Ozone Generation Recycling Nitrogen Flushing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ozonation processes for organic compounds, air-based ozone generation is safer than oxygen-based due to the risk of explosive mixtures with flammable solvents like methanol in pure oxygen, but oxygen-based generation is economically favorable; existing methods to reduce oxygen levels are costly and inefficient, such as flushing with nitrogen, which leads to solvent evaporation.
Innovation Solution
An ozone generation method using an oxygen-based system with an ozone/oxygen separation unit and recycling unreacted oxygen, combined with pure nitrogen flushing to safely introduce ozone into reactors, reducing residual oxygen levels and minimizing solvent loss, employing a PSA system or membrane separation for ozone concentration and nitrogen supply from bulk sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If oxygen-based ozone generation is used, then economic benefits are improved, but safety risks worsen due to explosive mixture formation with flammable solvents
Solution Approach 1:
Nitrogen is introduced as an intermediary gas to dilute and separate the ozone-oxygen mixture from the flammable solvent environment. The nitrogen stream acts as a buffer that prevents formation of explosive mixtures while allowing ozone to react with the organic compound, thus enabling oxygen-based generation without the associated safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
An inert nitrogen atmosphere is created in the reaction system to displace oxygen and prevent formation of explosive mixtures. This inert environment allows the use of oxygen-based ozone generation while eliminating the hazard of flammable solvent-oxygen-ozone explosions, effectively resolving the safety concern while maintaining economic benefits
2Object-affected harmful factors
If nitrogen flushing is used to reduce oxygen levels, then safety is improved, but solvent loss worsens due to evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of gas composition by introducing nitrogen to dilute the oxygen concentration to safe levels. By controlling the nitrogen-to-ozone ratio and using controlled sparging, the system achieves safe oxygen levels while minimizing solvent evaporation through proper flow control and temperature management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical flushing methods with a controlled gas sparging system that uses nitrogen bubbles to transfer ozone to the liquid phase. This substitution allows for more precise control of gas-liquid contact, reducing solvent evaporation while maintaining safety through effective oxygen dilution
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 method allows for safe and cost-effective ozone introduction into organic reaction systems by recycling most oxygen and using nitrogen to flush out residual oxygen, reducing the risk of explosions and solvent loss, while maintaining the economic benefits of oxygen-based ozone generation.
Implementation Method 1
When an electrical current passes through the dielectric, a corona discharge is produced. Di-oxygen (O2) molecules flowing through corona discharge are dissociated freeing oxygen atoms, which quickly combine with available oxygen molecules to form ozone (O3) molecules.
Implementation Method 2
Liquid nitrogen is fed to a heat exchanger where it is warmed and becomes gaseous. The gaseous nitrogen is then fed to the ozone separation unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing ozone for use in ozonolysis reactions. Oxygen is separated from the mixture of ozone and oxygen from an ozone generation unit and is fed back to the oxygen feed to the generation unit. Nitrogen is fed to the ozone separation unit and the mixture of nitrogen and ozone is fed to the ozonation reactor where the ozone will react with organic compounds to produce desired end products.