Abstract:
An apparatus for generating ozone and other atoms and molecules resulting from the bombardment of a feed gas with electrons has, preferably, a first electrode positioned within a channel in a second electrode. The first electrode is a substantially sealed tube made of dielectric material, having at least one electron gun positioned proximate an end thereof for firing electrons into the first electrode. In electrical communication with the electron gun is a rod, maintained in a tube also made of dielectric material, which acts to maintain a constant energy level through the length of the rod and thus the length of the electrode. Within the first electrode is an inert gas which, upon the firing of the electron gun, is formed into a plasma. When a feed gas (generally air) is passed between the first and second electrodes, the electrons and plasma cause the formation of ozone and other atoms and molecules in the feed gas, which products have beneficial uses in the treatment of water and air for different purposes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The contents of the following U.S. patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. ______, 2000 and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Treating Drinking Water”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. ______, 2000 and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Treating Irrigation Water”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. ______, 2000 and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Treating Waste Water”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. ______, 2000 and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Preserving Stored Foods”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Dec. ______, 2000 and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Treating Cooling Tower Water.” 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for generating ozone and, more specifically, to an improved ozone generation apparatus and method for efficient, high concentration generation of ozone in a sustained and reliable manner.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    The use of ozone, an unstable molecule comprised of three atoms of oxygen (O 3 ) having a high oxidation potential, to purify water and air is well known. It was used to purify drinking water by the latter part of the 1800&#39;s, and today is used for this purpose by most major U.S. cities. Ozone has also been utilized for the purification of other types of water, including waste water, irrigation water, and cooling tower water. Still further, ozone has been used for purifying the air in food storage facilities going back at least as far as 1909.  
           [0006]    The basic principles underlying the use of ozone generation are well established. Clean, dry air consists of approximately 78 percent nitrogen gas (N 2 ), approximately 21 percent oxygen gas (O 2 ), and less than one percent of hydrogen (H 2 ) and other gasses. When air (referred to as the “feed gas” in this context) is irradiated using either an ultraviolet source or corona discharge (the acceleration of electrons between two electrodes, separated by a dielectric material, to collide with a feed gas passed therebetween), some of the O 2  molecules are split to form two short-lived oxygen atoms. These oxygen atoms combine, almost instantaneously, with uncleaved oxygen molecules to form ozone.  
           [0007]    Ozone is not the only product of what is generally referred to herein as an ozonation process; i.e., the irradiation of a feed gas to create ozone and other new compounds. The bombarding of the feed gas with electrons causes the all of the component gasses—and not just the oxygen to rearrange—forming a number of beneficial molecular combinations in addition to ozone. These rearranged molecules include nitrates, nitrites, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, nitrogen based acids, hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide, and hydroxyl radicals (NO, NO 2 , NO 3 , N 2 O, N 2 O 5 , HNO 2 , HNO 3 , O, H, OH, HO 2 , H 2 O 2 ).  
           [0008]    Ozone and certain of the other atoms and molecules formed as a result of ozonation (including hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals) have a number of beneficial uses in the areas of disinfection and odor elimination—and are useful in the treatment of drinking water, irrigation water, waste water, cooling tower water, stored foods, etc. Certain of the nitrogen containing molecules produced as result of this process, including in particular nitrates and nitric acid, can be used beneficially to treat irrigation water and to thereby act as a fertilizer and assist plant growth.  
           [0009]    Ultraviolet radiation is disfavored as a method for generating ozone, due to the inability to produce high quantities of ozone at a relatively low cost in this fashion. As a result, most commercial ozone production is accomplished using a corona discharge type of ozone generator.  
           [0010]    However, there are numerous problems with prior art corona discharge ozone generators. Thus, when the feed gas is passed between the electrodes, water or dust present in the feed gas attach themselves to the dielectric surrounding the cathode. These spots tend to attract electrons, with the result that hot spots are formed on the surface of the dielectric—leading eventually to the burning through of the dielectric and consequent failure of the generation apparatus. In the commercial area, ozone generators require constant servicing and, indeed, rebuilding, because of such problems. In the City of Los Angeles, for example, high concentration ozone generators used to treat the city&#39;s drinking water are presently required to be rebuilt after approximately ten days of use—a rate that is plainly undesirable. Moreover, prior art devices do not permit the ready manipulation of the ozonation products, for example to produce more ozone and less nitrogen-containing compounds or more nitrogen-containing products and less ozone, as desired.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,321, issued to the applicant herein, illustrates a plasma corona discharge apparatus, representing an improvement upon the basic corona discharge process. Generally, a plasma corona discharge apparatus is similar to a non-plasma apparatus, except that in a plasma apparatus, an inert gas is inserted into an elongated, insulated, sealed cathode, into which electrons are fired for the ozonation process. That gas performs two functions. First, it generally precludes the formation of hot spots and resulting dielectric burn-through and generator failure through a convection process. In this regard, the inert gas, which has become a plasma by virtue of the electrons passing therethrough, becomes attracted to a water or dust spot, the gas becomes heated and then rises away from the hot spot, to be replaced by gas having a lower temperature. This results in a relatively constant movement of the gas and substantially reduces overheating and/or apparatus failure attributable to the formation of stable hot spots.  
           [0012]    The second function of the inert gas is to directly assist in the efficiency of the ozonation process. In this regard, upon the firing of electrons from an electron gun into the inert gas, a plasma is formed within the cathode (i.e., on the inside of the dielectric), and also outside of the dielectric. The passage of electrons though this plasma and into the feed gas causes oxygen disassociation and reformation as ozone at an improved rate over non-plasma devices.  
           [0013]    However, even the plasma device illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,321, while more reliable than prior art devices, suffers from important limitations and deficiencies. For example, the energy produced by the electron gun firing into the cathode is concentrated near the electron gun, and gradually dissipates over the length of the electrode. This results in a decrease in the effectiveness of this particular prior art apparatus in treating the feed gas, and thus in the production of a lower concentration of ozone than is possible if the energy level could be maintained constant throughout the length of the cathode.  
           [0014]    A need therefore existed for an improved ozone generator apparatus and method capable of reliably generating high concentrations of ozone (and other ozonation products) suitable for commercial use. The improved apparatus and method should provide for the maintenance of a relatively constant energy level throughout the length of the energy-producing electrode, so as to provide a more efficient apparatus and method. The improved apparatus and method should also provide for the efficient adjustment of the products of ozonation, so that ozone or nitrogen-containing products can be favored. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for generating ozone and other atoms and molecules formed from the bombardment of a feed gas with electrons.  
           [0016]    It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for generating ozone and other atoms and molecules formed from the bombardment of a feed gas with electrons having a reduced risk of failure as compared to prior art corona discharge apparatuses.  
           [0017]    It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for generating ozone and other atoms and molecules formed from the bombardment of a feed gas with electrons capable of producing a higher concentration of ozone than prior art corona discharge apparatuses by, among other things, providing for a substantially constant energy level throughout the length of the first electrode.  
           [0018]    It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for generating ozone and other atoms and molecules formed from the bombardment of a feed gas with electrons which device may be readily adjusted to alter the relative quantities of atoms and molecules produced from the bombardment.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0019]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for bombarding a feed gas with electrons to generate ozone and other atoms and molecules is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first electrode; wherein the first electrode comprises: an electron gun coupled to a power source and located proximate one end of the first electrode; a rod in electrical communication with the electron gun; a first tube of dielectric material disposed along a length of the rod; a second tube of dielectric material dimensioned to receive therein the first tube; wherein the second tube is substantially sealed; and an inert gas disposed within each of the first tube and the second tube; a second electrode containing a channel dimensioned to receive therein the first electrode so that sufficient space is present between the first electrode and the second electrode that a feed gas may be passed through the channel along an exterior surface of the first electrode; a feed gas inlet coupled to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas inlet is in communication with the channel; and a feed gas outlet coupled at a first end thereof to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas outlet is in communication with the channel.  
           [0020]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention an apparatus for bombarding a feed gas with electrons to generate ozone and other atoms and molecules is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first electrode comprising a substantially sealed tube of dielectric material; wherein the first electrode further comprises: a first electron gun coupled to a power source, located proximate one end of the first electrode, and adapted to fire electrons into the substantially sealed tube of dielectric material; a second electron gun coupled to a power source, located proximate a second end of the first electrode, and adapted to fire electrons into the substantially sealed tube of dielectric material; and an inert gas disposed within the substantially sealed tube of dielectric material; a second electrode containing a channel dimensioned to receive therein the first electrode so that sufficient space is present between the first electrode and the second electrode that a feed gas may be passed through the channel along an exterior surface of the first electrode; a feed gas inlet coupled to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas inlet is in communication with the channel; and a feed gas outlet coupled at a first end thereof to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas outlet is in communication with the channel.  
           [0021]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention a method for bombarding a feed gas with electrons to generate ozone and other atoms and molecules is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first electrode coupled to a power source; wherein the first electrode comprises: an electron gun located proximate one end of the first electrode; a rod in electrical communication with the electron gun; a first tube of dielectric material disposed along a length of the rod; a second tube of dielectric material dimensioned to receive therein the first tube; wherein the second tube is substantially sealed; and an inert gas disposed within each of the first tube and the second tube; providing a second electrode containing a channel dimensioned to receive therein the first electrode so that sufficient space is present between the first electrode and the second electrode that a feed gas may be passed through the channel along an exterior surface of the first electrode; providing a feed gas inlet coupled to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas inlet is in communication with the channel; providing a feed gas outlet coupled at a first end thereof to the second electrode and wherein the feed gas outlet is in communication with the channel; providing power from the power source to the electron gun; and passing a feed gas into the feed gas inlet, through the channel, and out of the feed gas outlet.  
           [0022]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along line  2 - 2 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the first electrode in the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating a configuration in which there is no gap between the rod and the electron gun.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the first electrode in the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating a configuration in which there is a gap between the rod and the electron gun.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating a configuration having numerous first electrodes.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective, cut-away view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, having an ultraviolet light source.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a top, cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 7, taken along line  8 - 8 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7, taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of an electrode used in the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating a plurality of electron guns.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of an electrode used in the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating an electron gun having a plurality of rods therein.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of an electrode used in the apparatus of the present invention, in which an electron gun is positioned on both ends of the electrode.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    Referring first to FIGS.  1 - 6 , the apparatus  10  *comprises, generally, at least one and preferably a plurality of electrodes  12  maintained in channels  14  within an anode  16 . The electrodes  12 , in turn, comprise an outer sealed tube  18 , made of a dielectric material and substantially hermetically sealed. The material of the outer sealed tube  18  is preferably leaded glass or pyrex, although other dielectric materials could be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. At an upper portion of the outer sealed tube  18  is positioned an electron gun  20 . The electron gun  20  may be of any desired size and of any type having the desired output. Preferably, the electron gun  20  is of the Philips TC series, and preferably is a Philips T19C, having a diameter of 19 mm. The Philips TC series is preferred for the electron gun  20  because of the presence at a bottom portion thereof of a ceramic ring  22 , which ceramic ring  22  is able to better withstand the significant heat or sputtering created at the bottom portion of the electron gun  20  during operation of the apparatus  10 —heat that otherwise could be sufficient to cause damage to the electron gun  20  through sputtering over time.  
         [0036]    Each electron gun  20  is coupled to a power source  24 . The power source may have any desired voltage consistent with the use to which the apparatus  10  is to be placed. Generally, the power source  24  should have a voltage of at least 1,000 volts, with a voltage of 10,250 preferred. During operation, and because the electrode  12  acts as a capacitor when electricity is passed therethrough, secondary voltage discharges in the range of approximately 100,000 volts are produced. Because of the occurrence of such secondary discharges, the power source  24  should be non-current limited so as to prevent failure during the occurrence of a secondary discharge.  
         [0037]    Referring specifically to FIGS.  4 - 5 , inserted into the electron gun  20  is an inner tube  26 , also made of a dielectric material. Like the outer sealed tube  18 , the inner tube  26  is preferably made of leaded glass or pyrex, although other dielectric materials could be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Positioned within the inner tube  26  is a rod  28 . The rod  28  can be made of any metal, including aluminum, stainless steel or tungsten. Superior results have been obtained with aluminum. In one embodiment, the rod  28  extends into the electron gun  20 . In the preferred embodiment, a gap  29  is created between the rod  28  and the electron gun  20 . The purpose of the gap  29  is to create an increase in voltage from the power source  24 —potentially more than a ten-fold increase—when the electricity jumps from the electron gun  20  to the rod  28 . This increase in voltage results in an increase in the number of electrons generated and thus increases the efficiency of the ozonation process. Gaps of one-half inch and one inch have been shown to produce good results, although gaps of other lengths would be possible. Whether or not the gap  29  is present, the rod  28  maintains a substantially constant level of energy throughout its length.  
         [0038]    It should be noted that while the electron gun  20  is preferably positioned within the outer sealed tube  18  at an upper portion thereof, it would be possible, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, to position the electron gun  20  outside of the outer sealed tube  18 . In such a configuration, the rod  28  and inner tube  26  would extend through a sealed opening in the outer sealed tube  18  so as to receive a flow of electrons from the electron gun  20 . Moreover, and referring specifically to FIG. 12, while a single electron gun  20  positioned at a top portion of the electrode  12  is preferred, it would be possible to position an electrode  12  at a bottom portion of the electrode  12  at the other end of the rod  28 —either in place of or in addition to the electron gun  20  positioned at the top of the electrode  12 . Moreover, and referring now to FIG. 10, while a single electron gun  20  is shown in FIGS. 1, 2,  4  and  5 , a plurality of electron guns  20  could be positioned at an end of the electrode  12  (or at both ends) to increase the output of the apparatus  10 . (Indeed, the positioning of electron guns  20  at both ends of the electrode  12 , even without the addition of the rod  28  and inner tube  26 , would result in an increased yield over prior art devices.) Still further, and referring now to FIG. 11, with each electron gun  20  used, it would be possible to provide a plurality of rods  28 . As shown in FIG. 11, each rod  28  could have its own inner tube  26  or, optionally, the rods  28  could be housed in a single inner tube  26 .  
         [0039]    The purpose of the inner tube  26  is prevent the creation of excess heat along the rod  28 . But for the presence of the inner tube  26 , heat generated by the rod  28  could burn through the outer sealed tube  18 , causing the electrode  12  to fail.  
         [0040]    The apparatus of the present invention improves upon the basic corona discharge process in a number of ways. These include the addition of the rod  28 , which operates as discussed herein to allow for a substantially even amount of energy to be discharged throughout the length of the outer sealed tube  18 . Without the rod  28 , energy would be concentrated near the electron gun  20  and would gradually dissipate over the length of the electrode  12 , reducing the effectiveness of the apparatus in treating the feed gas. Yet the addition of the rod  28  and the benefits that it confers is only made possible with the surrounding of the rod  28  with the inner tube  26 —which acts to prevent the creation of excess heat along the rod  28 . Still further, the use of an inert gas inside both the inner tube  26  and outer sealed tube  18 , as described herein, acts as a coolant to prevent overheating of the electrode  12  during operation—substantially increasing the reliability and survivability of the apparatus  10  over prior art corona discharge ozone generators. Referring now to FIG. 4, in order to prevent the bottom of the inner tube  26  from contacting the bottom of the outer sealed tube  18  and thus causing arcing between the bottoms of the tubes  26  and  18  during operation of the electrode  12 , a mini-tube  30  is preferably positioned around the bottom of the inner tube  26 . The mini-tube  30 , in combination with the electron gun  20 , further acts to center the inner tube  26  throughout its length. (Preferably, additional centering—particularly where the electrode  12  is to be used in an angled generator—may be provided in the form of mica or other inserts  31  positioned between the inner tube  26  and the outer sealed tube  18 .) The mini-tube  30  is also comprised of a dielectric material, including optionally ceramic, leaded glass, or pyrex. The mini-tube  30  is preferably open on both sides thereof. On the first side, it receives the inner tube  26 . On the second side, it contacts a shock-absorber  32 , which is positioned below the mini-tube  30 , both to reduce the possibility of damage during movement of the electrode  12 , particularly during insertion of the electrode  12  into a channel  14  in an anode  16 , and to prevent the tubes  26  and  18  from contacting one another. The shock-absorbing material forming the shock-absorber  32  could be any desired material providing the desired shock-absorbing effect without interfering with the operation of the electrode  12 , including for example fiberglass. It would be possible, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, to eliminate the shock-absorber  32 , and instead to close the second end of the mini-tube  30  so as to prevent the tubes  26  and  18  from contacting one another. As an additional alternative, it would be possible to seal the end of the inner tube  26  opposite the electron gun  20  and extend it to the bottom of the outer sealed tube  18 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 2, the electrode(s)  12  is dimensioned to be positioned within an anode  16 , and specifically within a channel  14  in the anode  16 . The channel  14  has a greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the electrode  12 , so as to permit the air to be treated (the “feed gas”) to pass through the channel  14  around the electrode  12 . The channels  14  are positioned within the anode  16  with an upper plate  34  and a lower plate  36 , so that the channels  14  open at a top portion thereof at the upper plate  34  and at a bottom portion thereof at the lower plate  36 . The areas of contact between the channels  14  and the upper and lower plates  34  and  36  are preferably sealed against the passage of liquids, so as to permit the passage of a coolant between the upper and lower plates  34  and  36  and around the channels  14 . The purpose of the coolant, in combination with the gasses contained in the electrodes  12  as discussed below, is to prevent overheating during operation of the electrodes  12 . The coolant is preferably water—although other coolants, including for example glycol, may be used—and preferably enters the anode  16  through an inlet  38  proximate the lower plate  34  and exits the anode  16  through an outlet  40  proximate the upper plate  36 .  
         [0042]    The length of the anode  16  is preferably sufficient so that, when the electrodes  12  are positioned within the channels  14 , the top, electron gun  20 -containing portion of the electrode  12 —which will extend above the upper plate  34 —is within the outer wall  42  of the anode  16 . The outer wall  42  should be of sufficient distance from the electrode  12  so as to prevent arcing between the two. A distance of approximately three inches is sufficient for certain applications.  
         [0043]    Both the outer sealed tube  18  and the inner tube  26  have a substantially inert gas or gasses therein, including at least one noble gas. The gas acts as a coolant, by preventing through convection the overheating of the electrode  12  during operation and/or the damaging of the electrode  12  caused by electrons burning through the outer sealed tube  18 . Because heated gasses will rise, the heat generated by the operation of the electrode  12  will tend to move away from a hot spot and rise along the electrode  12 , until arriving at the portion of the electrode  12  positioned above the upper plate  34 —an area that is maintained at a lower temperature than in the channels  14 . The heated gas, which is formed into a plasma, will then cool and be replaced in this portion of the electrode  12  by hotter gasses, resulting in relatively constant movement of the gas and substantially reducing overheating and/or damaging of the electrode  12  during operation through the formation of stable hot spots.  
         [0044]    This construction also allows the apparatus  10  of the present invention to operate at substantially higher temperatures than prior art high concentration ozone generators, without experiencing damage. (A high concentration ozone generator is generally considered to be one having an air output that contains at least approximately one percent by weight ozone.) While a typical prior art high concentration generator cannot be operated above approximately seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit, the apparatus  10  of the present invention can be operated at temperatures in the area of one hundred twenty five degrees Fahrenheit and perhaps greater without damage to the apparatus  10 .  
         [0045]    The reduction of overheating and damage to the electrode  12  provides substantial benefit over prior art high concentration ozone generators. Prior art generators have an extremely poor survival rate—requiring repair and/or rebuilding on a frequent basis. In the City of Los Angeles, for example, high concentration ozone generators used to treat the city&#39;s drinking water are required to be rebuilt approximately after only ten days of use—a rate that is plainly undesirable. The apparatus  10  of the present invention, in contrast, does not require rebuilding after short periods of use—and thus is substantially more reliable and has substantially greater survivability than prior art high concentration generators.  
         [0046]    *Located in the anode  16 , above the upper plate  36 , is an air inlet valve  44 . Preferably a filter (not shown) is located within the inlet valve  44 , so as to prevent dirt and other impurities from entering the apparatus  10 . A five micron filter has been shown to be effective, but other size filters may be provided. The air need not be provided under pressure but instead, may be drawn through the system through an air outlet valve  46  located below the lower plate  34 . Alternatively, the air may be provided through the air inlet valve  44  under pressure. From the air outlet valve  46 , the air is transported away from the apparatus  10  and is placed into the water solution—preferably using an injector—to be treated using the apparatus  10 .  
         [0047]    Depending on the particular use to which the apparatus  10  is to be placed, it may be desired to dry the feed gas prior to its being provided through the air inlet valve  44 , and/or to use an oxygen-rich feed gas such as liquid oxygen. The use of a non-dried feed gas in the apparatus  10  of the present invention has been shown to produce ozone at the rate of approximately 0.8% by weight. However, where the air is first dried to a dew point of approximately minus forty degrees Fahrenheit, the rate of ozone production has been shown to increase to the range of approximately 2.5 to 3 percent by weight. Moreover, where a fifty percent oxygen containing feed gas is used, and where such air is first dried to a dew point of approximately minus forty degrees Fahrenheit, the rate of ozone production has been shown to increase still further to approximately seven percent by weight.  
         [0048]    During operation, power is supplied to the electron guns  20  using the power source  24 . Electrons will flow from the electron guns  20  to the rod  28 , passing over the gap  29  in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The electrons will flow down the length of the rod  28 , will jump from the rod  28  to the inner tube  26 , will jump from the inner tube  26  to the outer sealed tube  18 , and will jump from the outer sealed tube  18  to the wall of the channel  14 ; i.e., to ground. The use of the rod  28  allows the for a substantially even amount of energy to be discharged throughout the length of the outer sealed tube  18 . Without the rod  28 , energy would be concentrated near the electron gun  20  and would gradually dissipate over the length of the electrode  12 , reducing its effectiveness. The electrons passing out of the outer sealed tube  18  will act on the air passing through the channels  14 , causing the air to disassociate and causing the production of a number of desirable products. These include but are not limited to nitrates, nitrites, nitrogen oxides, nitric acid, nitrogen based acids, hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide, ozone, and hydroxyl radicals (NO, NO 2 , NO 3 , N 2 O, N 2 O 5 , HNO 2 , HNO 3 , O, O 3 , H, OH, HO 2 , H 2 O 2 ). The ozonated air is then injected into water to be treated using the apparatus  10 .  
         [0049]    The types of desirable products created during the operation  10  is subject to adjustment. Thus, as discussed above, a coolant, preferably water, is passed between the upper and lower plates  34  and  36  and around the channels  14  during operation of the apparatus  10 —to prevent overhearing during operation of the electrodes  12 . Additionally, depending on its temperature, the coolant acts to regulate the make-up of the products produced in the air as it passes through the channels  14 . Thus, by adjusting the temperature of the coolant so that the temperature of the coolant as it exits through the outlet  40  is below ninety degrees Fahrenheit, with an exit temperature in the range of approximately eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit preferred, the production of nitrates and other nitrogen containing products can be decreased and the production of ozone and hydrogen peroxide can be increased. By adjusting the temperature of the coolant so that the temperature of the coolant as it exits through the outlet  40  is between approximately ninety degrees and one hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit, nitrate production (and the production of other nitrogen containing compounds) can be increased and the production of ozone and hydrogen peroxide can be decreased.*  
         [0050]    The products of ozonation can be adjusted in another manner. Referring now to FIGS.  7 - 9 , another embodiment of the apparatus  10  of the present invention—herein the apparatus  100 —is shown. This embodiment involves the exposure of water injected with ozonated air to ultraviolet light at a wavelength of approximately 254 nanometers, a process that creates hydroxyl radicals in the treated water and that thus produces an oxidant that can be as much as 100,000 times more powerful than non-UV-exposed ozone. This more powerful oxidant is particularly effective in destroying man-made organic compounds, many of which have carcinogenic properties.  
         [0051]    Referring first to FIG. 7, the apparatus  100  is shown and described. The apparatus  100  comprises at least one (and preferably at least two) electrodes  112  maintained in channels  114  within an anode  116 . The channels  114  are positioned within the anode  116  with an upper plate  134  and a lower plate  136 . The construction and operation of the electrodes  112 , channels  114 , upper plate  134  and lower plate  136 , is as described above with respect to the electrodes  12 , the channels  14 , the upper plate  34  and the lower plate  36 . With respect to the anode  116 , it differs from anode  16  described above with respect to the cooling system. First, the coolant used is ozonated water (i.e., water injected with ozonated air produced by an ozone generator, such as the apparatus  100  itself), which is routed back into the anode  116  through an inlet  138  proximate the upper plate  134  and which exits the anode  116  through an outlet  140  proximate the lower plate  136 . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the inlet  138  is angled so that as the coolant enters the anode  116 , it strikes the interior wall of the anode  116  (as opposed to, for example, directly striking a channel  114 ), so that the coolant swirls through the interior of the anode  116  as it proceeds toward the outlet  140 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIGS.  7 - 9 , the anode  116  further includes a single quartz well  142 , through which an ultraviolet light source may be passed. The quartz well may be of any suitable type, including for example model GE 214 L manufactured by General Electric®. An ultraviolet light  144 , producing ultraviolet light at a wavelength of approximately 254 nanometers, is positioned within the quartz well  142 . (As shown in FIG. 7, the preferred ratio of electrodes  112  to ultraviolet lights  144  is two to one, although improved results over the prior art can be obtained from a higher or lower ratio of electrodes  112  to ultraviolet lights  144 .) As the coolant (ozonated water) is swirled through the interior of the anode  116  as described above, it will be exposed to the ultraviolet light  144 , causing the production of hydroxyl radicals and an increased oxidizing capability.  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus  100  is preferably part of a closed system  200 , in which ozonated feed gas generated by the apparatus  100  is injected with an injector  47  into water  49 , which ozonated water  49  is then routed back through the apparatus  100  to cool the apparatus  100  and to be exposed to ultraviolet light. Alternatively, it would be possible to provide an ozone generator that is one of the embodiments of the apparatus  10  described above, to ozonate feed gas in the manner described above, to inject that ozonated feed gas into water, and to then expose that ozonated water to a separate ultraviolet light source.*  
         [0054]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.