Aqueous Ozone Cooling Water Sanitization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retort cooling water systems rely on chlorine for sanitization, which is costly, hazardous, and requires complex management of multiple chemicals, leading to high maintenance and labor costs, as well as environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an aqueous ozone solution generation system that combines ozone gas with cooling water to create a continuous sanitizer, reducing the need for additional chemicals and labor, while effectively removing contaminants and maintaining water quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine is used for sanitizing cooling water, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but safety and ease of operation deteriorate due to hazardous chemical handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ozone, a strong oxidant, as the sanitizing agent in cooling water systems. Ozone generates high oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) levels that effectively kill microorganisms and oxidize contaminants. This replaces chlorine with a safer, more effective oxidizing agent that decomposes into oxygen, eliminating hazardous chemical handling while maintaining sanitization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes ozone's short-lived nature as an advantage. Ozone decomposes rapidly into oxygen after sanitization, leaving no persistent chemical residues. This eliminates the need for long-term chemical storage and handling safety protocols required for chlorine, while maintaining continuous sanitization effectiveness through on-demand generation.
2Reliability
If multiple chemicals (degreasers, dispersants, flocculants, rust inhibitors) are used with chlorine, then comprehensive water treatment is improved, but device complexity and loss of substance worsen due to managing a complex chemical matrix
Solution Approach 1:
The patent demonstrates that ozone serves multiple functions simultaneously in the cooling water system. It acts as a sanitizer, degreaser, dispersant, flocculant, and rust inhibitor all at once. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate chemical treatments, simplifying the system from managing multiple specialized chemicals to using a single versatile oxidizing agent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate chemical treatment functions into a single ozone-based system. Instead of applying degreasers, dispersants, flocculants, and rust inhibitors as separate chemical streams, ozone combines all these functions through its powerful oxidation capabilities, reducing chemical management from handling multiple substances to managing one oxidizing process.
3Reliability
If traditional chemical systems are used, then sanitization is achieved, but loss of time and productivity worsen due to constant monitoring and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service system where ozone is generated on-demand within the cooling water system. The system automatically maintains sanitization levels through continuous or periodic ozone generation, eliminating the need for manual chemical dosing, monitoring, and adjustment. The ozone generator responds to system conditions and automatically maintains effective sanitization without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous sanitization through ongoing ozone generation in the cooling water system. Rather than periodic chemical additions requiring monitoring and replenishment, the system maintains continuous oxidative sanitization action, ensuring consistent microorganism control without interruption or manual intervention.
4Reliability
If chlorine-based systems are used, then disinfection is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to environmental impact and chemical residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of chemical residues into a benefit by using ozone, which naturally decomposes into oxygen. The strong oxidizing action that kills microorganisms also breaks down organic contaminants and converts them into harmless substances. The end product is oxygen, transforming a potentially harmful chemical into a beneficial substance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a chemically inert environment by replacing chlorine with ozone that decomposes into oxygen. This eliminates the persistent chemical presence and environmental contamination associated with chlorine-based systems. The oxygen-rich environment is non-toxic and environmentally benign while maintaining effective disinfection capabilities.
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
The aqueous ozone solution provides a safe, economical, and environmentally friendly sanitizing method that reduces chemical usage, labor costs, and maintains excellent water quality by flocculating solids and controlling biological contaminants, thereby reducing food spoilage and turbidity.
Implementation Method 1
forming an aqueous ozone solution by combining or mixing ozone gas with the cooling water
Implementation Method 2
The aqueous ozone solution flocculates solids for removal
Implementation Method 3
The aqueous ozone solution provides for biological control of contaminates in the water
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for treating cooling water of a retort are described. The methods and systems generate an aqueous ozone solution and combine the aqueous ozone solution with the cooling water. The methods and systems provide a safe, economical, easy to handle, and environmentally friendly solution for maintaining a retort cooling water system. The systems and methods herein remove contaminates from the cooling water, supply a continuous sanitizer created on-site, reduce the need for additional chemicals, and reduce the labor costs attributed to maintaining the retort cooling water system.