EP1507743A1

EP1507743A1 - Method for operating an ozone generator and corresponding ozone generator

Info

Publication number: EP1507743A1
Application number: EP03720229A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hanns Rump; Carsten Supply; Reiner Preuss; Reinhard Patzer; Jessica Gerhart
Original assignee: Tem GmbH
Current assignee: Automotive AG
Priority date: 2002-03-21
Filing date: 2003-03-21
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: WO2003080507A1; AU2003223890A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an ozone/oxygen ion/oxygen atom generator comprising a control circuit-controlled gas discharge module (2) for generating dielectrically hindered discharges with two electrodes (2A,2B), a dielectric and a discharge path subjected to an oxygen-containing atmosphere, wherein an alternating current or a pulsing direct current generated by a high voltage generator is applied to the electrodes at predetermined time intervals, whereby electrical discharges generating ozone/oxygen ion/oxygen atoms are provoked in the discharge path, in which, in average, a given individual amount (Mo) of ozone/oxygen ion/oxygen atoms is produced. The invention is characterized in that the number of electrical discharges per time unit is continuously determined and the ozone/oxygen ion/oxygen atom generator is controlled by means of the control circuit in a closed control circuit in accordance with a comparison with a set number of electrical discharges.

Description

Method of operating an ozone generator and ozone generator

The invention relates to a method for operating an ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen atom generator serving to generate oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air, and to such an ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen atom generator.

There is often a desire to not only clear the air of dusts and particles in ventilation systems of buildings, vehicles, air conditioning units and motor vehicles as well as in compact air conditioning and air conditioning systems, but also to remove odors and, above all, germs (bacteria and fungi) to free.

The surface of the evaporator and the filters used in vehicles with air conditioning systems are breeding grounds for all kinds of germs and fungi. The bacteria, fungi and germs torn off from the air flow and carried into the cabin or into rooms as well as the metabolic products of the bacteria, fungi and germs are one foul smell and are harmful to health.

DE 199 31 366.0 has proposed a flat assembly with a planar structure which advantageously and long-term stable generates ozone and oxygen ions according to the physical principle of dielectric barrier discharge after application of an electrical high-frequency high voltage.

DE 100 13 841.1, for example, specifies a method of keeping the ozone and ion production constant with the aid of an electrical control circuit, because the ozone and ion production is subject to a wide variety of influences and also because the electrical and mechanical values for ozone and Modify assemblies used in ion production. This has an advantageous effect on the ozone and ion production, so that no constant conditions can be achieved without using this invention, which is of concern with the known toxicity of ozone.

From DE 100 58 476.4 it is known to understand the production quantity of ozone and oxygen ions as a function of the air quantity and to act on the ozone and ion generator with signals from the central ventilation control device controlling the fans in such a way that a constant concentration also occurs with different air quantities Ozone and ions are created. This is the prerequisite for a controlled and safe function of the devices, because if the concentration is too low there is no longer any significant effect and because if the ozone concentration is too high, there will be negative effects on the material involved, without the ventilation effect increasing.

DE 196 51 403.7 proposes an ozone and ion generator in the flow direction upstream of the evaporator in air conditioning systems, e.g. Motor vehicles, buildings or compact air conditioning systems to arrange an ozone and ion source and to flow around the humid evaporator with ozone and air ions. Above all, ozone dissolves in the water on the surface of the evaporator and forms hydroradicals, which have an extremely bactericidal and fungicidal effect and have been tested and reliably prevent any biological activity on the surface of the evaporator. In the direction of flow downstream of the evaporator, a catalyst is proposed which breaks down excess ozone into normal diatomic oxygen. This invention is advantageous for the safe, sterile operation of air conditioning systems of all kinds, in particular those in motor vehicles.

In addition, it was proposed in DE 199 33 180.4 to arrange the ozone and ion source in front of the air inlet and in front of the air filter. This air filter is equipped so that excess ozone can be catalytically broken down. The understanding of the complex mechanism of action and in particular the action of ozone dissolved in water (hydroradicals are formed) is important because water is on all surfaces and in all materials and this water with added ozone forms hydroradicals, which are extremely effective against bacteria, Viruses and fungi as well as smells are and because the oxidizing power and thus the bactericidal nature of the monatomic oxygen (0; ι) split off in hydroradicals is much higher than the oxidizing power of ozone O3.

In the abovementioned patent applications, the effect is primarily based on the oxidative chemical effect of tri-atomic and monatomic oxygen.

The proposed solutions to problems make the handling of ozonization devices safer and more predictable.

It is known to ionize air with the aid of high electrical voltages. In principle, ozone is created when there are high-energy discharges in the room (impact ionization). The ionization mostly takes place with the method of the coronary discharge (peak discharge). Fine tips protrude into the air space, which are connected to a high-voltage source. These tips can also be combined into bundles that resemble fine brushes. Metal needles, metal threads, and more recently also electrically conductive plastics are known as materials. Very thin wires are also used as electrodes. The other pole of the high voltage source lies on a large counter electrode. A high electric field is created at the tips. Electrons escape there, which sit on neighboring air molecules or on particles, particles or even bacteria in the air and thus form ions. Airborne particles of all types in particular are preferentially ionized and therefore carry a negative electrical charge. This electrical charge causes the ionized particles to deposit on surfaces (deposition electrode) in order to release the excess electron there.

The result is that the air is freed from particles and germs, which has been used industrially for decades in so-called electrostatic air treatment devices and dedusting systems.

In devices based on the principle of dielectric barrier discharge, such as the Siemens tube known since 1857 (Analen der Physik) or the flat module described in DE 199 31 366.0, both ions and ozone are formed. The chemical reactivity of ozone is higher than the chemical reactivity of oxygen ions. The usefulness of airborne oxygen ions has been described in numerous works and is a principle of nature for cleaning the air from particles as well as for sterilizing air and surfaces. Some studies report that ionized air has a positive effect on the vegetative nervous system of humans and animals. In the experiment it could be demonstrated that the serotonin level in the serum increases under the influence of ionized air.

It has also been medically proven by measuring the oxygen partial pressure in the blood that the oxygen uptake of the blood is sustainably improved if the air contains ionized oxygen.

Since in nature under the influence of, for example, ionizing ultraviolet sunlight, both mono- and tri-atomic ozone and diatomic oxygen ions are always produced, it makes sense to use this highly effective and useful principle of nature technically to process air.

The long-known tip ionization according to the coronary principle has the fundamental disadvantage that the tips are permanently used up during operation and that influences such as air humidity, distance to the counterelectrode fluctuate

Voltage at the electrode influence the efficiency of the ion and ozone Production. In the by-product, coronary discharge always creates ozone. According to the state of the art, controlled, safe and long-term stable operation with devices based on the principle of coronary discharge cannot be guaranteed. This may be the reason why this principle has only proven itself on an industrial scale in systems for dedusting exhaust air (industrial chimneys), because the disadvantages mentioned are not relevant here.

For applications in breathing air treatment devices, there are requirements for air ionization and ozonization devices such as:

• Safe operation, the concentration of ozone must never reach values that are of concern. However, the addition of small amounts of ozone, about 10-15ppb, is quite desirable because nature always knows small amounts of ozone in healthy outside air, which has a beneficial effect on air quality. The ozone concentration must be below the

Odor threshold (about 30-40ppb) and below the US EPA limit of 50ppb already mentioned.

• Controlled generation of large amounts of negative and positive oxygen ions. • Long-term stability and automatic maintenance of production values.

• Controllable according to external influences, such as air volume, air quality.

• The ion and ozone generators have a control circuit between the high-voltage generator and the ion and ozone generator, which is designed as a closed control loop with the purpose of making the selected production quantity long-term and under the influence of e.g. Keep humidity constant.

If it is required in certain applications to produce predominantly active diatomic oxygen ions and to produce only very small quantities in a controlled manner, this is done according to the state of the art Tip ionization method (coronary principle). However, neither long-term stability nor the amounts of ions nor the proportions of ozone can be guaranteed with this technology.

When switching on an AC voltage e.g. a planar flat module according to DE 199 31 366.0, preferably one with a frequency of 20-100KHz and a voltage between 4KV to 6KV, it comes from a certain, depending on the geometry, electrical field strength due to the occurrence of field peaks on the electrodes for the production of negative and positive ions and for the production of ozone.

Electrical discharges occur according to the principle of dielectric barrier discharge. The kinetic energy inherent in the individual discharges, called "filaments", decomposes diatomic oxygen molecules (0 ₂ ) to Oi, which recombine to O3 after a few milliseconds.

A flat assembly with a planar structure is known from DE 199 31 366.0, which advantageously and long-term stable generates ozone and oxygen ions according to the principle of dielectric barrier discharge after application of an electrical high-frequency high voltage. With the help of ozone or active oxygen ions in ventilation systems, gases, vapors, bad smells and germs of all kinds can be destroyed and odors and germs contained in the air can be oxidatively broken down.

Problems arise when operating ozonization devices: conventional electric gas discharge devices, one for generating oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone, are associated with a considerable risk of malfunctions, in particular excessive ozone production. Malfunctions can be caused, for example, by contamination, corrosion, aging, wear, drift or failure of individual, in particular electrical and electronic, components of the gas discharge apparatus. Contamination of the surfaces, Humidity, burn-up and influences of the supply voltage influence or completely prevent ozone production.

A disadvantage of all known embodiments of gas discharge modules is that the excess ozone which arises when the electrical voltage is too high is very undesirable and that the efficiency is inadequate when the electrical voltage is too low. It is problematic that the production amount of ozone has to adapt to the most varied exposures in the air with odorous substances, because there always has to be a certain ratio of ozone to the air-borne, oxidizable air components. If too little ozone is produced, the effect of the system is insufficient. If too much ozone is produced, ozone can overshoot and have a nuisance. In addition, if the electrical voltage is too high, nitrogen oxides that are highly corrosive and harmful to health are produced as a by-product, which lead the air-cleaning effect of these devices to an almost absurd level.

It has thus been demonstrated that the ratio of ozone produced to nitrogen oxides produced in conventional ionization modules, e.g. of classic Siemens tubes, mostly about 10 parts ozone and 1 part nitrogen oxide (10: 1). With the correct selection of the dimensions of the gas discharge module and its constant operation in a narrowly defined working range, this ratio can be improved to values of approx. 50: 1.

This is important for applications in ventilation systems because ozone as such is undesirable in high concentrations and is definitely health-relevant, but in so-called "natural concentrations" of approx. 50-200ppb (i.e. concentrations such as those found in the mountains or on the See also occur naturally) without negative sensations and is readily accepted physiologically. If nitrogen oxide is added to this "pure ozone", the physiological acceptance changes immediately. Because ozone contaminated with nitrogen oxide leads to concentrations well below 100ppb severe irritation to the connective tissue, especially the eyes, neck and nose. It is therefore important that the ionization modules are constructed and controlled electrically so that the proportion of nitrogen oxides in the ozone production is as small as possible.

A disadvantage in the aforementioned sense in conventional ionization devices is that their action, e.g. the ratio of the amount of ozone produced to the amount of nitrogen oxide produced, which is strongly influenced by numerous factors. For example, when replacing the gas discharge module due to design-related tolerances, specimen scatter, the size of the high voltage must be readjusted by an external intervention and the effect, i.e. the ozone production and possibly the nitrogen oxide production, must be re-measured. Such measures are also necessary to counteract the aging effects of the gas discharge module, e.g. to compensate for the erosion of the electrodes, as well as changes in the condition, composition, relative humidity and flow rate of the gas.

In order to compensate for these disadvantages, sensor-controlled systems are known which keep the operation of the systems constant in a defined, favorable range. It is known to provide an ozone sensor in the direction of flow behind the gas discharge module, the signal of which is fed to the high-voltage generator via a controller in such a way that increasing ozone production results in a reduced electrical voltage, which as a result leads to a uniform and never too high ozone level. It is disadvantageous that precise and long-term stable ozone measuring devices are very expensive and inexpensive sensors in the required concentration ranges of less than δOppb are unreliable.

It is also proposed in the prior art, in the flow direction before

Gas discharge module to arrange a suitable sensor that detects the flow rate, the humidity and the concentrations of oxidizable air components. A control unit evaluates these sensor signals so that the ionization capacity is increased if

• the air humidity increases,

• the concentration of pollutants in the air increases,

• the amount of air or the flow rate increases or vice versa. These methods are complex and generate high costs.

If, according to the teaching of DE 10013 841.1 and DE 100 04326.7 and DE 101 180 78.0, a control voltage is obtained from the high-frequency and high-energy, selectively decoupled filament discharge pulses, the operating point of an ionization device can be selected according to the principle of dielectric barrier discharge so that a Maximum ionization takes place, and that such a small amount of ozone is produced that, on the one hand, the sterilizing and deodorizing effect of ozone is used without the ozone becoming smellable or limit values being exceeded. Problems arise when operating ozonization devices. Conventional electrical gas discharge apparatuses for generating oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone are associated with a considerable risk of malfunctions, in particular excessive ozone production. Malfunctions can e.g. caused by dirt, corrosion, aging, wear, drift or failure of individual, in particular electrical and electronic components of the gas discharge apparatus. Soiling of the surfaces, air humidity, burn-up and influences of the supply voltage influence or completely prevent ozone production.

If, for example, such a gas discharge apparatus is to be used for air treatment in a motor vehicle or in a closed room, there is a considerable risk, for example, of an overproduction of ozone. Too little production of oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone is also undesirable since in this case there is no longer sufficient air treatment. In certain cases, too little production of oxygen ions or oxygen atoms or ozone can be harmful or dangerous, for example then when such heavily polluted breathing air, which can no longer be breathed, is processed by such gas discharge apparatuses. In particular, such malfunctions can also occur gradually. Without regular, expensive maintenance and control measures, there is a high probability in conventional gas discharge apparatuses that such malfunctions remain unnoticed for a long time. In the automotive application, for example, no maintenance is possible or desired.

Technical task:

The invention is based on the object of providing a method for operating an ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen atom generator and an ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen atom generator with which small effective amounts of ozone can be generated in a targeted manner without exceeding limit values ,

Good protection against malfunctions should preferably also be present.

In the automotive application of ozonization devices e.g. the function should be reliable over the entire service life of approx. 4000h.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to claim 1. The generation of ozone can be precisely regulated without additional sensors because the number of discharges allows a direct conclusion to be drawn about the amount of ozone being formed.

Further advantageous configurations can be found in the following claims.

An essential aspect of the invention is that a comparison of the number of discharges actually taking place over a closed controlled system a predetermined target number takes place. This target number can be changed from outside. This change can take place in particular via an interface, in particular also analogously or by means of a time-dependent function.

It is particularly advantageous that the proposed method can produce ozone in the smallest quantities and yet very precisely, which on the one hand provides the air-purifying function of the ozone and on the other hand does not exceed legal limit values.

The proposed measures make the process intrinsically safe and prevent uncontrollable ozone production from occurring if the device malfunctions.

The invention also encompasses a method for operating an electrical gas discharge apparatus which is used to generate oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air and which has a gas discharge module, in particular one for dielectric barrier discharge, with two electrodes, between which there is a feed line and one Return line, a high voltage generated by a high voltage generator is applied at least temporarily, which is an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage and which generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the supply line, the gas discharge module and the return line, and discharge pulses arise from the gas discharge, the latter of which each generates a radiation flash and a current pulse, the current pulses superimposing the current as current pulses or noise and with each discharge pulse on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone and possibly of acid Material ions and oxygen atoms are generated, and a switching signal that switches off the high voltage of the high-voltage generator and / or triggers a fault message is generated when - either the current pulses or radiation flashes that occur within a predetermined counting period are counted by a counting circuit are and the count result is smaller or larger than a predetermined comparison number, first condition, or the current pulses or the noise generate a pulse signal and this is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the pulse signal is smaller or larger than a predetermined threshold value, second

Condition.

The invention also encompasses a method for operating an electrical gas discharge apparatus which is used to generate oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air and which has a gas discharge module, in particular one for dielectric barrier discharge, with two electrodes, between which one has a feed line and a return line high voltage generated by a high-voltage generator is applied at least temporarily, which is an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage and which generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the supply line, the gas discharge module and the return line, and discharge pulses are generated by the gas discharge, each of which produces a discharge pulse Radiation flash and a current pulse are generated, the current pulses superimposing the current as current pulses or noise and with each discharge pulse on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone and possibly Sauerst ions and oxygen atoms, and a switching signal is generated when either the current pulses or radiation flashes occurring within a predetermined counting period are counted by a counting circuit and the counting result is smaller or greater than a predetermined one

Comparison number, first condition, or the current pulses or the noise generate a pulse signal and this is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the pulse signal is smaller or greater than a predetermined threshold value, second condition, wherein the number of trips of the switching signal is counted and the switching signal is then reset after a predetermined holding period after its trip, if the number of trips does not exceed a certain limit value, and is no longer reset and the high voltage of the high-voltage generator is switched off and / or Fault message is triggered when the number of trips exceeds the limit.

In this variant, a single triggering of the switching signal does not yet result in the high voltage being switched off. Rather, this switching signal is reset when the high voltage is still switched on. The high voltage is only switched off after the switching signal has been triggered several times. According to a further variant, the high voltage is only switched off if the switching signal has been triggered several times within a predetermined period of time.

The invention also comprises a gas discharge apparatus for generating oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air, comprising a gas discharge module, in particular one for dielectric barrier discharge, with two electrodes, between which, at least temporarily, a high voltage generated by a high-voltage generator via a supply line and a return line which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and which generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the feed line, the gas discharge module and the return line, through which gas discharge discharge pulses are generated, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse, the Superimpose current impulses on the current as current impulses or noise and with each discharge impulse a certain individual quantity Mo of ozone and possibly of oxygen ions and oxygen atoms is created on average and the gas discharge apparatus advice either comprises a counting circuit which is able to count the number of current pulses or radiation flashes occurring during a predetermined counting period and to compare the counting result with a predetermined comparison number and to trigger a switching signal under the condition, first condition, that the counting result is smaller or larger is than the predetermined comparison number, or is able to generate a pulse signal from the current pulses or the noise and to compare this with the aid of a comparison circuit with a predetermined threshold value and to trigger the switching signal under the condition, second condition, that the pulse signal is smaller or is greater than the predefined threshold value, the switching signal being able to switch off the high voltage and / or to issue a fault message.

According to a variant of the invention, for the purpose of monitoring the function of the gas discharge apparatus, either the number of current pulses occurring during the predefined counting period is counted by the counting circuit and the counting result is compared with the predefined comparison number, the switching signal being triggered under the condition, first condition, that the count result is smaller or larger than the predetermined comparison number, or the current pulses or the noise are used to form a pulse signal and this is compared with a predetermined threshold value, the switching signal being triggered under the condition, second condition, that the pulse signal is smaller or larger than the predetermined threshold.

With the aid of the invention, the risk of a malfunction, and in particular the risk of an unnoticed malfunction, is substantially reduced, since malfunctions are determined and lead to the gas discharge switching itself off and / or to the output of a fault message. A gas discharge apparatus according to the invention therefore not only has great security against continued operation despite malfunction, but is also remote diagnostic capability. The malfunction can be reported automatically, for example, via a communication interface, so that the fault message is output via the communication interface.

The current pulses or the noise are preferably generated by a decoupling element e.g. inductively or capacitively decoupled from the forward or return line. For this purpose, the gas discharge apparatus can comprise a decoupling element which is able to transmit the current pulses e.g. Decouple inductively or capacitively from the forward or return line and deliver it via a decoupling output. As an inductive coupling element, e.g. a transformer can be used, the winding of which is interposed in the forward line or in the return line; in this case, the outcoupled current impulses or the outcoupled noise are emitted by the other winding. The transformer can advantageously be designed such that the fundamental frequency of the high voltage does not, or only insignificantly, pass to the second winding, so that the second winding emits a signal which is not or only slightly modulated by the fundamental frequency mentioned.

Due to the need to adjust the ozone concentration in the blown air to one of the American Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA / Environment Protection Agency) and the DIN / EN standard EN 60335-2-65; (1995) to limit the mandatory value so that an ozone level of more than 50ppb can never arise in the rooms thus ventilated, the patent application presented here deals with the beneficial effects of ionized air ions and the technical and safe use of active oxygen ions Compliance with the required limit values.

In the event of malfunctions, this is to be reported automatically, for example via a communication interface, so that it is advantageously possible to dispense with prophylactic routine maintenance of the ozonizing devices. The invention presented here describes an advantageous and safe method which monitors itself and has data consistency in long-term operation.

The invention is based on the knowledge that each discharge pulse generates on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms, so that the amount of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms produced is essentially proportional to the number of discharge pulses. Typically, a few picograms of ozone are generated per discharge pulse, this value of course depending on the geometry of the gas discharge module. The discharge pulses can be counted.

The size of the pulse signal and the number of current pulses occurring during a predetermined counting period are each a measure of the production rate of oxygen ions or oxygen atoms or ozone molecules or ozone ions. An excessively high production rate therefore manifests itself in an excessively large number of discharge pulses per time or in an excessively large pulse signal, an excessively low production rate in an insufficient number of discharge pulses per time or in an excessively small pulse signal. According to the invention, this is used for self-monitoring of the gas discharge apparatus, an excessively high and / or too low production rate leading to the forced shutdown of the high voltage.

The individual discharge pulses are generally of a much shorter duration than the half-waves of the high voltage HV; you can e.g. Last 0.1 microseconds and thereby amplitudes of e.g. Reach 50 volts; these values naturally depend on the operating conditions and the geometry of the gas discharge module. Typically e.g. 5 to 50 discharge pulses per half-wave of the high voltage HV.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the current pulses or the noise form the pulse signal directly. According to another embodiment between the decoupling output and the comparison circuit or the counter circuit, a filter, in particular high-pass or band-pass, interposed, so that the current pulses or the noise after decoupling pass through a filter, in particular high-pass or band-pass, and the pulse signal is therefore a filtered signal. The filter can in particular be designed so that it allows the decoupled current pulses to pass through, but suppresses the fundamental frequency of the high voltage. The high-pass filter can have a cut-off frequency of over 500 kHz, for example.

The radiation flashes can be detected by a radiation detector and converted into current pulses, so that coupling out from the outgoing line or from the return line can be omitted.

According to a preferred variant, a rectifier or a diode is interposed between the decoupling output and the comparison circuit or between the decoupling output and the counting circuit, so that the current pulses or the noise pass through the diode or are rectified after the decoupling and the pulse signal has no alternating polarity , but is unipolar. Where appropriate, only those current pulses are counted whose size exceeds a predetermined limit value.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the unipolar current pulses or the unipolar noise thus obtained directly form the pulse signal.

According to another variant, the gas discharge apparatus comprises a sensor for electromagnetic radiation. This is connected to the counting circuit and is able to detect the radiation flashes and to emit a pulse for each radiation flash detected, the counting circuit being able to count the pulses. In this case, the discharge pulses are obtained by counting the flashes of radiation and not counted by counting the current pulses. The radiation detected by the sensor can be visible light, UV light or X-rays, for example.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, only those current pulses are counted whose size exceeds a predetermined limit value. For this purpose, a limit switch, e.g. a comparator to be interposed, which then and only outputs a digital signal to the counting circuit when the level of a current pulse exceeds the limit value, so that the counting circuit counts only those current pulses whose level exceeds the limit value and does not process any analog current pulses. Such current pulses, the level of which does not reach the limit value, are considered here as interference pulses and are not counted. It is advantageous here that a triggering of the switching signal due to interference pulses can be avoided. As an alternative to this, the limit switch can also be an internal component of the counter circuit itself, instead of being connected upstream of it externally. The counting circuit can further comprise a memory in which the counting results are temporarily stored.

According to a preferred embodiment, the current pulses or the noise are integrated in time with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant by an integrating circuit, so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal. For this purpose, the comparison circuit can be preceded by an integrating circuit which is capable of integrating the current pulses or the noise in time with a predefined integration time or a predefined integration time constant. The advantage here is that such a triggering of the switching signal by brief individual glitches or current fluctuations can be avoided. The integration time constant can e.g. 100 milliseconds.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rectifier or the diode is connected between the decoupling output and the integrating circuit. switched so that the current pulses or the noise are rectified before reaching the integrating circuit.

According to a variant of the invention, the current pulses are passed to a limit switch, which only emits a digital signal if the magnitude of a current pulse exceeds a certain limit, and the digital signals are integrated into the pulse signal with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant, so that the Pulse signal is an integral pulse signal. For this purpose, the gas discharge apparatus can have a radiation detector, which is able to detect the radiation flashes and convert them into current pulses.

The method according to the invention can be carried out continuously or at predetermined time intervals or only at predetermined times. Also e.g. two different process variants can be carried out alternately. First of all, the pulse signal can be compared with a first threshold value for a certain time and the switching signal can be generated if the pulse signal is smaller than the first threshold value, and then the pulse signal can be compared with a second, larger threshold value for a certain time and the switching signal can be generated , if the pulse signal is greater than the second threshold value, etc. Alternatively, instead of being carried out alternately, these two comparisons can of course be carried out simultaneously or continuously in each case; a second comparison circuit can be used in terms of hardware. Of course, instead of being carried out alternately, the two comparisons can be carried out simultaneously or continuously; a second comparison circuit can be used in terms of hardware.

As an alternative to this, the counting result can in each case be compared with a first comparison number for a specific time and the switching signal can be generated, if one

Count result is determined, which is greater than the first comparison number, and then for a certain time the counting result is compared with a second, larger comparison number and the switching signal is generated if the counting result is greater than the second comparison number, etc. Of course, instead of being carried out alternately, the two comparisons can also be carried out simultaneously or in each case be carried out continuously.

In this case, the switching signal is generated in both cases when the production rate is too low or too high. It can advantageously be achieved in this way that the production rate cannot leave a specific, arbitrarily predeterminable tolerance range without the high voltage being switched off and / or the fault message being triggered.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, as long as the first or second condition is not met, the high voltage is switched on for a first period of time by a control circuit or by the counting circuit and then switched off for a second period of time, so that during the first , however not oxygen ions or oxygen atoms or ozone is produced during the second time periods. The purpose of this cyclical switching on and off of the high voltage HV is to achieve a certain average production rate of ozone or oxygen atoms or oxygen ions without changing the size of the AC voltage. The production rate in this case depends on the ratio of the first to the second period. The ratio of the duration of the first period of time to the duration of the second period of time can be kept constant in order to maintain a certain average production rate, or can be changed for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen atoms or oxygen ions.

The gas discharge apparatus is therefore preferably equipped with a control circuit which, as long as the first or second condition is not met, is able to cyclically sequence the high voltage for a first one Switch on the time period and then switch it off for a second time period, the ratio of the duration of the first time period to the duration of the second time period being either fixed or changeable for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms, for example by a corresponding external intervention for example using a potentiometer, a keyboard or an interface. The ratio mentioned can be chosen freely. The duration of the first and the second time periods and thus also their ratio can be controlled, for example, by pulse width modulation (PWM). According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, as long as the first condition is not met, the counter circuit is able to switch on the high voltage in a cyclical sequence for a first period of time and then switch it off for a second period of time, the ratio of the duration of the first period of time to the duration of the second period is either fixed or changeable for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms.

The control circuit can be an astable multivibrator, e.g. be a multivibrator. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control circuit is an EDP device, e.g. Microcontroller or microprocessor.

The comparison circuit preferably comprises a comparator to which the pulse signal and the threshold value are applied and which emits a comparator signal when the second condition is met, the comparator signal being able to trigger the switching signal or serving directly as a switching signal. According to a variant, the comparator is connected directly to the decoupling element, so that the signal decoupled from it serves directly as a pulse signal. However, the integrating circuit and / or the filter is preferably interposed between the decoupling element and the comparator, so that the pulse signal is a filtered and / or an integral pulse signal. The control circuit can be connected to the comparator and generate a control signal when the comparator emits the comparator signal, the control signal triggering the switching signal or serving directly as a switching signal. In this case, the comparator signal itself does not serve directly as a switching signal, but rather to cause the control circuit to emit or trigger the switching signal.

In another embodiment the comparison circuit is an EDP device, e.g. Microcontroller, with an upstream A / D converter to which the pulse signal is applied. The comparison between the pulse signal and the threshold is carried out in software. According to a refinement of this embodiment, the pulse signal is compared both with the first and with the second, smaller threshold value, so that the switching signal is triggered without a second one if the production rate is too high or too low

Comparison circuit is required. Furthermore, the comparison circuit and the control circuit can be in a single EDP device, e.g. Microprocessor, can be combined. Likewise, the counter circuit and

Control circuit in a single EDP device, e.g. Microprocessor, can be combined.

In another variant, the counter circuit is set up so that it emits a counter signal when the first condition is met. The control circuit is connected to the counter circuit and is then able to emit a control signal when the counter circuit emits the counter signal, the control signal being able to trigger the switching signal or serving directly as a switching signal.

According to one embodiment, the control circuit is set up in such a way that it switches off the high voltage during the second time periods by switching off the switching signal or a signal which leads to the generation thereof Outputs control signal, although the first or second condition is not met. In contrast, the control signal or switching signal is not emitted during the first time periods, that is to say the high voltage is switched on, provided the first or second condition is not met. If, however, the first or second condition is met, the cyclic sequence is terminated and the control signal or the switching signal is continuously emitted. This can be done in particular by setting the length of the first time periods to zero so that no new first time period begins.

According to a further preferred variant of the invention, the gas discharge apparatus additionally has an alarm circuit which is also capable of triggering or generating the switching signal. In this case, the switching signal is also generated under the condition, third condition, that the alarm circuit emits the alarm signal.

The gas discharge apparatus can in particular be set up in such a way that various malfunctions of the same trigger the alarm signal and thus lead to the high voltage being switched off. For this purpose, the alarm circuit can be set up in such a way that it is able to monitor the gas discharge apparatus and / or the gas discharge module and / or the control circuit and / or the counting circuit and / or the integrating circuit and / or the comparator for malfunction and, if such is found, to trigger the switching signal is. The alarm circuit can therefore advantageously be used to monitor the gas discharge apparatus and / or individual components of the same, in particular the gas discharge module and / or the control circuit and / or the counting circuit and / or the integrating circuit for malfunction and to emit the alarm signal upon detection of such, thereby the operational safety of the gas discharge apparatus can be significantly improved. For example, certain components of the gas discharge apparatus can be provided with thermal switches which are connected to the Alarm circuit are connected and trigger the alarm signal and thus the shutdown of the high voltage if a component overheats.

The alarm circuit can in particular monitor the function of the control circuit or the counter circuit, i.e. serve as a so-called "watchdog" for the control circuit or for the counter circuit. For this purpose, the control circuit or the counter circuit can be set up in such a way that, if the same output signals function properly, they emit to the alarm circuit which indicate that the control circuit or counter circuit is functioning properly and are evaluated by the alarm circuit, e.g. by comparing the output signals with predetermined target signal patterns; upon detection of a malfunction of the control circuit or counter circuit, e.g. Program crash, the alarm signal is given, which leads to the high voltage being switched off. The alarm circuit can in particular also be an EDP device.

Likewise, the control circuit or the counter circuit can in turn be able to monitor the alarm circuit for malfunction and to trigger or emit the switching signal when a malfunction of the alarm circuit is detected, so that the alarm circuit is monitored by the control circuit or the counter circuit for field function and the control circuit at Detection of a malfunction of the alarm circuit emits or triggers the switching signal. This increases the operational safety of the gas discharge apparatus.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, the control circuit or the counter circuit and the alarm circuit monitor one another. This means that, on the one hand, the control circuit or counter circuit is monitored for malfunction and, on the other hand, a failure of this monitoring is also noticed, which significantly increases the safety during operation of the gas discharge apparatus. The onset of the gas discharge is associated with a certain inertia after the high voltage is switched on, so that after the high voltage is switched on a certain build-up time - typically a few milliseconds - elapses before current pulses or a pulse signal occur. According to a preferred variant, the method is therefore not carried out after the beginning of the first time period for a certain waiting time, which is shorter than the first time period, in order to prevent the absence of the current pulses or the pulse signal immediately after the high voltage is switched on for triggering of the switching signal leads. According to this variant, such a failure is not interpreted as a fault during the waiting times and does not lead to the high voltage being switched off. In the case of an integration of the pulse signal, the increase in the rise time of the integral pulse signal, which is thereby increased, must also be taken into account when measuring the waiting time.

The comparison number or the threshold value can be changed over time and therefore not constant, but variable. In particular, the comparison number or the threshold value can be chosen differently during the first time periods than during the second time periods.

According to a preferred variant, the switching signal and / or the fault message is triggered both when the counting result is less than a first comparison number, and also when the counting result is greater than a second comparison number, which is greater than the first comparison number, or triggered both when the pulse signal is less than a first threshold value and when the pulse signal is greater than a second threshold value which is greater than the first threshold value.

The second comparison number or the second threshold value can be selected to be lower during the second time periods than during the first time periods, and the first comparison number or the first threshold value can be set to zero or to a negative value during the second time periods. According to a further variant, the switching signal is triggered both when the counting result is smaller than a first comparison number during the first time period and also when the counting result is greater than a second, larger comparison number during the second time period. According to an alternative preferred variant, the switching signal is triggered both when the pulse signal is smaller than a first threshold value during the first time period and also when the pulse signal is larger than a second, larger threshold value during the second time period.

According to a variant of the invention, the switching signal is reset after a predetermined holding time has elapsed after its generation, so that the high voltage is switched on again. In this case, the high voltage is only temporarily switched off by the switching signal and then switched on again. For this purpose, the gas discharge apparatus can comprise a reset circuit which is capable of causing the same to reset after the predetermined holding time has elapsed after the switching signal has been triggered. The gas discharge apparatus thus tries to start up again automatically after it has switched itself off. This variant is e.g. then makes sense if the gas discharge apparatus is not to be permanently switched off due to a temporary fault which triggers the switching signal. If the fault persists after the high voltage is switched on again, the switching signal is of course generated again and the high voltage is thus switched off again.

If there is a permanent fault, this variant is followed by an endless sequence of attempts by the gas discharge apparatus to start itself again. This is advantageously avoided by another variant of the invention, according to which the number of times the switching signal is triggered is counted and the switching signal is then reset after a predetermined holding time after it has been triggered if the number of times the triggering occurs does not exceed a certain maximum value and is otherwise no longer reset. The number of attempts by the gas discharge apparatus to restart itself is thus limited; after this number of attempts, the fault is interpreted as not only temporary and the high voltage remains switched off permanently. For this purpose, the gas discharge apparatus can comprise a reset circuit and a counter, the counter being able to record the number of times the switching signal has been triggered and to be able to compare it with a predetermined maximum value, and the reset circuit is then only able to do so after a predetermined holding period has elapsed Triggering the switching signal to reset it if the number of trips does not exceed the maximum value.

The invention is intended to provide a method for controlling an ozone generator which allows the production of a defined, predetermined target amount of ozone with very high precision in a simple manner and without using an ozone sensor. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of providing a controllable ozone generator with which the production of a defined, predetermined desired amount of ozone with very high precision is possible in a simple and inexpensive manner, in particular without using an ozone sensor.

The invention is intended to provide a simple and thus inexpensive method for precisely regulating the average ozone production rate of an ozone generator without using an ozone sensor, as well as an ozone generator with a regulated ozone production rate which is to provide the desired ozone production rate precisely and regardless of any changing environmental and Operating conditions (e.g. temperature, air humidity) can be maintained, does not require an ozone sensor after calibration and is inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention includes a method for operating an ozone generator with a gas discharge module for dielectric barrier discharge with two Electrodes, between which a high voltage is applied via a supply line and a return line, which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the supply line, the gas discharge module and the return line, and discharge pulses are generated by the gas discharge , each of which generates a flash of radiation and a current pulse superimposed on the current, with each discharge pulse averaging a certain individual quantity Mo of ozone, and the individual quantity Mo and the number of individual discharges to produce the ozone production quantity or from the individual quantity Mo and the temporal Density of the individual discharges is derived from an average ozone production rate.

The invention provides a method for controlling an ozone generator, which allows the production of a defined, predetermined target amount of ozone with very high precision in a simple manner and without using an ozone sensor. Furthermore, the invention provides a controllable ozone generator, with which the production of a defined, predetermined target amount of ozone with very high precision is possible in a simple and inexpensive manner, in particular without using an ozone sensor.

The invention also provides a simple and thus inexpensive method for precisely regulating the average ozone production rate of an ozone generator without using an ozone sensor, and an ozone generator with a regulated ozone production rate which precisely and regardless of any changing environmental and operating conditions ( (temperature, air humidity) can be maintained, does not require an ozone sensor after calibration and is inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention encompasses a method for operating an ozone generator with a gas discharge module for dielectric barrier discharge with two electrodes, between which a high-voltage voltage is supplied via a supply line and a return line. voltage is applied, which is an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage and generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the feed line, the gas discharge module and the return line, and discharge pulses are produced by the gas discharge, each of which has a flash of radiation and one corresponding to the Generates current superimposed current pulse, with each discharge pulse a certain individual amount Mo of ozone is generated, and from the individual amount Mo and the number of individual discharges the ozone production amount or from the individual amount Mo and the temporal density of the individual discharges derived an average ozone production rate becomes.

The invention is based on the knowledge that each discharge pulse generates on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone, so that the amount of ozone produced is essentially proportional to the number of discharge pulses. The size of the individual quantity Mo is typically a few picograms of ozone (per discharge pulse), this value of course depending on the geometry of the gas discharge module. The discharge pulses can be counted with a counter. The amount of ozone generated or the average ozone production rate is determined from the counting result and used to control or regulate the ozone generator.

The invention is based on the knowledge that each discharge pulse generates on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone, so that the amount of ozone produced is essentially proportional to the number of discharge pulses. The size of the individual quantity Mo is typically a few picograms of ozone (per discharge pulse), this value of course depending on the geometry of the gas discharge module. The discharge pulses can be counted with a counter. The amount of ozone generated or the average ozone production rate is determined from the counting result and used to control or regulate the ozone generator. According to the invention, it is proposed to determine the production quantity or production rate (ie the production quantity per time) of ozone from the number of discharge pulses. It is advantageously possible with this method to determine the amount of ozone produced very precisely and to mix it with an air stream so that the amount of ozone in the air stream remains below a defined limit.

The invention comprises an ozone generator, comprising a gas discharge module for dielectric barrier discharge with two electrodes, between which a high voltage can be applied via a supply line and a return line, which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and a gas discharge in the gas discharge module and an electrical current through the Forward line, the gas discharge module and the return line, and the gas discharge discharge pulses, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse superimposed on the current, with each discharge pulse on average a certain individual amount Mo of ozone, and further comprising a counter, which is able to count the current impulses or radiation flashes and thus the individual discharges, the ozone production quantity or the individual quantity Mo and the temporal density of the individual discharges from the individual quantity Mo and the number of individual discharges e average ozone production rate can be derived.

A predetermined total amount of ozone is generated according to a variant of the invention, by specifying this total amount as the ozone target amount Msetpoint to be produced, the discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes are counted by a counter, and the high voltage is switched off as soon as a target number Nsetpoint is counted Discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes is reached, which target number Nsoll is the number of discharge pulses required for the production of the ozone target amount Msoll, given by the quotient Msoll / Mo from the target ozone quantity Msoll to be produced and the ozone quantity Mo generated per discharge pulse, so that the the ozone target quantity Mset corresponding or substantially corresponding number of discharge pulses is brought about in the gas discharge module. According to this variant, the ozone production is controlled so that the predetermined total amount of ozone is generated. For this purpose, the counter can be able to switch off the high voltage HV as soon as a target number Nset of counted current pulses or radiation flashes has been reached, which corresponds to a predefinable target ozone quantity Msetpoint to be produced.

The discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes can be counted by a counter for a predetermined counting period Tz, and the high voltage can be switched off after a first production period, the first production period Tpl being given by Tpl = Tz * (Msoll / Mtz), or after a second production time period Tp2 are switched off, the second production time period Tp2 being given by Tp2 = Tz * (Nset / Ntzist), where Tz is the counting time period, Mo is the average amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse, Ntzist is the number counted during the counting time period (Tz) of discharge pulses, Mtz the amount of ozone produced during the counting period (Tz), given by the product Ntzist * Mo, Msoll the desired ozone amount to be produced, and Nsoll the number of discharge pulses required to produce the desired ozone amount Msoll, given by the quotient Msoll / Mo, is.

The counter is preferably able to count the current pulses or radiation flashes for a predetermined counting period Tz and to switch off the high voltage after a first production period Tpl, which is given by Tpl = Tz * (Msoll / Mtz), or after a second production period Tp2, which is given by Tp2 = Tz * (Nsoll / Ntzist).

The process can in particular be repeated periodically at regular intervals, so that on average a constant amount of ozone per

Unit of time is generated and thus a constant average ozone production rate is achieved.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, a target value Rsoll of the average ozone production rate is specified, the discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes are counted during a counting time period Tz, and the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz are used to obtain an average ozone production rate Rist determine, the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated is increased or decreased, if the actual value of the average ozone production rate Rist is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll, so that the average ozone production rate Rist is regulated.

Instead of using the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average ozone production rate Rist, either the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz can be used to determine an average temporal density of the discharge pulses, and the target value Rsoll of the ozone Production rate are used to determine an average temporal target density of the discharge pulses, and the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated are increased or decreased, if this is smaller or greater than the target density, or it can be the target value Rsoll and the counting time period Tz are used to determine a target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting time period Tz, and the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses that are generated are increased or decreased if the counting result Ntzist is smaller or larger than the target number Ntzsoll.

In an alternative variant of the invention, the mean ozone production rate Rist is derived from the individual quantity Mo and from the size of a pulse signal instead of being derived using the temporal density of the individual discharges, the pulse signal being generated by the current pulses or the radiation flashes and on Measure of the production rate of ozone. Here, the pulse signal can be generated by decoupling the current pulses from the forward line or from the return line and then integrating them in time with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant, so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal. The current pulses can be a diode after decoupling run through or rectified so that the pulse signal has no alternating polarity.

The size of the pulse signal and the number of current pulses occurring during a predetermined counting period are each a measure of the production rate of ozone. This is used according to the invention for controlling or regulating the ozone generator. The pulse signal can thus also be used as a controlled variable.

The counter can count the discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes occurring during a counting time period Tz and deliver a counting result Ntzist, wherein a setpoint value Rsoll is given for the mean ozone production rate, and the ozone generator can comprise a controller which uses the setpoint value Rsoll and the counting time period Tz determined target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting time period Tz is compared with the count result Ntzist and is able to increase or decrease the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated if the count result Ntzist is smaller or larger than the target number Ntzsoll. The count result Ntzist supplied by the counter indicates the number of discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes occurring during the counting time period Tz.

According to another variant, the ozone generator has an arithmetic logic unit which is connected to the counter and uses the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz by an average ozone production rate Rist as

Determine actual value Rist, the controller being connected to the arithmetic unit and, instead of comparing the target number Ntzsoll with the counting result Ntzist, compares the average ozone production rate Rist with the target value of the production rate Rsoll and is able to increase or decrease the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated, if the actual value the average production rate Rist is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll.

In a further alternative to this, instead of using the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average ozone production rate Rist, the arithmetic unit uses the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average temporal density of the discharge pulses as actual Determine density, whereby the controller, instead of comparing the average ozone production rate Rist with the target value of the production rate Rsoll, compares the actual density with a temporal target density of the discharge pulses, which is given by the quotient Rsoll / Mo from the target value Rsoll and the individual quantity Mo, and the controller is able to increase or decrease the average temporal density of the discharge pulses that have arisen if the actual density is smaller or larger than the target density.

A major advantage of the invention is that any unwanted changes in the ozone production rate, e.g. due to temperature drift, fluctuations in air humidity, contamination or erosion of the electrodes, fluctuations in high voltage, etc., are automatically compensated, i.e. do not affect the average production rate.

The average temporal density of the discharge pulses can be increased or decreased in various ways. One possibility is to increase or decrease the average temporal density of the discharge pulses by increasing or decreasing the effective value of the high voltage, since with increasing effective value of the high voltage HV the average temporal density of the discharge pulses and thus also the average ozone Production rate increases, and vice versa. Another possibility is that the high voltage HN is switched on in sequence for a duty Tl and then switched off for a pause T2, the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses being increased or decreased in that the ratio T1 / T2 of Duty cycle Tl is increased or decreased for pause duration T2. In this way, the actual value of the ozone production rate can thus advantageously be influenced without the size of the high voltage having to be changed; the high voltage is only switched on and off.

For this purpose, the ozone generator preferably has a control circuit, which is interposed between the regulator and the high-voltage generator and is capable of continuously switching on the high voltage for a switch-on period and then switching off for a pause, the regulator being able to control the control circuit in this way that the ratio T1 / T2 of the duty cycle Tl to the pause duration T2 is increased or decreased, and thus to increase or decrease the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses.

The sum of the on time Tl and the pause time T2 is preferably kept constant. The counting time period Tz can coincide with the on-time period Tl and can begin with the same at the same time. According to another preferred embodiment, the counting period Tz is equal to the sum or an integer multiple of the sum of the on period Tl and the pause period T2.

According to a further variant, the counting time period Tz is at least 10 times greater than the sum T1 + T2. The counting time period Tz is specifically chosen to be much larger than the sum T1 + T2, so that the relative error in the determination of the average ozone production rate Rist, which can occur if the counting time period Tz is not an integral multiple of the sum T1 + T2 is, is small; in this case Tz need not be an integer multiple of the sum T1 + T2.

According to a further variant, at least part of the counting time Tz, namely an overlap time Tüb, is attributable to the on-time Tl, the actual value of the average production rate Rist being calculated from the equation Rist = Ntzist * Mo * (Tl / Tüb) / (Tl + T2), where Rist is the actual value of the average ozone production rate, Mo is the individual amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse, Ntz is the counting result, ie is the number of discharge pulses counted during the counting period Tz, Tüb is the overlap time, Tl is the on time and T2 is the pause time.

According to another variant of the method according to the invention, at least part of the counting time Tz, namely the overlap time Tüb, also applies to the on-time Tl, the target number Ntzsoll from the equation Ntzsoll = Rsoll * (Tl + T2) * (Tüb / Tl) / Mon is calculated.

With each discharge pulse, a certain individual amount Mo of ozone is formed on average, so that the amount of ozone generated is essentially known with a known number of discharge pulses. The individual amount Mo thus forms the proportionality factor between the number of discharge pulses generated in the gas discharge module and the total amount of ozone generated in the process. The average amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse, the individual amount Mo, can be determined by means of an ozone sensor downstream of the gas discharge module; the gas discharge module is calibrated by determining the size Mo. After such a calibration has been carried out, the amount of ozone generated at any time can be determined in a simple manner and in particular without the aid of an ozone sensor by counting the current pulses, and a predetermined total amount of ozone can be generated by essentially corresponding number of discharge pulses is generated in the gas discharge module. A total quantity to be produced Msoll essentially corresponds to a target number of discharge pulses required for this, which is given by the quotient Msoll / Mo.

The current pulses or digital signals obtained therefrom are preferably fed to the counter in order to count the discharge pulses.

The Stroni impulses can be e.g. inductively or capacitively decoupled from the forward or the return line and then fed to the meter. For this purpose, the ozone generator can have a decoupling element which is able to transmit the current pulses e.g. Decouple inductively or capacitively from the outgoing line or the return line and deliver it to the meter via a decoupling output.

The current pulses can pass through a filter, in particular a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter, in particular after decoupling and before reaching the counter. For this purpose, a filter, in particular high-pass or band-pass, can be interposed between the decoupling output and the counter. The filter can e.g. be a high-pass filter with a cut-off frequency of 500 kHz, which allows the current pulses to pass, but not the fundamental frequency of the high voltage HV. The filter can further comprise a circuit for pulse processing.

Furthermore, the current pulses can be rectified after decoupling and before reaching the counter. For this purpose, a rectifier, in particular an HF rectifier (also called a demodulator) or a diode can be interposed between the decoupling output and the counter, so that all current pulses reaching the counter are of uniform polarity.

Since each discharge pulse generates a flash of radiation, the counter can be connected to a sensor for electromagnetic radiation which is capable of Detect radiation flashes and emit a pulse signal for each radiation flash detected, the counter being able to count the pulse signals. The radiation detected by the sensor can be visible light, UV light or X-rays, for example.

The radiation flashes can also be detected by a radiation detector and converted into pulse pulses. For this purpose, the ozone generator can have a radiation detector, which is able to detect the radiation flashes and convert them into current pulses.

The current pulses can be passed to a limit switch, which only emits a digital signal if the magnitude of a current pulse exceeds a certain limit, and the digital signals can be integrated with the pulse signal with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant, so that the pulse signal is an integral Pulse signal is.

According to a further variant of the method according to the invention, only those current pulses or radiation flashes are counted whose size or intensity exceeds a predetermined limit value. For this purpose, a comparator can be interposed between the decoupling output or the sensor and the counter, which then and only then outputs a digital signal to the counter when the amount of a current pulse or intensity of a radiation flash exceeds a certain limit, so that the counter only those current pulses or radiation flashes count whose size or intensity exceeds the limit value.

Such current impulses or radiation flashes, the size or intensity of which does not reach the limit value, are regarded as disturbances and are not counted. The comparator can be an internal component of the meter instead of being connected upstream of it. According to a variant of the method, the high voltage is switched off and / or a fault message is issued if the number Ntz of the discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes occurring within the predetermined counting time period Tz is smaller or greater than a predetermined reference number.

According to a preferred embodiment of this variant, the high voltage is switched off and / or a fault message is output both when the average ozone production rate is greater than a first comparison number and also when the average ozone production rate is less than a second, smaller comparison number. This makes sense since both an excessively high and too low an ozone production rate can be disadvantageous or even dangerous. The output of the fault message ensures that such malfunctions do not go unnoticed.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the counter and / or the ozone generator are monitored for malfunction by an alarm circuit, the alarm circuit switching off the high voltage and / or issuing a fault message when a malfunction of the counter or the ozone generator is detected. In this case, all components of the ozone generator can be individually monitored for malfunction by the alarm circuit, the alarm circuit switching off the high voltage when a component malfunctions and / or emitting a fault message. The alarm circuit may be able to monitor the counter and / or the controller and / or the control circuit and / or the arithmetic unit for malfunction and, if a malfunction of the counter and / or regulator and / or the control circuit and / or the arithmetic unit is detected, the high voltage switch off or issue a fault message.

Conversely, the counter or the regulator or the control circuit or the arithmetic logic unit or another component of the ozone generator can be able to monitor the alarm circuit for malfunction and if one is found Malfunction of the alarm circuit to switch on the high voltage and / or issue a fault message.

The controller and / or the arithmetic unit and / or the control circuit and / or the counter can in particular be jointly operated by an appropriately programmed EDP circuit, e.g. Microcontroller. The alarm circuit can in particular monitor the function of this EDP circuit for the purpose of increased operational safety of the ozone generator, i.e. serve as a so-called "watchdog" for the EDP circuit. For this purpose, the EDP circuit can be set up in such a way that, if the same output signals function properly, they emit to the alarm circuit which indicate that the EDP circuit is functioning properly and are evaluated by the alarm circuit, e.g. by comparing the output signals with predetermined target signal patterns; upon detection of a malfunction of the EDP circuit, e.g. Program crash, the alarm signal is given, which leads to the high voltage being switched off. The alarm circuit can in particular also be an EDP device.

Likewise, the EDP circuit can in turn be able to monitor the alarm circuit for malfunction and, if a malfunction of the alarm circuit is detected, switch off the high voltage and / or issue the fault message, so that the alarm circuit is monitored for malfunction by the EDP circuit. This further increases the operational safety of the ozone generator.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, the EDP circuit and the alarm circuit monitor one another. This means that, on the one hand, the EDP circuit is monitored for malfunction and, on the other hand, a failure of this monitoring is also noticed, which significantly increases the safety when operating the ozone generator.

Brief description of the figures in figure set I, in which: 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention with a counter circuit and inductive coupling, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, with the counter circuit and capacitive coupling, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, with an integrating circuit and a comparator, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, with an integrating circuit and a comparator,

6 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, with an integrating circuit, a comparator, a control circuit, an alarm circuit and an AND gate, FIG. 7 shows an example for a time course of the output voltages of the control circuit, the comparator, the 6, Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a further embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, with a counting circuit and a limit switch, Fig. 9 shows an example of a time course of the output voltages of the counting circuit, the limit switch, the alarm circuit and 8, FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention, and FIG. 11 shows an example of a time course of the logic operations of the gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 10. 1 schematically shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention for generating oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air. 1 comprises a high-voltage generator 1, a gas discharge module 2 with two electrodes 2A, 2B, a decoupling element 31 with a decoupling output 31C, and a counting circuit 14. The gas discharge module 2 is preferably one for dielectric barrier discharge; in such a case there are at least two different dielectrics between the electrodes 2A, 2B, but this is not shown in FIG. 1.

The high-voltage generator 1 is able to generate a high voltage HV, which in the example of FIG. 1 is a sinusoidal alternating voltage with a frequency of typically 20 ... 100 kHz and a voltage of typically 4 ... 6 kV.

The high voltage HN is applied via a feed line 11 and a return line 12 between the two electrodes 2A, 2B and generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2, which leads to the production of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms and an electrical current through the feed line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12 are generated. The gas discharge also produces rapid discharge pulses which are superimposed on the current as current pulses or noise. The individual discharge pulses are generally of a much shorter duration than the half-waves of the high voltage HV; you can e.g. Last 0.1 microseconds and thereby amplitudes of e.g. Reach 50 volts; these values naturally depend on the operating conditions and the geometry of the gas discharge module 2.

The high-voltage generator 1 has an input 1E and is set up so that the high voltage HV is switched off when a switching signal is present at the input E. Such a signal serves as the switching signal is able to switch off the high voltage HV; Depending on the design of the high-voltage generator, this can be, for example, a high signal or a low signal.

1 further includes a counting circuit 14. The current pulses are decoupled from the return line 12 by the decoupling element 31 and fed to the counting circuit 14 via the decoupling output 31C. In the example of FIG. 1, the decoupling element 31 is a transformer or transformer 31, one winding 31B of which is interposed in the return line 12 and the other winding 31A of which is connected to the counting circuit 14. The decoupling element 31 is thus an inductive decoupling element in the example of FIG. 1.

According to the invention, the counting circuit 14 is able to count the number of current pulses occurring during a predetermined counting period T0 and to compare the counting result with a predetermined comparison number. After the counting period has elapsed, a new count is started and the result is compared again with the comparison number, etc. According to another variant, the counting is sliding, i.e. a new count is started before the previous count has ended.

The counter circuit 14 has an output 14A, which is connected to the input 1E of the high-voltage generator 1 and which, on the condition that the counting result of a count is greater than the predetermined comparison number, emits a counter signal, which in the example of FIG. 1 is directly used as a switching signal serves to switch off the high voltage HV. The comparison number does not have to be constant, but can be changed over time, e.g. to enable adaptation to changing operating or environmental conditions.

The number of current pulses occurring during the time period T0 is a measure of the production rate of oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the

Gas discharge module 2. This means that a too high production rate at one excessive number of current pulses per unit of time can be detected. The comparison number can therefore advantageously be chosen such that it corresponds to a specific critical number of stioma pulses per unit of time and thus to a specific critical production rate. If this production rate is due to a malfunction of the gas discharge module 2, the high-voltage generator 1 or another component of the gas discharge apparatus or is greater than any critical value that can be predetermined, this is recognized by the counter circuit 14 and emits the switching signal which switches off the High voltage HV leads.

It is thus advantageously achieved that an excessively high, possibly dangerous production rate of oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone is automatically prevented. The gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 1 is therefore able, according to the invention, to monitor itself and to switch itself off when a malfunction is detected.

It is of course also possible to identify a production rate that is too low from an insufficient number of current pulses. A production rate that is too low can also indicate a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus. In another variant of the invention, the counter circuit 14 of FIG. 1 is therefore set up in such a way that the switching signal is output via the output 14A and thus the gas discharge apparatus switches itself off when the counting result is lower than a predetermined comparison number.

In a further variant of the invention, the counting circuit 14 of FIG. 1 is set up in such a way that the switching signal and thus the self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus are emitted both when the counting result is lower than a predetermined first comparison number and also when the counting result is greater than a predetermined second comparison number, so that the gas discharge apparatus monitors itself both for a production rate of oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone that is too low and too high. Between the decoupling output 31C and the counter circuit 14, a limit switch, for example a comparator, can be interposed, which then and only emits a digital signal to the counter circuit 14 when the level of a freeze pulse exceeds a certain limit value, so that the counter circuit does not add any analog current pulses needs processing. As an alternative to this, the limit switch can also be an internal component of the counter circuit 14 itself, instead of being connected upstream of it.

2 shows a block diagram of a further variant of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention. The gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 only in that, instead of the inductive coupling element 31, it has a capacitive coupling element 32 which has a resistor 32B interposed in the return conductor 12 and one between the return conductor 12 and the counting circuit 14 Capacitor 32 A includes. The decoupling element 32 outputs the decoupled current pulses to the counting circuit 14 via a decoupling output 32 C. Instead of the resistor 32B, an inductance acting as a low-pass filter can be used.

In a preferred variant (not shown) of the invention, the gas discharge apparatus comprises a rectifier or a diode, which is or which is connected between the coupling-out output 31C or 32C and the counter circuit 14, so that all current pulses reaching the counter circuit 14 are of uniform polarity.

A filter (not shown) can be interposed between the decoupling output 31C (FIG. 1) or 32C (FIG. 2) and the counter circuit 14, which filter allows the decoupled current pulses to pass but suppresses the fundamental frequency of the high voltage. This filter can be, for example, a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter or, for example, also a band-stop filter whose blocking frequency is the fundamental frequency corresponds to the AC voltage. The capacitor 32A of FIG. 2 can also be part of the filter.

The high voltage HV for operating the gas discharge module 2 is preferably switched on in a cyclical sequence for a first time period T1, then switched off for a second time period T2, then switched on again for the first time period T1, etc., as shown in FIG. 1 by the straight line section the wavy line, which is intended to symbolize the time profile of the high voltage HV, is indicated. In order to increase the production rate, the ratio of the duration of the first time period T1 to the duration of the second time period T2 can be increased, and to reduce the production rate, this ratio can be decreased.

According to one embodiment, the cyclical switching on and off of the high voltage HV can be controlled by a corresponding control or interrupter circuit arranged within the high voltage generator 1.

Another possibility is to interpose a control circuit (not shown) between the output 14A of the counting circuit 14 and the input 1E of the high-voltage generator 1, which, as long as no control function has been determined, does not switch the switching signal in a cyclical sequence for the first time period T1 outputs and then for the second time period T2 outputs the switching signal to the input 1E, etc., so that the switching on and off of the high voltage HV is controlled by the control circuit. The control circuit is set up in such a way that it aborts the cyclic sequence and emits the switching signal when the counter circuit emits the counter signal, ie a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus has been determined. In this case, the counter signal of the counter circuit 14 is not used directly as a switching signal, but rather to trigger the same. In this way, it is advantageously possible to control both the cyclical switching on and off of the high voltage HV and the switching off of the same when a malfunction is detected via the input 1E.

According to a further variant (FIG. 3), the output 14A of the counter circuit 14 is connected to an input of an OR gate 18, the output 18A of which is connected to the input 1E of the high-voltage generator 1. If the counter circuit 14 emits the counter signal, it reaches the input 1E via the OR gate 18 and serves there as a switching signal, which leads to the high voltage HN being switched off.

The other input of the OR gate 18 is connected to the output 6A of a control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 does not emit a control signal for its first time period T1 through its output 6A in a cyclical sequence and then outputs a control signal for the second time period T2, which reaches the input 1E via the OR gate 18 and serves as a switching signal there, which also leads to the high voltage HV being switched off. The OR circuit therefore outputs the switching signal via its output 18A when either the counter signal or the control signal is present at it. As long as no malfunction is found, i.e. as long as the counter circuit 14 does not emit a counter signal, the switching on and off of the high voltage HV and thus the average production rate of ozone or oxygen atoms or oxygen ions is controlled by the control circuit 6. However, as soon as the counter circuit 14 outputs the counter signal, the high voltage HN is switched off independently of the control signal. The control circuit 6 can e.g. an astable multivibrator or a programmable EDP device.

According to a variant of the invention, the counting period T0 is chosen such that it is considerably longer than the sum of the first and second periods T1, T2. In this way, especially when the intensity of the gas discharge is weak

Risk of false triggering of the switching signal due to random, statistical Conditional deviations between the counting result achieved in the individual case and the actual long-term mean value of the current pulses occurring per unit of time are reduced. According to another variant of the invention, the counting period TO is selected to be shorter than both the first and the second period T1, T2. According to a further variant of the invention, the counting period TO is not chosen to be constant, but is variable in synchronism with the switching on and off of the high voltage HN and thus alternating between the values T1 and T2 in such a way that a first counting period t0l begins at the beginning of each first period T1 , which coincides with the first time period T1, and begins at the beginning of every second time period T2 a second counting time period t02, which coincides with the second time period T2. In this case, a new count begins with each cyclical switching on and off of the high voltage HN.

In a further refinement of this variant, the comparison number can also alternate cyclically between two values. The comparison number is preferably chosen to be larger during the first time period T1 than during the second time period T2, so that each of the two time periods T1, T2 has its own comparison number.

Counting the star impulses even during the second time period T2 makes sense - despite the fact that the high voltage HV is switched off here - since the occurrence of current pulses when the high voltage is switched off indicates a malfunction; Such a malfunction can therefore be recognized by counting current pulses occurring during the second time period T2 and comparing the counting result with the comparison number belonging to the second time period T2. The switching signal is triggered when the counting result lies above the comparison number belonging to the second time period T2. In this case, this is preferably chosen to be very low, since if the function is flawless, no current pulses are to be expected during the second time periods T2. In particular, according to an advantageous variant, the switching signal can be triggered during the first time periods Tl both when the production rate is too high and too low and during the second time periods T2 only when the production rate is too high, the comparison numbers being synchronous with the cyclical sequence of the first and second time periods Alternate T1, T2 between different values. In this case, the method according to the invention is used in each case during the first time periods T1 and independently of this also in each case during the second time periods T2.

According to a further variant of the invention, the switching signal is not only used to switch off the high voltage HV, but also to output a fault message, in particular an acoustic or optical fault message.

4 shows a block diagram of a further variant of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention. The gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 4 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that, instead of the counting circuit 14, it comprises a comparison circuit 5 and an integrating circuit 24 which is connected between the decoupling output 31C and the comparison circuit 5 and is therefore connected upstream of the comparison circuit 5. The comparison circuit 5 is a comparator 5 in the example of FIG. 4.

The integrating circuit 4 integrates the current pulses decoupled by the decoupling element 31 with the predetermined integration time or with the predetermined integration time constant into an integral pulse signal, so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal, and outputs this to the comparator 5. A voltage, which serves as a predetermined threshold value, is also applied to the comparator 5 via a terminal 5B.

Of course, the capacitive decoupling element 32 from FIG. 3 can also be used to decouple the current pulses. The comparator 5 compares the integral pulse signal with the predefined threshold value and emits a comparator signal via an output 5A if the integral pulse signal is greater than the predefined threshold value. The output 5A is connected to the input 1E of the high voltage generator 1. In the example of FIG. 4, the comparator signal serves directly as a switching signal, which leads to the high voltage HN being switched off.

The size of the integral pulse signal is a measure of the production rate of oxygen ions or oxygen atoms or ozone in the gas discharge module 2. This means that an excessively high production rate can be recognized by an excessively large integral pulse signal. The threshold value can therefore advantageously be chosen so that it corresponds to a certain critical production rate. If this production rate e.g. due to a malfunction of the gas discharge module 2, the high-voltage generator 1 or another component of the gas discharge apparatus or is greater than an arbitrarily predeterminable critical value, this is recognized by the comparator 5 and, by means of the latter, the switching signal which is used to switch off the high voltage HN leads.

It is thus advantageously achieved that an excessively high production rate is automatically prevented. 4 is therefore able to monitor itself and to switch itself off when a malfunction is detected.

It is of course also possible to identify a production rate that is too low by an integral pulse signal that is too small. In another variant of the invention, the comparison circuit is therefore set up in such a way that the switching signal and thus the self-disconnection of the gas discharge apparatus are emitted when the integral pulse signal is less than a predetermined threshold value. In a preferred variant (not shown) of the invention, the gas discharge apparatus comprises a rectifier or a diode which is connected between the coupling-out output 31C and the integrating circuit 4, so that all current pulses reaching the integrating circuit 24 are of uniform polarity.

In a further variant of the invention, the integration circuit is set up in such a way that the switching signal and thus the self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus are emitted both when the integral pulse signal is less than a predetermined first threshold value and when the integral pulse signal is greater than a predetermined second threshold value, so that the gas discharge apparatus monitors itself both for a production rate of oxygen ions or oxygen atoms or ozone that is too low or too high. For this purpose, the comparison circuit can comprise two comparators.

5 schematically shows a block diagram of a further variant of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention. The difference to the gas discharge apparatus of Fig. 4 is that in Fig. 5 between the output 5A of the comparator 5 and the input 1E of the high voltage generator 1, a control circuit 10 is additionally interposed, which, as long as no malfunction is detected, in a cyclical sequence does not emit the switching signal for the first period Tl and then emits the switching signal via its output 10 A to the input 1E for the second period T2, etc., so that the switching on and off of the high voltage HV is controlled by the control circuit 10. The control circuit 10 is set up in such a way that it aborts the cyclic sequence and emits the switching signal when the comparator 5 emits the comparator signal to its input 10E, ie a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus has been determined. In this case, the comparator signal does not serve directly as a switching signal, but rather trigger the same thing. In this way, it is advantageously possible to control both the cyclical switching on and off of the high voltage HV and the switching off of the same when a malfunction is detected via the input 1E.

The control circuit 10 can e.g. be an astable multivibrator. However, the control circuit 10 is preferably a programmable EDP device, e.g. Microcontroller or microprocessor in which the first and the second time period T1, T2 are stored.

According to a variant of the invention, the integration time is chosen such that it is considerably longer than the sum of the first and second time periods T1, T2. According to another variant of the invention, the integration time is chosen to be shorter than both the first and the second time period T1, T2. According to a further variant of the invention, the integration time is not chosen to be constant, but is variable in synchronization with the switching on and off of the high voltage HV. In a further refinement of this variant, the threshold value is alternately alternated cyclically between two values.

According to a variant of the invention, the control signal, the counter signal or the comparator signal and the switching signal are each high signals, the high voltage generator being set up in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched off when a high signal is present at input 1E and is switched on , if there is a low signal at input 1E. According to another variant of the invention, the counter signal or the comparator signal, the control signal and the switching signal are each low signals, the high voltage generator being set up in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched off when a low signal or no voltage is present at its input , and is switched on when this input has a high signal. In this case, the OR gate 18 of FIG. 3 is of course to be replaced by an AND gate, or corresponding inverters are to be used. According to yet another variant of the invention, the counter signal or the comparator signal and the Control signal high signals, the switching signal, however, a low signal, the high voltage generator is also set up so that the high voltage HV is switched off when a low signal or no voltage is present at its input, and is switched on when this input is on High signal is present. In this case, the OR gate 18 of FIG. 3 must be replaced by a NOR gate, or corresponding inverters must be used.

Depending on the type of signals to be linked, the logic functions can be performed by different logic modules, e.g. AND gate, OR gate, NAND gate, NOR gate.

6 schematically shows a block diagram of a preferred further variant of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention. This variant differs from the gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 5 by an additional alarm circuit 7, also called a "watchdog", an additional AND gate 9 and by the fact that instead of the control circuit 10, a control circuit 20 is used, which is an EDP device, eg Microcontroller, is. Furthermore, instead of the high-voltage generator 1 from FIG. 5, a high-voltage generator 21 with an input 21E is used in FIG. 6, which is set up in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched off when a low signal or no voltage is present at the input 21E, and is switched on when there is a high signal at input 21E.

In addition, in FIG. 6, instead of the comparator 5 of FIG. 5, a comparator 15 is used as the comparison circuit, which is connected to the output 4A of the integrating circuit 4 and outputs a comparator signal via its output 15A if the integral pulse signal is less than one Predetermined threshold value applied to a terminal 15B of the comparator 15, this comparator signal being a low signal in the example of FIG. 6. In contrast, if the integral pulse signal is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the comparator 15 emits a high signal. The Comparator signal, low signal at output 15E, therefore indicates a production rate which is too low in the gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 6, while a high signal at output 15E indicates that the production rate is not too low.

The control circuit 20 has two outputs 20A, 20B and two inputs 20E, 20F. One input 20E of the control circuit 20 is connected to the output 15E of the comparator 15. One output 20A of the control circuit 20 is connected to an input of an AND gate 9, the output 9A of which is connected to the input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21.

The other input of the AND gate 9 is connected to the output 7A of the alarm circuit 7, the function of which will be explained below. Furthermore, the other output 7B of the alarm circuit 7 is connected to the second input 20B of the control circuit 20.

The AND gate 9 only outputs a high signal to the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21 when a high signal is present at both inputs of the AND gate 9. In this case, the high voltage HV is switched on. If, on the other hand, even one of the inputs of the AND gate 9 receives a low signal, the AND gate 9 outputs the switching signal, which is a low signal in the example of FIG. 6, to the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21, which leads to the high voltage HV being switched off.

The alarm circuit 7 has two outputs 7A, TB and an input 7E. One input 20E of the control circuit 20 is connected to the output 15A of the comparator 15. The other input 20F of the control circuit 20 is connected to the input 7E of the alarm circuit.

The alarm circuit 7 is set up so that it is able to monitor the function of the control circuit 20, for example in a manner known per se, and is therefore also called "watchdog". For this purpose, the control circuit 20 is set up in such a way that, if it functions properly, it temporarily or continuously outputs an output signal or signals to the input 7E of the alarm circuit 7, which indicate that the control circuit 20 is functioning properly. These output signals can be flags, for example, which the control circuit 20 regularly sets temporarily at the output 20B if they function properly, but fail to appear in the event of a fault, for example a program crash. In another variant, the output signals are digital words, which pass serially from the output 20B to the input 7E. In another embodiment, the output signals are also digital words, but the output 20B is a parallel output, the input 7E is a parallel input and the connection between the two is a bus. According to a further variant, the control circuit is set up in such a way that it regularly carries out a self-test and outputs the results thereof as output signals.

The alarm circuit 7 evaluates the output signals and outputs an alarm signal via its output 7A if the output signals or a failure thereof indicate a malfunction of the control circuit 20, the alarm signal being a low signal in the example of FIG. Gate 9 arrives at the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21 and leads to the high voltage HV being switched off. If the alarm circuit 7 does not detect a malfunction of the control circuit 20, however, it outputs a high signal via its output 7A in the example of FIG. 6.

The alarm circuit 7 can in particular also be an EDP device and is preferably set up in such a way that it compares the output signals arriving at its input 7E with predetermined, stored desired signal patterns and emits the alarm signal via its output 7A if the output signals deviate from the Target signal patterns is determined. Thus, the alarm circuit 7 is able to monitor the control circuit 20 for proper functioning and to trigger the shutdown of the high voltage HV when a malfunction thereof is detected, as a result of which the operational safety of the gas discharge apparatus is significantly increased.

Conversely, the alarm circuit 7 can be set up so that if it functions properly, it outputs control signals via the output 7B to the input 20F of the control circuit 20, and the control circuit 20 can be set up so that it evaluates the control signals and via its output 20 A the control signal emits, if the same or a failure thereof indicate a malfunction of the alarm circuit 7, so that the control circuit 20 is able to monitor the alarm circuit 7 for proper functioning and, if a malfunction thereof is detected, also trigger the shutdown of the high voltage HV, thereby reducing the operational safety of the gas ent - charging apparatus is further increased.

In the example of FIG. 6, the alarm signal, the control signal and the switching signal are each low signals. As a result, a break in the connection between the alarm circuit 7 and the AND gate 9 or that between the control circuit 20 and the AND gate 9 leads to the triggering of the switching signal, which is not the case when high signals are used as an alarm or control signal would be the case. This is advantageous since, for example, if the connection between the alarm circuit 7 and the AND gate 9 breaks, the alarm circuit 7 can of course no longer perform its monitoring task and the control circuit 20 would still not detect this failure of the monitoring. Likewise, a break in the connection between the AND gate 9 and the input 21E of the high voltage generator 1 leads to the high voltage HV being switched off. This further increases the safety of the gas discharge apparatus against malfunctions. The control circuit 20 is set up in such a way that it outputs a high signal for the first time period T1 and then a control signal for the second time period T2, which is a low signal in the example of FIG. 6, via the output 20A the AND gate 9 emits if the comparator 15 emits a high signal at the latest after a waiting time Tw after the beginning of the first time period T1, ie does not emit a comparator signal. On the other hand, the control circuit 20 aborts the cyclical sequence and continuously emits the control signal if the comparator 15 still emits the comparator signal during the first time period T1 after the end of the waiting time Tw, ie a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus "production rate too low" is determined. The consequence of this is, according to the invention, a permanent shutdown of the high voltage HV, ie self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus.

The control circuit 20 is thus set up in such a way that the comparator signal does not lead to the emission of the control signal and therefore not to the high voltage HV being switched off during the time periods Tl before the end of the waiting time Tw, which means that the method according to the invention after the start of the first time period Tl each time for the waiting time Tw is not carried out. This makes sense since a certain time elapses from the switching on of the high voltage HV, that is to say the beginning of the first time period T1, until the gas discharge actually begins, that is to say a mink delay occurs, so that no integral pulse signal is present immediately after the beginning of the first time period T1 and Therefore, the comparator 15 always first determines that the production rate is too low, even when the gas discharge module 2 is functioning properly. A further mink delay arises from the fact that the integral pulse signal rises due to the integration by the integrating circuit 4 only at a limited speed even after the gas discharge has started. The waiting time Tw is therefore preferably chosen to be longer than the sum of the delays mentioned, but of course shorter than the first time period Tl. The waiting time Tw can typically be, for example, 10 milliseconds. In an alternative variant, the threshold value is set to zero during the waiting time Tw, so that during this time the comparator 15 cannot determine a production rate that is too low. In this case, the control circuit 20 need not be set up in such a way that the control signal is never output during the time periods T1 before the end of the waiting time Tw.

According to a further variant, the control circuit is set up in such a way that it does not abort the cyclic sequence or only temporarily, and only emits the control signal temporarily if the comparator 15 still emits the comparator signal during the first period T1 after the end of the waiting time Tw, and after one the cyclical sequence or resets the control signal to determine whether the malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus "production rate too low" occurs again. In this variant, the control signal and thus also the switching signal are reset after the holding time, which leads to the high voltage being switched on again. For this purpose, the control circuit can be connected or equipped with a reset circuit, which is capable of triggering a reset of the control signal after the holding period has elapsed after triggering the control signal, and thus also triggering a reset of the switching signal.

According to a further variant, the number of these resets is limited, ie after a certain number of resets the switching signal is output permanently and the cyclical sequence is not started again. For this purpose, the reset circuit can be placed in an active or in an inactive state, it being able, and only in the active state, to trigger a reset of the switching signal. A counter counts the number of resets and puts the reset circuit in the inactive state when the number of resets exceeds a certain limit. In a further variant of the invention, the control signal and thus the self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus are emitted both when the integral pulse signal is less than a predetermined first threshold value and when the integral pulse signal is greater than a predetermined second threshold value, so that the gas discharge apparatus monitors itself for both a too low and too high a production rate. For this purpose, the comparison circuit can comprise two comparators. In particular, the second threshold value can be lower during the second time periods T2 than during the first time periods T1, and the first threshold value can be set to zero or to a negative value during the second time periods T2, so that the threshold values vary over time. In this way, a self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus can advantageously also be forced if a gas discharge activity is detected during the second time periods T2. This makes sense, since a gas discharge activity during the second time period T2 is a clear indication of a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus. The first threshold value can also be set to zero or to a negative value during the waiting times Tw.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of the integrating circuit 4 and the comparator 15 from FIG. 6, a counter circuit is used which emits a low signal as a counter signal when the first condition is met, is monitored by the control circuit 20 for malfunction and in turn the control circuit 20 monitored for malfunction.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an example of a time course of the output voltages of the control circuit 20 at the output 20A, the comparator 15 at the output 15A, the alarm circuit 7 at the output 7A and the AND gate 9 of the gas discharge apparatus from FIG. 6.

The control circuit 20 outputs via its output 20A in a cyclical sequence for the first time period T1, which in FIG. 7 from time t1 to time t4 is sufficient, a high signal, then a control signal for the second time period T2, time t4 to time t5, which is a low signal in the example of FIGS. 6 and 7. Thereafter, in a next cycle from time t5 to time t8, control circuit 20 again outputs the high signal for a first time period T1, etc. (FIG. 7a)

The alarm circuit does not detect a malfunction of the control circuit 20 in the example of FIG. 7 and therefore gives (FIG. 7c) a permanent high signal, i.e. no alarm signal, which would be a low signal in the example of FIGS. 6 and 7, as explained above.

From time t1 to time t4 and from time t5 to time t8, a high signal is therefore present at both inputs of the AND gate 9, which causes the AND gate 9 to cause a high signal at the input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21. Deliver signal (Fig. 7d). This means that the high voltage HV is switched on from time t1 to time t4 and from time t5 to time t8.

From time t4 to time t5, the control circuit 20 outputs the control signal (FIG. 7a), which has the consequence that the AND gate 9 for this period the switching signal S, which in the example of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 Is low signal, outputs to the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21, so that the high voltage HV is switched off in this period (Fig. 7d).

The high voltage HV is thus present between the electrodes 2A, 2B of the gas discharge module 2 from the time t1 to the time t4 and from the time t5 to the time t8. For physical reasons, a certain time elapses from switching on the high voltage HV, times tl and t5 until the gas discharge actually begins, so that an integral pulse signal is not present immediately after the beginning of the first time periods Tl. Another delay arises from the fact that the integral pulse signal is due to the integration through the integrating circuit 4, even after the onset of gas discharge, rises only at a limited speed. The integral pulse signal therefore only exceeds the threshold value at times t2 and t6. As a result, the comparator 15 only emits a high signal from these points in time (FIG. 7b).

The control circuit 20 continues the cyclic sequence T1-T2-T1-T2 etc., provided that the comparator 15 emits a high signal at the latest after a waiting time Tw after the beginning of the first time period T1. The waiting time Tw is selected in accordance with FIG. Tb such that its end is reached at the time t3 or t7, that is to say after the time t2 or t6 and before the time t4 or t8. The first time period T1 is therefore preferably chosen to be significantly longer than the waiting time Tw. At times t3 and t7, the comparator 15 has therefore already started to emit a high signal, so that the cyclical sequence T1-T2-T1-T2, etc is continued.

At time t4, however, the control circuit 20 emits the control signal (FIG. 7a). As explained above, this leads to the high voltage HV being switched off and thus to the gas discharge being extinguished. The integral pulse signal therefore drops again below the threshold value at times t4 and t8, so that the comparator signal is emitted (FIG. 7b).

8 schematically shows a block diagram of a preferred further variant of a gas discharge apparatus according to the invention. This particularly advantageous variant differs from the gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 6 in that the integrating circuit 4, the comparator 15, the control circuit 20 and the alarm circuit 7 of FIG. 6 are not present, and in that the gas discharge apparatus of FIG. 7 has one Rectifier 22 with an output 22A and an input 22E, a limit switch 23 with a terminal 23B, a counting circuit 30 with two inputs 30B, 30E and two outputs 30A, 30B and an alarm circuit 17, also called watchdog, with an input 17E and two outputs 17A, 17B. The rectifier 22 is an RF rectifier, also called a demodulator. Its input 22E is connected to the decoupling output 31C. A high-pass filter with a cut-off frequency of 500 kHz is preferably interposed between this and the input 22E (not shown), which allows the current pulses, but not the fundamental frequency, of the high voltage HV to pass. After being decoupled, the current pulses pass through the rectifier 22 and leave it via the output 22A with a uniform polarity.

From the output 22A of the rectifier 22, the current pulses reach the limit switch 23, which in particular can be a comparator. A predetermined limit value is applied to terminal 23B of limit switch 23. The limit switch 23 outputs a digital signal via its output 23A only when the level of a current pulse exceeds the limit.

The output 23 A of the limit switch 23 is connected to an input 30E of the counter circuit 30. This counts the digital signals emitted by the limit switch 23, so that only those current pulses are counted whose level exceeds the limit.

The counter circuit 30 is preferably an EDP device such as a microcontroller or a microprocessor and is set up in such a way that it outputs a cyclic sequence via the output 30A for the first time period T1 and then for the second time period T2 a counter signal, which in the example of Fig. 8 is a low signal to the AND gate 9, provided that at the latest a certain waiting time after the beginning of the first time period T1 a counting result has been achieved which is greater than a first comparison number, which means that the production rate is not too low was found. In this case, the cyclical sequence is continued.

The counting period is preferably chosen to be shorter than the first or second period. The gas discharge starts after the High voltage has a certain inertia for physical reasons, so that after the high voltage is switched on, a specific build-up time of typically, for example, 10 milliseconds elapses before current pulses occur. No current pulses are therefore to be expected immediately after the beginning of the first time spans. The waiting time is therefore preferably chosen to be so long that at least one complete counting period falls within the time interval between the end of the set-up time and the end of the waiting time.

The counter circuit 30 is also set up in such a way that it aborts the cyclical sequence and permanently emits the counter signal if, after the end of the waiting time and before the end of the first period of time, a count result which is smaller than the first comparison number, i.e. a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus "production rate too low" is determined. The consequence of this is, according to the invention, a permanent shutdown of the high voltage HN, i.e. Automatic shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus.

According to a preferred variant, the counter circuit 30 also aborts the cyclic sequence and continuously emits the counter signal if a count result is achieved which is greater than a predetermined second comparison number, which is greater than the first comparison number, i.e. a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus "production rate too high" is determined. The consequence of this is also, according to the invention, a permanent shutdown of the high voltage HV, i.e. Automatic shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus.

In particular, the second comparison number can be lower during the second time periods T2 than during the first time periods T1, and the first comparison number can be set to zero or to a negative value during the second time periods T2, so that the comparison numbers vary over time. In this way, a self-shutdown of the gas discharge apparatus can advantageously also be forced if current pulses are detected during the second time periods T2, while at the same time a production rate which is too low cannot be ascertained during the second time periods T2. This makes sense since no current pulses are to be expected during the second time periods T2 and the occurrence of such during the second time periods T2 is a clear indication of a malfunction of the gas discharge apparatus. The first comparison number can also be set to zero or to a negative value during the waiting times Tw.

The counter circuit 30 has two outputs 30A, 30B and two inputs 30E, 30F. One input 30E is connected to the output 23E of the limit switch 23. One output 30 A of the counter circuit 30 is connected to an input of the AND gate 9, the output 9A of which is connected to the input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21.

The other input of the AND gate 9 is connected to the output 17A of the alarm circuit 17, the function of which will be explained below. Furthermore, the other output 17B of the alarm circuit 17 is connected to the second input 30B of the counter circuit 30.

The AND gate 9 only outputs a high signal to the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21 when a high signal is present at both inputs of the AND gate 9. In this case, the high voltage HV is switched on. If, on the other hand, even one of the inputs of the AND gate 9 receives a low signal, the AND gate 9 outputs the switching signal, which is a low signal in the example of FIG. 7, to the input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21, which leads to the high voltage HV being switched off.

The alarm circuit 17 has two outputs 17A, 17B and an input 17E. One input 30E of the counter control circuit 30 is connected to the output 23A of the limit switch 23, the other input 30F to the input 17E of the alarm circuit 17. The alarm circuit 17 monitors the function of the counter control circuit 30 in a manner known per se and is therefore also referred to as a "watchdog". For this purpose, the counter circuit 30 temporarily or continuously emits an output signal or output signals to the input 7E of the alarm circuit 7 via its output 30B, which indicate that the control circuit 30 is functioning properly. The alarm circuit 17 evaluates the output signals and outputs an alarm signal via its output 17A if the output signals or a failure thereof indicate a malfunction of the counting control circuit 30, the alarm signal being a low signal in the example of FIG. 8, which leads to the shutdown of the high voltage HV via the AND gate 9. If the alarm circuit 7 does not detect a malfunction of the counter circuit 30, however, it outputs a high signal via its output 7A in the example of FIG. 8. The alarm circuit 7 is thus able to monitor the counter circuit 30 for proper functioning and to trigger the shutdown of the high voltage HV when a malfunction thereof is determined.

Conversely, if the alarm circuit 17 functions properly, it outputs control signals to the input 30F of the counter circuit 30 via the output 7B. This evaluates the control signals and outputs the counter signal via its output 30A if the same or a failure thereof indicate a malfunction of the alarm circuit 17, so that the counter circuit 30 monitors the alarm circuit 17 for proper functioning and, if a malfunction thereof is found, also the shutdown of the Triggers high voltage HV, which further increases the operational safety of the gas discharge apparatus.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an example of a temporal course of the output voltages of the counter circuit 30 at its output 30A, the limit value circuit 23 at its output 23 A, the alarm circuit 17 at its output 17A and the AND gate 9 of the gas discharge apparatus from FIG. 8. The counter circuit 30 outputs a high signal via its output 30A in a cyclical sequence for the first time period Tl, which in FIG. 9 extends from time tll to time tl4, then for the second time period T2, time tl4 to time tl5. a counter signal, which is a low signal in the example of FIGS. 8 and 9. Thereafter, in a next cycle from time tl5 to time tl8, the counter circuit 30 again outputs the high signal for a first time Tl, etc. (FIG. 9a)

In the example of FIG. 9, the alarm circuit 17 does not detect a malfunction of the counter circuit 30 and therefore gives (FIG. 9c) a permanent high signal, i.e. no alarm signal, which would be a low signal in the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, as explained above.

From time tll to time tl4 and from time tl5 to time tl8, a high signal is therefore present at both inputs of the AND gate 9, causing the AND gate 9 to cause a high signal at the input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21. Deliver signal (Fig. 9d). This means that the high voltage HV is switched on from time tll to time tl4 and from time tl5 to time tl8.

From the time tl4 to the time tl5, the counter circuit 30 outputs the counter signal (FIG. 9a), which has the consequence that the AND gate 9 for this period inputs the switching signal S, which in the example of FIGS. 8 and 9 Is low signal, outputs to the input 21E of the high voltage generator 21, so that the high voltage HV is switched off in this period (Fig. 9d).

The high voltage HV is thus present between the electrodes 2A, 2B of the gas discharge module 2 from the time tll to the time tl4 and from the time tl5 to the time tl8. From the switching on of the high voltage HV, times tll and tl5, until the actual onset of the gas discharge, a certain build-up time A passes for physical reasons, so that Immediately after the beginning of the first time periods Tl, there are no current pulses, but only at the times tl2 or tl6. Digital signals can therefore only be emitted from the limit switch 23 from these points in time, which are shown symbolically in FIG. 9b as irregularly distributed vertical bars. The actual number of digital signals can be a multiple of that shown in Fig. 9b.

A further mink delay arises from the fact that the counting period is required to achieve a counting result.

The waiting time Tw is therefore preferably chosen to be so long that at least one complete counting period falls within the time interval between the end of the set-up time A (times tl2, tl6) and the end of the waiting time Tw (times tl3, tl7). The first time period T1 is preferably chosen to be significantly longer than the waiting time Tw.

The counting circuit 30 continues the cyclic sequence T1-T2-T1-T2 etc., provided that at the end of the waiting time Tw after the beginning of the first time period T1 there is a count result which is greater than the first and less than the second comparison number. Further counting periods can fall in the period tl3 to tl4 or tl7 to tl8. The switching signal S is triggered if a counting result is achieved which is greater than the first and smaller than the second comparison number.

In some cases it is advantageous for safety reasons to limit the maximum amount of ozone produced by the size of the ozone generator, so to speak, "hardware-wise", for example to values of 30-50 mg / h. In these cases, it is appropriate to operate the ozone generator to keep the required high-frequency AC voltage or pulsating DC voltage at a constantly high voltage value, which usually corresponds to the maximum voltage of the selected driver circuit and is usually approx. 5-5.5KV. In order to control the production volume of ions and ozone, the high voltage is switched on and off continuously. The ratio of ON to OFF is in direct proportion to the amount of ozone actually produced. The maximum ozone quantity can be divided practically arbitrarily by the division ratio. This known method "pulse width modulation" (internationally called "PWM") is advantageously designed by security and control functions.

FIG. 1 shows the control and regulating circuit according to the invention with the following legend:

101 high voltage generator (with transformer or as piezo generator)

2 dielectric discharge module (ozone and ion source)

31 Decoupling for high-frequency discharge pulses 104 Filters for high-frequency discharge pulses and rectification or pulse conditioning

105 comparator, (e.g. Schmitt trigger) and / or counter module

106 micro-controller

107 Watchdog circuit, alarm circuit, for monitoring the microcontroller

108 BUS driver, bidirectional

109 NAND gate, the output controls the high-voltage generator ON / OFF, consists, for example, of two transistors connected in series that interrupt the supply voltage, each of which is controlled by signals from the watchdog or from the microcontroller.

110 signal from the watchdog "μController is working correctly"

111 signal from the μController "high voltage generation = ON" 12 signal from the NAND link "high voltage ON / OFF" The high voltage generator 101 is switched on and off by the signal 112. When the high-frequency high voltage (approx. 20-100KHz; 4 - 5.5KV) generated in this generator is applied to the dielectric discharge module 2, there are short-term and high-energy discharge pulses in the frequency spectrum between 1-10MHz.

These pulses are, for example, inductively 3 decoupled by the coupling element 31 via a high-pass filter 104 and in this respect separated from the frequency of the high-frequency high voltage and rectified. The voltage obtained in this way is converted into a digital switching level in a comparator 105 and read by the microcontroller 106. Alternatively, the high-frequency signal generated by the discharges could also be coupled out capacitively. In the further course of the description, however, only the inductive coupling is mentioned.

It is obvious that this voltage can only arise if there are dielectric impeded electrical discharges in the discharge module 2. Since each individual discharge generates a small, comparable amount of ozone, there is a direct connection as follows:

Number of discharge pulses - »amount of ozone and ions produced

According to the invention, the following, advantageous applies to the control and regulating circuit

Logic: Signal 112 can only come about if two other signals are linked at the same time:

1: A higher-level controller used to control the microcontroller 106

Circuit 107 (called "watchdog") gives a signal 110, which can only arise if the microcontroller is working properly. 2. A signal 111 generated by the microcontroller gives the command that

Switch on high voltage generator. The two signals 110; 111 are linked together in a logic circuit (AND function). Only when both signals are present, the output of the logic circuit 109 switches to the switching function "high voltage generator = ON".

If one of the signals is missing, the high voltage generator cannot be switched on.

The pulse bundle / pause ratio, i.e. The ratio of time period 214 / time period 204 is set by the software so that the number of electrical discharges (filaments) generated per unit of time corresponds to a predetermined number, which strictly results in a specific production quantity (mg / h). The amount of ozone production is inevitably adjustable and highly constant over long-term operation.

FIG. 11 shows the chronological sequence of the logical links with it

Legend:

210 Timeline for controlling high voltage generator (201 = active) from microcontroller 211 Timeline for rectified and digitized on the comparator

Discharge pulses as function feedback "ozone generation /

Ionization works "

212 Timeline function high voltage generator

213 Time axis of the signal from the watchdog "Micro controller is working correctly".

201 Start control of high voltage generator, start of high voltage generation

202 Start of the extension time for high voltage generation 203 End of the activation of high voltage generation

204 pause - variably controlled by the μC - until the next

drive pulse 205 High voltage pulse following in time

206 End, feedback pulse "ozone generation / ionization no longer works"

207 Start, feedback pulse "ozone generation / ionization is working"

208 high voltage generator works as a function of the control signals

209 watchdog signal "μController is working correctly"

214 - in principle variable - time period generated by the microcontroller in which the high voltage is switched on.

Control logic flow.

The central control and regulating unit - the microcontroller - interacts with the higher-level monitoring circuit - watchdog. If the microcontroller is working properly, the watchdog provides a signal 110 which, when functioning properly, is permanently applied to an input of the logic circuit 109.

The microcontroller generates a pulse 201 via the signal line 111, which drives the high-voltage generator: ON. If the logic circuit is enabled by the application of the watchdog signal 110, this pulse 201 reaches the high-voltage generator and switches it on, which leads to the generation of high voltage and as a result of discharges. These discharges are processed via the coupling 31 and the signal conditioning 114. A short time - approximately 10 msec - after the high-voltage generator is switched on, the presence of this voltage 202 can be determined by the microcontroller.

From time 202, the microcontroller holds the high-voltage generator in the "ON" function for a freely selected time. After this ON-time 203 has expired, the microcontroller takes back this pulse and thus switches the high-voltage generator "OFF". After a period 204 (OFF) stored in the microcontroller, the cycle begins again. Should after switching on the High-voltage generator does not have the feedback discharge signal at the output of 104 within a predetermined period of time, then there is a fault.

The microcontroller will try the cycle another 10 times, for example. If the ignition of the discharges cannot then be erroneously determined, the microcontroller signals via interface 108 that there is a fault.

In normal operation, the ratio of the two time periods 214 (ON) and 204 (OFF) is preferably selected so that a ratio of approximately 10: 1 results. Depending on the selected geometry of the discharge module 2 and the applied high-frequency voltage (approx. 5KV), an ozone quantity of approx. 15 mg / h is produced. With an air volume of e.g. 100m3 / h (= 140kg air / h) an ozone concentration in the order of the following table is produced:

Ozone air concentration mg / h m3 / h mg / m3 ppb

15 100 0.15 0.075

It is possible to command the microcontroller other ON / OFF conditions via the interface 108. This is the case, for example, if the desired ozone concentration is to be reduced considerably for certain reasons, for example to values of 5 mg / h, which would result in a concentration of 25ppb for a given amount of air. In this case, the microcontroller will decrease time 214 (ON) and increase time 204 (OFF) until the desired ON / OFF ratio is obtained.

According to the invention, the repetition of the cycle presupposes that there are short-term, high-energy discharges in the dielectric discharge module 2, which are reported back to the microcontroller via the described feedback path. During the time period "OFF" 204, the microcontroller checks, according to the program, that there are no feedback signals from discharge activity. If this is nevertheless the case, the high-voltage generator is forcibly switched off, for example by blocking the series-connected transistor elements that form the AND gate. Switches 109.

In principle, other logical processes and other electronic circuits are conceivable.

However, all conceivable variables include the idea according to the invention that the signal which characterizes the ozone generation and is obtained from the discharge pulses is always part of a logic chain, and that when the signal indicating feedback and high-energy discharges occurs differently than intended in the program sequence, the system does this Programmatically interpreted as a fault, thus preventing the high-voltage generator from being switched on and secondly issuing an error message via the interface.

Industrial Applicability: The invention is industrially applicable e.g. in the field of air treatment with ozone and air conditioning technology, especially in motor vehicles or in hospitals.

The invention encompasses a method for operating an electrical gas discharge apparatus which is used to generate oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air and which has a gas discharge module 2, in particular one for dielectrically impeded discharge, with two electrodes 2A, 2B, between which one has a Supply line 11 and a return line 12, a high voltage HV generated by a high-voltage generator 1, 21, 101 is applied at least temporarily, which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and which is a gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2 and an electrical current through the outgoing line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12, and the gas discharge produces discharge pulses, each of which generates a radiation flash and a stiom pulse, the current pulses superimposing the current as current pulses or noise and with each discharge pulse on average, a certain individual amount Mo of ozone and possibly oxygen ions and oxygen atoms is generated, and a switching signal S which switches off the high voltage HV of the high voltage generator 1, 21, 101 and / or triggers a fault message is then generated if - either within a predetermined counting period occurring

Current pulses or radiation flashes are counted by a counter circuit 14, 30 and the count result is smaller or larger than a predetermined one

Comparison number, first condition, or the Stiornimpulse or the noise generate a pulse signal and this is compared with a predetermined threshold, and that

Pulse signal is smaller or larger than a predetermined threshold value, second

Condition.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the current pulses or the noise through a decoupling element 31, 32 e.g. can be coupled out inductively or capacitively from the outgoing line 11 or the return line 12.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the current pulses or the noise pass through a filter, in particular a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter 104.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the current pulses or the noise pass through a diode or are rectified after coupling out, so that the pulse signal has no alternating polarity, where appropriate only those current pulses are counted whose size exceeds a predetermined limit.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method so that the radiation flashes are detected by a radiation detector and converted into current pulses.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the current pulses or the noise with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant are integrated in time by an integrating circuit (24, 34), so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the current pulses are passed to a limit value switch which only emits a digital signal when the magnitude of a current pulse exceeds a certain limit value, and the digital signals with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant to the pulse signal be integrated so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method so that it is carried out continuously or at predetermined time intervals or only at predetermined times.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the high voltage HN, as long as the first or second condition is not met, by a control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 or by the counting circuit 30 in a cyclic sequence for a first time period T1 is switched on and then switched off for a second time period T2, the ratio of the duration of the first time period T1 to the duration of the second time period T2 either being kept constant or being changed for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen atoms or oxygen ions. The above-mentioned method is further preferred, the switching signal S also being generated under the condition, third condition, that an alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 emits an alarm signal.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method so that the alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 the gas discharge apparatus and / or the gas discharge module 2 and / or the control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 and / or the counting circuit 14, 30 and / or the integrating circuit 4 for malfunction monitors and issues an alarm signal if one is detected.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 is monitored for malfunction by the control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 or the counting circuit 30 and the control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 or the counting circuit 30 when a malfunction is detected Alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 emits or triggers the switching signal S.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the method is not carried out after the start of the first time period T1 for a certain waiting time Tw that is shorter than the first time period T1.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the comparison number or the threshold value are changed over time.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the switching signal S is reset after a predetermined holding time has elapsed after it has been generated.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the number of times the switching signal S has been triggered is counted and the switching signal S is then reset after a predetermined holding time after it has been triggered. is set when the number of trips does not exceed a certain maximum value and is otherwise no longer reset.

The invention further comprises a method for operating an electrical gas discharge apparatus which is used to generate oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air and which has a gas discharge module 2, in particular one for dielectric barrier discharge, with two electrodes 2A, 2B, between which over a supply line 11 and a return line 12 a high voltage HV generated by a high-voltage generator 1, 21, 101 is applied at least temporarily, which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and which is a gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2 and an electrical current through the supply line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12 generates, and the gas discharge produces discharge pulses, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse, the current pulses superimposing the current as current pulses or noise and, on average, a specific individual for each discharge pulse Ge Mo of ozone and possibly of oxygen ions and oxygen atoms arises, and a switching signal S is generated when either the current pulses or radiation flashes occurring within a predetermined counting period are counted by a counter circuit 14.30 and the counting result is smaller or greater than a predetermined one Comparison number, first condition, or the current pulses or the noise generate a pulse signal and this is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the pulse signal is smaller or greater than a predetermined threshold value, second condition, the number of times the switching signal S is counted and the switching signal S is then reset after a predetermined holding time after it has been triggered, if the number of trips does not exceed a certain limit value and is no longer reset and the high voltage HV of the high-voltage generator 1, 21, 101 is switched off and / or one Fault message is triggered when the number of trips exceeds the limit.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the switching signal S and / or the fault message is triggered both when the counting result is smaller than a first comparison number and also when the counting result is greater than a second comparison number. which is greater than the first comparison number, or is triggered both when the pulse signal is less than a first threshold value, and also when the pulse signal is greater than a second threshold value which is greater than the first threshold value.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method such that the second comparison number or the second threshold value is selected to be lower during the second time periods T2 than during the first time periods T1, and the first comparison number or the first threshold value is set to zero during the second time periods T2 or is set to a negative value.

It is further preferred to design the aforementioned method in such a way that the discharge pulses are counted by counting the radiation flashes.

The invention also includes a gas discharge apparatus for generating oxygen ions, oxygen atoms and ozone in the air, comprising a gas discharge module 2, in particular one for dielectric barrier discharge, with two electrodes 2A, 2B, between which, at least temporarily, via a supply line 11 and a return line 12 there is a high voltage HV generated by a high-voltage generator 1, 21, 101, which is an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage and which generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2 and an electrical current through the feed line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12, through which gas discharge Dung discharge pulses arise, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse, the current pulses to the current as current pulses or noise and with each discharge pulse a certain individual amount Mo of ozone and possibly oxygen ions and oxygen atoms is formed, and the gas discharge apparatus either comprises a counting circuit 14, 30 which is capable of the number of current pulses or radiation flashes occurring during a predetermined counting period to count and to compare the counting result with a predetermined comparison number and to trigger a switching signal S on the condition, first condition, that the counting result is smaller or greater than the predetermined comparison number, or is able to, from the current pulses or the noise Generate pulse signal and compare this with the aid of a comparison circuit 5.15 with a predetermined threshold value and trigger the switching signal S under the condition, second condition, that the pulse signal is smaller or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the switching signal S being an abs is able to switch the high voltage HN and / or to output a fault message.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the gas discharge apparatus comprises a decoupling element 31, 32, which is able to transmit the current pulses e.g. to be inductively or capacitively decoupled from the outgoing line 11 or the return line 12 and emitted via a decoupling output 31C, 32C.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that a filter, in particular a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter, is interposed between the decoupling output 31Q32C and the zero comparison circuit 5.15 or the counter circuit 14.30.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that a rectifier 22 or a diode between the decoupling output 31C, 32C and the comparison circuit 5, 15 or the counter circuit 14 is interposed so that the pulse signal has no alternating polarity.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that a limit switch 23 is interposed between the decoupling output 31 32C and the counter circuit 14, 30, which then and only then outputs a digital signal to the counter circuit 14, 30 when the level of a current pulse determines a specific one Limit value exceeds, so that the counter circuit 14, 30 counts only those current pulses whose level exceeds the limit value.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that it has a radiation detector which is able to detect the radiation flashes and convert them into current pulses.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that an integrating circuit 24, 34 is connected upstream of the Nerg comparison circuit, which is able to integrate the current pulses or the noise with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant, so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal is.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the rectifier 22 or the diode is interposed between the decoupling output 31 32C and the integrating circuit 24, 34.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the counting circuit 30 is able to switch on the high voltage HN in a cyclical sequence for a first time period T1 and then to switch it off for a second time period T2 as long as the first condition is not fulfilled, the ratio the duration of the first time period T1 to the duration of the second time period T2 is either fixed or can be changed for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms, or the gas discharge apparatus has a control circuit 6, 10, 20 which, as long as the first or second condition is not met, is able to switch on the high voltage HV in a cyclical sequence for a first time period T1 and then to switch it off for a second time period T2, whereby the ratio of the duration of the first time period T1 to the duration of the second time period T2 is either fixed or can be changed for the purpose of changing the production rate of ozone or oxygen ions or oxygen atoms.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the comparison circuit comprises a comparator 5, 15, to which the pulse signal and the threshold value are applied and which emits a comparator signal when the second condition is met, the comparator signal switching signal S ) is capable of triggering or serves directly as switching signal S.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the control circuit 6, 10, 20 is connected to the comparator 5, 15 and generates a control signal when the comparator 5, 15 outputs the comparator signal, the control signal triggering the switching signal S or immediately serves as switching signal S.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the counter circuit 14 emits a counter signal when the first condition is met, and the control circuit 6, 10, 20 is connected to the counter circuit 14 and is then able to emit a control signal when the counter circuit 14 outputs the counter signal, the control signal being able to trigger the switching signal S or serving directly as the switching signal S.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the gas discharge apparatus additionally has an alarm circuit 7, 17, 107, which is also able to trigger the switching signal S. It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 the gas discharge apparatus and / or the gas discharge module 2 and / or the control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 and / or the counter circuit 14, 30 and / or the integrating circuit 4 and / or to monitor the comparator 5, 15 for malfunction and, if such is found, the switching signal S can be triggered.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the control circuit 6, 10, 20, 106 or the counting circuit 30 is able to monitor the alarm circuit 7, 17, 107 for malfunction and to trigger the switching signal S when a malfunction of the alarm circuit 7 is detected or leave.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the comparison number or the threshold value is variable over time.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the gas discharge apparatus comprises a reset circuit which is able to reset the latter after a predetermined holding time has elapsed after triggering the switching signal S.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the gas discharge apparatus comprises a reset circuit and a counter, the counter being able to detect the number of times the switching signal S has been triggered and to compare it with a predetermined maximum value, and the reset circuit is then and only then able to reset the switch signal after a predetermined holding time has elapsed after the switching signal has been triggered if the number of trips does not exceed the maximum value.

It is further preferred to design the gas discharge apparatus in such a way that the counting circuit 14, 24 is connected to a sensor for electromagnetic radiation which is able to detect the radiation flashes and detect them with each Radiation flash to deliver a pulse, and the counter circuit (14, 24) is able to count the pulses.

List of reference numerals for figure set I:

1, 21,121 high voltage generators

1E, 21E inputs from 1, 21

2 gas discharge module

2A, B electrodes of 2

4 integrating circuit

4A output from 4

5, 15 comparators

5A, 15A outputs of 5

5B, 15B terminals

6, 10, 20,106 control circuits

7,17,107 alarm circuits

7A, B, 17A, B outputs from 7.17

7E, 17E input from 7.17

9 AND gates

10A, E input, output of 10

11 forwarding

12 return line

14.30 counter circuit

14A output from 14

18 OR gates

18A output from 18

20A, B outputs of 20

20E, F inputs of 20

22 rectifiers

22A, E output, input of 22

23 limit switches

23B clamp of 23

30A, B outputs of 30

30E, F inputs of 30

31, 32 decoupling elements 31A, B windings of 31

32A, B capacitor, resistance of 32

31C, 32C decoupling output of 31.32

104 filters 108 bus drivers

1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a controllable ozone generator according to the invention with a counter and inductive coupling, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a controllable ozone generator according to the invention with capacitive coupling, FIG. 3 shows an example for a typical time sequence of current pulses to generate a constant ozone production rate,

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate, Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate, Fig. 6 shows an example of a chronological sequence of switching the high voltage of the 5, and FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate, and FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate.

In the figures, components with completely or essentially corresponding functions are assigned the same reference numerals.

1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a controllable ozone generator according to the invention, comprising a high-voltage generator 1 with an input 1E, a gas discharge module 2 with two electrodes 2A, 2B, a counter 14 with an output 14A, and an inductive coupling element 31 with a coupling output 31 , The high-voltage generator 1 is able to generate a high voltage HV, which in the example of FIG. 1 is a sinusoidal alternating voltage with a frequency of typically 20 ... 100 kHz and a voltage of typically 4 ... 6 kV. The high-voltage generator 1 is set up in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched off when a switching signal is present at the input 1E and is switched on when there is no switching signal at the input 1E.

The gas discharge module 2 is one for dielectric barrier discharge; in such a case there are at least two different dielectrics between the electrodes 2A, 2B, but this is not shown.

The high voltage HV is applied via a feed line 11 and a return line 12 between the two electrodes 2A, 2B and generates a gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2, which leads to the production of ozone and an electrical current through the feed line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12 generated. The gas discharge produces rapid discharge pulses, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse superimposed on the current. The number of discharge pulses, the number of radiation flashes and the number of current pulses are therefore identical to one another. The individual discharge pulses are generally of a much shorter duration than the half-waves of the high voltage HV; you can e.g. Last 0.1 microseconds and thereby amplitudes of e.g. Reach 50 volts; these values naturally depend on the operating conditions and the geometry of the gas discharge module 2. Typically e.g. 5 to 50 discharge pulses per half-wave of the high voltage HV.

The current pulses are decoupled from the return line 12 by the decoupling element 31 and fed to the counter 14 via the decoupling output 31C. In the example of FIG. 1, the coupling-out element 31 is a transformer or transformer 31, one winding 31B of which is interposed in the return line 12 and the other winding 31A of which is connected to the counter 14. The Coupling element 31 is therefore an inductive coupling element in the example of FIG. 1.

Each discharge pulse generates a certain average individual amount Mo of ozone, so that the amount of ozone produced is essentially proportional to the number of discharge pulses. Typical values for the single amount Mo are e.g. 2 to 8 picograms of ozone (per discharge pulse), whereby this value of course also depends on the geometry of the gas discharge module. A certain total quantity Msetpoint to be produced therefore corresponds essentially to a certain setpoint number of discharge pulses required for this purpose, which is given by the quotient Msetpoint / Mo. After this number of discharge pulses has been generated, the high voltage HV is switched off.

The counter 14 of Fig. 1 is used to count the number of current pulses and is able to deliver the switching signal via its output 14 A to the input 1E of the high voltage generator 1 when the counting result reaches the target number Nset, which results in the high voltage HV and thus leading to the end of ozone production.

2 shows a block diagram of a further variant of an ozone generator according to the invention. The ozone generator of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 only in that, instead of the inductive coupling element 31, it has a capacitive coupling element 32 which has a resistor 32B interposed in the return conductor 12 and a resistor 32B connected between the return conductor 12 and the counter 14 Capacitor 32A. The decoupling element 32 outputs the decoupled current pulses to the counter 14 via a decoupling output 32 C.

The ozone generators of FIGS. 1 and 2 can very easily be expanded in such a way that the total ozone quantity Msetpoint to be produced is generated periodically T at repeated intervals. For this purpose the counter be set up so that he is able to reset the counter after switching on the high voltage HV after every fixed period T and switch the high voltage HV on again, the period T being selected so that the counting result of the counter before the end of the period T is Target number Nset reached. In this way, the ozone generator is operated at a substantially constant average ozone production rate.

FIG. 3 illustrates this variant using an example of a typical chronological sequence of current pulses to generate a constant ozone production rate. The high voltage HV is switched on for the first time at the time t1. Current pulses P arise, which are shown symbolically in FIG. 3 as irregularly distributed vertical bars. The actual number of current pulses P can be many times greater than that shown in FIG. 3. The counter counts the Stiomimpulse; at time t2, their number has reached the target number Nset, so that the high voltage HV is switched off and no more current pulses occur. After a period T, the end of which coincides with a time t3, the counter is reset, i.e. the counter value is set to zero, and the high voltage HV is switched on again, so that current pulses P occur again, which are counted again by the counter, whereupon the setpoint number Nsetpoint is reached again at a time t4, etc.

In this way, a certain predeterminable total amount of ozone is generated in each period T, that is to say at regular time intervals T. The ozone generator is thus operated at an essentially constant average production rate, which is given by the quotient total amount / period.

According to another variant, a specific predetermined ozone target quantity Msetpoint to be produced is essentially produced by first counting the discharge pulses or current pulses for a predetermined counting time period Tz. The counting result obtained in this way is referred to below as Ntzist, ie a number of Ntzist of current pulses is counted in the counting time period Tz. This Number Ntz is corresponds to an amount of ozone Mtz, which was generated within the counting period Tz by the number Ntzist of current pulses and is given by the product Ntzist * Mo, where Mo is the amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse.

From the counting time period Tz and the amount of ozone Mtz produced within the same, it can be calculated by linear extrapolation of the amount of ozone produced as a function of time, after which time, first production time period Tpl, the target ozone amount Msetpoint will be produced. According to the invention, the high voltage HV is therefore switched off after the first production period Tpl in accordance with this variant. The first production period Tpl is given by Tpl = Tz * (Msoll / Mtz).

Of course, in this variant, the counting period Tz should be selected such that the target ozone quantity Msetpoint has not yet been exceeded at the end of the counting period Tz. In the case of a large number Ntz, there are pulses counted within the counting period, i.e. little statistical relative fluctuation due to non-uniform, statistical temporal distribution of the pulses, the first and second production periods Tpl, Tp2 are practically identical to one another.

According to an alternative variant, the counting period Tz and the counted number of current pulses Ntzist within the same can also be calculated by linear extrapolation of this counted number of pulses as a function of time, after which time, second production time period Tp2, a target pulse number Nsetpoint is reached, which corresponds to the target ozone quantity Mset. The desired number of pulses Nsoll required for the production of the desired ozone quantity Msoll is given by the quotient Msoll / Mo. According to the invention, the high voltage HV is therefore switched off after the second production period Tp2, which is given by Tp2 = Tz * (Nsoll / Ntzist). According to these variants, too, an essentially constant mean ozone production rate can be achieved by periodically repeating the procedures explained.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate. This has a high voltage generator 21, the output voltage, the high voltage HN, of which is controllable. For this purpose, the high voltage generator 21 has a control input 21E and is set up in such a way that the effective value of the high voltage HN is proportional to the magnitude of the voltage present at the control input. The high-voltage generator 21 can thus be controlled via its input 21E.

The high voltage HV is applied via the outgoing line 11 and the return line 12 between the two electrodes 2A, 2B of the gas discharge module 2 and causes a gas discharge in the same, by means of which discharge pulses arise, each of which generates a current pulse superimposed on the current, and the generation of a specific individual quantity Mo caused by ozone.

The current pulses are e.g. decoupled from the return line 12 by the decoupling element 31 and fed to a counter 24 which counts the current pulses occurring during a counting period Tz and is connected to an actual value input 30E of a controller 30. The count result Ntzist is fed to the controller 30 via the input 30E; this can e.g. in the form of an analog signal or a serial or parallel digital signal.

A setpoint Rsoll of the average ozone production rate is specified and e.g. stored in the controller 30. The setpoint Rsoll can e.g. can be entered into the controller via a keyboard.

An arithmetic unit 40, which is connected to the counter 24, uses the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz in order to determine the actual value of the ozone Production rate to determine an average ozone production rate Rist. In the variant illustrated in FIG. 4, this is given by the equation Rist = Ntzist * Mo / Tz. The individual quantity Mo and the counting time period Tz can be stored in the arithmetic logic unit 40; In another variant, the counting period Tz is transmitted from the counter 24 to the arithmetic logic unit 40, for example after each count.

The arithmetic logic unit 40 is connected to a controller 30. This has an output 30A, which is connected to the control input 21E of the high-voltage generator 21. The controller 30 queries the average ozone production rate Rist from the arithmetic unit 40 and compares this with the setpoint value of the production rate Rsoll. The output 30A outputs a control voltage, which is increased or decreased by the controller 30 if the actual value Rist is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll. The effective value of the high voltage HV is thus increased or decreased if the control difference dR = Rsoll-Rist is positive or negative.

As the effective value of the high voltage HV increases, the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses and thus the mean ozone production rate increase; with a decreasing effective value of the high voltage HN, the average temporal density of the discharge pulses and thus also the average ozone production rate decrease.

Thus, the controller 30 is able to control the high voltage generator 21 so that the average ozone production rate Rist is increased or decreased if it is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll, and thus to control the average ozone production rate.

The controller, the arithmetic unit and the counter can in particular be operated jointly by a single appropriately programmed EDP circuit, e.g. Microcontroller.

According to another variant, the arithmetic unit draws the count result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz is not used to determine an average ozone production rate Rist as the actual value of the ozone production rate, but rather to determine an average temporal density of the discharge pulses as the actual density Dist. In the present variant, this is given by the equation Dist = Ntzist / Tz. The controller compares this with a temporal target density Dsoll of the discharge pulses, which is given by the quotient Rsoll / Mo from the target value Rsoll and the individual quantity Mo, and increases or decreases the effective value of the high voltage and thus the mean temporal density of the origin brought discharge pulses, if the average temporal density of the discharge pulses is smaller or larger than the target density.

According to a further variant (not shown), the target value Rsoll of the mean ozone production rate and the counting time period Tz are used to determine a target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting time period Tz. In the present variant, this is given by the equation Ntzsoll = Tz * Rsoll / Mo. The controller compares this with the counting result Ntzist and increases or decreases the effective value of the high voltage and thus the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses that are generated, if the counting result Ntzist is smaller or larger than the target number Ntzsoll. The target number Ntzsoll can be stored in the controller and the counting result Ntzist can be transferred directly from the counter to the controller, so that no arithmetic unit is required. Alternatively, the target number Ntzsoll can be calculated by the arithmetic unit and transferred to the controller, which e.g. can be useful if the counting time Tz or the setpoint Rset should change again and again.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of an ozone generator according to the invention with a regulated ozone production rate, which is similar to that of FIG. 4, but is modified compared to this. Instead of the controllable high-voltage generator 21 from FIG. 4, the ozone generator from FIG High voltage generator 1 of FIG. 1 is used, which is set up in such a way that the high voltage HN is switched off when a switching signal is present at input 1E and is switched on when there is no switching signal at input 1E.

The arithmetic logic unit 40 is connected to the input 20E of a controller 20. This has an output 20A, which is connected to the input 10E of a control circuit 10. The control circuit also has an output 10A, which is connected to the input 1E of the high-voltage generator 1. The control circuit 10 is thus interposed between the regulator 20 and the high voltage generator 1. It does not emit a switching signal via its output 10A in a cyclic sequence for a switch-on time Tl and then outputs a switching signal to the input 1E for a pause T2. Thus, the high voltage HN is switched on in a continuous sequence by the control circuit 10 for the ON period Tl and then switched off for the pause duration T2, as in FIG. 5 by the straight line section of the wavy line HV which is intended to symbolize the time course of the high voltage HV , is indicated.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a chronological sequence of switching the high voltage HV of the ozone generator of FIG. 5 on and off. At a time tl, a switch-on period Tl begins, the control circuit 10 does not emit a switching signal, the high voltage HN is switched on ( Fig. 6 above), there are current pulses P, which are symbolically represented as irregularly distributed vertical bars (Fig. 6 below). The actual number of Stiomimpulse P can be several times larger than shown in Fig. 6. At a time tl3, a pause duration T2 begins, the control circuit 10 begins to deliver the switching signal, high voltage HN is switched off, and there are no more current pulses P. At a time tl5, the next duty cycle Tl begins, high voltage HV is switched on again, and current pulses P are generated again.

A setpoint Rsoll of the average ozone production rate is specified and in the Controller 20 saved. This queries the average ozone production rate Rist from the arithmetic logic unit 40, compares it with the target value of the production rate Rsoll, and outputs a control signal to the control circuit 10 via its output 20A. The controller 20 queries the average ozone production rate Rist from the arithmetic logic unit 40, compares it with the desired value of the production rate Rsoll and controls the control circuit 10 so that the ratio T1 / T2 of the duty cycle T1 to the pause duration T2 is increased if the actual The Rist value is smaller than the setpoint Rset, that is to say the control difference dR = Rset-Rist is positive, and vice versa.

To increase the ratio T1 / T2, the on-time Tl can be extended or the pause time T2 can be shortened or both. According to a preferred variant, in order to increase the ratio T1 / T2, the on-time T1 is lengthened and the pause time T2 is shortened, the total T1 + T2 of the on-time and pause time being kept constant.

As the ratio T1 / T2 increases, the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses and thus the mean ozone production rate increase; with a decreasing ratio T1 / T2, the average temporal density of the discharge pulses and thus also the average ozone production rate decrease. Thus, the controller 20 is able to control the high voltage generator 1 so that the average ozone production rate Rist is increased or decreased if it is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll, and thus to control the average ozone production rate.

The controller, the arithmetic unit, the counter and the control circuit can in particular very advantageously be formed together by a single appropriately programmed EDP circuit, for example a microcontroller. The arithmetic logic unit 40, which is connected to the counter 24, uses the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz in order to determine the actual value of the average ozone production rate Rist. This can be done in a number of ways. According to a preferred special variant of the ozone generator of FIG. 5, the counting time period Tz is chosen to be equal to the sum of the on-time period Tl and the pause duration T2 or to an integer multiple of this sum. In this case, the value of the average ozone production rate Rist is given by the equation Rist = Ntzist * Mo / Tz.

According to a further variant, the counting period Tz becomes much longer, e.g. chosen to be a factor of 10 to 10,000 larger than the sum T1 + T2, so that the relative error in the determination of the average ozone production rate Rist, which can occur when the counting period Tz is not an integral multiple of the sum T1 + T2, is negligible is; in this case Tz need not be an integer multiple of the sum T1 + T2.

According to a further variant of the ozone generator from FIG. 5, the duration of the counting time period Tz is arbitrary, but it is at least partially due to the on time period Tl, since, of course, no discharge pulses occur during the pause period T2. If that part of the counting time period Tz which is attributable to the on-time period Tl is referred to as the overlap time Tüb, the actual value of the production rate Rist essentially results from the equation Rist = Ntzist * Mo * (Tl / Tüb) / (Tl + T2 ). The overlap time Tüb is entered using an example in FIG. 6; it begins there at a time tl2 and ends at time tl3.

According to a further variant (FIG. 7), which has no arithmetic unit, a target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting period Tz is determined from the equation Ntzsoll = Rsoll * (Tl + T2) * (Tüb / Tl) / Mo and in the Controller 20 saved. The controller 20 queries the actual number Ntzist occurring during the counting period from the counter 24, compares it with the target number Ntzsoll and controls the control circuit 10 so that the ratio T1 / T2 of the duty cycle T1 to the pause duration T2 is increased if the actual number -Number Ntzist is smaller than the target number Ntzsoll, ie the control difference dN = Ntzsoll-Ntzist is positive, and vice versa. Since the actual number Ntzist is a measure of the average ozone production rate and the target number Ntzsoll is a measure of the target value of the average ozone production rate, the average ozone production rate is also regulated in this case in accordance with a predetermined target value.

The ozone generators, which are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7, can additionally have a comparator (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 7) which is connected between the decoupling output 31C and 32C and the counters 14 and 24, respectively is interposed and then and only then outputs a digital signal to the counter 14 or 24 when the level of a current pulse exceeds the limit value, so that the counter 14 or 24 counts only those current pulses whose level exceeds the limit value, and no analog current pulses processed. Such current pulses, the level of which does not reach the limit value, are considered here as interference pulses and are not counted. The comparator can be an internal component of the meter instead of being connected upstream of it.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of a control and regulating circuit according to the invention with the following legend: 1 high-voltage generator (with transformer or as a piezo generator)

2 dielectric discharge module (ozone and ion source)

31 decoupling element for the high-frequency current pulses

4 filters for high-frequency discharge pulses and pulse processing

5 comparators, (e.g. Schmitt trigger) and counter module 6 micro-controllers

7 alarm circuit, watch dog circuit for monitoring the microcontroller

8 bus drivers, bidirectional

9 NAND gate or other logic circuit, the output controls the high-voltage generator ON / OFF, for example consists of two series-connected, interrupting the supply voltage Transistors, which are controlled by signals from the watchdog or from the microcontroller.

50 signal from the watchdog "μController is working correctly"

51 Signal from the μController "High voltage generation = ON" 52 Signal from the NAND MEMBER "High voltage ON / OFF"

The high voltage generator 1 is switched on and off by the signal 52. When the high-frequency high voltage (approx. 20-LOOKHz; 4 - 5.5KV) generated in this generator is applied to the dielectric discharge module 2, there are short-term and high-energy discharge pulses in the frequency spectrum between 1-IOMHz.

These pulses are decoupled, for example, by the inductive coupling element 31 via a downstream high-pass filter 4 and are thus separated from the frequency of the high-frequency high voltage. The voltage thus obtained is standardized in terms of voltage in a comparator 5 and registered in a counter module, the contents of which are read by the microcontroller 6. Alternatively, the high-frequency signal generated by the discharges could also be coupled out capacitively. In the further course of the description, however, only the inductive coupling is mentioned.

It is obvious that these impulses can only arise if there are dielectric impeded electrical discharges in the discharge module 2. Since each individual discharge generates a small, comparable amount of ozone in the order of a few picograms, there is a direct connection as follows:

Number of discharge pulses - »amount of ozone produced and any amount of ions produced. In the microcontroller, for example, the relationship between the number of filaments per unit of time and the amount of ozone produced (eg in mg / h) is recorded in a table.

Given the largely constant control voltage of the discharge module or the Siemens tube of e.g. 5,000Volt AC voltage about 50Hz - LOOKHz with a corresponding number of filaments / second and a strictly related ozone production can be produced by pulse-pause operation from the ratio of pulses and pauses practically any subset of the maximum possible ozone production.

The pulse bundle / pause ratio, i.e. the ratio of switch-on time / pause time is set by the software of the microcontroller so that the number of electrical discharges (filaments) generated per unit of time corresponds to a predetermined number, which strictly results in a certain production quantity. (mg / h). Inevitably, the amount of ozone production can be set per time and is constant over long-term operation because the chemical and physical conditioning of the air promotes or hinders the number of filaments observed, but does not change the energy content and thus the ozone production amount of the individual pulse.

The benefit of the invention is to make the production rate of ozone per unit time adjustable by counting the filaments per unit time.

An electrical discharge apparatus according to the physical principle of the electrically disabled discharge preferably consists of an alternating voltage-emitting high-voltage source and a discharge device and an electrical filter which separates the discharge pulses from the frequency of the supply voltage, the number of individual discharges being counted and the number of individual discharges the ozone production amount is derived. The number of individual pulses determined can be fed into a control loop as the ACTUAL variable in such a way that the ACTUAL variable is brought up to a freely definable TARGET variable.

The number of individual impulses can be set to a freely defined number per unit of time, which corresponds to a certain production volume of OZON.

Industrial applicability:

The invention is commercially applicable e.g. in the field of air treatment with ozone and air conditioning technology, especially in motor vehicles or in hospitals.

The invention comprises a method for operating an ozone generator with a gas discharge module 2 for dielectric barrier discharge with two electrodes 2A, 2B, between which a high voltage HV, which is an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage, is applied via a supply line 11 and a return line 12 Gas discharge in the gas discharge module 2 and an electrical current through the outgoing line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12 are generated, and discharge pulses are produced by the gas discharge, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse P superimposed on the current, with each discharge pulse on average, a certain individual quantity Mo of ozone is formed, and an average ozone production rate is derived from the individual quantity Mo and the number of individual discharges, or the ozone production quantity or from the individual quantity Mo and the temporal density of the individual discharges.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that a predetermined total amount of ozone is generated by - this total amount being predetermined as the desired ozone target amount Msetpoint, the discharge pulses or current pulses P or radiation flashes are counted by a counter 5, 14, 24 and the high voltage HV is switched off as soon as a target number Nset of counted discharge pulses or current pulses P or radiation flashes has been reached, which target number Nsoll is used to produce the desired ozone quantity

Msoll is the required number of discharge pulses, given by the quotient Msoll / Mo from the desired ozone quantity to be produced Msoll and the ozone quantity Mo generated per discharge pulse, so that the number of discharge pulses corresponding to or essentially corresponding to the ozone desired quantity Msoll in the gas discharge module 2 for

Is brought into being.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the discharge pulses or current pulses P or radiation flashes are counted by a counter 5, 14, 24 for a predetermined counting period Tz, and the high voltage HV is switched off after a first production period Tpl, the first production period Tpl is given by Tpl = Tz * (Msoll / Mtz), or after a second production period Tp2 is switched off, the second production period

Tρ2 is given by Tp2 = Tz * (Nsoll / Ntzist), where

Tz the counting period,

Mo is the individual quantity of ozone generated per discharge pulse, Ntz is the number of discharge pulses counted during the counting period Tz, Mtz is the amount of ozone produced during the counting period Tz, given by the product Ntzist * Mo, Msoll the desired ozone quantity to be produced, and

Nsoll is the number of discharge pulses required to produce the desired ozone quantity Msoll, given by the quotient Msoll / Mo. It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the method is repeated periodically at regular time intervals, so that on average a constant amount of ozone is generated per unit of time and thus a constant average ozone production rate is achieved.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that a target value Rsoll of the average ozone production rate is specified, the discharge pulses or current pulses or radiation flashes are counted during a counting time period Tz, and - the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz are used to obtain a to determine the average ozone production rate Rist, and the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated is increased or decreased if the actual value of the average ozone production rate (Rist) is smaller or larger than the setpoint Rsetpoint. so that the average ozone production rate Rist is controlled.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that instead of using the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average ozone production rate Rist, either the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz are used, an average temporal density of To determine discharge pulses, and the setpoint Rsoll of the ozone production rate is used to determine an average temporal target density of the discharge pulses, and the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated is increased or decreased if this is smaller or larger than the target density, or the target value Rsoll and the counting time period Tz are used to determine a target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting time period Tz, and the average temporal density of the discharge pulses which have arisen is increased or decreased, if the counting result Is smaller or larger SSSR than the target number Ntzsoll.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the average ozone production rate Rist is derived from the individual quantity Mo and from the size of a pulse signal instead of being derived using the temporal density of the individual discharges, the pulse signal being derived from the current pulses or the Radiant flashes are generated and are a measure of the production rate of ozone.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the pulse signal is generated by decoupling the stioma pulses from the outgoing line 11 or from the return line 12 and then integrating them in time with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant, so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal is.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the current pulses pass through a diode or are rectified after decoupling, so that the pulse signal has no alternating polarity.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the radiation flashes are detected by a radiation detector and converted into current pulses.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the current pulses are passed to a limit value switch, which only emits a digital signal when the magnitude of a current pulse exceeds a certain limit value, and the digital signals with a predetermined integration time or a predetermined integration time constant to the pulse signal be integrated so that the pulse signal is an integral pulse signal.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched on and on in a continuous sequence for a duty cycle T1 is then switched off for a pause duration T2, the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses being increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the ratio T1 / T2 of the duty cycle T1 to the pause duration T2.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses is increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the effective value of the high voltage HV.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that at least part of the counting time Tz, namely an overlap time Tüb, is due to the on-time Tl, the actual value of the average production rate Rist is calculated from the equation Rist = Ntzist * Mo * (Tl / Tüb) / (Tl + T2), where Rist is the actual value of the average production rate,

Mo is the individual amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse,

Ntz is the count result, i.e. is the number of discharge pulses counted during the counting period Tz, Tüb is the overlap time, Tl is the on time and T2 is the pause time.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that at least part of the counting time Tz, namely an overlap time Tüb, is due to the on-time Tl, the target number Ntzsoll from the equation Ntzsoll = Rsoll * (Tl + T2) * (Tüb / Tl) / Mo is calculated, where Ntzsoll is the target number of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting period Tz, Rsoll is the target value of the average production rate, Tüb is the overlap time, Mo is the individual amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse, Tl is the on-time and T2 is the pause.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the sum of the on time Tl and pause time T2 is kept constant.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the counting time period Tz coincides with the switch-on time period Tl and begins at the same time in each case.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the counting time period Tz is equal to the sum or an integer multiple of the sum of the duty cycle Tl and the pause duration T2.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the counting time period Tz is at least 10 times greater than the sum T1 + T2.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the average amount of ozone generated per discharge pulse, the individual amount Mo, is determined by means of an ozone sensor downstream of the gas discharge module.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the Stiomimpulse by a decoupling element 31.32 e.g. Inductively or capacitively coupled out of the forward line 11 or the return line 12 and then fed to the counter 14.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the current pulses pass through a filter 4, in particular a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter, after decoupling and before the counter 14 is reached. It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that only those current pulses or radiation flashes are counted whose size or intensity exceeds a predetermined limit value.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the high voltage HV is switched off and / or a fault message is issued if the number Ntzist of the discharge pulses or current pulses P or radiation flashes occurring within the predetermined counting time period Tz is less than or greater than a predetermined comparison number.

It is further preferred to design the method in such a way that the counter 5, 14, 24 and / or the ozone generator are monitored for malfunction by an alarm circuit 7 and the alarm circuit 7 if a malfunction of the counter 5, 14, 24 or the ozone generator is detected High voltage HV switches off and / or issues a fault message.

The invention comprises an ozone generator, comprising a gas discharge module 2 for dielectric barrier discharge with two electrodes 2A, 2B, between which a high voltage HV can be applied via a feed line 11 and a return line 12, which is an AC voltage or a pulsating DC voltage and a gas discharge in the Gas discharge module 2 and an electrical current generated by the outgoing line 11, the gas discharge module 2 and the return line 12, and discharge pulses are produced by the gas discharge, each of which generates a radiation flash and a current pulse P which is superimposed on the current, with a certain individual quantity on average for each discharge pulse Mo is produced by ozone, and further comprises a counter 5, 14, 24, which is able to count the current pulses P or radiation flashes and thus the individual discharges, the ozone production quantity or from the individual quantity (Mo and the number of individual discharges) Single amount Mo and the zei average density of the individual discharges an average ozone production rate can be derived. It is further preferred to design an ozone generator in such a way that it has a radiation detector which is able to detect the radiation flashes and convert them into current pulses.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the same counter 5, 14, 24 is able to switch off the high voltage HN as soon as a target number Νset of counted current pulses P or radiation flashes has been reached, which corresponds to a predefinable target ozone quantity Msetpoint to be produced ,

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the counter 5, 14, 24 is able to count the pulse pulses P or radiation flashes for a predetermined counting period Tz and to switch off the high voltage HN after a first production period Tpl, which is given by Tpl = Tz * (Msoll / Mtz), or after a second production period Tp2, which is given by Tp2 = Tz * (Νsoll / Ntzist), where Tz is the counting period,

Mo is the individual quantity of ozone generated per discharge pulse, Ntz is the number of discharge pulses counted during the counting period Tz, Mtz is the amount of ozone produced during the counting period Tz, given by the product Ntzist * Mo, Msoll a predefinable target ozone quantity to be produced, and Nsoll is the number of discharge pulses required to produce the nominal ozone quantity Msoll, given by the quotient Msoll / Mo.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the counter 5, 14, 24 counts the discharge pulses or stiorn pulses or radiation flashes occurring during a counting time period Tz and supplies a count result Ntzist, a setpoint Rsoll of the average ozone production rate being specified, and the Ozone generator comprises a regulator 20,30, which one under Using the target value Rsoll and the counting time period Tz, the target number Ntzsoll of the discharge pulses occurring during the counting time period Tz is compared with the counting result Ntzist and is able to increase or decrease the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses which have arisen if the counting result Ntzist is smaller or is greater than the target number Ntzsoll.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the ozone generator has an arithmetic logic unit 40 which is connected to the counter 24 and uses the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average ozone production rate Rist as the actual value Rist , and the controller 20 is connected to the arithmetic unit 40 and, instead of comparing the target number Ntzsoll with the counting result Ntzist, compares the average ozone production rate Rist with the target value of the production rate Rsoll and increases or increases the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses that are generated or is able to decrease if the actual value of the average production rate Rist is smaller or larger than the target value Rsoll.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the arithmetic logic unit 40, instead of the counting result, is the counting time and the counting period

Use Tz to determine an average ozone production rate Rist, use the counting result Ntzist and the counting time period Tz to determine an average temporal density of the discharge pulses as the actual density, and - the controller 20, 30 instead of the average ozone - Production rate installs with that

To compare the setpoint of the production rate Rsoll, comparing the actual density with a time-based density of the discharge pulses, which is given by the quotient Rsoll / Mo from the setpoint Rsoll and the individual quantity Mo, and the average temporal density of the discharge pulses generated is able to increase or decrease if the actual density is smaller or larger than the target density. It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that a control circuit 10, which is interposed between the regulator 20 and the high-voltage generator 1 and is able to switch on the high voltage HN in sequence in each case for a switch-on time T1 and then switch it off for a pause time T2, and the controller is able to control the control circuit 10 so that the ratio T1 / T2 of the duty cycle T1 to the pause duration T2 is increased or decreased, and thus to increase or decrease the mean temporal density of the discharge pulses.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that a decoupling element 31, 32, which is able to transmit the current pulses e.g. to be inductively or capacitively decoupled from the forward line 11 or the return line 12 and to be output to the counter 14 via a decoupling output 31C, 32C.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that a filter 4, in particular high-pass or band-pass, is interposed between the coupling-out output 31C, 32C and the counter 5, 14, 24.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that a rectifier or a diode is interposed between the decoupling output 31 32C and the counter 5, 14, 24.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that a comparator 5 is interposed between the coupling-out output 31Q32C or the sensor and the counter 5, 14, 24, which then and only then outputs a digital signal to the counter 5, 14, 24 if the level of a current pulse or intensity of a radiation flash exceeds a certain limit value, so that the counter 5, 14, 24 counts only those current pulses or radiation flashes whose size or intensity exceeds the limit value. More preferably, the ozone generator has an alarm circuit 7, which is able to monitor the counter 5, 14, 24 and / or the controller 20, 30 and / or the control circuit 10 and / or the arithmetic unit 40 for malfunction and if a malfunction is detected Counter 5,14,24 and / or controller 20,30 and / or the control circuit 10 and / or the arithmetic unit 40 to switch off the high voltage HV and / or to output a fault message.

It is further preferred to design the ozone generator in such a way that the counter 5, 14, 24) or the controller 20, 30 or the control circuit 10 is able to monitor the alarm circuit 7 for malfunction and if the alarm circuit 7 is found to be malfunctioning turn on the high voltage HN and / or issue a fault message.

List of reference numerals for figure set II:

1, 21 high voltage generator

1E, 21E inputs from 1, 21 2 gas discharge module

2A, 2B electrodes of FIG

4 filters and pulse processing

5 comparator and counter module

6 microcontrollers 7 alarm circuit ("watchdog")

8 bus drivers, bidirectional

10 control circuit 10A output of 10

11 outgoing line 12 return line

14.24 counters

14A, 24A outputs from 14, 24

20.30 regulator

20A, 30A outputs from 20.30 20E, 30E inputs from 20.30

31.32 decoupling elements

31 A, B first, second winding of 31

32A capacitor

32B resistor 31 32C decoupling output of 31.32

40 arithmetic unit

Claims

claims

1. Method for operating an ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen atom generator with a gas discharge module (2) controlled by a control circuit for generating dielectrically impeded discharges with two electrodes (2A, 2B), a dielectric and a discharge gap exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere, an alternating voltage or pulsating direct voltage generated by a high-voltage generator being applied to the electrodes in predetermined time intervals, thereby causing electrical discharges in the discharge path that produce ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen atoms, in each of which an average of a certain individual quantity (Mo) of ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen atoms, characterized in that the number of electrical discharges per unit of time is determined continuously and the ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen fat generator via the control circuit in accordance with a comparison with a target number electrical discharges is regulated in a closed control loop.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of electrical discharges is determined via the measurable physical effect caused by an electrical discharge, in particular an electrical current pulse, an electrical voltage pulse, a radiation pulse or an electro-magnetic pulse ,

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the high voltage with a predetermined frequency is periodically switched on by the control circuit with a duty cycle (first time period) and switched off with a switch-off period (second time period), with regulation according to the comparison the determined number of discharges in the discharge module (2) with the target number, the ratio of the on-time to the off-time is changed until the determined number of discharges corresponds to the target number.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the switch-on time is changed and the switch-off time is kept constant or the switch-off time is changed and the switch-on time is kept constant.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an alarm message, in particular from the control circuit to an output line, is issued if the predetermined number of electrical discharges is not reached.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an alarm message is issued if electrical discharges are measured during the switch-off period.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the high voltage generator is switched off by the control and evaluation unit by means of a switching element inserted into the power supply of the high voltage generator if the predetermined regulated number of electrical discharges cannot be achieved or during the switch-off period electrical discharges can be measured.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the event of failure of the control circuit, the high voltage from a parent

Control device (watchdog) is switched off.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the target number can be freely set via an interface.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the measured electrical voltage and / or current pulses are recorded and processed, in particular integrated, by means of an analog-technical device, and the electrical value obtained in this way by means of a comparator with a predetermined threshold value is compared as a setpoint and the high voltage is regulated in accordance with this comparison.

11. Ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen atom generator with a gas discharge module (2) controlled by a control circuit for generating dielectrically impeded discharges with two electrodes (2A, 2B), a dielectric and a discharge path exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere, the electrodes being passed through at predetermined intervals an alternating voltage or pulsating direct voltage generated by a high-voltage generator is to be applied, as a result of which electric discharges are generated in the discharge path which produce ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen atoms and in which a certain individual quantity (Mo) of ozone / oxygen ions / oxygen atoms is generated on average, characterized in that the number of electrical discharges per unit of time is to be determined continuously and the ozone / oxygen ion / oxygen generator via the control circuit in accordance with a comparison with a target number of electrical discharges in a closed its control loop is to be regulated.