An Improved Apparatus for Sterilizing Liquids by Means of Ozone.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Sterilizing Liquids by Means of Ozone.
I, Baron HENRY TINDAL, of 12, Sarphatikade, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of
Holland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for sterilizing liquids by
means of ozone, and has for its object various improvements in the construction
of the same.
The
In order hitherto when sterilizing liquids and especially water by means of
ozone to obtain efficient results, ozone was used in the finest possible distribution.
The fine distribution of the ozone was attained in such manner, that finely
perforated plates are located at fixed distances from each other and traversed by
the liquid and the ozone. As long as the ozone and liquid passed through the
perforated plates in the same direction it will be clear, that ozone of a high
concentration was brought first into contact with the impurest liquid.
oxydation of the most readily oxydizable material was thus effected firstly by
the ozone of high concentration, whilst the sterilization proper, that is to say the
destruction of the microbe-organisms was or could only be effected during the
passage or contact of the liquid with ozone of lower concentration. The obtained
results were therefore not always satisfactory. For this reason and to effect the
entire destruction of the microbe organisms, ozone of high concentration was
employed.
The experiment of conducting water and ozone in opposite directions through
the same plates, was found to increase the resistance very considerably and when
fine perforations were used, the passage of the water is entirely hindered. For
this reason larger perforations were necessary which on the other hand prevent
the fine distribution of the ozone, whereby the desired result was not attained.
To be in a position to use an inverse current, even when the ozone is finely
distributed. I employ a vertical sterilizing cylinder provided with a comparatively
larger number of finely perforated plates arranged one above another, in which the
ozonized oxygen rises from the bottom whilst the water entering from the top, i.e.
in an inverse or opposing stream, is conducted in a winding direction between the
various perforated plates by aid of the superposed conducting or supply tubes.
By means of these conducting tubes the pressure below or above the perforated
plates is equalized or compensated for, and even with the finest perforation of
the plates the finest distribution of the ozone is yet attained.
The sterilizing cylinder consists of various pieces of tube connected together
by flanges; between the separate tubes a perforated plate is arranged, secured
by a flange or in any other suitable manner. Each adjoining division of the
cylinder between the perforated plates communicates with each other by lateral
supply tubes. The nozzles of or connecting with the lateral tubes are with regard
to the separate divisions of the cylinder so arranged as to height, that the inlet-
nozzle is at the bottom and the outlet nozzle at the top edge of each division or
compartment of the complete sterilizing cylinder.
Hereby the following is attained:

page_text: The ozonized gas ascends from the bottom, streams through a suitable opening
into the lower part of the sterilizing cylinder and becomes uniformly distributed
in the said sterilizing cylinder in consequence of having to pass through the
various perforated plates into all divisions of the cylinder, and fills the entire
section of the said cylinder. The water traverses the sifting cylinder inversely
to the current of the ozone. In order to effect the mixing between water and ozone
as intimately and lastingly as is possible, in the various divisions of the cylinder,
the in- and outlet nozzles for the water are arranged at varying heights, so that
in some of the divisions the water must- partly travel in the same direction with
the inflowing gas.
Whilst the employment of, the inverse or opposing stream principle ensures a
profitable result, this result becomes even more favorable, when during the
passage through the various divisions, the water is caused to travel.in the same
direction as the ozone.
The above described apparatus or plant can of course also be used for. the
sterilization of liquids, where the water and ozone, flow..continually, in. the same
direction, that is to say for the system of the equal stream direction. In this
case the superposed or lateral conducting tubes, between the various divisions,
of the sterilizing cylinder, formed as hereinbefore described, by the perforated
plates, the said lateral tubes are of especial importance, as they conduct the water
in corresponding and frequent repetition across the ozone current, whereby of
course the water can flow much more freely than when the same must pass with
the ozone through the perforations of the intermediate plates. In any case also
in this arrangement, as also in the equal direction current principle, the perfora-
tions can be considerably finer. Also here the hereinbefore described especial
position of the connecting nozzles is of especial importance, whereby, as is clear
in consequence of the water flowing in the cylinder division at the upper portion
of same the water in its upward passage must pass in the various divisions to a
greater or less extent when it enters each division first in a downward direction,
that is to say, in an opposite direction to that of the gas.
In many cases where it is desired to sterilize well- or river-water, the surface
of which is of course usually lower than the bottom of the sterilization plant,
an especial pumping plant will be necessary to lift the water to the level of the
sterilization cylinder. Hereby of course the expense of running of the steriliza-
tion plant would be very considerably increased, and it has been proved, that the
costs of lifting the water amounts to four or five times the expense of generating
of ozone.
By my improved process it is possible to render the lifting of the water by
means of a pump plant unnecessary and hereby with the same employment of
power the efficiency of the plant may be increased four or five-fold. This is
effected in the following manner:
The sterilizing cylinder is divided into several divisions groups or columns
which are successively traversed in such manner by the water to be sterilized,
that in each division the opposing or different direction current principle between
water and ozone is maintained, the various parts of the divided sterilizing
cylinder being placed in a pit so that either the lifting of the water is rendered
unnecessary or if the location presents no especial difficulties as regards the lifting
of the water, this lifting need only be effected to a very limited degree.
The arrangement of the cylinder in such plants where the use of a pump is
unnecessary, is on the same principle as the sterilizing cylinders hereinbefore
described.
The perforated plates divide the said sterilizing cylinder into separate divisions
being connected together by lateral tubes as before. When two groups of
cylinders are employed, the same are connected together by a suitable tube from
the bottom of the one group of cylinders to the top division of the next group.
The water enters through a third tube at the top of the first group of sterilizing
cylinders and is conducted away through a tube located at the bottom of the second

page_text: or last group or column of sterilizing chambers or cylinders. I may arrange the
water supply above the level of the tube through which the water is discharged
after having passed through the cylinders.
The level differences of the inlet and outlet are necessitated on account of. the
very small resistance to the passage or flow of the water.
It is of course clear that the described location of the sterilizing cylinders below
the ground level can be employed, also for such plante, where the equal stream
direction principle of the liquid and the gas is employed.
In conclusion it will of course further be clear that when the pit in which the
sterilizing cylinders are arranged, is of suitable or sufficient depth, a grouping of
the said cylinders side by side or in other words, the employment of more than
one vertical column of such cylinders may be avoided, that is to say, in place of
the arrangement of more than one of such columns of cylinder divisions (as is
necessary when the pit is not sufficiently deep), the various cylinder divisions in
the case of a pit of sufficient depth may form simply one vertical column or one
complete vertical cylinder in which the sterilizing of the water would be effected
in the, manner hereinbefore described with reference to the single column of
sterilizing cylindrical divisions, i.c.. with reference to the single sterilizing vertical
cylinder.
Dotad this 21st da..
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
I, Baron Henry TINDAL, of 12, Sarphatikade, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of
Holland; do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for sterilizing liquids by
means of ozone, and has for its object various improvements in the construction
of the same.
Hitherto when sterilizing liquids and especially water by means of ozone in order
to obtain efficient results, ozone has been used in the finest possible distribution.
The fine distribution of the ozone was attained by finely perforated plates located at
fixed distances from each other and traversed by the liquid and the ozone. As long as
the ozone and liquid passed through the perforated plates in the same direction
it will be clear, that ozone of a high concentration was brought first into contact
with the impurest liquid. The oxydation of the most readily oxydizable material
was thus effected firstly by the ozone of high concentration, whilst the sterilization
proper, that is to say the destruction of the microbe-organisms was or could
only be effected by the contact, during the passage of the liquid, with ozone of
lower concentration. The results obtained were therefore not always satisfactory.
For this reason and to effect the entire destruction of the microbe organisms, ozone
of high concentration was employed.
The experiment of conducting water and ozone in opposite directions through
the same plates, was found to increase the resistance very considerable and when
fine perforations were used, the passage of the water was entirely hindered. For
this reason larger perforations were necessary which, on the other hand, prevent
the fine distribution of the ozone, whereby the desired result was not attained.
To be in a position to use an inverse current, while at the same time the ozone
'

page_text: is finely distributed, I employ a vertical sterilizing cylinder provided with a
comparatively large number of finely perforated plates arranged one above
another, in which the ozonized oxygen rises from the bottom whilst the water
entering from the top, i.e. in an inverse or opposing stream, is conducted in a
winding direction between the various perforated plates by aid of the superposed
conducting or supply-tubes.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawing,
in which
Figure 1 shows in section a portion of a sterilizing cylinder constructed
according to my invention,
Figure 2 is a cross section through the cylinder,
Figure 3 shows a modification,
The sterilizing cylinder consists of a number of cylindrical chambers a con-
nected by flanges b. Between each said chamber a a perforated plate c is arranged
and held in position between the flanges in any suitable manner. Each division
or chamber a is connected to the next following chamber by lateral tubes d.
These connecting tubes are so arranged, that the outlet nozzles el discharge from
the upper portion of the cylindrical chambers, whereas the inlet nozzles e enter
the lower portion of the said cylindrical chambers.
Thereby the following result is obtained:
The ozonized gas ascends from the bottom, streams through a suitable
opening into the lower part of the sterilizing cylinder and becomes uniformly
distributed in the said sterilizing cylinder in consequence of having to pass
through the various perforated plates into all divisions of the cylinder, and fills
the entire section of the said cylinder. The water traverses the sifting cylinder
inversely to the current of the ozone. In order to effect the mixing of the water
and ozone as intimately and lastingly as is possible, in the various divisions of
the cylinder, the inlet and outlet nozzles for the water are arranged at varying
heights, so that in some of the divisions the water must partly travel in the same
direction with the inflowing gas.
Whilst the employment of the inverse or opposing stream principle ensures a
good result, this result becomes
even more favorable, when during the
passage through the various divisions, the water is also caused to travel partly in
the same direction as the ozone.
The above described apparatus or plant can of course also be used for the
sterilization of liquids, when the water and ozone flow continually in the same
direction. In this case the lateral conducting tubes between the various divisions,
of the sterilizing cylinder, (formed as herein before described, by the perforated
plates), are of special importance, as they conduct the water with corresponding
repetition across the ozone current, whereby of course the water can flow much
more freely than when the same must pass with the ozone through the perfora-
tions of the intermediate plates. In any case in this arrangement also, as in
that of the reverse current principle, the perforations can be considerably finer.
Also here the herein before described position of the connecting nozzles is of
special importance, as it is clear, that the water, flowing into the cylinder
divisions at the upper portion of same must pass in the various divisions, to a
greater or less extent first in a downward direction, that is to say, in a direction
opposite to that of the gas.
In many cases where it is desired to sterilize well or river water, the surface
of which is of course usually lower than the bottom of the sterilization plant, a
special pumping plant will be necessary to lift the water to the level of the
sterilization cylinder. Hereby of course the expense of running of the sterilization
plant would be very considerably increased, and it has been proved, that the cost
of lifting the water amount to four or five times the expense of generating the
ozone.
In Figure 3 is shown an arrangement whereby it is possible to render the
lifting of the water by means of a pump plant unnecessary and whereby the

page_text: efficiency of the plant may be increased four or fivefold. This is effected in the
following manner:
The sterilizing plant consists of a series of cylinders A B which are successively
traversed in such manner by the water to be sterilized that in each cylinder the
opposing or reverse current principle between water and ozone is maintained. The
series of sterilizing cylinders is placed in a pit so that either the lifting of the
water is rendered unnecessary or if the location presents no especial difficulties
as regards the lifting of the water, this lifting need only be effected to a very
limited degree.
The arrangement of the cylinders in such plants where a pump is unnecessary,
is on the same principle as that of the sterilizing cylinders herein before described.
The perforated plates a divide the said sterilizing cylinder into separate
divisions or chambers connected together by lateral tubes as before. The
cylinders are connected together by a suitable tube d, which conducts the water
from the bottom division of one cylinder to the top division of the next cylinder.
The water enters through a tube e at the top of the first sterilizing cylinder and
is conducted away through a tube y located at the bottom of the last sterilizing
cylinder.
The drawing shows in outline that the tube which conducts away the water
is located below the level of the tube e, through which tube e, the water enters the
first cylinder whereby as is clear, the water must pass through all the cylinders
without rendering the employment of a pump necessary.
A small difference only of level between the inlet and outlet is necessary on
account of the very small resistance to the passage or flow of the water.
It is of course clear that the described location of the sterilizing cylinders
below the ground level can be employed, also for such plants, wherein the
principle of the liquid and the gas flowing in the same direction is employed.
In conclusion it will of course further be clear that when the pit, in which the
sterilizing cylinders are arranged, is of suitable or sufficient depth, a grouping
of the said cylinders side by side, or in other words, the employment of more than
one vertical cylinder may be avoided, that is to say, in place of the arrangement
of a series of cylinders (as is necessary when the pit is not sufficiently deep), the
various cylinders in the case of a pit of sufficient depth may form simply one
complete vertical cylinder in which the sterilizing of the water would be effected
in the same manner as in the single sterilizing vertical cylinder herein before
described.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:―
1. In an apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ozone, the combination
with a sterilizing cylinder, through which the liquid is conducted, of perforated
plates e forming the various chambers of said sterilizing cylinder, whereby the
ozone is repeatedly finely distributed, and of tubes connecting the various
chambers and successively conducting the liquid through the said chambers,
substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ozone, the combination of
a sterilizing cylinder through which the liquid is conducted, of perforated plates c
forming the various chambers of said sterilizing cylinder, whereby the ozone is
repeatedly finely distributed, and of tubes connecting the various chambers and
successively conducting the liquid through the said chambers, the connecting-
tubes being so arranged, that the outlets of the liquid are on one side of the said
chambers and the inlets on the other side of same, substantially as set forth.
3. In an apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ozone, the combination
with two or more sterilizing cylinders communicating with each other, and through
which the liquid is conducted, of perforated plates forming the various chambers
of said sterilizing cylinders, whereby the ozone is repeatedly finely distributed,
and of tubes connecting the various chambers and successively conducting the

page_text: liquid through the said chambers, the connecting-tubes being so arranged, that
the outlets for the liquid are at the upper part of the said chambers and the inlets
at the lower part of same, substantially as set forth.
4. The constructions of apparatus for sterilizing liquids substantially as
described and shown upon the drawings.
T
J 1
1
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.