Gaseous Ozone Disinfection for Closed Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disinfecting water pipelines and conduits using chlorine are inefficient, requiring lengthy exposure times, generating hazardous waste, and are not scientifically rational, while ozone disinfection methods are limited to smaller-scale operations due to ozone decay issues.
Innovation Solution
A system and process utilizing gaseous ozone generation and destruction apparatuses to disinfect conduits, with ozone analyzers and controllers to optimize ozone concentration and exposure time, ensuring effective disinfection without the need for liquid chlorine or ozone decay limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine-based disinfection methods are used, then disinfection effectiveness is achieved, but exposure time is excessively long and hazardous waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter from chlorine to ozone, which has different disinfection kinetics. Ozone achieves equivalent or superior disinfection effectiveness with significantly shorter contact times (minutes vs. hours), directly resolving the time-loss contradiction while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone is a stronger oxidant than chlorine, enabling faster microbial inactivation. The patent utilizes ozone's superior oxidizing capability to achieve rapid disinfection, reducing exposure time from hours to minutes while ensuring complete pathogen elimination
2Reliability
If chlorine-based disinfection methods are used, then disinfection is achieved, but hazardous waste and dechlorination requirements are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful residual chlorine waste into beneficial ozone that naturally decomposes into oxygen. Ozone's decomposition into oxygen eliminates the need for dechlorination and prevents hazardous waste discharge, transforming a harmful byproduct issue into an environmentally beneficial process
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding chlorinated waste water requiring dechlorination, the patent recovers oxygen from ozone decomposition. The ozone decomposes naturally into oxygen, which can be vented safely or reused, eliminating waste disposal requirements and associated hazards
3Loss of time
If ozone is used for disinfection, then exposure time is reduced, but ozone decay limits application to smaller-scale operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting ozone gas into the conduit before water flow, allowing ozone to establish presence and begin disinfection immediately. This preliminary ozone placement ensures adequate concentration is achieved throughout the conduit volume before water contact, maintaining reliability even with rapid ozone decay
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous ozone generation and injection during the water flow process. This continuous supply compensates for ozone decay, ensuring adequate disinfection concentration is maintained throughout the entire water contact period, enabling effective treatment of large-scale conduits
4Device complexity
If conventional disinfection methods are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but scientific rationality and CT concept integration are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by monitoring ozone concentration and contact time parameters to ensure the CT value meets disinfection requirements. This feedback control integrates scientific rationality into the process, allowing optimization of ozone dosage and contact time while maintaining simplicity through automated monitoring rather than complex manual procedures
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 provides faster, more reliable disinfection of larger conduits with reduced waste generation, improving disinfection efficacy and efficiency while avoiding the drawbacks of traditional chlorine-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone generation apparatus for producing gaseous ozone
Implementation Method 2
The ozone generation apparatus may also comprise a blower or air compressor for moving fluid from the inlet, through the interior volume, and to the conduit outlet
Implementation Method 3
The ozone generation apparatus may also comprise an ozone analyzer
Implementation Method 4
an ozone destruction apparatus in fluid communication with the conduit outlet
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for disinfecting conduits using gaseous ozone are disclosed. The systems and methods include an ozone generation apparatus capable of producing gaseous ozone to be introduced into conduits. The gaseous ozone can then disinfect the conduit. Some embodiments of the systems and methods further comprise an ozone destruction apparatus capable of destroying the ozone after a certain stage of the disinfection process is reached.