Ozone Adsorption Column Purging for Nitrogen Buildup Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ozone supply systems face reduced ozone generation efficiency due to increased nitrogen concentration in the adsorption column, leading to nitrogen oxide generation and potential corrosion, as purging is performed with low-concentration oxygen.

Innovation Solution

An ozone supply system and method that includes a circulation path for unadsorbed oxygen, a first carrier gas introduction and lead-out path, and a depressurizing section to manage nitrogen concentration by alternating adsorption and desorption steps, using carrier gases with varying nitrogen concentrations and depressurizing below atmospheric pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If purging is performed with low-concentration oxygen to reduce oxygen usage, then oxygen consumption is reduced, but nitrogen concentration in the adsorption column increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen consumptionVSAvoidnitrogen concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of purge gas from low-concentration oxygen to high-concentration oxygen, fundamentally altering the composition to resolve the contradiction between reducing oxygen consumption and maintaining low nitrogen concentration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts nitrogen from the system by introducing high-concentration oxygen during purging, which displaces and removes accumulated nitrogen from the adsorption column, preventing its harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If high-concentration oxygen is used for purging to maintain low nitrogen concentration, then ozone generation efficiency is maintained, but oxygen consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveozone generation efficiencyVSAvoidoxygen consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary purging with high-concentration oxygen before the adsorption step to ensure nitrogen is removed in advance, preventing it from affecting subsequent ozone generation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements periodic purging cycles with high-concentration oxygen at specific intervals (before adsorption), maintaining system performance without continuous high oxygen consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of substance

If nitrogen accumulates in the adsorption column, then purging with low-concentration oxygen is sufficient, but nitrogen oxide generation occurs causing corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen usage amountVSAvoidnitrogen oxide corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by introducing high-concentration oxygen to preemptively remove nitrogen before it can react to form nitrogen oxides, preventing corrosion before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of nitrogen accumulation into a benefit by using high-concentration oxygen purging to actively manage nitrogen levels, transforming a potential corrosion problem into a controlled process parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Suppresses nitrogen concentration in the adsorption column, reducing nitrogen oxide generation and maintaining ozone generation efficiency by alternating carrier gases and depressurizing the adsorption column.

Implementation Method 1

an adsorption step of adsorbing the ozone to the adsorbent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a desorption step of desorbing the ozone from the adsorbent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Implementation Method 3

a depressurizing section which depressurizes inside of the adsorption column to a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDepressurization: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP4725898A1Ozone supply system and ozone supply method

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

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AI summary

An ozone supply system (1) includes: an adsorption column (A, B) in which an adsorbent for adsorbing the ozone generated by an ozone generator (3) from oxygen supplied from an oxygen source (2) is stored and an adsorption step of adsorbing the ozone to the adsorbent and a desorption step of desorbing the ozone from the adsorbent are repeated alternately; a circulation path (120) through which oxygen gas not adsorbed to the adsorbent is led out from the adsorption column (A, B) and circulated to be supplied to the ozone generator (3), in the adsorption step; a first supply section (4) for first carrier gas; a carrier gas introduction path (103) through which the first carrier gas is introduced from the first supply section (4) into the adsorption column (A, B) in the desorption step; a carrier gas lead-out path (104) through which the ozone taken along with the first carrier gas is led to outside of the adsorption column (A, B) in the desorption step; and a depressurizing section (5) which depressurizes inside of the adsorption column (A, B) to a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure in the desorption step.