Ozonizers Patents (Class 261/DIG42)
  • Patent number: 6162359
    Abstract: Process for recovering and reusing effluent gas from an ozonization reactor in a plant for treating effluent, especially sewage, which includes a biological reactor, a clarifier and an ozonization reactor. The effluent gas from the ozonization reactor is brought, as a cocurrent, into contact with a stream of water containing compounds that can be oxidized by the ozone, so that the residual ozone is removed and efficiently consumed. The effluent gas thus stripped of the residual ozone is then, optionally, pressurized using a fluid taken from the plant so as to produce a gas/liquid mixture. The gas liquid mixture is converted into an emulsion of fine bubbles, and the emulsion is introduced into the biological reactor, preferably near the bottom of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignees: Degremont, Ozonia International
    Inventors: Marc Andre, Pierre Liechti, Denis Marchand, Eric Thieblin
  • Patent number: 6156159
    Abstract: Process and device for mixing fluid into a pulp suspension of cellulose-containing fiber material, in which the pulp suspension is pumped in through a pump inlet (17), brought into rotation and, at the desired reaction pressure, mixed with the said fluid while passing through a reaction sector comprising a stator shell (1), a rotor (7) which is coaxial therewith, and at least one fluid inlet (23), after which the pulp mixture leaves the reaction sector through a pulp outlet (20), in which the fluid, via the said fluid inlet (23), is supplied in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the rotating pulp suspension, where the local pressure in the pulp suspension is lower, due to the centrifugal force increasing radially outwards, than the reaction pressure prevailing at the periphery of the pulp suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson, Per Nystrom
  • Patent number: 6153111
    Abstract: A method for treating a liquid such as water with a gas such as ozone where the liquid to be treated is introduced into a treatment vessel, gas is introduced into the treatment vessel to treat the liquid and the liquid is treated. The treatment vessel is then pressurized and the pressure in the treatment vessel is used to dispense the treated liquid from the treatment vessel through a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad, Ted Szylowiec
  • Patent number: 6076808
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing ozonated water including a container defining a chamber and having a first inlet for introducing purified water into the chamber, a second inlet for introducing vaporized ozone into the chamber, and an outlet for venting ozonated water from the chamber is disclosed. A pump siphons ozonated water from the chamber of the container via the outlet of the container. A suitable introducing assembly is also provided for introducing vaporized ozone into the chamber of the container through the second inlet. A sensor measures oxygen reduction potential (ORP) of the ozonated water, and controls the amount of the vaporized ozone introduced into the chamber of the container by the introducing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Brooks S. Porter
  • Patent number: 6054048
    Abstract: A water purification apparatus for increasing oxygen concentration in water. The water purification apparatus includes a water pump provided in a water tank for pumping water to produce a water flow, an ejector connected to the water pump for mixing the water from the water pump with air and ejecting the water mixed with the air therethrough, an air intake pipe connected to the ejector for supplying air thereto, and a jetting outlet connected to the ejector and formed with a porous jetting nozzle having small punched openings on an end portion and outer circumference thereof and a bugle-shaped tube accommodating the porous jetting nozzle therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Nippoh Setsubi Co, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kaeriyama, Yasukazu Kowari
  • Patent number: 6054046
    Abstract: A gas treatment system for liquids can increase gas exposure and contact time. A liquid stream is directed into a vortex chamber (130). The vortex chamber (130) creates a downward spiral flow of the liquid stream forcing it into an upper end inlet (145) of a contact tank (114) and downward in the contact tank (114). When the liquid stream reaches a lower region (170) of the contact tank (114), a portion is drawn into a draw tube (120) while the other portion is drawn into a re-circulation system (160). In the re-circulation system (160), a gas injector system (166) entrains bubbles of a treatment gas into the liquid stream creating a re-circulated stream that is displaced into an upper region (168) in the contact tank (114). The portion drawn into the draw tube (120) then moves upwardly to a degassing chamber (146) wherein the treatment gas is separated from the liquid and delivered through an outlet (124) for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: William R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6029911
    Abstract: Provided are an air passage (17) extending from one end surface of a body (16) toward the other end of the body, a throat (18) extending from a downstream end of the air passage (17) toward the other end of the body, an elongated mixed gas passage (19) extending from a downstream end of the throat (18) to the other end of the body (16), an ozone passage (20) extending from an outer lateral surface of the body (16) toward a portion near an upstream end of the mixed gas passage (19), an ozone injection port (21) communicating from a downstream end of the ozone passage (20) to the portion near the upstream end of the mixed gas passage (19). A ratio of the cross-sectional area of the mixed gas passage (19) to that of the throat (18) is set to about 2. Thus, the air-ozone mixed flow is discharged out of the mixed gas passage (19) without substantially reducing the pressure of the mixed flow to ensure spraying pressure for atomizer nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Watanabe, Atsuyoshi Minobe, Hiroshi Dazai
  • Patent number: 6024882
    Abstract: Oxidizable contaminants in water are destroyed rapidly and efficiently by exposing the water to oxidizing conditions under pressure. Specifically, a single dose of hydrogen peroxide may be injected into the water, followed by the repeated injection and mixing of low doses of ozone. In each such high intensity mixing/reaction stage, ozone is injected at a pressure, velocity, and direction approximately matching that of the contaminated water flow. High intensity mixing under pressure facilitates rapid and complete oxidation of the contaminants with minimal stripping of volatile contaminants and waste of undissolved ozone. Residual ozone levels after high intensity mixing may be carefully monitored and minimized by adjusting the injection of hydrogen peroxide and ozone in order to suppress the formation of bromate. Additional contaminants may be removed by passing the treated water through activated carbon beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McNeilly, Reid Bowman, Terry Applebury, Doug Gustafson
  • Patent number: 5971368
    Abstract: A system for increasing the quantity of a gas, e.g., ozone, dissolved in a liquid, e.g., ultrapure deionized water, is provided. Generally, the system provided by the present invention includes a pressurized vessel and an outlet coupled to the pressurized vessel adapted to dispense a stream of the admixture including the liquid and the dissolved gas under sufficiently gentle conditions such that the dispensed admixture comprises an increased quantity of dissolved gas relative to admixture produced and dispensed by conventional methods. Thus, the system of the present invention is able to provide, e.g., ozonated water, continuously, efficiently and without cooling, and thus provides a simple, cost efficient system capable of producing high concentration ozonated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: FSI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Nelson, Kurt K. Christenson
  • Patent number: 5968352
    Abstract: Intimate contact of water with a treatment gas is achieved by mixing the gas and water co-currently in a conduit containing static mixers, and directing the conduit into a gas contact apparatus that contains coaxial inner and outer tanks, the inner tank being open within, and shorter than, the outer tank, leaving a head space above the top of the inner tank. The conduit discharges the gas-water mixture at the base of the interior of the inner tank, permitting the water to flow upward through the annular space between the inner tank and the conduit, then over the weir formed by the open upper end of the inner tank and downward through the annular space between the inner and outer tanks. Gas is separated from the water at the head space, and treated degasified water leaves the apparatus at the base of the outer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Novazone
    Inventor: Lee C. Ditzler
  • Patent number: 5951921
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing ozone water by accelerated mixing and dissolving of ozone into water due to an enhanced contact efficiency of ozone gas and water with controlled temperature includes a circulation line for circulating ozone water and employs a jet nozzle (4) in a conduit (4) which returns the ozone water from the circulation line into a primary container. This causes negative pressure about the outlet of the nozzle, whereby the ozone gas is sucked into the water which is jetted. Thus, the ozone gas is rapidly mixed and dissolved into the water. Efficiency of stirring of the ozone water is also enhanced. A secondary container is provided in the circulation line, which specially facilitates cooling of the ozone water as well as prevention of freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Core Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Koganezawa, Yukio Akahori
  • Patent number: 5945068
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sterilizing hands includes a sink containing ozonated water. Water is continually circulated through said sink past an ozone generator which continually injects ozone into the sink. The individual sanitizes his hands by simply immersing his hands in the ozonated water for a period of time effective to destroy germs. Upstream of the sink is a secondary water circulation system which includes a second ozone generator which maintains a constant supply of ozonated water which can be added to the sink when necessary. An infrared sensor can be added to detect when individuals are using the sink and further to determine when make-up water is required. The present invention optionally will include an ozonated air hand drier or an ozonated air applicator for towels. This system is designed to ensure that individuals in, for example, food service operations maintain sanitary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel A. Ferone
  • Patent number: 5882588
    Abstract: In the process for the ozone treatment of hot water in the hot water supply system of a building for the purpose of disinfection of the water, the hot water is led into a treatment tank (3). Here the pressure is reduced to a level below that in the pipes of the hot water supply system, an ozone-containing gas being continually introduced into the water, which gas passes through the water in the form of bubbles, the ozone being given up to the water. The remaining gas subsequently undergoes transition to a gaseous state in the upper part of the tank, from which the gas is drawn off. The treated water is then fed into the hot water supply system of the building, the pressure being restored by means of at least one pump to the level of the operating pressure within the hot water supply system. The method can be used to remove harmful micro-organisms such as legionella pneumophila from hot water systems without raising the temperature to around 70.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Carbagas
    Inventor: Fabrice Laberge
  • Patent number: 5868999
    Abstract: An ozone sterilizer includes a generator capable of generating a gas containing at least about 10% by weight ozone, a holding tank, a humidification chamber for receiving the ozonated gas and humidifying it to form a sterilant including at least about 8% by weight ozone at a humidity of at least about 60%, a vent for bleeding sterilant from the humidification chamber over a first catalyst, a sterilization chamber for receiving a controlled flow of sterilant which is in fluid communication with a pump for evacuating the sterilization chamber over a second catalyst, a vent for bleeding the sterilant from the sterilization chamber and a heater for providing warm air drawn into the sterilization chamber by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Ozone Sterilization Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Eskil L. Karlson
  • Patent number: 5865995
    Abstract: A gas treatment system for liquids can increase gas exposure and contact time. A liquid stream into which treatment gas is added is directed into a vortex chamber (130). The vortex chamber (130) creates a downward spiral flow of the liquid stream forcing it into an upper end inlet (145) of a contact tank (114). The liquid stream with entrained gas bubbles is forced to move downwardly through the tank to a lower end outlet (122). The flow then moves upwardly to a degassing chamber (146) wherein the treatment gas is separated from the liquid and delivered through an outlet (124) for use. Because the entrained bubbles are forced downwardly through the contact tank (114), the gas bubbles remain quite small and contact time is prolonged. Release of the treatment gas is further facilitated by positioning the degassing chamber (146) at an elevated position which promotes gas bubble expansion, combination and release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: William R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5851407
    Abstract: Oxidizable contaminants in water are destroyed quickly and efficiently by exposing a contaminated water flow to oxidizing conditions under pressure. Specifically, ozone generated from oxygen and hydrogen peroxide are injected into the water flow in at least one, and preferably more than one, high intensity mixing/reaction stage. The ozone and hydrogen peroxide are injected at velocities and directions approximately matching those of the contaminated water flow. High intensity mixing under pressure facilitates rapid and complete oxidation of the contaminants with minimal stripping of volatile contaminants and waste of undissolved ozone. Residual ozone levels after high intensity mixing are carefully monitored and minimized by adjusting the injection of hydrogen peroxide and ozone in order to suppress the formation of bromate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Process Technolgy, Inc.
    Inventors: Reid Bowman, Michael McNeilly, Terry Applebury, Douglas Gustafson
  • Patent number: 5824243
    Abstract: The Water Ozonating System can take several forms. Generically, the system incorporates at least the following: a water inlet means, a water storage tank, a device for introducing ozone into the water in the storage tank, and a device for dispensing water from the storage tank. A unique and particularly advantageous feature of the Water Ozonating System is that the ozonated water is kept entirely within a closed system until it is dispensed to the user. This maintains ozone in the water and in its active state (i.e., with its decontaminating and sterilizing effect). The system provides storage tank of ozone within the effluent water. This invention has many applications but not limited to the following: residential and office water purification; supermarket produce, vegetable, meat, poultry and fish, rinsing; dental operatory procedures; laboratories and commercial rinse water functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Edward M. Contreras
  • Patent number: 5800704
    Abstract: In order to reduce the noise made by a foam flotation separator working on the dispersion apparatus principle and maximise the air supply, the foam flotation separator is designed so as to comprise a dispersion pump (2) which draws in water and a gas such as air and/or ozone, a reaction chamber connected on the delivery side, a collector (5) on the upper end of the reaction chamber (4) and an expanded section (15) at the lower, outlet end of the reaction chamber (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: AquaMedic Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Hansen
  • Patent number: 5766488
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating water includes a vertically extending contact vessel, wherein water is contacted with ozone, and a return vessel which contains a column of water of a sufficient height to drive water through downstream solids separation stages. Ozone is removed from the water and the rate of ozone injection is monitored and automatically adjusted so that no great amount of ozone remains in water entering the solids separation stages. The ozone is generated in elongated elements that are cooled by the process water and that are positioned to serve as a static mixer for such water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: United States Filter Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen A. Uban, Richard C. Maxson, Ralph W. Holliday, Mark E. Watson
  • Patent number: 5720905
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus including a housing holding an air pump, an ozone generator, a high voltage generator, a cooling fan and a bubble generator, wherein a mixing cylinder is connected between the air pump and an ozone output port of the ozonizer to mix ozone from the ozonizer with air from the air pump, permitting the mixture to be guided to the bubble generator for producing air bubbles when the bubble generator is put under water, the mixing cylinder including a stepped cylindrical body having a big diameter section connected to the air pump and a small diameter section longitudinally extended from the big diameter section and connected to the bubble generator, an air outlet at the periphery of the big diameter section, a pipe connected between the air outlet and an air input port of the ozonizer, an ozone inlet at the periphery of the small diameter section, a pipe connected between the ozone inlet and the ozone output port of the ozonizer, and an inside annular flange extended from one end of the small d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Liu Chang International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsi-Yin Ho
  • Patent number: 5670094
    Abstract: In an ozonized water producing apparatus in which a pressurized ozone gas generated by an electric discharge type ozonizer is dissolved in water to be treated through a porous hollow-fiber membrane, an infinite variable-speed control type pump is provided upstream of the hollow-fiber membrane to maintain the water pressure inside the hollow fibers higher than the ozone gas pressure and to control the water pressure and flow rate, and a control mechanism is provided to control the ozone concentration in the treated water on the basis of the ozone gas concentration. Thereby treated water containing neither tiny bubbles nor impurities is obtained, and the concentration, flow rate and pressure of the treated water are controlled at constant levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasaki, Takayuki Saito, Ken Nakajima, Mitsuru Imai
  • Patent number: 5653129
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having a bubble feeding device installed at the inner surface of a door of the top of a washing body for feeding air bubbles into a rotatable tub to the top of a washer body. The bubble feeding device comprises a telescopic pipe and a drive device for driving the pipe. The drive device includes a motor and first and second pulleys operatively connected to the motor. The second pulley has gear teeth formed on its circumference and a flexible string having a train of teeth is wound on the second pulley to mesh the train of teeth with the gear teeth. The flexible string extends into an inner telescopic pipe coaxially installed within the telescopic pipe and the end of the string is fixed to the lower end of the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Kew Jang
  • Patent number: 5651939
    Abstract: Especially for use in disinfecting water by bubbling in a gas such as ozone, novel apparatus having an inlet and an outlet for liquid and which defines a flow path therebetween, the path including, in succession, a downward flow zone and an upward flow zone, the zones being separated by a wall beneath which there is a gap for the flow between the zones, wherein the upward flow zone includes a perforate baffle, adjacent to the gap, such that there is substantially laminar flow throughout that zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Anglian Water Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin William John Murrer, Philip Peter Butler, Sin-Man Lo
  • Patent number: 5637231
    Abstract: A photocatalytic oxidation and ozone catalyst system utilizes ultraviolet light and ozone in the treatment of waste and wastewater to destroy pathogens and to break down most hydrocarbons and other chemicals into non-hazardous forms. The wastewater enters the system for initial treatment and is also pumped through the venturi loop and is exposed to ultraviolet light. The ozone interacts at the venturi before the ultraviolet light is being used as a catalyst by the ultraviolet light to break apart the double bonds of ketones, aldehydes, esters, and carboxylic acids. Following initial treatment, the wastewater is pumped into the pressurized ozone enhancement vessel where vapor oxidation of the polluting chemicals occurs. The enhancement vessel comprises a liquid spray component and a series of ozone resonator plates having ozone distribution manifolds that spray the wastewater with ozone. The plates have angular channels formed therein through which the wastewater passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Huron Valley Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Hill, Frederick J. Hoitash
  • Patent number: 5514267
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a gas with a liquid and for dissolving the gas in the liquid comprises a throttled section (12) formed in a fluid flow passage, a gas inlet (18) provided slightly downstream of the throttled section (12), a widened section (16) which is continuous with the throttled section (12), a mixing section (20) provided downstream of the widened section (16), for mixing the gas introduced from the gas inlet (18) with the liquid in the fluid flow passage, and a nozzle section (24) provided on the outlet of the mixing section (20) for outputting the liquid with the gas dissolved therein. The gas is dissolved in the liquid in the mixing section by pressurizing the liquid in the mixing section. The apparatus is useful for dissolving ozone into a liquid, for dispersing bubbles in a liquid and for floating small particles in a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Idec Izumi Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Machiya, Kimio Hirasawa, Tokio Hori, Masakazu Kashiwa, Takayuki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 5494589
    Abstract: A generally columnar chamber for uniformly mixing a gas, such as ozone, into a liquid, such as water. The mixing chamber is assembled from a series of round tray sections each having an outer and an inner helical conduit sections and a central vertical tube section. The trays are stacked and secured together to form a continuous outer helix, inner helix and central column. A port at the bottom of the column directs liquid into the outer helical conduit spiraling up to the top of the column where a crossover port directs the liquid into the inner helical conduit downwardly to a cylindrical sump. The outlet of the inner helix into the sump is angled so as to create a vortex in the sump, forcing heavy particles outwardly to the sump wall. Heavy particles are allowed to migrate down the wall to a collection region at the bottom of the sump for later removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventors: Jack F. Moorehead, Michael Maung, Gabor L. Sonyey
  • Patent number: 5458789
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for removing relatively low levels of components, particularly organic components found in an aqueous stream in one or more stripping zones located in a process unit. An eductor means extending into each stripping zone is used to provide micro-fine gas bubbles which will dissolve the volatile components and carry them from the aqueous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventors: J. Rodney Dickerson, Paul C. Broussard, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5431861
    Abstract: An ejector-type gas nozzle 17 including a liquid nozzle and a gas nozzle is used. Raw material water A in ozone reaction tank 1 is pumped and pressurized by pump 19 to use it circulatingly as water jet A of the ejector gas nozzle 17. The liquid nozzle of ejector-type gas nozzle 17 introduces the water jet A into the raw material water A in the ozone reaction tank 1. Ozone gas is sucked by negative pressure to be generated along the stream of water jet A so that it is injected into the raw material water A from the gas nozzle of ejector-type gas nozzle 17 as fine gas bubbles. A high concentration ozone water solution is produced by dissolving ozone into the raw material water A due to the gas-liquid reaction between the ozone fine gas bubbles and the raw material water A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Jinzo Nagahiro
    Inventors: Jinzo Nagahiro, Ken Higuchi, Yasunori Ohama
  • Patent number: 5404732
    Abstract: An automatic clothes washing machine includes an outer housing, a tub mounted in the housing, and a perforated basket mounted in the tub. An ozone generator generates ozone which is conducted to water in the tub for sterilizing, bleaching and deodorizing clothes being washed. The ozone is conducted through a double-wall pipe to a perforated ozone distributor disposed between the tub and basket. The ozone generator comprises a flexible tube which is intermittently compressed by an electromagnetically controlled actuator for directing air toward an ozone-producing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 5403473
    Abstract: A generally columnar chamber for uniformly mixing a gas, such as ozone, into a liquid, such as water. The mixing chamber is assembled from a series of round tray sections each having an outer and an inner helical conduit sections and a central vertical tube section. The trays are stacked and secured together to form a continuous outer helix, inner helix and central column. A port at the bottom of the column directs liquid into the outer helical conduit spiraling up to the top of the column where a crossover port directs the liquid into the inner helical conduit downwardly to a cylindrical sump. The outlet of the inner helix into the sump is angled so as to create a vortex in the sump, forcing heavy particles outwardly to the sump wall. Heavy particles are allowed to migrate down the wall to a collection region at the bottom of the sump for later removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Automatic Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack F. Moorehead, Michael Maung, Gabor L. Sonyey
  • Patent number: 5399261
    Abstract: An installation for the treatment of a flow of liquids, notably potable water or effluents, installation of the type wherein the liquids are put into contact with a treatment gas during a pre-determined treatment period, the installation comprising means for the addition of the treatment gas to the flow of liquids so as to form a homogeneous two-phase treatment medium, means for the forced dissolution of the treatment gas in the flow of liquids to be treated cooperating with means for the degassing of the two-phase treatment medium so as to produce a monophase treatment medium and contactor means providing for a plug flow of the degassed monophase treatment medium during the pre-determined treatment period. A particular exemplary application of the installation is to the ozonation of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Gie Anjou-Recherche
    Inventors: Nathalie Martin, Michel Faivre, Marie-Marguerite Bourbigot
  • Patent number: 5397480
    Abstract: Aqueous streams are purified by use of ozone in one or more purification zones wherein the ozone is drawn from one purification zone to another by use of one or more eductors in each purification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventor: J. Rodney Dickerson
  • Patent number: 5356569
    Abstract: Apparatus for aerating a pool of liquid has a hollow, rotatable drive shaft journaled for rotation about an axis and coupled at one end to a driving motor. A propeller is mounted at the other end of the drive shaft. The propeller has a plurality of hollow blades in communication with an internal aerating fluid passage in the drive shaft. A plurality of air inlets is provided in the drive shaft and at least one outlet port is provided in each blade at the zone of highest negative pressure resulting from rotation of the blade in the liquid. The drive shaft automatically is movable from a dry-docked position in which the shaft is out of the liquid to an operating position in which the propeller blades are immersed in the liquid. A seal is provided between the propeller and the shaft journal to protect the latter against exposure to the liquid. The shaft is continuously pressurized between the journal and the seal to prevent liquid from passing through the seal should the seal become worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Von Berg
  • Patent number: 5336399
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying and activating water is provided. The apparatus comprises a drive shaft having a hollow inside, a capsule secured to a lower end of the drive shaft, a device for supporting the drive shaft for rotation so that an upper opening of the drive shaft is positioned above the surface of water and the capsule is positioned in the water, and a motor for rotationally driving the drive shaft, the capsule including a plurality of small apertures communicating with the hollow inside of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Takekazu Kajisono
  • Patent number: 5314076
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a preferred application for the treatment of stored, waste or filtered water by the transfer of an oxidizing gas into this water. In this case, it has the functions of a turbojet with mass transfer. The installation is constituted by a vessel comprising two concentric parallel chambers communicating with each other at least by their ends,and the central chamber is provided, firstly, at least with two turbines arranged in stages, the rotational axis of which is the same as the axis of symmetry of the installation and, secondly, structures forming counter-blades placed in an alternating position with the turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Gie Anjou-Recherche
    Inventors: Christian La Place, Nathalie Martin, M. Michel Faivre
  • Patent number: 5302298
    Abstract: A process and an installation for treating liquids, which are charged with pollutants that are difficult to break down, by means of wet oxidation with ozone-containing gas and UV radiation. The installation comprises injectors by means of which ozone-containing gas produced in an ozone generator can be passed into the liquid. The liquid is then introduced into a reaction and degasification vessel, before it passes through the UV irradiation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Wedeco Umwelttechnologien Wasser Boden Luft GmbH
    Inventor: Ortwin Leitzke
  • Patent number: 5300261
    Abstract: Apparatus for aerating a pool of liquid has a hollow, rotatable drive shaft journaled for rotation about an axis and coupled at one end to a driving motor. A propeller is mounted at the other end of the drive shaft. The propeller has a plurality of hollow blades in communication with an internal aerating fluid passage in the drive shaft. A plurality of air inlets is provided in the drive shaft and at least one outlet port is provided in each blade at the zone of highest negative pressure resulting from rotation of the blade in the liquid. The drive shaft automatically is movable from a dry-docked position in which the shaft is out of the liquid to an operating position in which the propeller blades are immersed in the liquid. A seal is provided between the propeller and the shaft journal to protect the latter against exposure to the liquid. The shaft is continuously pressurized between the journal and the seal to prevent liquid from passing through the seal should the seal become worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Von Berg
  • Patent number: 5288461
    Abstract: Contaminants in an aqueous stream are oxidized with minimal use of an added oxidant by diffusing the oxidant through a fixed porous element followed by cyclical photolytic treatment of the stream with at least two different wavelengths of light. The porous element is preferably formed in one piece of a durable sintered ceramic material. The photolytic treatment preferably involves the sequential use of ultraviolet light having two different wavelengths, by which complementary oxidizing reactions occur within the stream being decontaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Buddy D. Gray
  • Patent number: 5190648
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying a reservoir of water is disclosed employing an elongated lift tube suspended in a water tank for conveying water from and into the reservoir and introducing an air stream containing ozone in the bottom of the lift tube for causing passage of water through a filter into the lift tube upward movement of the water in the lift tube for purifying the water. Magnets (448) with their north poles facing one another are placed on opposite sides of the water received in the lift tube and ozone is diverted into water that is pumped into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Inventor: Larry R. Ramsauer
  • Patent number: 5186841
    Abstract: The invention relates to injecting ozone through at least one injecting means operating with a pressure drop of at least about 35 psi into a pressurized stream of aqueous solution, allowing the ozone injected stream to travel or flow at a velocity of at least about 7 feet per second for a distance sufficient to dissolve at least about 70% of the ozone injected and mixing the resulting ozonated stream with an aqueous stream solution to be ozonated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Schick
  • Patent number: 5145585
    Abstract: A method for treating water in a cooling system including a cooling tower and heat exchanger are disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of removing water from the main cooling water circuit, serially subjecting the water to magnetic treatment, treatment with ozone, filtering with a centrifugal separator, and then returning to the main cooling water circuit. Underflow from the centrifugal separator is filtered with a bag filter, and the filtered water returned to the magnetic treatment step. The pH of the water may be controlled by regulating the production of dry air supplied to the ozone generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Alden L. Coke
  • Patent number: 5087466
    Abstract: A process for treating animal flesh to remove color and odor. The flesh is mixed with water, then the mixture of flesh and water is placed in contact with ozone for a length of time to remove color and odor from the flesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Compagnie des Eaux et de L'Ozone
    Inventors: Louis Coudrains, Emmanuel Starck
  • Patent number: 5053140
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for using the apparatus for removing fat, bacteria, solids and other impurities from water used in food processing so that substantially all the water may be reused includes a tower. The water is passed through a coarse filter to remove large pieces and is then introduced into the tower near the top thereof and flows out the tower near the bottom thereof. A mixture of ozone and air is introduced at the bottom of the tower and bubbled up through the tower, counter to the flow of the water. The ozone and water mixture carries impurities, especially the fat, over the top of the tower as a foam. The foam then flows over the tower into a waste drain. The process and apparatus may be varied to include a second tower unit with an alternative intermediate filter unit between the first tower and second tower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: American Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Hurst
  • Patent number: 5043104
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing gas absorptiion in a liquid includes, in a first embodiment, gas injection airfoils at an inlet of an extended vertical tube and a pump at an outlet of the tube for drawing the liquid at a rate greater than the rise rate of the gas bubbles. An outlet of the pump preferrably includes a plurality of outlet nozzles. A second embodiment for use with a liquid or slurry includes a venturi gas inlet in place of the airfoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Barrett Haentjens & Co.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stirling
  • Patent number: 5006761
    Abstract: An arrangement for transporting air with the aid of an electric ion wind comprises a corona electrode (K) and a target electrode (M) located downstream of the corona electrode. A d.c. voltage source (3) has its terminals connected to the corona electrode and the target electrode, respectively, so that a corona discharge is generated at the corona electrode. The corona electrode (K) includes one or more wirelike electrode elements (4) located adjacent the symmetry axis of the air-flow path (1) and having, as seen in a direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis, an extension which is substantially much smaller than the cross dimension of the airflow path. The wirelike electrode elements (4) lack free, unattached ends at which the field strength exceeds the field strength at the peripheral surface of the electrode elements, thereby avoiding punctiform corona-discharge concentrations and confining the corona discharge to the peripheral surface of the electrode elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Astra-Vent AB
    Inventors: Vilmos Torok, Andrzej Loreth
  • Patent number: 4992216
    Abstract: Flowing an ozone-containing gas through one passage which is either the space between an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube or the space in the inner tube, and flowing an aqueous liquid through the passage, which the ozone-containing gas is not flowing through, provides aqueous ozone solutions of high concentration and purity provided that the inner tube possesses a number of pores with an average diameter of 2 to 4 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ise Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Saita, Hisayuki Kawano, Takeshi Utsuki
  • Patent number: 4992169
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ozone generating apparatus most suitable for use for a water quality improving apparatus by which the amount of oxygen dissolved in water is increased, and chlorine or carcinogenic noxious substances such as trihalomethanes contained in city water are decomposed.In the present invention, a ultraviolet generating means is formed in a container body, a pipe member is arranged to extend through said container body, and a part of the pipe member that is located in said container body is formed with a plurality of hole members thereby allowing the ozone generated by the ultraviolet generating means to be sucked through the hole members and to be transported.Projections for reducing the pipe cross sectional area are formed on the inner wall of the pipe member adjacent to the holes to extend in the direction from the connection of the pipe member with a gas supplying means toward the hole members, so that the sucking force of ozone can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Nature Roman Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Tooru Izumiya
  • Patent number: 4967119
    Abstract: An arrangement for transporting air with the aid of so-called ion-wind which includes at least one corona electrode and at least one target electrode is shown and described. The corona electrode is a thin wire electrode passing from one side of a duct to another, and the target electrode has a shape such that the distance between the corona electrode and the target electrode is less in the region of the corona electrode ends than in the corona electrode middle. This placement of the electrodes closer together at the ends of the wire electrode provides a uniform corona current over the whole length of the elongated corona electrode which provides the most uniform air flow over the entire cross-sectional area of the duct in which the electrodes are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Astra-Vent AB
    Inventors: Vilmos Torok, Andrzej Loreth
  • Patent number: 4959142
    Abstract: To sterilize and purify continuously water in a water tank, a water treating apparatus is provided that comprises a circulating type water pipe for taking the water in the water tank outside the water tank and then for returning the water into the water tank, and an ozone supply apparatus, a filtering apparatus, and an ultraviolet-light irradiating apparatus that are situated in the course of the water pipe, so that water can be sterilized and purified thoroughly by a three-stage treatment incluing "an ozone treatment" wherein the decomposition of organic substances, deodorization and inactivation of microorganisms by ozone can be expected, "a filtering treatment" wherein the elimination of foreign matters and microorganisms can be expected, "an ultraviolet treatment" wherein the sterilization by ultraviolet rays can be expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignees: Aoi Fukuda, Kiyoko Suzuki
    Inventor: Fumio Dempo
  • Patent number: 4900481
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a decompression chamber is provided in a water flow pipe and an ozonizer chamber of an ozonizer part is integrally connected with the water flow pipe to communicate with the decompression chamber, to thereby define a body. Thus, an apparatus is compactly finished while operation for assembling the apparatus is simplified. A check valve is provided between the decompression chamber and the ozonizer chamber to prevent water in the decompression chamber from flowing into the ozonizer chamber upon stoppage of water-supply to the inlet. Thus, counterflow of the water in the decompression chamber into the ozonizer chamber is prevented, so that danger of an electric shock is reduced, to thereby ensure safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Takashi Kishioka