Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high humidity ozone gas. Systems and methods for applying high humidity ozone gas to foodstuffs and/or other products as an antimicrobial treatment. Compressed air and dry ozone gas are combined, thereby providing a dry mix. A portion of the dry mix can be humidified in a humidifying chamber, thereby providing a wet mix. The wet mix can be combined with a portion of the dry mix, thereby providing humid ozonated air. The humid ozonated air can be applied to foodstuffs such as produce, as an antimicrobial treatment, as the foodstuffs are conveyed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high humidity ozone gas. Systems and methods for applying high humidity ozone gas to foodstuffs and/or other products as an antimicrobial treatment. Compressed air and dry ozone gas are combined, thereby providing a dry mix. A portion of the dry mix can be humidified in a humidifying chamber, thereby providing a wet mix. The wet mix can be combined with a portion of the dry mix, thereby providing humid ozonated air. The humid ozonated air can be applied to foodstuffs such as produce, as an antimicrobial treatment, as the foodstuffs are conveyed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high humidity ozone gas. Systems and methods for applying high humidity ozone gas to foodstuffs and/or other products as an antimicrobial treatment. Compressed air and dry ozone gas are combined, thereby providing a dry mix. A portion of the dry mix can be humidified in a humidifying chamber, thereby providing a wet mix. The wet mix can be combined with a portion of the dry mix, thereby providing humid ozonated air. The humid ozonated air can be applied to foodstuffs such as produce, as an antimicrobial treatment, as the foodstuffs are conveyed.

Abstract: A high-humidity and ozonated air storage system can inhibit mold growth in mass foodstuff storage while also preventing dehydration loss. The present system and method can operate at a higher humidity and temperature than conventional methods and allows for antimicrobial ozone treatment to be applied to foodstuffs in via a storage environment. In some embodiments, humidity can be controlled so that it is approximately equal to the moisture content of produce stored within a main storage area. In such embodiments, this can mitigate water loss from the produce via osmosis to the environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dissolving ozone gas in a liquid. An embodiment can comprise a tank having an upper region, a lower region, and a discharge outlet, all disposed in a specified geometry. A pump can be coupled with a liquid inlet in order to receive a liquid therefrom and to deliver the liquid via a pipe to the upper region of the tank. The pump can be coupled with the lower region of the tank in order to receive the liquid from the tank and to recirculate the liquid to the upper region of the tank. The apparatus can include an ozone inlet to receive ozone into the tank. The ozone inlet can comprise a venturi inlet disposed on the pipe downstream of the pump. The liquid can be released from the tank and depressurized, thereby providing for the ozone to emerge from the liquid as gas bubbles. The released liquid can be selected for a two-stage gas and aqueous cleaning process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high humidity ozone gas. Systems and methods for applying high humidity ozone gas to foodstuffs and/or other products as an antimicrobial treatment. Compressed air and dry ozone gas are combined, thereby providing a dry mix. A portion of the dry mix can be humidified in a humidifying chamber, thereby providing a wet mix. The wet mix can be combined with a portion of the dry mix, thereby providing humid ozonated air. The humid ozonated air can be applied to foodstuffs such as produce, as an antimicrobial treatment, as the foodstuffs are conveyed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dissolving ozone gas in a liquid. An embodiment can comprise a tank having an upper region, a lower region, and a discharge outlet, all disposed in a specified geometry. A pump can be coupled with a liquid inlet in order to receive a liquid therefrom and to deliver the liquid via a pipe to the upper region of the tank. The pump can be coupled with the lower region of the tank in order to receive the liquid from the tank and to recirculate the liquid to the upper region of the tank. The apparatus can include an ozone inlet to receive ozone into the tank. The ozone inlet can comprise a venturi inlet disposed on the pipe downstream of the pump. The liquid can be released from the tank and depressurized, thereby providing for the ozone to emerge from the liquid as gas bubbles. The released liquid can be selected for a two-stage gas and aqueous cleaning process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high humidity ozone gas. Systems and methods for applying high humidity ozone gas to foodstuffs and/or other products as an antimicrobial treatment. Compressed air and dry ozone gas are combined, thereby providing a dry mix. A portion of the dry mix can be humidified in a humidifying chamber, thereby providing a wet mix. The wet mix can be combined with a portion of the dry mix, thereby providing humid ozonated air. The humid ozonated air can be applied to foodstuffs such as produce, as an antimicrobial treatment, as the foodstuffs are conveyed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dissolving ozone gas in a liquid. An embodiment can comprise a tank having an upper region, a lower region, and a discharge outlet, all disposed in a specified geometry. A pump can be coupled with a liquid inlet in order to receive a liquid therefrom and to deliver the liquid via a pipe to the upper region of the tank. The pump can be coupled with the lower region of the tank in order to receive the liquid from the tank and to recirculate the liquid to the upper region of the tank. The apparatus can include an ozone inlet to receive ozone into the tank. The ozone inlet can comprise a venturi inlet disposed on the pipe downstream of the pump. The liquid can be released from the tank and depressurized, thereby providing for the ozone to emerge from the liquid as gas bubbles. The released liquid can be selected for a two-stage gas and aqueous cleaning process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dissolving ozone gas in a liquid. An embodiment can comprise a tank having an upper region, a lower region, and a discharge outlet, all disposed in a specified geometry. A pump can be coupled with a liquid inlet in order to receive a liquid therefrom and to deliver the liquid via a pipe to the upper region of the tank. The pump can be coupled with the lower region of the tank in order to receive the liquid from the tank and to recirculate the liquid to the upper region of the tank. The apparatus can include an ozone inlet to receive ozone into the tank. The ozone inlet can comprise a venturi inlet disposed on the pipe downstream of the pump. The liquid can be released from the tank and depressurized, thereby providing for the ozone to emerge from the liquid as gas bubbles. The released liquid can be selected for a two-stage gas and aqueous cleaning process.

Abstract: Nuts, grains, seeds and other dry or dried foodstuffs are disinfected by a process that entails infusion with gaseous ozone and treatment with liquid non-ozone disinfectant, each treatment being preceded by a decompression of the foodstuffs to a pressure below atmospheric and each treatment utilizing an inert gas to achieve the exposure to the treatment agents at a pressure above atmospheric. The process achieves control of infestations at substantially all stages of the life cycle of pests, bacteria, and mold byproducts with which the product may be infested, and can do so in less than an hour.

Abstract: A system for generating ozone by corona discharge comprises a corona discharge ozone generating cell. A downstream pressure regulator is disposed downstream and coupled to the corona discharge ozone generating cell for setting and automatically maintaining a desired cell pressure for the ozone generating cell so that effects of variances caused by processing of the ozone-containing gas downstream of the ozone generating cell on ozone production by the ozone generating cell are eliminated or at least minimized. A flow control orifice is provided upstream of the ozone generating cell for controlling the flow of incoming gas to the ozone generating cell for producing the ozone-containing gas. An upstream pressure regulator is provided upstream of the ozone generating cell for maintaining an inlet pressure of the incoming gas entering the ozone generating cell.

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.

Abstract: Ozone generation cells using corona discharge to convert molecular oxygen to ozone are cooled by thermoelectric cooling devices clamped between the outer surface of the cell and a heat sink. The heat sink is preferably a finned structure permitting heat dissipation by air passing between the fins, avoiding the need for water cooling of the cell.

Abstract: Gas injected into a liquid flowing through a pipeline is sheared to increase the interfacial surface area by a shearing element which consists of an elongate body which can be placed directly inside the conduit, the element having baffles transverse to its center axis, the baffles being apertured with holes less than about 0.5 cm in diameter. In preferred embodiments, the baffles define a series of zig-zag flow paths which promote turbulent flow while also urging the gas bubbles into and through the apertures. The bubbles are thus sheared and agitated at the same time.

Abstract: Biological decontamination and the avoidance of accumulation of dissolved solids are both achieved in captured and recirculated water systems by a continuously operating system involving the use of a chemical filtration unit, removal of dissolved solids as they are concentrated at the filtration unit, a disinfectant treatment, and the protection of the chemical filtration unit from degradation by the disinfectant where necessary.

Abstract: An ozone generation cell operating by corona discharge in an annular passage with regions of corona discharge alternating with corona-free regions where cooling takes place is improved by the incorporation of corrugated, deformable heat transfer walls in the corona-free regions. These corrugated walls impart flexibility to the structure, and thereby relieve the strain on the structural components. This permits the heat transfer wall, which is the outer of the two cylinders defining the annular passage, to center the inner of the two cylinders inside it and thus achieve a more uniform gap width in the corona regions. This is of value since the inner cylinder is preferably made of a ceramic material and not perfectly straight. The corrugations also promote turbulent flow in both the coolant medium and the gas mixture in which the ozone is generated.

Abstract: Ozone is added to captured water by a method and apparatus which involves corona discharge into an oxygen-containing gas in regions in a generator which alternate with regions where the newly formed ozone is cooled. The alternating corona and cooling regions permit the ozone to form without being thermally decomposed as soon as it is formed. Also disclosed is an overall system and method of controlling the level of dissolved ozone in a body of captured water which modulates the output of an ozone generator in accordance with readings of oxidation-reduction potential in the water.

Abstract: A transducer for measuring gravital fluid flow includes a composite weir member having a downstream Palmer-Bowlus flume section and an upstream uniform channel section. A flexible sealed envelope partially filled with dielectric fluid is disposed in the bottom of the uniform channel, and is in open flow communication with a sealed vertical column secured to the channel wall. A pair of capacitive probe electrodes are disposed within the column and the envelope. Fluid pressure of the liquid flowing in the weir forces the dielectric fluid up into the column, thereby altering the capacitive coupling of the electrodes in a manner which is a direct function of the amount of fluid flow in the weir.