ITBG20120048A1 - MIXTURE OF OZONE IN THE WATER - Google Patents

Description

Description of an invention patent entitled: â € œSystem for mixing ozone in water "

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a system for mixing ozone in water, in particular for washing with a mixture of water and ozone.

For over twenty years, ozone has been used successfully in various sectors of the health and food sector, offering itself as a natural alternative to traditional chemical disinfection and sanitization processes.

Furthermore, in July 1996 with Protocol n. 24482, the Italian Ministry of Health recognized ozone as a "natural device for the sterilization of environments".

The use of ozone represents, for the food sector, a significant step forward in the application of innovative and safe logics from a production and technological point of view, whose scientific validity is undisputed. In the food industry, ozone washing machines are used both in the processing and packaging of products such as fruit, vegetables, meats, fish products, etc. Ozone is also used to sanitize water in animal farms, as well as for home and / or hotel use. Ozone has in fact shown a particular effectiveness not only on bacteria but also on viruses and spores, and in the killing of particular bacteria such as Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, etc.

There are machines on the market that mix ozone with water. Mixing the two elements is difficult, especially when high concentrations of ozone are required. With high concentrations of ozone we consider ozone concentrations in the outgoing water (in open environment) higher than 0.1 ppm.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system for mixing ozone in the water which provides a greater concentration than that of the machines of the known art.

In accordance with the present invention, these aims and others are achieved by a system for mixing ozone in water comprising: an ozone generator; at least one ozone and water mixer; characterized in that said at least one mixer comprises a first closed external tube; a first inner tube placed internally and coaxially with said first outer tube; said first inner tube and said first outer tube are placed vertically; said first inner tube comprises a water inlet

mixed with ozone, placed at its lower extremity; said first inner tube comprises a plurality of holes located in an upper portion thereof; said first external tube comprises an outlet for water mixed with ozone located at its lower end.

Further characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of a practical embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a first mixing device of the ozone mixing system in water according to the present invention;

figure 2 schematically shows an intermediate mixing device of the ozone mixing system in water according to the present invention;

figure 3 schematically shows a final mixing device of the ozone mixing system in water according to the present invention;

figure 4 schematically shows a device for introducing the ozone and water mixture into a washing tank of the ozone mixing system in the water

in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the attached figures, a system for mixing ozone in water, according to the present invention, comprises a first device 10 for mixing ozone and water.

In particular, the first device 10 comprises a Venturi effect mixer which receives water at its primary inlet 11 and ozone / oxygen from its secondary inlet 12, transversal to the primary inlet 11. A mixture of ozone and water is obtained from outlet 13 in line with primary inlet 1 1.

Ozone is generated, for example, by an electric discharge in an alternating high voltage field (corona effect). The discharge splits part of the oxygen molecules that electrify the discharge zone. The oxygen atoms made available in this way combine with other oxygen molecules to form triatomic oxygen, ozone.

For example, for a system with a tank of 500 liters and a maximum flow of 450 l / min, there is an ozone flow of 5 l / min, an ozone concentration respectively equal to 50 g / m <3>, and a hourly ozone production of 16 grams, with an ozone flow pressure of 0.5 bar.

The water and ozone mixture exiting from outlet 13 is introduced into an intermediate mixing device 20 from inlet 21.

It enters a first internal tube 22, preferably with a circular section, which is inserted, coaxially, into a first external tube 23, completely closed, preferably with a circular section, with a diameter greater than the diameter of the first internal tube 22.

The pipes 22 and 23 are positioned vertically with the inlet 21 placed at the lower end of the pipe 22.

The first internal tube 22 is closed at the top, but in its upper part 24 it has a plurality of holes 25.

The plurality of holes 25 is preferably composed of four series of holes arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first internal tube 22. Each set of holes 25 is opposite to another similar set of holes. Each of the four holes placed at the same height are angularly spaced by 90 °.

The first external tube 23 comprises, laterally, at its lower end a mixture outlet 26.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first external tube 23 has an external diameter of 60.3 mm and an internal diameter of 50 mm (equivalent to a 2 inch tube). The first internal tube 22 has an external diameter of 33.4 mm and an internal diameter of 25 mm (equivalent to a 1 inch tube). Each of the holes 25 has a diameter of between 2 and 4 mm.

The length L1 of the upper part 24 of the first inner tube 22, the top of which is close to the top of the first outer tube 23, is preferably equal to the length L2 of the lower part 27 of the first inner tube 22. The measurement of the length L2 is defined as the length between the last hole 25, downwards, as shown in the figures, and the central axis of the outlet 26.

The total length of the first internal tube 22, slightly greater than the sum L1 L2, is equal to 1, 5

m.

In principle, the first inner tube 22 is divided into two portions approximately in the middle of its length and the upper portion comprises the plurality of holes 25.

The surface of the total section of the holes 25 is approximately equal to the surface of the internal section of the first external tube 23.

In an example of embodiment of the present invention, with a water pressure of 3.5 bar, a flow of water of 60 l / m, of ozone of 3 l / m and therefore equal to 35 g / m <3> in oxygen, it is possible to obtain an ozone content of 0.7 ppm.

In order to achieve even higher ozone concentrations in a plant, there may be several intermediate mixing devices 20 placed in series.

The water and ozone mixture exiting from outlet 26 is introduced into a final mixing device 30 from inlet 31.

The final device 30 comprises a second internal tube 32 open to its head 33 so that the mixture can flow freely.

The second internal tube 32 is coaxially placed inside a second external tube 34 which is completely closed.

The tubes 32 and 34 are positioned vertically with the inlet 31 placed at the lower end of the tube 32.

The second external pipe 34 comprises at its top a valve 35, and laterally, at its lower end, a mixture outlet 36.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second outer tube 34 has an outer diameter of 60.3 mm and an inner diameter of 50 mm (equivalent to a 2 inch tube). The second inner tube 32 has an external diameter of 33.4 mm and an internal diameter of 25 mm (equivalent to a 1 inch tube).

The second inner tube 32 is about half as long as the second outer tube 34. In particular, the length L3 of the second internal tube 32 is defined as the length between the central axis of the outlet 36 and the upper end of the second internal tube 32 corresponding to its head 33.

L4 defines the length of the upper part 37 of the second outer tube 34 free from the second inner tube 32.

Length L3 is preferably equal to length L4.

The total length of the second external pipe 34, slightly higher than the sum L3 L4, is equal to 1.5 m.

In principle, the length of the second inner tube 32 is approximately equal to half the length of the second outer tube 34.

Valve 35 is designed to discharge the excess ozone that is created in zone 37. It is possible to apply a pump to valve 37 to facilitate the discharge.

Let us now consider a mixing system 40 composed of a first device 10 for mixing ozone and water, followed by an intermediate mixing device 20 and then followed by a final mixing device 30.

The first device 10, at inlet 11, receives water 41 from a tank 42, and ozone from inlet 12.

The mixture of water and ozone present at the terminal outlet 36 of the mixing system 40 is sent to a distributor 50, which injects the ozone-enriched water 41 into the tank 42.

The distributor 50 is composed of a third external tube 51 with the bottom 52 open immersed in the water 41, the head 53 closed and including a valve 54.

The valve 54 is designed to discharge the excess ozone that is created in the upper area 55. It is possible to apply a pump to the valve 54 to facilitate the discharge.

The mixture of water and ozone present at the terminal outlet 36 of the mixing system 40 is sent to the distributor 50 through a pipe 60 which enters the third external pipe 51 at a height from its bottom 52 equal to approximately 2/3 of the ™ total height.

The pipe 60 enters horizontally into the third external pipe 51 thanks to a hole made in it, reaches the longitudinal axis of the third external pipe 51 and therefore forms a 90 ° angle downwards, extends by a few tens of millimeters towards the bottom and from outlet 61 it introduces water mixed with ozone into tank 42.

The outlet 61 is located above the free surface of the water 41, so that the mixture is introduced into the tank 42 and at the same time the excess ozone remains in the third tube 51 and is extracted by the valve 54.

The hydraulic connections between the various elements of the ozone mixing system in the water are made with pipes having preferably threaded ends.

To transfer the mixture between the various parts of the system and to maintain a predefined pressure in the system, one or more pumps, not shown, are required.

The operation of the device according to the invention appears evident from what has been described and illustrated and, in particular, is substantially the following.

When the ozone mixing system in the water requires water, a flow switch installed on the water circuit activates the generator which produces oxygen enriched with ozone. The gas mixture is sent to the first mixing device 10 with water, and a first mixing is carried out. The mixture continues towards the intermediate mixing device 20 where it is sprayed inside the first external tube 23, falls by gravity and is expelled from the outlet 26.

During operation, inside the first external tube 23, an aeriform bubble with a high percentage of ozone is created in its upper part, while the mixture of water and ozone is concentrated downwards. Then, the mixture is sprayed in an area where there is a very high percentage of ozone and therefore there is an increase in the concentration of ozone in the water.

The operation of the ozone mixing system in the water normally does not take place continuously, because the antibacterial charge of the mixture is not exhausted immediately, therefore the operation of the system takes place alternately. The system is then operated for a first predefined period of time and then stopped for a second predefined period of time. The predefined time periods can range from several minutes to several tens of minutes.

Inside the intermediate device 20, even when the production of ozone is interrupted, there is always a quantity of ozone that remains in the upper part of the first external tube 23 and therefore the mixing can continue for a long time, even without the € ™ supply of new ozone.

The mixture is then sent to the final mixing device 30, and in particular it is sent inside the second external tube 34 coming out from the head 33 of the second internal tube 32.

Also in this case the ozone is concentrated in area 37 and the mixture is concentrated in the lower part of the second external tube 34. Here, too, further mixing takes place and excess ozone is expelled from valve 35.

The mixture is at this point sent to the distributor 50 which introduces it into the tank 42.

Inside the distributor 50, the outlet 61 is placed above the free surface of the water 41 and is therefore introduced by gravity. The ozone not completely dissolved in the water is brought to the top of the distributor 50 and the excess ozone is expelled by the valve 54.

As we know, ozone is a poisonous gas and users who use it in this case to reduce the bacterial load in the food industry must not breathe it.

With a distributor 50 as described, the excess ozone is removed before the mixture enters the tank 42, and the exhalation of ozone from the tank 42 is therefore considerably reduced, for the benefit of the operators.

When the ozone generator is active, water is taken from tank 42, it is passed into system 40, which as we have already mentioned can have one or more 20 intermediate mixing devices, and therefore the water enriched with ozone It is again introduced into tank 42. Even when the ozone generator is not active, the flow of water from the tank is taken and passed into system 40, and the ozone collected in the upper part of the first tube 23 external and in the area 37 of the second external pipe 34 is mixed with water and the process can continue to be active for a considerable period of time, equal to about 10-30 minutes.

The materials used for the ozone in water mixing system are preferably in polyvinyl chloride (PCV) but the materials and dimensions can be any according to the needs and the state of the art.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1. System for mixing ozone in water comprising: an ozone generator; at least one ozone and water mixer; characterized in that said at least one mixer comprises a first closed external tube; a first inner tube placed internally and coaxially with said first outer tube; said first inner tube and said first outer tube are placed vertically; said first inner tube comprises an inlet of water mixed with ozone, located at its lower end; said first inner tube comprises a plurality of holes located in an upper portion thereof; said first external tube comprises an outlet for water mixed with ozone located at its lower end. 2. System according to claim 1 characterized in that said upper portion thereof, said first inner tube, coincides approximately half the length of said first inner tube. 3. System according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, upstream of said at least one ozone and water mixer, a first mixer with a venturi effect. 4. System according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, downstream of said at least one ozone and water mixer, a final device for mixing ozone and water comprising a second closed external tube; a second inner tube placed internally and coaxially with said second outer tube; said second inner tube and said second outer tube are placed vertically; said second inner tube comprises an inlet of water mixed with ozone, located at its lower end; said second inner tube has a length equal to approximately half the length of said second outer tube; said second inner tube comprises a hole at its upper end; said second external tube comprises an outlet for water mixed with ozone located at its lower end. 5. System according to claim 4 characterized in that said second inner tube coincides approximately half the length of the second outer tube. 6. System according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, downstream of said at least one ozone and water mixer, a distributor which introduces said water mixed with ozone into a tank; said distributor comprises: a third external tube, placed vertically, having its lower end positioned below the free surface of said water mixed with ozone placed in said tank; said third external tube includes a valve placed at its upper end for the extraction of excess ozone; a pipe that enters said third external pipe at a height from its lower end equal to approximately 2/3 of the total height; said pipe is turned downwards, and its outlet is placed above the free surface of said water mixed with ozone placed in said tank; said water mixed with ozone is placed at the inlet of said pipe. 7. System according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 6 characterized in that it comprises a first conduit which takes water from a tank and sends it to said mixing system; said mixing system comprises the elements of claims 3 and 4; a second conduit that takes the mixture of water and ozone from said mixing system and sends it to said distributor.