Ozone Bubble Flotation Water Purification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment systems are inefficient and energy-intensive, often requiring multiple components and complex plumbing setups, and fail to effectively remove contaminants and purify water to desired levels without using electromagnetic radiation or solid catalysts.
Innovation Solution
A system that injects ozone-based gas bubbles into impure water, using the bubbles as a flotation reagent and disinfectant within a two-column processing unit, where the ozone provides disinfection and deodorization, and the bubbles interact with the water to remove contaminants, producing treated water and a waste byproduct without the need for electromagnetic radiation or solid catalysts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple water treatment components (filters, clarifiers, UV units, etc.) are used to purify water, then water purification effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple water treatment functions (flotation, disinfection, deodorization, oxidation) into a single integrated column reactor. Ozone serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a flotation reagent when bubbled through water, provides disinfection through oxidation, removes odors, and oxidizes organic contaminants. This eliminates the need for separate filter units, UV treatment components, and other individual treatment devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive water purification effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone gas serves multiple functions within the single column system: it provides flotation by forming bubbles that carry contaminants to the surface, acts as a disinfectant through oxidation of microorganisms, removes odors by oxidizing odor-causing compounds, and degrades organic contaminants. This multi-functionality of a single reagent (ozone) replaces the need for multiple specialized treatment components, resolving the contradiction between purification effectiveness and system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple water treatment components and complex plumbing are used, then water treatment capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple energy-consuming treatment processes into a single passive column reactor. Instead of requiring separate powered units for filtration, UV disinfection, aeration, and chemical dosing, the system uses a single column where ozone bubbles naturally rise through water, providing flotation and simultaneous oxidation/disinfection. The counter-current flow arrangement maximizes contact efficiency without requiring additional pumping energy, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive water treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The column reactor operates passively using natural buoyancy forces. Ozone bubbles rise automatically through the water column without requiring mechanical agitation or powered mixing devices. The counter-current flow of water and bubbles occurs naturally due to density differences and buoyancy, eliminating the need for energy-consuming pumps and mixers that would otherwise be required to achieve adequate contact between treatment agents and contaminants.
3Reliability
If conventional treatment systems with multiple components are used, then contaminant removal is improved, but the system requires complex plumbing and multiple setup locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple treatment functions into a single column reactor unit, eliminating the need for complex plumbing networks connecting separate filter housings, UV chambers, aeration tanks, and chemical dosing equipment. The unified design requires minimal piping and can be installed in a single location, greatly simplifying system setup and operation while maintaining effective contaminant removal through integrated flotation and oxidation processes.
4Reliability
If ozone gas bubbles are used for flotation and disinfection, then contact time between ozone and contaminants is increased, but bubble size and rise speed must be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous diffusers at the bottom of the column to generate fine ozone bubbles. The porous structure controls bubble nucleation and size, producing uniformly small bubbles that rise slowly through the water column. This increases the contact time between ozone and contaminants, improving removal efficiency. The porous material inherently regulates bubble formation without requiring additional control mechanisms, achieving the desired bubble characteristics through material selection rather than complex control systems.
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 effectively purifies water by increasing contact time between ozone and contaminants, maximizing impurity removal, and reduces energy consumption by minimizing system components and complexity, achieving high-quality water output efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
The gas is converted to bubbles which are used as a flotation reagent
Implementation Method 2
the ozone portion of the gas provides for the disinfection and deodorization of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for processing impure water is achieved by using ozone for the separation and removal of certain contaminants and for further purification of the water. According to one embodiment, a gas comprised of ozone and air is injected into the impure water. The gas is converted to bubbles which are used as a flotation reagent while the ozone portion of the gas provides for the disinfection and deodorization of the liquid. The impure water is constantly supplied into an upper portion of a working volume or column of fluid contained within a processing unit. At the same time the gas is supplied into the bottom part of the same fluid column through one or more diffusers. Due to their porosity the diffusers generate the bubbles of this ozone-based gas so that each bubble has a predetermined size.