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 sanitizers like chlorine and ozone's reduced effectiveness at higher temperatures, which limits its sanitizing capability and prevents ozone from being approved by NSF standards for commercial use.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ozone-based sanitizing cycle in dishwashers that generates aqueous ozone solution via electrolysis at temperatures below 100 F, using it for a rinse cycle, and optimizing concentrations between 0.3-3 ppm to enhance sanitizing efficiency while reducing 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 uses ozone gas that is generated on-demand and naturally decomposes into oxygen, eliminating the need for expensive, hazardous chemical sanitizers like chlorine. The ozone is produced through an electrolysis cell that converts electrical energy into ozone gas, providing a disposable, safe alternative that decomposes harmlessly after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical sanitizing systems with an electrochemical system. Instead of storing and handling hazardous chemical sanitizers, the system uses an electrolysis cell to generate ozone gas electrically, substituting mechanical/electrical energy conversion for chemical storage and distribution infrastructure.
2Productivity
If aqueous ozone is used at temperatures above 100 F, then washing continues effectively, but ozone remains dissolved in smaller portions reducing sanitizing power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the water used in the ozone sanitizing cycle to below 100 F, which significantly increases ozone dissolution capacity. This parameter change transforms the water from hot (which would limit ozone solubility) to cool (which maximizes ozone dissolution and sanitizing effectiveness).
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 eliminating the need for hazardous chemicals and overcoming temperature limitations, thus achieving NSF compliance.
Implementation Method 1
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.