Ozone injection systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ozone injection systems for laundry machines face limitations such as low maintenance, high installation costs, inability to customize ozone levels, and inadequate ozone concentration throughout the wash cycle, particularly due to the use of indirect, charged, and recirculation methods which lead to ozone degradation and off-gassing issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating ozone injection into the chemical lines of the laundry system, utilizing ozone generators with venturi or UV systems to maintain ozone levels and control ozone dosage based on soil load, allowing for continuous ozone addition during the wash cycle through the chemical dispensing system, and using a controller to manage ozone levels between 0.1-5 ppm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ozone is injected through fill lines during the initiation of the cycle, then the washing drum is filled with ozone-containing water, but the ozone concentration drops significantly by the end of the cycle due to limited injection period and rapid degeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-fills a reservoir tank with ozone-containing water before the wash cycle begins. The ozone generator operates during a pre-fill period to saturate the reservoir with ozone, ensuring adequate ozone concentration is available at the start of the wash cycle without requiring continuous injection throughout the entire cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous ozone presence in the wash drum by combining the initial reservoir discharge with periodic top-off injections. The controller monitors ozone concentration and triggers additional injections from the reservoir or direct gas injection to maintain therapeutic levels throughout the wash cycle, ensuring continuous useful action rather than a single initial injection.
2Quantity of substance
If recirculation systems are used to continually add ozone to wash water, then ozone levels are maintained throughout the cycle, but the system complexity and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the ozone injection function from the complex recirculation pump system and implements it through a simpler reservoir-based delivery mechanism. Instead of requiring continuous pump operation and complex plumbing modifications, the system uses a separate reservoir tank that can be filled once and then dispenses ozone-containing water through simpler piping to the wash drum.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir tank serves as an intermediary between the ozone generator and the wash drum. Rather than directly injecting ozone into the circulating water through complex pump systems, the system generates ozone, stores it in the reservoir with water, and then delivers it to the wash drum through a simpler dispensing mechanism, reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If indirect injection systems are used through fill lines, then installation is simpler, but maintenance requirements increase and customization of ozone levels is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ozone injection function into a separate, modular reservoir tank that can be independently maintained and replaced. Rather than integrating ozone injection into the main wash system plumbing, the reservoir acts as a self-contained module with its own fill port, dispensing mechanism, and isolation valves, allowing maintenance without shutting down the entire wash system.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir tank serves multiple functions: it stores ozone-containing water, acts as a buffer to maintain concentration throughout the cycle, provides a source for top-off injections, and can be independently filled and maintained. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies overall system maintenance compared to dedicated injection systems.
4Quantity of substance
If charged ozone systems with reservoirs are used, then dissolved ozone levels are maintained around 2 ppm, but the system requires large footprint and can damage the washer
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the concentration parameter by using higher initial ozone saturation in the reservoir (achieved through extended pre-fill generation time) rather than relying on continuous low-level injection. By concentrating more ozone upfront and using controlled dispensing, the system maintains effective levels without requiring the large reservoir volumes and continuous injection infrastructure of charged ozone 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 provides a cost-effective, low-maintenance ozone injection system that maintains adequate ozone concentrations throughout the wash cycle, allowing for customization based on laundry load and reducing off-gassing, thereby enhancing cleaning efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
ozone generators with venturi or UV systems
Implementation Method 2
ozone generators with venturi or UV systems
Implementation Method 3
The dissolved ozone oxidizes the dirt and other soil on the laundry and cleans them quite effectively
Data Source
AI summary
An ozone laundry system that injects ozone into the chemical injection system in order to allow the system to inject ozone as other cleaning chemicals are injected into the washer. This allows ozone to be injected through the wash cycle rather than just during the initial fill phase and additional avoids the expense and maintenance of adding ozone recirculation plumping to an ozone laundry system. Accordingly, ozone levels may be maintained at superior levels throughout the wash cycle.