Apparatus and methods for cleaning dishes with an ozone sanitizing cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face challenges with high-cost, hazardous, and logistically complex sanitizers like chlorine and ozone, which lose sanitizing effectiveness at higher temperatures and are not approved by NSF standards due to reduced ozone dissolution in water and interference from detergents.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ozone-based sanitizing cycle in dishwashers that generates aqueous ozone solutions via electrolysis at temperatures below 100 F, using the ozone solution for a rinse cycle, and optimizing ozone concentration between 0.3-3 ppm to enhance sanitizing efficiency while minimizing side effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sanitizers like chlorine are used, then sanitizing effectiveness is achieved, but cost and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ozone, a strong oxidant, as the sanitizer to replace traditional chlorine-based chemicals. Ozone provides effective sanitizing through its powerful oxidizing properties, eliminating the need for hazardous chemical storage and handling while maintaining sanitizing effectiveness. The system generates ozone on-site through an ozone generator, further reducing safety hazards associated with transporting and storing chemical sanitizers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates ozone on-demand using an ozone generator connected to the water supply, eliminating the need for pre-stored chemical sanitizers. This self-service approach reduces safety hazards related to chemical storage and transportation, while also reducing operational costs associated with purchasing and managing chemical inventories.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ozone is used for sanitizing, then safety and environmental impact improve, but sanitizing effectiveness is reduced at temperatures above 100 F
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes water temperature parameters to remain at or below 100 F during the ozone sanitizing cycle. By controlling the temperature parameter, the system maintains ozone dissolution levels sufficient for effective sanitizing while still providing warm water for comfortable dish handling. The patent specifies that water temperature should be maintained in a range that preserves ozone effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the wash water before introducing ozone, ensuring the water temperature is at or below 100 F. This preliminary temperature adjustment prevents ozone degradation before sanitizing begins, ensuring maximum sanitizing effectiveness is achieved from the start of the cycle.
3Productivity
If water temperature is increased for effective washing, then cleaning performance improves, but ozone dissolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter between washing and sanitizing phases. During washing, higher temperatures (up to 150 F) are used for optimal cleaning performance. During sanitizing, the temperature is reduced to 100 F or below to maximize ozone dissolution. This parameter change allows the system to optimize for cleaning performance when needed and for sanitizing effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process is divided into temperature-regulated segments: a high-temperature washing segment for removing soil and grease, followed by a low-temperature sanitizing segment for ozone dissolution. This temporal and thermal segmentation allows each process to operate at its optimal temperature without compromising the other.
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 ozone-based sanitizing cycle effectively sanitizes dishes 10 times faster than chlorine, reducing operational costs and environmental impact by generating ozone on-site, and avoiding the need for chlorine-based sanitizers, with improved safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
directing water below 100 F to an oxygen generator and generating ozone via electrolysis on the water below 100 F
Implementation Method 2
ozone may also be used for cleaning dishes
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cleaning dishes in a warewasher is provided: It may include filling a sump with hot water, dispensing detergent into the sump, running a wash cycle, draining the used hot water and detergent from the sump after the wash cycle, flushing the sump, filling the sump with the aqueous ozone solution, and running a rinse cycle with the aqueous ozone solution. A warewasher is provided: It may include a timer, a wash chamber, a sump, a hot water fill solenoid configured to direct hot water into the sump, a chemical dispenser, at least one spray arm, a circulation pump, an ozone generator assembly configured to provide aqueous ozone solution to the sump, and a drain assembly. The timer may control the hot water fill solenoid, the chemical dispenser, the circulation pump, the ozone generator assembly, and the drain assembly to effectuate a cleaning sequence.