Abstract: Improved efficiencies in the treatment of a fluid such as oxygen or an oxygen containing gas by electron emission so as to produce a product such as ozone may be achieved by regulating the manner in which energy is used within a fluid treatment cell and the circuit used to power such a cell. Such a cell normally consists of two electrodes separated from one another by a dielectric layer and an air gap. The apparatus used to power such a cell preferably includes a power supply, a timing generator, transistors for releasing power from the power supply to a transformer at periodic intervals, diodes for permitting power to be reconveyed from the transformer to the power supply, an inductance either built into or associated with the secondary of the transformer, this secondary being connected across the terminals of the cell. With this circuit energy is stored in the cell and in both of the inductances as power is supplied.

Abstract: An effective, efficient apparatus for treating a fluid by electron emission or corona discharge having a prolonged useful life can be constructed so as to include a first electrode, a composite dielectric structure located along the side of and spaced from the first electrode so as to define a gap between the first electrode and the dielectric structure and a second electrode. In such a structure preferably the gap is closed off by a flexible seal permitting the thickness of the gap to be adjusted; preferably this thickness is related to the operating parameters of the equipment used to power the apparatus and to the characteristics of the product or products produced in the apparatus. Preferably the dielectric structure consists of at least one layer of a first dielectric material including overlapping flat plate-like particles of an inert dielectric material located directly against the second electrode.