WO2018002443A1

WO2018002443A1 - An ozonizing method and an ozonizer

Info

Publication number: WO2018002443A1
Application number: PCT/FI2017/050490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Risto HÄRKÖNEN; Miika HÖLTTÄ; Tuomo ISOKIVIJÄRVI; Jarmo PÄÄKKÖNEN; Pekka SALO
Original assignee: Härkönen Risto; Hölttä Miika; Isokivijärvi Tuomo; Jarmo PÄÄKKÖNEN; Salo Pekka
Priority date: 2016-07-01
Filing date: 2017-06-30
Publication date: 2018-01-04
Also published as: WO2018002443A9; EP3478329A1; WO2018002417A1; FI20165552A; FI127211B; EP3478329A4

Abstract

The invention relates to an ozonizing device, comprising two ozone discharge plates for producing ozone from air blown toward them. The ozone discharge plates are arranged in a chamber of the device so that the upper parts of the plates are spaced-apart and the lower parts of the plates are closer to each other. The device further comprises at least one air inlet, at least two air outlets, and a fan arranged under the ozone discharge plates for blowing air from under the device through the at least one air inlets upwards towards the ozone discharge plates and further the ozone produced by the ozone discharge plates upwards out of the device through the at least two air outlets.

Description

An ozonizing method and an ozonizer Technical field The present invention relates to an ozonizing device i.e. an ozonizer that is used for ozonizing spaces.

The invention also relates to a method for ozonizing and a computer program product causing a system to carry out the ozonizing method.

Background

Ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule (O₃) arranged to oxidize anything it comes into contact with. Ozone is effective for removing odors and killing mold, viruses and bacteria. Current ozone air purifiers in the market are in many cases such that they produce a large amount of ozone for a long time in their environment. This kind of technology is best-suited for professional use. For example, if a home is flooded or has a sewage clog or if there is smoke damage, large amount of ozone is used for those spaces by cleaning professionals. People and pets are removed while the ozone is applied, and they are only brought back a long time after the ozonizing is stopped, for example, the next day. Ozone is proven to be a toxic gas that has properties that are vastly different from oxygen. Exposure to ozone can bring on, for example, asthma symptoms. In cases of high levels of ozone exposure, the risks are even greater, including scarring of the lungs. Therefore, when large amount of ozone is used, it should be ensured that the waiting time is long enough so that ozone is certainly dissipated before entering the ozonized space.

Summary

Now there has been invented an improved method and ozonizing device providing purifying ozone and which ozonizing device is suitable to be used by private consumers even in residential use. The ozonizing device according to the invention provides such limited amount of ozone so that it purifies efficiently but at the same time the amount of ozone is so small that it is gentle to surfaces. This is not the case when a large amount of ozone is produced. Various aspects of the invention include a method, an apparatus, and a computer readable medium comprising a computer program stored therein, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

According to a first embodiment, there is provided an ozonizing device comprising two ozone discharge plates for producing ozone from air blown toward the ozone discharge plates and arranged in a chamber of the device so that the upper parts of the plates are spaced-apart and the lower parts of the plates are closer to each other, at least one air inlet, at least two air outlets, and a fan arranged under the ozone discharge plates for blowing air from under the device through the at least one air inlet upwards towards the ozone discharge plates and further and the ozone produced by the ozone discharge plates upwards to be blown out of the device through the at least two air outlets. According to an embodiment, an upwardly opening angle formed between the discharge plates is 30 - 60°. According to an embodiment, an upwardly opening angle formed between the discharge plates is 40°. According to an embodiment, the ozonizing device is arranged to produce ozone at intervals and to keep the produced ozone concentration inside an ozone concentration purifying area. According to an embodiment, the device is arranged to indicate a user after the ozone concentration is decreased under the ozone concentration purifying area in the ozonized space. According to an embodiment, a user interface of the device comprises icons and ozonization requirements and volume information of a space arranged to be ozonized is entered to the device by selecting one of those icons or wherein the user interface of the device comprises a data entry button and volume information is entered to the device by the data entry button. According to a second embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising: receiving ozonization requirements of a space comprising an exposure time and an ozone concentration purifying area, receiving volume information of the space, calculating needed ozonizing intervals so that needed exposure time in the ozone concentration purifying area is reached, wherein ozonizing intervals comprises at least one active interval and at least one un-active interval, and wherein ozone is arranged to be produced during active intervals, and producing ozone to the space during active intervals.

According to an embodiment, the volume information is received as a surface area and a height of the space arranged to be ozonized. According to an embodiment, the volume information is received as a volume of the space arranged to be ozonized. According to an embodiment, a user interface of the device comprises icons and the ozonization requirements and the volume information is received on the basis of selection of the one of those icons. According to an embodiment, the method further comprises calculating the time, when ozone concentration is decreased under the ozone concentration purifying area under ozonization. According to an embodiment, the method further comprises indicating the time, when ozone concentration is decreased under the ozone concentration purifying area under ozonization by a loudspeaker. According to a third embodiment, there is provided a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer program code configured to, when executed on at least one processor, cause an apparatus perform the method comprising: receiving ozonization requirements of a space comprising an exposure time and an ozone concentration purifying area, receiving volume information of the space, calculating needed ozonizing intervals so that needed exposure time in the ozone concentration purifying area is reached, wherein ozonizing intervals comprises at least one active interval and at least one un-active interval, and wherein ozone is arranged to be produced during active intervals, and producing ozone to the space during active intervals. According to an embodiment, the volume information is received as a surface area and a height of the space arranged to be ozonized. According to an embodiment, the volume information is received as a volume of the space arranged to be ozonized. According to an embodiment, a user interface of the device comprises icons and the ozonization requirements and the volume information is received on the basis of selection of the one of those icons. According to an embodiment, the at least one processor further causes the apparatus to calculate the time, when ozone concentration is decreased under the ozone concentration purifying area under ozonization. According to an embodiment, the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to indicate the time, when ozone concentration is decreased under the ozone concentration purifying area under ozonization by a loudspeaker.

Description of the Drawings

In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which shows a cross-sectional view of an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention

Fig. 2a shows a cross-sectional view of an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2b shows a cross-sectional view of an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention from above; shows a schematic block diagram of an example ozonizing

device according to an example embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a graphic image of the ozone concentration variation in a space during ozonizing according to an example embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 shows an ozonizing method according to an example embodiment of the invention.

Description of Example Embodiments

Ozone (O₃) is a strongly oxidizing triatomic form of oxygen. In nature, ozone is formed, for example, by the effect of solar UV radiation in the upper atmosphere and, on earth, for example, in connection with lightning strokes. Ozone oxidizes odorous compounds to an odourless form. Ozonization is effective, for example, for removing the smell of moulds, cigarette, sweat, smoke or death.

In addition to odour removing, ozone has strong antiseptic properties and it is capable of destroying, for example, viruses, anaerobic bacteria and fungi. With concentrations of 1 to 3 ppm (parts per million) and a long enough exposure time, ozone may even be used for destroying the MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) hospital bacterium. It should be noted that ppm levels of this description refer to ozone concentration in air by volume.

However, for people, long-term inhalation of large ozone contents may cause damage, for example, in lung tissues, and therefore the ozone concentration must be decreased to the allowed level before entering on ozonized space. The allowed level is an ozone concentration under/below which ozone concentration, it is determined to be safe for people. The allowed level of ozone concentration, p_safe, is usually determined to be 0.5 ppm

Nowadays efficient ozonizing devices may use ozone concentration even higher than 5 ppm and quite long exposure time for sterilization and odour removing. These kinds of high concentrations may, however, have unwanted effects on materials in spaces where those kinds of ozone concentrations are used. High ozone concentration and especially with long exposure times may, for example, perish or rust material. In addition to that, high ozone concentrations mean a longer period of time when the ozonized space is not safe to be entered and used.

In many cases it may be difficult for a normal, non-professional, user to estimate or calculate what is the period of time, the so called safety time, after ozonizing when the ozonized space is suitable to be entered. They may expose themselves to ozone existing still in the ozonized space if they enter the space too soon, even if the ozonizing has ended some time ago. Even low concentrations of only 0.05 ppm may have antiseptic properties in long term if the ozone is distributed evenly. In many of these cases, ozonizing devices providing low ozone concentration are in continuous use so that they provide ozone continuously to the space. This means that the room comprising this kind of a device comprises permanent increased ozone concentration.

An ozonizing device, an ozonizer, according to the invention is a compact and effective ozone purifier to be used, for example, in any space needing disinfection and/or deodorizing. The ozonizing device according to the invention provides purifying ozone in a safe way and the ozonizing device is suitable to be used by private users, for example, in residential use. The ozonizing device according to the invention is suitable for private use due to its user and surface friendly cleaning/purifying program determining needed total ozonization time, tozone, for the space in question. The total ozonization time includes starting time t_min, a needed ozonization time, t_exp₀sure_> and a safety time, tsafe- The starting time, t|_OW, is a time during which the ozone concentration is under an ozone concentration level, pi_ow needed for purifying the air and surfaces of the space efficiently. The needed ozonization time, t_exposure_> is an exposure time to ozone during which the ozone concentration is reached and kept above the needed ozone concentration level, p_!ow. The safety time, t_safe, is the time during which it may not be safe to enter the ozonized space. The device calculates the total ozonization time on the basis of the needed ozonization time and the needed ozone concentration level of the space and on the basis of the volume of the space. The needed ozonization time and the needed ozone concentration level of the space may be called ozonization requirements predetermined for different type of spaces. Some spaces need longer exposure times and/or higher ozone concentration levels so that ozonization purifies the air and surfaces of the space efficiently.

It is possible that when needed ozonization times i.e. exposure times and ozone concentration purifying areas i.e. ozone concentration levels between which the ozone concentration is needed to be kept during purifying for different type of spaces arranged to be ozonized are stored in the memory of the device wherefrom the device may receive them, and the user defines only the space type for the device prior to ozonizing. The user further defines the volume for the device, for example, by defining the surface area and the height of the space arranged to be ozonized or as the volume of the space arranged to be ozonized. The defining may be done, for example, by entering the information using device's own user interface. However, it may be possible that the type of the space arranged to be ozonized i.e. ozonization requirements (the needed ozonization time and the ozone concentration purifying area) is not predetermined for the device, and then the device receives the ozonization requirements from the user that may enter the ozonizing requirements of the space by him/herself in addition to the volume information. However, it is also possible that the device's user interface displays icons, for example, a room, a caravan i.e. a trailer, a sauna, a car, a cabin etc. and that the user further defines the ozonization requirements and the volume arranged to be ozonized for the device by selecting one of those icons. In other words, the device is programmed so that each icon comprises predetermined ozonizing requirements and volume information. In addition to that, the ozonizing device according to the invention may provide ozone so that the ozone concentration stays inside the ozone concentration purifying area in other words above a ozone concentration level that it efficiently purifies (> pi_ow)_> but below such ozone concentration level that it is gentle to surfaces (< p_high), which is not the case, when a large amount of ozone is produced by current ozone air purifiers. The ozonizing device according to the invention may control the production of ozone of the ozonizing device by activating the ozone production periodically during the needed ozonizing time, t_exposure- Because the cleaning efficiency of the ozonizing device is based on the exposure time during which the used ozone concentration is at least above a certain ozone concentration level (a second threshold level, pi_ow) and because the gentleness to the surfaces is achieved when the used ozone concentration is under a certain level (a first threshold level, p_high), the ozonizing device interrupts the production of ozone when the first threshold level, p_high, in concentration of ozone is reached and re-activates the production of ozone when the concentration of ozone is decreased to the second threshold level, p_!ow. The ozone may again be provided until the first threshold level, p_high, is reached. The second threshold level, pi_ow is lower than the first threshold level, p_high. The second threshold level of the concentration of ozone is, as mentioned above, the ozone concentration level, in which adequate cleaning efficiency is still achieved. The first threshold level, p_high, level is, as mentioned above, the ozone concentration level, which is detected to be gentle i.e. non- harmful for materials used in the space arranged to be ozonized. In other words the ozonizing device is arranged to produce ozone when a level of the concentration of ozone is above the efficient cleaning level but below the level that may harm materials in the ozonizing environment (space) i.e. ozone concentration is kept between the first and second threshold levels of ozone concentration that is < p_high but > Piow The ozonizing device is used periodically i.e. it is used at intervals and in this way, the operating time of the ozonizing device increases and electricity energy consumption of the ozonizing device decreases. Operating time means the active time when the ozonizing device is providing/producing ozone. In addition to that, this kind of periodic use of activating and inactivating improves the operational safety of the device, because the ozone concentration level never grows very high.

The ozonizing device further improves the user's safety, because it automatically determines, by calculating, the safety time, as mentioned above. Further to that the ozonizing device is arranged to audibly indicate the user about its state i.e. it may indicate that it is in use or that coming into the space is not safe. After a user has determined a volume of a space arranged to be ozonized for an ozonizing device, for example, by entering the area and the height of the space and the ozonizing requirements of the space are known, the ozonizing device is arranged to determine, for example, by calculating, the total ozonization time, t_OZOne_> including an ozonizing time, t_exp₀sure_> and a safety time t_saf_e- The device may calculate the active time for which it is arranged to produce ozone so that the first threshold level of ozone concentration is achieved. The starting ozone concentration level is assumed to be 0 ppm as well as the mass of ozone at the beginning is 0 g. Ozonizing periods can be calculated, for example, by using following formulas:

In 2 In 2

λ = =— = 0.0154

t_{1 /2} bmin

wherein, λ= half-life variable

t_1/2= the half-life of ozone, 45 min

wherein, m_max=maximum amount of ozone in the space

produced by the ozonizing device (g)

Y=ozone producing yield of the ozonizing device Vx * v

x 467

wherein,

m_x=mass of ozone in the space at the ozone concentration level of p_x, at the beginning the ozone mass is 0 g,

requested ozone concentration level, starting ozone concentration level is assumed to be 0 ppm, 1 g 0₃/m³ = 467 ppm by volume

V=volume of the space (m³)

Thus the time, t|_OW, from ozone concentration 0 ppm to ozone concentration pi_ow ppm is as follows (in minutes):

ln( T -max m-low^

^■max

low ~

λ wherein mi_ow-mass of ozone in the space at the ozone

concentration level of pi_ow

The time from the low threshold ozone concentration level, pi_ow> to the high threshold ozone concentration level, p_high:

^■max ^mhigh^

T -max T -low

^rise

λ wherein m_high= mass of ozone in the space at the ozone

concentration level of p_high

miow-mass of ozone in the space at the ozone concentration level of pi_ow

Whereas, the time from the high threshold ozone concentration level to the low threshold ozone concentration level: ^mlow

ln(;

Therefore, the time of one effective ozonizing period, t_eff_ect_> from pi_ow -> Phigh -> Plow is as follows t_effect =trise + t_deCay However, if teffect is smaller than the t_exposure that is the required time for ozonizing determined for the space arrange to ozonized (determined by the user) and on the basis of the ozonizing requirements of the space, the factor, N, for other effective ozonizing periods, t_effect. can be calculated as follows:

N = ^texposure ~ ^teffect

^^■effect

If N<1 , it indicates that there is no need to rise the ozone concentration level to p_high again. The missing exposure time, : t-last ^— ^-exposure ~ ^-effect

The total mass of ozone, mi_ast, is a mass (g) of ozone into which mass level ozone need to be produced so that the missing exposure time, tiast, (and also the total effective ozonizing time, t_totai) can be achieved could be calculated as follows:

7 '7"7-max # 7 '7"7-low # P ^c ^last

Therefore, the ozone producing time, t_me, during which the ozone mass level is lifted from already existing ozone level in the space to the level of the total mass of ozone, m^_t (in grams) could be produced, is as follows:

The time when ozonizing can be stopped, t_end> could be calculated as follows: tend ^low ^-effect ^me

It is possible that the ozone has to be produced more than twice during one purifying time of a space arranged to be ozonized, for example, three, four etc. so that the required exposure time is reached.

The time, t_ci_ean_> from the time point, when producing of ozone is stopped and the ozone concentration drops back to pi_ow can be calculated as follows:

. _ ^mlast

'-clean ~ ^

Therefore the total effective ozonizing time, t_totai. is:

^total ~ ^-effect ^me ^clean

Time intervals of producing ozone and not producing ozone (i.e. break times, but ozone concentration is above p_min, for example, above 1.5 ppm) during ozonizing are determined by the device so that the required exposure time to ozone determined in ozonization requirements of a space is reached. These intervals may be called as ozonizing intervals.

In the following, several embodiments of the invention will be described in the context of figures 1 to 4. It is to be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to shown embodiments. In fact, the different embodiments have applications in any environment where ozonizing for disinfection and/or deodorization is needed. Figure 1 shows an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention in a cross-sectional view. The ozonizing device 10 comprises at least two ozone discharge plates 1 1 , a transformer 12, a fan 13, two air inlets 14, and at least two air outlets 15. Further, the ozonizing device 10 comprises a safety grid 16. The safety grid is arranged above the at least two air outlets 15.

The ozone discharge plates 1 1 may be, for example, flat ceramic plates that are electrically connectable to an electric power source. High voltages are applied to the plates 1 1 for breaking down the chemical bonds of the atmospheric oxygen surrounding plates 1 1 , 0₂ - 20. Free radicals of oxygen are then recombined and ozone (O₃) is created. The ozone discharge plates 1 1 are arranged in substantially a V-shape in the chamber 17 of the device 10 so that the upper parts of the plates 1 1 are spaced-apart and the lower parts of the plates 1 1 are together or close to each other. In other words, the sharp tip of the V is towards the ground, for example, towards the floor of the space arranged to be ozonized. The upwardly opening angle between plates 1 1 may be around 40°, for example, 30° - 60°, but it may also be smaller, for example, 20° or wider, for example, 70°. The device 10 receives air from the underside of the device 10 through the air inlets 14 arranged in the lower surface, for example, in a bottom plate of the device 10. The fan 13 arranged at the lower part of the device 10 inside the device 10 may be used for blowing air from under the device 10. The fan 13 is arranged such that it blows an air flow upwards into the chamber 17. Efficiency of the V-shape of plates 1 1 is based on the idea that the sharp tip of the V-shape splits the air flow to two laminar air flows on their way up. In other words, the air flow flowing upwards is divided to two laminar air flows when the air flow hits to the tip of the V-shape. These separated air flows are again combined at the two air outlets 15. Swirling under pressure region is formed between the two air flows. This under pressure region combines the two air flows effectively after passing the plates 1 1 and directs the air flow upwards. When the angle between the plates 1 1 is around 40°, the hitting angle of the air to the plates 1 1 is so gentle that the flow on the surface of the plates 1 1 remains laminar, i.e. there will be no turbulence formed, which may slow down the air flow. When the air flow hits the plates 1 1 , ozone will be efficiently formed. The ozone formed on the plates 1 1 is efficiently entrained to / pulled along the two air flows flowing and aligned upwards. The formed ozone is lifted up with the two swirling air flows, because ozone is heavier gas than the air and it will otherwise not rise so high. When ozone is lifted with the two swirling air flows upward, it may diffuse faster into the air of the space arranged to be ozonized and therefore it may more efficiently be mixed with the air of the space arrange to be ozonized. Faster diffusion and mixing may improve the effectiveness of ozone not only on the impurities of the air, but also on all surfaces of the space. Furthermore, the V-shape increases the flowing speed of the air passing the V-shape from down to up, because the tapering flowing route forces the air to flow up by smaller volume. This also accelerates the mixing of the ozone in the air of the space arranged to be ozonized, because the ozone enters the space arranged to be ozonized in less time. High air flowing rate on the plates decreases ozone concentration but increases the net ozone production and colds down the plates more efficiently.

The fan 13 may be, for example, a small sized fan having a rotation speed of, for example, 1500 - 3000 rpm, for example, approximately 2000 rpm and its flow rate may be, for example, 50 - 150 m³ / h, for example, 100 m³ / h. The transformer 12 may be, for example, a high voltage AC transformer. Air inlets 14 may be specified to enable the fan 13 to operate at its rated flow capacity. The safety grid 16 may be, for example, a perforated metal plate or a metal grid. It should be noted that two air inlets 14 are just an example embodiment and instead of two air inlets there could be only one air inlet or more than two air inlets, for example, 3, 4, or more. Also two air outlets 15 are just an example embodiment and instead of two air outlets it is possible that there are more than two air outlets 15, for example, 3, 4, or more. Figure 2a and 2b show an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment of the invention in a cross-sectional view. In figure 2a, the angle between the plates 21 of the ozonizing device 20 is 60° and in figure 2b, the angle between the plates 23 of the ozonizing device 22 is 30°. Otherwise their structures correspond to the structure of the ozonizing device 10 of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an apparatus according to an example embodiment. The apparatus is an ozonizing device 30. The device 30 comprises a housing 35 for incorporating and protecting the ozonizing device 30. The device 30 may further comprise an audio output means, which in embodiments of the invention may be any one of: a loud speaker suitable to produce audio signal, for example, information relating to the state of the ozonizing device 30. It may, for example, indicate when it is safe to enter the ozonized space. The device 30 may further comprise a display 31 , for example, in the form of e.g. a liquid crystal display. In other embodiments of the invention, the display 31 may be any suitable display technology suitable to display, for example, information entered by a user or information relating to the selection to be made by the user, wherein the selection options may relate to the type of the space arranged to be ozonized. The device 30 may further comprise a data entry button 32 or some other data input means, for example, a keypad. In other embodiments of the invention any suitable data or user interface mechanism may be employed. For example, the user interface may be implemented as a keyboard or a data entry system as part of a touch-sensitive display. In other embodiments, the device 30 may further comprise communication means suitable for forming a connection to other device(s). In other embodiments, the device 30 may further comprise any suitable short range communication solution such as, for example, a Bluetooth wireless connection, Near Field Communication (NFC) connection or a USB / firewire wired connection (not shown). Through communication means a user may enter information relating to the space arranged to be ozonized or to select a type of the space arranged to be ozonized. The upper part of the casing 35 of the device 30 comprises a safety grid 36 comprising openings through which air outlets may supply air flow and ozone to the space from the device 30. The casing 35 may be, for example, steel or aluminium. Figure 4 shows an ozonizing device according to an example embodiment. The ozonizing device 40 contains required electronics and circuitry, for example, for an ozonizing method according to embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the device 40 as illustrated and hereinafter described is merely illustrative of one type of device that may benefit from various embodiments, and therefore should not be taken to limit the scope of the embodiments. As such, it should be appreciated that at least some of the components described below in connection with the device 40 may be optional and thus, in an example embodiment may include more, less or different components than those described in connection with the example embodiment of figure 4. The device 40 comprises a memory 41 , at least one processor 42, and computer program code 43 residing in the memory 41. The device 40 may further comprise one or more displays. The device 40 also comprises an interface means (e.g. a user interface) which allows a user to interact with the device 40. The user interface means may be implemented by using one or more of the following: the display (31 in figure 3), a data entry button (32 in figure 3), a keypad, or other structures. The device 40 may further comprise means for indicating its status information. Means for indicating its status information may be, for example, a loudspeaker (33 in figure 3). The device 40 may, in some cases, further comprise communication means 44 by which the device 40 may be configured to connect to another device to receive and/or transmit information, for example information relating to ozonizing or status information through a wireless or wired network. Another device may be, for example, a mobile device such as a smart phone or mobile phone. The communication means 44 may be a communication block.

Figure 5 shows a graphic image of the ozone concentration variation 50 in a space during ozonizing according to an example embodiment of the invention. The ozonizing requirements for the space are following: the exposing time, t_exposure_> 59 is 60 min and the ozonizing level is 1.5 - 2.5 ppm. The area of the space is 20m² and height of the space is 2.3 m. Therefore, the volume is 46.0 m³. The first threshold value Phigh 51 is 2.5 ppm, the second threshold value pi_ow 52 is 1 .5 ppm. The needed active ozonizing periods can be calculated for this example embodiment, for example, as follows:

In 2 In 2

λ = =— = 0.0154

wherein, λ= half-life variable

t_1/2= the half-life of ozone, 45 min

Y 0.0167 g/min

m = 1.0844 g

λ 0.0154 m_max=maximum amount of ozone in the space produced by the ozonizing device (g)

Y= ozone producing yield of the ozonizing device (g/min), in this example, Y=0.01 67 g/min (1 g/h)

Masses of ozone at maximum ozone concentration, p_high, and at minimum ozone concentration, pi_ow, of the ozone level.

Phigh * V 2.5ppm * 46m³

m_high = _Ar_ = — = 0.2462#

467 467

wherein,

m_Mgh=mass of ozone in the space at the

concentration level of p_high,

1 g 0₃/m³ = 467 ppm by volume in air

V=volume of the space (m³)

Plow * V l.Sppm * 46m³

m^<™ =-Ί = 467 ^{= 0 1478fl} wherein, rriiow-mass of ozone in the space at the ozone

concentration level of pi_ow>

Thus the time, t|_OW, 53 from ozone concentration 0 ppm to

ozone concentration p_min ppm is as follows (in minutes):

The rising time, t_riSe, 54 from the low threshold ozone concentration level, piow to the high threshold ozone concentration level, p_high, during which ozone is produced can be calculated, for example, as follows:

= / .ZOomin

Whereas, the decaying time, ay 55 from the high threshold ozone concentration, p_high, level to the low threshold ozone concentration level, piow during which no ozone is produced and the device in in un- active state:

lⁿ [m-high) ^ln (o.2462¾

t_fiprnv =

decay = 0.0154 = 33.134min

Therefore, the time of one effective ozonizing period, t_eff_ect_> from pi_ow ^~> Phigh -> Piow is as follows: teffect =t_rise + t_deCay=7.208 mm + 33.134 min = 40.342 min

However, t_effect is smaller than the t_exposure_> that is the required time for ozonizing determined for the space arrange to ozonized (determined by the user), the factor, N, for needed effective ozonizing periods, t_effect_> can be calculated as follows:

_ ^exposure ~ ^effect _ 60mm - 40.342mm _

t_effect 40.342min

N<1 , it indicates that there is no need to rise the ozone concentration up level to p_high again, but smaller ozone concentration level is enough. The missing exposure time, , 56 can be calculated as follows: tiast = t_exposure - t_effect = 60min - 40.342mm = 19.658mm

The total mass of ozone, mi_ast, into which mass level ozone need to be produced so that the missing exposure time, , (and also the total effective ozonizing time, t_tot_ai) can be achieved could be calculated as follows:

™_max * miow * e ^t'^ast

miow * e ^tlast * m_max - m,

1.08440 * 0.14780 * _e ^0.0154*19.658min

^~ 0.14780 * _e^o.oi5 *i9.658min _# 1.0844^ - 0.14780 ^~

Therefore, the second ozone producing time, t_me, 57 during which the ozone mass level is lifted from already existing ozone level in the space to the level of the total mass of ozone, mi_ast could be produced, is as follows:

The time point, t_end_> 58 when ozonizing can be stopped could be calculated as follows: tend— tlow + ^effect + ^me ^— 52.906min

The time, t_ci_ean_> 60 from the time point t_end 58, when producing of ozone is stopped at the second time back to ozone concentration p_min can be calculated as follows:

tccileeaann = = 16.582mm

Therefore the total effective ozonizing time, t_totai. is: total ^effect ^me t clean

= 40.342mm + 3.05mm + 16.582mm

= 59.974mm~60mm

During the total effective ozonizing time, t_totai. the ozone level is kept between 1.5 - 2.5 ppm, which was the determined ozonizing level in ozonizing requirements. As above shown, the t_totai = texposure and ozonizing is performed completely.

The safety time, t_safe, 61 which the ozonized space is suitable to be entered after starting of the ozonizing and during which the ozone level is 0.5 - 1.5 ppm may be calculated as follows:

= 71.3 _mm s^afe λ 0.0154 wherein,

p_{sa e}=allowed ozone concentration level in the space after ozonizing, 0.5 ppm

effective ozone concentration level in the space at a time point when ozonizing is stopped, 1.5 ppm The total ozonizing time t_OZOne may be calculated as follows: t-ozone ^— trise ^-exposure ^safe

= 7.208min + 60min + 71.34min = 138.55min

The device may indicate a user after the total ozonizing time at the time point, tend , 62 that the ozonized space is suitable to be entered, for example, by a loudspeaker. It is also possible that the device indicates the user after the ozone concentration <1 .5 ppm (pi_ow)- When the ozone concentration is smaller than 1 .5 ppm (pi_ow)_> the user may, in some circumstances, enter the ozonized space if the ventilation of the ozonized space is started immediately.

Time intervals of ozonizing comprise at least one active interval when ozone is produced and at least one un-active interval when ozone is not produced, but ozone concentration is above 1 .5 ppm. These intervals are determined by the device so that the required 60 minutes exposure time of this example embodiment is reached. These intervals may be called as ozonizing intervals and in this example embodiment active intervals are t|_OW, 53 from ozone concentration 0 ppm to minimum ozone concentration p_min ppm, rising time, t_nse, 54 from the low threshold ozone concentration level, pi_ow> to the high threshold ozone concentration level, p_high, and the second ozone producing time, t_me, 57 during which the ozone level is produced from an existing ozone mass level of the space to the needed total ozone mass level, mi_ast. Un-active intervals are decaying time, ay 55 from the high threshold ozone concentration, p_high, level to the low threshold ozone concentration level, piow and, t_ci_ean _> 60 from the time point when producing of ozone is stopped at the second time and ozone concentration drops to pi_ow - 1 -5 ppm.

Figure 6 shows a flow chart of an ozonizing method according to an example embodiment of the invention. In step 60, ozonization requirements of a space comprising an exposure time and an ozone concentration purifying area is received. In step 61 , volume information of the space is received. In step 62, needed ozonizing intervals are calculated so that needed exposure time in the ozone concentration purifying area is reached, wherein ozonizing intervals comprises at least one active interval and at least one un-active interval, and wherein ozone is arranged to be produced during active intervals. In step 63, ozone is produced to the space during active intervals.

The various embodiments of the invention can be implemented with the help of computer program code that resides in a memory and causes the relevant apparatuses to carry out the invention. For example, a device may comprise circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving and transmitting data, computer program code in a memory, and a processor that, when running the computer program code, causes the device to carry out the features of an embodiment.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited solely to the above- presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An ozonizing method for determining ozonizing intervals for an ozonizing device, the method comprises: receiving ozonization requirements of a space arranged to be ozonized comprising an exposure time and an ozone concentration purifying area, and volume information of the space from a user, wherein a user interface of the ozonizing device comprises icons and the ozonization requirements and the volume information is received on the basis of selection of those icons; calculating needed ozonizing intervals so that needed exposure time in the ozone concentration purifying area is reached, wherein ozonizing intervals comprises at least one active interval and at least one un- active interval, and wherein ozone is arranged to be produced only during active intervals; and producing ozone by the ozonizing device to the space only during active intervals so that concentration of the produced ozone stays inside the ozone concentration purifying area.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume information is received as a surface area and a height of the space arranged to be ozonized.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume information is received as the volume of the space arranged to be ozonized.

4. A method according any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the method further comprises: calculating the time, when ozone concentration is decreased below the ozone concentration purifying area.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises: indicating the time, when ozone concentration is decreased below the ozone concentration purifying area by a loudspeaker.

6. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer program code configured to, when executed on at least one processor, cause an apparatus perform the method of claims 1 to 5.

7. An ozonizing device arranged to perform the method of claims 1 to 5.

8. An ozonizing device according to claim 7, wherein two ozone discharge plates for producing ozone from air blown toward the ozone discharge plates and arranged in a chamber of the ozonizing device so that the upper parts of the plates are spaced-apart and the lower parts of the plates are closer to each other,

at least one air inlet,

at least two air outlets, and

a fan arranged under the ozone discharge plates for blowing air from under the ozonizing device through the at least one air inlet upwards towards the ozone discharge plates and further and the ozone produced by the ozone discharge plates upwards to be blown out of the ozonizing device through the at least two air outlets.

9. An ozonizing device according to claim 8, wherein an upwardly opening angle formed between the discharge plates is 30 - 60°.

10. An ozonizing device according to any of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the device is arrange to indicate the user after the ozone concentration is decreased below the ozone concentration purifying area in the ozonized space.