Ozone sensor and method for use of same in water purification system
AssigneeFantom Technologies Inc.
InventorsWayne Ernest Conrad, Richard M. Duff, Terry B. Bohrsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid purification apparatus which uses ozone to purify water is disclosed. Off-gas from the purification process is passed through an ozone detector that provides an electric signal corresponding to the ozone concentration in the off-gas. The electric signal is monitored and used to control the length of the ozonation process. The detector comprises a MgO2 and CuO based ozone destroying catalyst which generates an electric potential when used to decompose ozone into oxygen.
Claims31
A sensor for detecting ozone in an incoming gas stream, said sensor comprising:
- a. a sensing element comprising an ozone destroying material positioned in the flow path of the incoming gas stream, said sensing element being electrically sensitive to the presence of ozone such that an electrical potential is induced across said ozone destroying material;
- and
- b. an electrical circuit coupled to said sensing element for allowing said electrical potential to be measured.
An apparatus for removing impurities from water, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a contact chamber for containing said water, said contact chamber having an off-gas outlet for allowing off-gas to exit said contact chamber in an off-gas stream;
- b. a reactable gas source for providing a reactable gas;
- c. a reactable gas sensor including a sensing element across which an electrical potential is created due to exposure of the sensing element to the reactable gas, the sensor providing a reactable gas signal corresponding to the presence of reactable gas in said off-gas stream, said reactable gas sensor having an off-gas inlet and said off-gas inlet being in fluid communication with said off-gas outlet;
- and
- d. a controller, said controller being coupled to said sensing element for receiving said reactable signal and to said reactable gas source for controlling introduction of said reactable gas into said contact chamber in response to said reactable gas signal.
A method of removing impurities from an impure liquid, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a quantity of said impure liquid in a contact chamber;
- b. providing a controller for controlling the flow of a treatment gas containing a reactable gas into said chamber;
- c. initiating the flow of said treatment gas into said contact chamber, wherein said reactable gas flows through said liquid and wherein at least some of said reactable gas reacts with impurities in said liquid consuming at least some of said reactable gas, the remainder of said treatment gas collecting in said chamber as an off-gas;
- d. withdrawing some of said off-gas;
- e. monitoring the concentration of said reactable gas in said off-gas;
- and
- f. terminating the flow of said treatment gas in response to the rate of change of said concentration of said reactable gas in said off-gas falling below a selected level.
A method of removing impurities from an impure liquid, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a quantity of said impure liquid in a contact chamber;
- b. providing a supply of a reactable gas;
- c. providing a controller for controlling the flow of said reactable gas into said contact chamber;
- d. providing a sensor for measuring the concentration of said reactable gas in an off-gas stream exiting said chamber and providing an electrical signal corresponding to said concentration;
- e. initiating the flow of said reactable gas into said chamber wherein said reactable gas flows through said liquid, and wherein at least some of said reactable gas reacts with impurities in said liquid consuming at least some of said reactable gas, the remainder of said reactable gas exiting said chamber in said off-gas stream;
- f. monitoring said signal until the rate of change of said signal falls to a selected level;
- g. terminating the flow of said reactable gas.
A method of removing impurities from an impure liquid said method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a quantity of said impure liquid in a reactor;
- b. initiating the flow of ozone into said reactor, wherein said ozone flows through said liquid and wherein at least some of said ozone reacts with impurities in said liquid consuming at least some of said ozone, the remainder of said ozone producing an off-gas;
- c. withdrawing at least some of said off-gas;
- d. sensing the presence of said ozone in said off-gas using a sensing element comprising an ozone destroying material;
- and
- e. terminating the flow of said ozone in response to detection of a selected signal from said sensing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.