US3784838A - Solid state frequency converter for corona generator - Google Patents

Solid state frequency converter for corona generator Download PDF

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US3784838A
US3784838A US00174691A US3784838DA US3784838A US 3784838 A US3784838 A US 3784838A US 00174691 A US00174691 A US 00174691A US 3784838D A US3784838D A US 3784838DA US 3784838 A US3784838 A US 3784838A
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corona
transformer
scr
circuit
generator
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F Lowther
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Purification Sciences Inc
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Purification Sciences Inc
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
    • C01B13/10—Preparation of ozone
    • C01B13/11—Preparation of ozone by electric discharge
    • C01B13/115—Preparation of ozone by electric discharge characterised by the electrical circuits producing the electrical discharge
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/20—Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
    • A61L2/202—Ozone
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T19/00—Devices providing for corona discharge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T23/00—Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
    • H02M5/00—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases
    • H02M5/40—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc
    • H02M5/42—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc by static converters
    • H02M5/44—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc by static converters using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices to convert the intermediate dc into ac
    • H02M5/443—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc by static converters using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices to convert the intermediate dc into ac using devices of a thyratron or thyristor type requiring extinguishing means
    • H02M5/45—Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc by static converters using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices to convert the intermediate dc into ac using devices of a thyratron or thyristor type requiring extinguishing means using semiconductor devices only

Definitions

  • the chopping [58] Fleld of Search i includes an SCR and a fi g circuit connected to 204/316318 323v 327, the SCR.
  • the chopping circuit does not require a con- 250/535 536 ventional shut-off circuit.
  • the SCR is connected to an ozone generator through a transformer and automati- [56] References Cited Cally shuts UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,496,092 2/1970 Frazer 204/316 22 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PNE FENRP- 8 ma WEE?
  • This invention relates to corona generators and more particularly to a frequency converter for an ozone generator.
  • the present invention comprises a solid state frequency converter for a corona generator including an SCR for chopping rectified current.
  • the frequency converter includes a firing circuit for the SCR but does not employ a conventional shut-off circuit.
  • the SCR is connected to a corona generator through a transformer (preferably a step-up transformer), and is shut off automatically. The exact nature of why the shut-off feature works the way it does is not completely understood, however, it apparently is due to certain electrical peculiarities in the operation of the ozone generator, as fed back to the SCR through the transformer.
  • FIG. 1 is a partly schematic, partly diagrammatic, showing of the frequency converter of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the corona reactor 10 showing the control panel 20 thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is a partly broken-away side view of the corona reactor 10 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a partly broken-away plan view of the corona reactor 10 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram for the fluid 10 reactant flow
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified, schematic flow diagram showing the reactant flow into, through, and the reaction product flow out of, the corona reactor core 14 of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram of the power supply of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a front, plan view partly broken-away, of one embodiment of a corona reactor cell of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial, horizontal, crosssectional view through the corona reactor cell of FIG. 8 taken along the line l9-l9 of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a vertical, partial, cross-sectional view through the corona reactor cell of FIG. 8, taken along the line 2020 of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 11 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram showing the individual corona reactor cells of a corona reactor core connected in series according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram showing the corona reactor cells connected in combination series-parallel.
  • FIG. 13 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram showing the individual corona reactor cells connected in parallel.
  • FIG. 1 shows the preferred frequency converter circuit 10 of the present invention for increasing the frequency (and in this preferred embodiment, for also increasing the voltage) of current supplied from a 220 volt, 60 Hz power supply 12 and from a 1 10 volt, 60 Hz supply 42, to a corona generator 14.
  • the corona generator 14 (diagrammatically shown here as a pair of spaced electrodes 11, each with a dielectric coating 13) is preferably a six cell ozone generator of the type described below with respect to FIGS. 243.
  • the circuit 10 includes a rectifier circuit 16, and a chopping circuit 18.
  • the rectifier circuit 16 includes a rectifier D1 and a capacitor C1.
  • D1 is an RCA rectifier IN1190A and Cl is a standard electrolytic capacitor, 1000 uf at 350 v. DC, such as Mallory CAS 302T350FJ1.
  • the operation of the rectifier circuit 16 is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail here.
  • the chopping circuit 18 comprises an SCR 34, a firing circuit 36, and a transformer TR-l connecting the SCR 34 to the corona generator 14.
  • the firing circuit 36 is a known, low power, firing circuit operating in known fashion to produce a series of voltage pulses to fire the SCR 34 (in this embodiment the voltage pulses are approximately volt).
  • the firing circuit 36 is connected between the gate 40 of the SCR 34 and the 1 10 volt, 60 Hz power supply 42.
  • the firing circuit 36 includes a unijunction transistor T-1 connected to the power supply 42 through a transformer TR-2.
  • the firing circuit includes a diode D2, capacitors C2 and C3, variable resistor R1, and resistors R2, R3, and R4.
  • the variable resistor R1 (the throttle) is usually at about 50,000 ohm, causing a low frequency current to be applied to the corona generator 14.
  • the system is then slowly brought up to power, with the resistance of resistor R1 at about 11,500 ohm, which produces a frequency of about 2,000 Hz.
  • the transformer TR-l has about a l5l turns ratio to provide a voltage to the corona generator 14 of about 3,500 volt rms.
  • the operation of this firing circuit 36 is well known and need not be described in detail here.
  • R1 Variable resistor such as IRC Model I-lD-150,
  • the SCR 34 connected to a corona generator 14 through the transformer TR-l, is automatically shut off, without requiring the use of a standard shut-off circuit connected to the SCR 34.
  • This discovery is the essence of the present invention. While the mechanism which causes this shut-off to occur is not completely understood, it is believed to be causedby the non-linear variations in capacitance in the ozone generator, fed back to the SCR 34 through the transformer 20. In this specific embodiment, the SCR is shut off about one-fourth cycle after firing of the SCR.
  • an ozone generator does not require a smooth sine wave from the frequency converter; this fact is important because by eliminating the electrical circuitry and components required to produce a smooth sine wave, the cost of a solid state frequency converter can be reduced substantially.
  • the ozone output is proportional to the product of V and fi where V is the peak voltage and f is the frequency.
  • V the peak voltage
  • f the frequency.
  • the shape of the wave form is not important; all that is important is the peak voltage and the frequency. Referring to FIG. 1, the irregular wave form 60 produced by the frequency converter of the present invention is completely satisfactory and is quite remote from being a smooth sine wave.
  • irregular is hereby defined for use in the present specification and claims as being other than a sine wave, square wave, triangular wave, etc., all of which regular wave forms require special circuitry for producing and maintaining. It is an important aspect of this invention that the only circuitry required is that to produce the desired frequency and voltage; the particular irregular wave form that is produced by this limited amount of circuitry is perfectly useful as is; it does not have to be converted into any special regular shape, nor does it have to be maintained exactly in such regular shape.
  • the point 62 of the wave form 60 marks the point where the SCR 34, is fired, and the point 64 is where shut-off of the SCR occurs.
  • a transformer at the location of transformer TR-l is essential it need not be a step-up transformer; it can be a 1-l transformer.
  • the corona generator need not be an ozone generator.
  • the voltage can be increased first and then rectified (requiring a high voltage solid state rectifier) and chopped.
  • a transformer connection even ifjust a l-l transformer
  • Other standard firing circuits can be used.
  • Other corona generators can be used than that described herein.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs, for the corona generator 14 of FIG. 1, the ozone generator described in my copending application Ser. No. 141,148, filed May 7, 1971; the entire specification, claims, and drawings of said application Ser. No. 141,148 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • the description of the ozone generator is set forth below for completeness, with reference to FIGS. 2l3 herein.
  • FIGS. 24 show a corona reactor 110 of the present invention comprising: a housing 112 containing a corona reactor core 114, a transformer 116 (the transformer TR-l described above), a blower 118, and having a front control panel 120.
  • the corona reactor core 1 14 is made up of a plurality of individual, separately removable, airtight corona reactor cells 121.
  • the heart of the corona reactor 110 is in the corona reactor core 114 and corona reactor cells 121, de-
  • a fluid reactant (when used as an ozone generator, it would be air, oxygen, or an oxygen-containing fluid) is supplied to the corona reactor core 114 from a source through inlet conduit 126;
  • a fluid reaction product is removed from the corona reactor core 114 by an outlet conduit 128;
  • the corona reactor core 114 is air-cooled by the blower 118.
  • the housing 112 comprises the front control panel 120, a rear wall 130, a pair of sidewalls 132 and 134, a cover 136, and a floor 138 spaced above the surface upon which the corona reactor 1 is supported by legs 140.
  • the cover 136 is made easily removable, by means of screws (not shown) or other known type of connecting means, to provide a convenient means of access to the interior of the housing 112, especially for the addition and/or removal of individual corona reactor cells 121 to the core 114.
  • the cover includes an air exhaust opening 142, above the corona reactor core 114, covered by a wire screen 144.
  • the floor 138 includes an air inlet opening 146 below the blower 118.
  • the housing includes a sub-floor 148 spaced by means of legs 150 a sufficient distance above the floor 138 to accommodate the blower 118.
  • the sub-floor 148 supports the corona reactor core 114 including a clamp device 152 (of a quick connect-disconnect type to be described below) for securing the individual corona reactor cells 121 together in a modular arrangement.
  • a fluid conduit and control system 154 (FIG. 5) includes the inlet and outlet conduits 126 and 128 connected to the individual corona reactor cells 121 of the corona reactor core 114.
  • the flow rate into, through and out of the corona reactor core 114 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) including the conduits 126 and 128, is indicated by a fluid-flow meter 156 on the control panel 120, and is controlled by a flow control valve 158 (FIG. 5) in outlet conduit 128, having a corresponding control knob 160 (FIG. 5) connected thereto and positioned on the control panel 120 and labeled Flow Control.”
  • the fluid-flow meter 156 can be of any standard type, such as those using a vertically movable ball indicating cubic feet per minute of fluid flow.
  • the pressure of the fluid in the system 154 is indicated by a pressure gauge 162 on the control panel 120 and can be controlled by a pressure regulator valve 164 (FIG. 5) in inlet conduit 126 and having a corresponding pressure control knob 166 (FIG. 2) connected thereto and positioned on the control panel 120 and labeled Pressure Regulator.
  • a convenient feature of the present invention is the provision of a sampling fluid outlet conduit 168 (FIG. 5) connected to outlet conduit 128.
  • a sampling valve 170 (FIG. 5) is connected in sampling outlet conduit 168 and is connected to a corresponding sampling valve control knob 172 (FIG. 2) on the control panel labeled Sampling Valve.
  • fluid connection can be made to the above-described three fluid conduits 126, 128 and 166 of the fluid conduit system 154 directly on the front panel 120 as follows.
  • the electrical power supply circuit 180 of the present invention is the solid state frequency converter 10 described above with reference to FIG. 1.
  • a power ON-OFF switch 184 is connected in the circuit 180 and is positioned on the control panel 120.
  • a power-on light 186 is connected in the circuit 180 and is positioned on the control panel 120 adjacent the switch 184. The light 186 is energized when switch 184 is closed and indicates visually when the power is on. As shown in FIG. 7, the closing of switch 184 also energizes the blower 118.
  • the power applied to the corona generator 14 can be controlled by the variable resistor R1 connected to a power control knob 190 located on the control panel 120 and labeled Power Control.
  • the amount of power supplied to the corona generator 14 is indicated by a watt meter 192 located on the control panel 120.
  • the corona reactor core 114 comprises a plurality of individual corona reactor cells 121 held together in the clamp 152.
  • the individual corona reactor cells 121 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 8-10.
  • the corona reactor core 114 is electrically connected to transformer 116 by means of the pair of electrical lead lines 122 and 124.
  • Thevarious modes of electrically connecting the individual corona reactor cells 121 will be discussed in detail below under the heading TI-IE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.
  • the fluid connections to the corona reactor core 114 are as follows.
  • the inlet conduit 126 is connected to an inlet manifold 194 (FIGS. 3 and 4) on one side of the corona reactor core 114.
  • the outlet conduit 128 is connected to an outlet manifold 196 (FIG. 4) located on the opposite side of the corona reactor core 114.
  • each of the corona reactor cells 121 have an inlet tube 198 connected to the inlet manifold 194 and an outlet tube 200 connected to the outlet manifold 196.
  • the tubes 198 and 200 are connected to the manifolds 194 and 196 by means of connectors 202 (FIGS. 3 and 8), of any known, suitable type.
  • the connectors 202 are preferably ofa quick connect-disconnect type. Since the number of cells 121 in any core 114 can vary, the inlet and outlet manifolds 194 and 196 respectively may have openings 204 (see FIG. 8) that are not being used; in such case, plugs 197 (FIG. 4) are connected to openings 204 to close them.
  • the clamp 152 includes a pair of stationary, vertical end plates 206 and 208 supported on the sub-floor 148 and held a predetermined distance apart by a pair of spacer tubes 210 and 212 and a pair of bolts 214 and 216, respectively, passing through the spacer tubes 210 and 212 respectively;
  • a pair of horizontal support bars 220 and 222 are connected between the vertical end plates 206 and 208.
  • the corona reactor core 114 sits directly on top of the horizontal support bars 220 and 222 (a spacer gasket 262, of each of the individual cells 121 extends into vertical slots 224 (FIG. 3) in each of the horizontal support bars 220 and 222 respectively).
  • the individual corona reactor cells 121 are vertically oriented and are horizontally stacked or pressed together by means of clamp 152 and are easily and separately removable from the corona reactor 110 by simply removing the cover 136 of the housing 112 and releasing the clamp 152.
  • the individual corona reactor cells 121 are supported on the horizontal support bars 220 and 222 between the end plate 206 and a horizontally movable, vertical pressure plate 226.
  • Pressure plate 226 is movable toward and away from the corona reactor core 114 by means of an externally screwthreaded shaft 228 (rotatably connected at a joint 230 to the pressure plate 226 and connected in screwthreaded relationship to end plate 208).
  • the end plate 208 is provided with an opening 236 to accommodate a knob 238 rigidly connected to the shaft 228.
  • the knob 238 is rotated to apply or release pressure on the corona reactor core 114 through the pressure plate 226.
  • the knob 238 is manually accessible when the cover 1136 is off.
  • FIGS. 810 illustrate a corona reactor cell 121 comprising a pair of parallel, uniformly spaced-apart electrodes 252 and 254, each having a bare exterior surface 253 and 255, respectively, exposed to ambient.
  • the electrodes have a dielectric coating 256 and 258, respectively, on the interior surfaces 257 and 259 respectively, of the plates 252 and 254.
  • the spaced-apart electrodes 252 and 254 define a corona reaction chamber 260 therebetween.
  • the electrodes 252 and 254 are preferably decarbonized steel and the dielectric coating is a high softening temperature dielectric, preferably a thin layer of porcelain dielectric that is free of voids.
  • the electrodes 252 and 254 are preferably rectangular and have a turned or flared edge 261 and 263, respectively (see FIGS. 8 and 9) around the entire periphery of the electrodes 252 and 254).
  • the turned edges 261 and 263 are curved away from each other, i.e., away from the adjacent edge of the other of the two electrodes, which permits operation of the corona reactor cell 121 at high voltage without edge sparking.
  • This structure results in the periphery of each of the composite corona reactor cells 121 having a groove 264, FIG. 9, around the entire periphery thereof, which groove 264 provides for the achievement of a good seal 8 or weld 272 around a spacer gasket 262 (to be described in more detail below).
  • the two electrodes 252 and 254 are maintained a predetermined distance apart by means of an insulating spacer gasket 262 having a central opening 266 (see FIG. 8), and positioned between the electrodes 252 and 254 around the entire peripheral edge of the cell 1121.
  • the spacer gasket 262 is preferably made of plate glass with a 10 mil thick silicone rubber gasket on both sides of the spacer gasket 262.
  • the spacer gasket 262 can be made of solid silicone rubber or any other suitable material (not metal).
  • the corona reaction chamber 260 is maintained airtight by sealing the electrodes 252 and 254 air-tight to the spacer gasket 262 by means of, for example, a weld or bead 272 of silicone sealant (such as that known as RTV) as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the weld or bead is formed on both sides of the spacer gasket 262 around the entire periphery of the cell 121.
  • the spacer gasket 262 thus performs the functions of defining the predetermined spacing between the electrodes 252 and 254 and rendering the cell 121 air-tight.
  • each cell 121 is provided with an inlet conduit 198 and an outlet conduit 200.
  • the inlet conduit 198 is connected to an inlet port 272 in electrode 252 by means of a connector 275.
  • the outlet conduit 200 is connected to an outlet port (not shown) in the other electrode 254 by means of a connector 277. Since the connectors 275 and 277 are identical, a description of one is sufficient.
  • the connector 275 is welded or otherwise connected to the exterior surface 255 of electrode 252 at the port 273, which port 273 can include peripheral wall 279 extending in a direction away from the chamber 260.
  • the connector 275 includes a metallic body 281 having a first cylindrical passageway 283 extending partway therethrough and accomodating or receiving the peripheral wall 279 (see FIG. 10).
  • the body 281 of the connector 275 includes a second cylindrical passageway 285 perpendic ular to the first passageway 283 and in fluid communication with the first passageway 283.
  • a tube 287, preferably of metal is welded or otherwise connected to the body 281 at passageway 285 and extends beyond the body 28K to provide a convenient means of attaching the inlet conduit 198 to the connector 275.
  • the conduit 198 can be slipped over the tube 287 and secured by means of a length of wire 289 twisted onto the conduit 198.
  • the outlet conduit 200 is preferably constructed in the same manner. Both ports 273 (and not shown) can be in the same electrode if desired.
  • each individual corona reactor cell 121 is its own individual pressure vessel, sealed by the spacer gasket 262 and the silicone seal or weld 272 puttied around the entire periphery of the cell 121 on both sides of the spacer gasket 262.
  • Silicone rubber spacer gaskets and silicone sealant are preferably used because a corona or ozone will not degrade the silicone rubber and sealant, and the silicone rubber and sealant will not degrade the ozone.
  • FIGS. 8-10 show a pair of aluminum heat sink spacers 278 and 280 in contact with the exterior surfaces 255 and 257, respectively, of the electrodes 252 and 254.
  • the heat sink spacers 278 (a description of one is sufficient because they are identical) is formed with a corrugated design having a plurality of oppositely opening, parallel channels including closed channels 286 and open channels 288.
  • the heat sink spacers 278 and 280 have several functions. One function of the heat sink spacers 278 and 280 is to act as a heat sink, to remove the heat generated by the corona reactor cell 121 during the corona reaction period.
  • the corona reactor cells 121 are arranged such that the channels 286 and 288 are oriented vertically so that air entering the corona reactor 110 from the bottom can be blown vertically up through the corona reactor core 114 and out the opening 142 in the housing 112.
  • spacers 2'78 and 280 Another function of the spacers 2'78 and 280 is to maintain the adjacent corona reactor cells 121 in spaced-apart relationship, when a plurality of such cells 121 are combined to form a corona reactor core 114, and to carry and uniformly distribute the forces resulting from the pressure of the fluid reactant in the reaction chamber 260.
  • the heat sink spacers 278 and 280 also carry and uniformly distribute the forces of the pressure plate 226 throughout the corona reactor core 114.
  • the spacers 278 and 280 also provide the additional function of providing an electrical connection between adjacent electrodes of adjacent corona reactor cells 121.
  • the spacers 278 and 280 thus provide convenient electrical terminals to which the electrical power can be applied and for electrically connecting the cells 121 to gether.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 In order to form a corona reactor core 114 containing a plurality of corona reactor cells 121, the cells 121 are placed or stacked one against the other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the electrical and fluid connections made. Regarding FIG. 3 showing the horizontal support bars 220 and 222 having slots 22 therein, the reason for such slots 224 is not clearly seen, i.e., to provide access room for the spacer gaskets 262.
  • the conduit 198 carrying the fluid reactant into the reaction chamber 260 extends partway through one of the closed channels 286 of the spacer 278 and extends through the space 291 between one edge 293, FIG. 10, of the spacer 278 and the adjacent edge 295 of the electrode 252.
  • the outlet conduit 200 extends through one of the channels 286 in a similar manner to that just described for the inlet conduit 198.
  • FIGS. 8-10 show an additional feature ofthe present invention comprising a silicone baffle 304 to aid in the reaction by preventing the creation of any dead spaces in the reaction chamber 260.
  • the baffle 30 i is not a complete, imperforate wall extending across the entire width (inter-electrode gap) of the reaction chamber 260, but rather as shown in FIG. 9, merely extends partway across the width of the reaction chamber 260.
  • the voltage can be decreased.
  • the same (or even greater) corona intensity can be maintained with a smaller voltage by increasing the frequency, as will be understood by reference to the following equation:
  • K is a function of dielectric thickness, dielectric constant, and width of air gap, in accordance with the teachings set forth in other sections of this specification.
  • P is the power in watts of the corona discharge
  • V is the peak voltage (in volts) applied across the electrodes 252 and 2541;
  • the frequency according to this aspect of the present invention is in the range of about Hz to 6,000 Hz and the voltage is in the range of about 2,000 to 15,000 volts peak.
  • FIGS. 1l-13 Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1l-13 for a description of three different voltage driving arrangements of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 shows the series connected voltage driving scheme of the present invention which alleviates the above-described disadvantage in the prior art parallel scheme.
  • the transformer 116 has one lead connected to a left-hand outside heat sink spacer 332 of the left-hand outside or end cell 334 and the other electrical lead from the transformer 116 is connected to an outside heat sink spacer 336 of the right-hand outside or end cell 338, at the opposite end of the corona reactor core 114.
  • Adjacent plates, are all electrically connected together by virtue of a pair of aluminum heat sink spacers 348 and 350, connected thereto.
  • the high voltage applied from the transformer 116 across the entire corona reactor core 114 will preferably be of the order of 30,00060,000 volts depending upon the use to which the corona reactor is put.
  • the individual electrodes of the individual cells 121 act as voltage dividers with the voltage division being governed by the same laws as governthe corona discharge. It has actually been demonstrated that, in a stacked (sandwich) array making up a corona reactor core 114, the corona electrode gap of some (or even one) reactor chambers can be twice the distance of that of the remaining reactor chambers, and yet the corona discharge or intensity will be absolutely uniform throughout every reaction chamber.
  • One reaction chamber was even made wedge-shaped in cross-section with virtually no gap on one edge and a full gap on the opposite edge and a preferably uniform corona was found to exist therein, with the series electrical mode of FIG. 11 of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 shows a combination series and parallel electrical connection wherein a smaller voltage can be employed than is used in the embodiment in FIG. 11 where the voltage is supplied across the entire stack (sandwich) or array of corona reactor cells 121 of the corona reactor core 1 14.
  • one electrical lead 124 from the transformer 116 is connected to the two outside end heat sink spacers 310 and 3112 (or the adjacent electrode thereof) of the two outside corona reactor cells 314 and 316, respectively.
  • the other electrical lead 122 from the transformer 1 16 is applied to the two adjacent electrodes 318 and 320 of the two middle corona reactor cells 322 and 324, respectively, by connecting the lead line 122 from the transformer 1 .16 to the spacers 328 and 330 connected to the electrodes 318 and 320 respectively.
  • the operation of this embodiment of the present invention has characteristics of both the parallel and the series electrical circuits discussed above.
  • the voltage to be applied to a corona reactor unit 114 having eight corona reactor cells, as shown in FIG. 12, will be approximately 20,000 to 50,000 volts peak.
  • FIG. 13 shows a completely parallel electrical arrangement in which a plurality of corona reactor cells 121 are connected in parallel.
  • the heat sink spacers 278 and 280 provide electrical connection between adjacent electrodes of adjacent cells.
  • the adjacent electrodes of adjacent cells have the same polarity and are electrically connected together. Electrical connection from the transformer 116 is made directly to the heat sink spacers 278 and 280.
  • This parallel system is the preferred electrical arrangement.
  • the reactant was dry oxygen.
  • the pressure in the individual corona reaction chamber was about psig.
  • the power applied was 600 watts.
  • the flow rate was 1.5 CFM.
  • the number of corona reactor cells in the corona reactor core was 2.
  • the corona electrode gap (electrode spacing) was 60 mils.
  • the voltage was 6,000 volts peak for each cell.
  • the ozone yield was 5 pounds per day.
  • the power frequency was 60 Hz.
  • the corona frequency was 2,000 Hz.
  • An apparatus comprising:
  • a corona generator comprising at least one corona generating cell including a pair of spaced-apart electrodes and a layer of dielectric material there between;
  • a transformer having a primary winding connected to said frequency converter circuit and a secondary winding connected to said corona generator;
  • said frequency converter circuit being connected to said corona generator through said transformer for supplying higher frequency current to said corona generator from a lower frequency AC power source, said frequency converter circuit comprising: 1. a rectifier circuit for rectifying current from an AC power source, and
  • said chopping circuit consisting essentially of an SCR. connected in series with said primary winding of said transformer, and a firing circuit connected to the gate of said SCR, said SCR being shut-off by .said connection to said corona generator through said transformer.
  • corona generator includes a plurality of corona generating cells. each cell comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes defining a corona generating chamber therebetween, each chamber containing a fluid reactant therein.
  • said firing circuit is a low power circuit supplying approximately 10 volt pulses to said SCR.
  • said firing circuit includes means for varying the frequency of firing pulses applied to said SCR.
  • the apparatus according to claim 1 including a step-up transformer connected to said rectifier circuit for increasing the voltage of current from said power source before it is rectified.
  • corona generator is an ozone generator comprising:
  • a pair of flat. adjacent. parallel, spaced-apart electrodes defining a corona discharge chamber adapted to contain an oxygen containing gas between facing, internal surfaces of said electrodes, at least one of said electrodes having a fired-on coating of porcelain enamel dielectric material on its internal surface, and the total thickness of said coating being less than about 40 mils.
  • each of said electrodes has a fired-on coating of porcelain enamel dielectric material on its internal surface, and wherein the total thickness of said two coatings is less than about 40 mils.
  • each of said electrodes includes an external surface in heat exchange relationship with a gaseous cooling means.
  • the apparatus according to claim including means sealing said corona generating chamber of each cell from ambient at chamber pressures in the range of from at least about 0 to 30 psia,
  • the apparatus according to claim 16 including means for feeding an oxygen-containing gas into each of said corona reaction chambers and for feeding ozone out of each of said chambers.
  • a transformer said corona generator being connected to the secondary winding of said transformer;
  • An apparatus comprising:
  • a corona generator comprising at least one corona generating cell including a pair of spaced-apart electrodes and a layer of dielectric material therebetween b. an inverter circuit for supplying alternating current from a DC source;
  • a transformer having a primary winding connected to said inverter circuit, and a secondary winding connected to said corona generator
  • said inverter circuit consisting essentially of an SCR, connected in series with said primary winding of said transformer, and a firing circuit connected to the gate of said SCR, said SCR being shut-off by said connection to said corona generator through said transformer.

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  • Oxygen, Ozone, And Oxides In General (AREA)
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US00174691A 1971-08-25 1971-08-25 Solid state frequency converter for corona generator Expired - Lifetime US3784838A (en)

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JP (1) JPS4831091A (de)
AR (1) AR197198A1 (de)
BR (1) BR7205747D0 (de)
CA (1) CA979486A (de)
CH (1) CH580875A5 (de)
DE (1) DE2240986C2 (de)
FR (1) FR2151394A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1407249A (de)
NL (1) NL7211424A (de)
SE (1) SE379126B (de)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3875035A (en) * 1971-08-25 1975-04-01 Purification Sciences Inc Solid state frequency converter for corona generator
US3899682A (en) * 1969-06-04 1975-08-12 Purification Sciences Inc Corona reactor method and apparatus
US3905920A (en) * 1973-04-06 1975-09-16 Jacqueline N Botcharoff Ozone generating device
JPS50124894A (de) * 1974-03-20 1975-10-01
JPS5114189A (ja) * 1974-07-25 1976-02-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Ozonhatsuseisochi
US3984697A (en) * 1967-01-04 1976-10-05 Purification Sciences, Inc. Corona generator
US4027169A (en) * 1974-03-29 1977-05-31 Union Carbide Corporation High frequency power supply
US4048668A (en) * 1975-05-09 1977-09-13 Source Gas Analyzers, Inc. Electrically driven high voltage ozonator
US4051043A (en) * 1976-01-26 1977-09-27 O-3 Company Apparatus for fluid treatment by electron emission
JPS537445U (de) * 1976-07-06 1978-01-23
JPS5326293A (en) * 1976-08-25 1978-03-10 Akio Yamamoto Ozone and ion generating air purifier
US4283291A (en) * 1977-01-24 1981-08-11 Union Carbide Corporation Corona reaction method and apparatus
US4694376A (en) * 1982-03-12 1987-09-15 Rudolf Gesslauer Circuit for the pulsed operation of one or more high-frequency ozonizers
US5008087A (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-04-16 American Ozone Systems, Inc. Ozone generator apparatus and method
US5135725A (en) * 1989-08-14 1992-08-04 Infilco Degremont Inc. Ozone generator equipment and methods
US5145350A (en) * 1991-01-25 1992-09-08 Cleantech International, Inc. Ozone generator
US5169606A (en) * 1990-06-06 1992-12-08 American Ozone Systems, Inc. Ozone generator apparatus
US20010046459A1 (en) * 1999-09-21 2001-11-29 St. Onge Benedict B. High efficiency ozone generator
US20040129933A1 (en) * 2001-02-16 2004-07-08 Arokia Nathan Pixel current driver for organic light emitting diode displays
GB2517729A (en) * 2013-08-29 2015-03-04 Ozonica Ltd Disinfection of packaged articles
EP3499525A4 (de) * 2016-08-09 2019-07-31 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Stromversorgungsvorrichtung für ozongenerator und vorrichtung zur erzeugung von ozon

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5234275B2 (de) * 1974-06-08 1977-09-02
JPS5234276B2 (de) * 1974-06-10 1977-09-02
DE2947352A1 (de) * 1979-11-23 1981-05-27 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Einrichtung zur spannungsversorgung einer ozonisatoranlage
DE3027112A1 (de) * 1980-07-17 1982-02-11 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Spannungsversorgung fuer einen ozonisator
DE3129504C2 (de) * 1981-07-27 1985-11-07 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Spannungsversorgung für einen Ozonisator
DE3521496A1 (de) * 1985-04-22 1986-10-23 Sorbios Verfahrenstech Verfahren und vorrichtung zur mittel- und hochfrequenten hochspannungsversorgung fuer impedanzartige lasten, insbesondere bei gasentladungen
US4789801A (en) * 1986-03-06 1988-12-06 Zenion Industries, Inc. Electrokinetic transducing methods and apparatus and systems comprising or utilizing the same
FR2682829B1 (fr) * 1991-10-16 1994-01-14 Trailigaz Cie Gle Ozone Dispositif perfectionne d'alimentation en energie electrique d'un ozoneur.
US5443800A (en) * 1993-06-01 1995-08-22 Liftech Corporation Pulse train generating circuit for control of an ozone generating means

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US807964A (en) * 1904-05-09 1905-12-19 Nat Ozone Company Apparatus for producing ozone.
US1403759A (en) * 1920-02-27 1922-01-17 Fitzpatrick John Ozone generator
US2822327A (en) * 1955-03-31 1958-02-04 Gen Electric Method of generating ozone
US3205162A (en) * 1961-08-08 1965-09-07 Celanese Corp Electric discharge process and apparatus
US3455803A (en) * 1965-10-22 1969-07-15 Puromatic Inc Ozone producing apparatus and method utilizing a resonant circuit where the capacitance is provided by the reactant fluid
US3496092A (en) * 1968-03-28 1970-02-17 Gen Electric Solid state corona generator for chemical - electrical discharge processes

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JPS4328232Y1 (de) * 1964-09-03 1968-11-20

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US807964A (en) * 1904-05-09 1905-12-19 Nat Ozone Company Apparatus for producing ozone.
US1403759A (en) * 1920-02-27 1922-01-17 Fitzpatrick John Ozone generator
US2822327A (en) * 1955-03-31 1958-02-04 Gen Electric Method of generating ozone
US3205162A (en) * 1961-08-08 1965-09-07 Celanese Corp Electric discharge process and apparatus
US3455803A (en) * 1965-10-22 1969-07-15 Puromatic Inc Ozone producing apparatus and method utilizing a resonant circuit where the capacitance is provided by the reactant fluid
US3496092A (en) * 1968-03-28 1970-02-17 Gen Electric Solid state corona generator for chemical - electrical discharge processes

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3984697A (en) * 1967-01-04 1976-10-05 Purification Sciences, Inc. Corona generator
US3899682A (en) * 1969-06-04 1975-08-12 Purification Sciences Inc Corona reactor method and apparatus
US3875035A (en) * 1971-08-25 1975-04-01 Purification Sciences Inc Solid state frequency converter for corona generator
US3905920A (en) * 1973-04-06 1975-09-16 Jacqueline N Botcharoff Ozone generating device
JPS50124894A (de) * 1974-03-20 1975-10-01
US4027169A (en) * 1974-03-29 1977-05-31 Union Carbide Corporation High frequency power supply
JPS55325B2 (de) * 1974-07-25 1980-01-07
JPS5114189A (ja) * 1974-07-25 1976-02-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Ozonhatsuseisochi
US4048668A (en) * 1975-05-09 1977-09-13 Source Gas Analyzers, Inc. Electrically driven high voltage ozonator
US4051043A (en) * 1976-01-26 1977-09-27 O-3 Company Apparatus for fluid treatment by electron emission
JPS5746333Y2 (de) * 1976-07-06 1982-10-13
JPS537445U (de) * 1976-07-06 1978-01-23
JPS5326293A (en) * 1976-08-25 1978-03-10 Akio Yamamoto Ozone and ion generating air purifier
US4283291A (en) * 1977-01-24 1981-08-11 Union Carbide Corporation Corona reaction method and apparatus
US4694376A (en) * 1982-03-12 1987-09-15 Rudolf Gesslauer Circuit for the pulsed operation of one or more high-frequency ozonizers
US5135725A (en) * 1989-08-14 1992-08-04 Infilco Degremont Inc. Ozone generator equipment and methods
US5008087A (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-04-16 American Ozone Systems, Inc. Ozone generator apparatus and method
US5169606A (en) * 1990-06-06 1992-12-08 American Ozone Systems, Inc. Ozone generator apparatus
US5145350A (en) * 1991-01-25 1992-09-08 Cleantech International, Inc. Ozone generator
WO1994004264A1 (en) * 1991-01-25 1994-03-03 Cleantech International, Inc. Ozone generator
US20010046459A1 (en) * 1999-09-21 2001-11-29 St. Onge Benedict B. High efficiency ozone generator
US20040129933A1 (en) * 2001-02-16 2004-07-08 Arokia Nathan Pixel current driver for organic light emitting diode displays
GB2517729A (en) * 2013-08-29 2015-03-04 Ozonica Ltd Disinfection of packaged articles
EP3499525A4 (de) * 2016-08-09 2019-07-31 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Stromversorgungsvorrichtung für ozongenerator und vorrichtung zur erzeugung von ozon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE379126B (de) 1975-09-22
NL7211424A (de) 1973-02-27
DE2240986C2 (de) 1982-05-19
CH580875A5 (de) 1976-10-15
CA979486A (en) 1975-12-09
AR197198A1 (es) 1974-03-22
FR2151394A5 (de) 1973-04-13
BR7205747D0 (pt) 1973-06-28
GB1407249A (en) 1975-09-24
DE2240986A1 (de) 1973-03-01
JPS4831091A (de) 1973-04-24

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