Decoupled Ozone Mixing System for Wastewater Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ozone-based wastewater treatment systems face inefficiencies due to the integration of ozone dissolution, mixing, and reaction processes in a single reactor, leading to suboptimal conditions for ozone mass transfer and reaction, resulting in ozone waste and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for decoupling the ozone oxidation process into three unit operations: ozone mass transfer, mixing, and reaction, using a gas-free liquid oxidant, such as ozone strong water, injected into a process liquid with controlled flow rates and pressures to minimize degassing and optimize ozone utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ozone dissolution, mixing, and reaction are integrated in a single reactor, then the system structure is simple, but the ozone mass transfer efficiency and reaction optimization are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the integrated reactor into three separate units: an ozone dissolution unit, a mixing unit, and a reaction unit. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently for its specific function, improving overall process efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing process is extracted from the single reactor system and placed in a separate dedicated mixing unit positioned between the dissolution unit and reaction unit. This extraction enables independent optimization of mixing conditions to prevent ozone degassing while maintaining efficient mass transfer and reaction performance.
2Duration of action of moving object
If ozone is injected via bubble diffusors or pump-injector systems into a large volume reactor, then the reactor can handle long hydraulic retention times, but ozone waste and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of ozone from gas phase (bubble diffusion) to liquid phase (dissolved ozone in water) before injection into the reaction unit. This parameter change allows for more efficient ozone utilization and reduces the required reactor volume and energy consumption while maintaining adequate contact time for oxidation reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a liquid carrier (ozone-saturated water) to transport ozone from the dissolution unit to the mixing unit, replacing traditional gas-phase bubble diffusion systems. This hydraulic approach improves ozone transfer efficiency and reduces energy losses associated with gas handling and large reactor volumes.
3Ease of operation
If undissolved ozone and oxygen in off-gas stream are not recovered with further pressurizing, then the system operation is simple, but ozone and oxygen waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers undissolved ozone and oxygen from the off-gas stream by directing it back to the ozone dissolution unit where it can be re-dissolved in water. This recovery approach minimizes ozone and oxygen waste while maintaining simple system operation through an integrated recycle loop.
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 enables the formation of a homogeneous and gas-free mixture of ozone strong water and process liquid, reducing ozone loss and energy consumption while allowing for more flexible and efficient operation of ozone generators and recycling systems.
Implementation Method 1
injecting the gas-free liquid oxidant into the process liquid
Implementation Method 2
dissolved ozone (dO3) in water or liquid medium used as an oxidant to react with compounds for oxidation
Implementation Method 3
Liquid oxidation is used for oxidizing a compound while in solution. In a typical liquid oxidation process, an oxygen-containing gas is incorporated into liquid or contaminated liquid medium to destroy chemical contaminants in place
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for mixing a gas-free liquid oxidant with a process liquid to form a homogeneous and gas-free mixture with minimized degassing. The mixing system comprises an injection device, integrating with a pipe through which a process liquid flows, configured and adapted to inject a gas-free liquid oxidant into the process liquid, and a mixer, fluidly connected to the pipe and the injection device, configured and adapted to mix the process liquid and the gas-free liquid oxidant therein to form a homogeneous and gas-free mixture of the process liquid and the gas-free liquid oxidant with minimal degassing. The method comprises the steps of a) injecting the gas-free liquid oxidant into the process liquid, and b) mixing the gas-free liquid oxidant and the process liquid to form the homogeneous and gas-free mixture. The gas-free liquid oxidant is ozone strong water.