Ozone Concentrator with Recycled Vacuum Discharge
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ozone concentration methods result in unnecessary ozone discharge due to vacuum discharging and incur energy losses from temperature differences between adsorption/desorption columns.
Innovation Solution
An ozone concentrator design featuring multiple adsorption/desorption columns cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant, a vacuum pump for concentrating ozone by discharging mainly oxygen, and valves for air pressure operations, where the discharge line from one column is connected to another to recycle ozone, eliminating temperature differences and enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If vacuum discharging is performed to obtain concentrated ozone, then ozone concentration is improved, but ozone is discharged uselessly and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers ozone that would otherwise be discharged uselessly during vacuum discharging. The discharge line of the vacuum pump is connected to the inlet of the adsorption/desorption column, allowing the discharged gas containing ozone to be reintroduced into the system for further concentration and utilization, thereby preventing ozone waste while maintaining high concentration output
2Manufacturing precision
If cooling step is provided after stabilizing and boosting step and desorption step, then ozone concentration is improved, but time loss occurs and temperature difference increases energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the separate cooling step by maintaining continuous operation of the adsorption/desorption columns. The refrigerant cooling system operates continuously rather than intermittently, and the columns are kept in a constant cooled state throughout the process, eliminating time loss while maintaining temperature uniformity and reducing energy waste from temperature differences
3Manufacturing precision
If cooling step is provided after stabilizing and boosting step and desorption step, then ozone concentration is improved, but temperature difference occurs at upper and lower positions increasing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant cooling system operates continuously throughout the adsorption and desorption processes, maintaining a constant cooled state in the adsorption/desorption columns. This continuous cooling prevents temperature differences between upper and lower positions, eliminating the energy loss associated with thermal gradients while ensuring consistent ozone concentration
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 configuration enables stable, high-concentration ozone generation with reduced energy losses and increased ozone use efficiency by recycling ozone and minimizing energy expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption step of allowing an adsorbent cooled by a refrigerating machine to saturation-adsorb ozone gas generated by an ozone generator in an atmospheric state
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum pump connected to the plurality of adsorption/desorption columns, for concentrating the ozone in the plurality of adsorption/desorption columns by discharging mainly oxygen from the adsorbent adsorbing the ozone
Implementation Method 3
an adsorption step of allowing an adsorbent cooled by a refrigerating machine to saturation-adsorb ozone gas
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ozone concentrator including an ozone generator (3), adsorption/desorption columns (4) in which silica gel (6) cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant (25) for concentrating ozone generated by the ozone generator (3) is packed, a refrigerating machine (23) for cooling the refrigerant (25), a vacuum pump (20) for enhancing a concentration of the ozone in one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4) by discharging mainly oxygen from the silica gel (6) adsorbing the ozone, a plurality of valves (8) to (13) for air pressure operations, for switching passages of gas that is allowed to flow in or flow out with respect to the adsorption/desorption columns (4), and ozone concentration meters (28, 29) for measuring the concentration of the ozone enhanced by the vacuum pump (20), in which a discharge line of the vacuum pump (20) is connected to another one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4), whereby the ozone is allowed to pass through another one of the adsorption/desorption columns again. Therefore, stable ozone of high concentration can be generated at a satisfactory energy efficiency without any temperature difference between upper and lower positions of adsorption/desorption columns.