Abstract: A method of continuously treating a substance in the form of divided solids, includes the steps of introducing the substance into an enclosure in which there exists an ozonated atmosphere under pressure, conveying the substance in the enclosure with a continuous movement in such a manner that the substance is located continuously in the ozonated atmosphere while it is being conveyed in the enclosure, the substance being conveyed by a conveyor screw ounted to rotate inside the enclosure about a given axis, and unloading the substance from the enclosure via the outlet after a single passage of the substance through the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for skinning wheat grains and to the products obtained with said process, namely skinned wheat grains and the separated outer skin fragments. It also concerns a specific installation to implement this process. The wheat grain skinning process of the invention notably comprises the following steps: a) cleaning the raw wheat grains; b) moistening the cleaned wheat grains; c) contacting the wheat grains with ozone, after or at the time as their moistening at step b); d) separating the detached outer skin fragments from the mass of grains partly or wholly skinned at step c).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a new method for kneading dough containing soft wheat flour, conducted in the presence of ozone and using at least one mechanical agitator (“fraser”). The dough so produced may be used to manufacture finished cereal bakery products such as loaves or related products (raised pizza dough for example). A further object of the invention is new kneading devices adapted for kneading in the presence of ozone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the ozone treatment of unground plant materials such as wheat grains. According to the invention, this process consists in allowing the plant material to stand for at least one day after a prehumidification followed by an ozonization involving a complementary humidification that adds from 3 to 10% by weight of water, based on the dry weight of the plant material. This process is applied especially to wheat grains. In this case, a process according to the invention that enables the ozone to reach the core of the grains is carried out in order to manufacture so-called “technological” flours. The physical and chemical properties of such flours, observed as a function of the parameters of the ozonization process, are presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of lignocellulosic substrates having a high digestibility. This process consists in bringing said lignocellulosic substrates, which have been ground beforehand and optionally moistened in the case of dry substrates, in a stirred reactor, into contact with ozone produced from a carrier gas, the ozone being present in the carrier gas in a concentration of between 80 and 200 g/m3 NTP, with a residence time of between 8 and 40 min in said reactor.

Abstract: A method for improving the germination of seeds or the growth of bulbs in which, prior to planting, the seeds or bulbs are placed into contact with gaseous ozone and the residual moisture content of the seeds or bulbs is adjusted before or simultaneously with the ozone contact to a value in the range of 5 to 60% by weight. The seeds or bulbs produced thereby are suitable for storage without any additional drying step.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of energy from an ozone production unit including an ozone generator supplied with gas from pretreatment units and using ozone produced thereby to treat water. Heat released from the pretreatment units and the ozone generator is collected by a first fluid circulating in a first closed fluid circuit. The first fluid is passed in heat exchange relationship with a second closed fluid circuit having a second fluid. The second fluid is also passed in heat exchange relationship with a third closed fluid circulating circuit having a third fluid. The ozone produced by the ozone generator is used to treat water in a water treatment facility. Any residual ozone being transferred to an ozone destroying reactor which employs the third fluid as a heat exchange medium for destroying the residual ozone.

Abstract: A power supply for an ozone generator utilizes a magnetic-leakage type step-up transformer in series with a saturable core inductor which are connected in series across a low voltage AC source. The secondary of the transformer is connected to the ozone generator and the inductor has a control winding which is connected to a continuous (i.e. DC) current source whose value controls the inductance of the inductor. Since the voltage of the low voltage AC source is divided between the inductor and the transformer, the DC current effectively controls the magnitude of the voltage across the transformer primary and thereby controls the high AC voltage supplied to the ozone generator.

Abstract: An outer tubular electrode is adapted to be connected to a first terminal of a high voltage AC source. A dielectric tube is positioned within the outer tubular electrode and is spaced therefrom to form a discharge gap. The dielectric tube has a closed first end and an open second end. An electrically conductive layer, for example of metal, covers the major portion of the inner surface of the dielectric tube. An electrically conductive cap, for example of metal, includes a partial spherical portion, a conical portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is in contact with the electrically conductive layer adjacent the open second end of the dielectric tube. The partial spherical portion of the cap has a concave surface which faces the interior of the dielectric tube. The partial spherical portion is connected to a second terminal of the high voltage AC source, such that the cap and the layer form an inner electrode.