipotential flow paths. Water flows from higher to lower tanks based on gravitational potential energy, providing automatic flow control without mechanical intervention and simplifying the overall system design.
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 approach ensures effective ozonation with reduced formation of carcinogenic compounds and efficient ozone recycling, achieving consistent quality parameters and lowering operational costs by utilizing recycled ozone for pre-aeration, thereby improving the safety and quality of treated water.
Implementation Method 1
a process of continuous ozonation of unsaturated organic compounds in a reaction column in which unsaturated compounds are dissolved in a protic solvent, and a carrier gas containing ozone and an inert cooling agent are passed from top to bottom
Implementation Method 2
an aerator-desorber for ionised air which uses excess ozone combined with air for the processes of pre-oxidation of liquids
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A system for ozonation of liquids, comprising: a set of at least two oxidising and upflowing columns arranged one on top of the other (12, 22); a set of at least two degassing and holding columns arranged one on top of the other (14, 24) comprising gate valves (17, 18) for discharging liquids from the system; flow passages (13, 23) connecting the oxidising and upflowing columns (12, 22) to the degassing and holding columns (14, 24), wherein at least some of the flow passages (13) comprise adjustable gate valves (15) for blocking the flow; a system (11) for introducing and dispersing ozone, to which a source liquid pipeline (9) and a pre-ozonated liquid pipeline (10) are connected, wherein the pre-ozonated liquid pipeline (10) delivers a pre-ozonated liquid from a lower part of the lower degassing and holding column (14), to which ozone from the pipeline (6) is additionally dosed in a system (7) for dosing ozone, and the output of which is connected to the lower part of the oxidising and upflowing column (12).