Improvements in and in Apparatus for the Manufacture or Production of Ozone.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Apparatus for the Manufacture or
Production of Ozone.
I, MARIUS OTTO, of 8 Passage Gourdon, Paris, France, Chemist, 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 a method and apparatus for enabling oxygen, which may
be pure oxygen, or atmospheric air, or a mixture of oxygen with any other gas or
gases, to be electrified for conversion into ozone, that is to say, for what I call
electrically "polymerising" the same, as I shall now proceed to explain by
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein,
Fig. 1 represents one of the elements which I employ in my apparatus, one of
its glass plates being partly removed in order to more clearly show a conducting
plate therein.
Fig. 2 is a cross section through one of the elements.
Fig. 3 is a separate view of one of the conducting plates.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section and
Fig. 5 a horizontal section of my apparatus.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 7 a cross section of the complete
apparatus.
Figs. 1 to 3, and 6 and 7 are drawn to a scale approximately one half the actual
size of the apparatus, whilst Figs. 4 and 5 are drawn on a larger scale.
The apparatus comprises a series of similar elements E¹, E, E³ E", the number
of which may be determined according to circumstances. Usually each apparatus
will comprise from about 7 to 30 elements. Each element consists of a very thin
sheet M of good conducting metal, such as for example aluminium, silver, tin, zinc,
or copper, cut to shape, as shown in Fig. 3, and placed between two sheets or plates
of glass V which are caused to adhere one against the other, by means of a thin
layer Z of a suitable adhesive agent, such for example as gum lac, along their
edges, with or without an intermediate sheet of other material as for example
asbestos, cloth, felt, silk, or the like. The sheet M is in intimate contact with a
small strip of conducting metal B which extends outward on one side beyond the
edges of the sheets of glass as shown.
Instead of sheets of glass, sheets of porcelain or of any other dielectric may
be used.
The several elements are separated from one another by means of strips C of
paper or card-board (Fig. 5) which are caused to adhere by means of gum-lac,
or other insulating adhesive agent, to the opposite sides of each element, in such a
manner as to leave between the element a free space of about 0.001 m. to 0.003 m.
The odd-numbered elements are connected together at the bottom, also by means
of small pieces D of paper or cardboard that are caused to adhere to them by an
adhesive agent so as to produce perfect tightness; the even-numbered elements are
similarly connected together at their upper parts. This baffle-wise or zig-zag
arrangement enables, as hereinafter explained, the gas that is to be acted upon, to
circulate between the several elements in the direction indicated by the arrows X.
All the elements E'
E are clamped, by means of bolts or other suitable
means, tight between two thick glass plates F that are provided respectively with

page_text: tubular connections and P. When all the elements have been connected
together in this way, a layer G of paraffin or other suitable insulating material or
cement is run all round so as to produce a perfectly tight joint, and the entire
arrangement is placed in a box H that may be of wood or metal.
The conducting strips B of the odd-numbered elements are connected together
and to a copper wire R, whilst the strips B of the even-numbered elements are
connected to a copper wire S. These wires R and S are placed in contact respec-
tively with the terminals of a high tension transformer, that is to say with an
apparatus for increasing the potential and diminishing the intensity of an electric
current supplied from any suitable source.
If desired, the apparatus may be mounted on an insulating support.
As bereinbefore stated 1 may produce ozone, either from pure oxygen, or from
the air, or from a mixture of oxygen with any other gas. In any case, the fluid
employed enters the apparatus at the opening O, and passes through the apparatus
along the zig-zag path indicated by the arrows X, and during its passage is
partly converted into ozone which passes out at the opening P. This opening
is connected by a pipe to one or more receivers for storing ozone, or for containing
materials upon which it is desired that ozone should act. If desired the gas to be
ozonised can be brought to the opening O under pressure, as for example by placing
the said opening in communication with a reservoir containing compressed air; or
the ozonised gas can be drawn off at the orifice P.
Instead of arranging the elements E'.... E in zig-zag fashion as shown
in the accompanying drawings (Fig. 4), each element may be made of the same
length, but in this case holes should be formed through the upper parts of the
odd-numbered elements, and in the lower parts of the even-numbered elements, so
as to allow of the gas to be ozonised passing from one element to the following
one.
Finally instead of employing elements having plane surfaces, I may use elements
in the form of cylinders arranged concentrically one within another.
Having thus described the construction of my apparatus, I shall now proceed to
describe the mode of operation of the same:
The essential and characteristic feature of my invention is based on my discovery
that the "polymerisation" of oxygen can be effected by subjecting it to the influence
of the vibratory motion imparted to the ether by an oscillatory discharge produced
in the interior of my apparatus; and that such oscillatory discharge can be obtained
by giving to the constituent elements of my apparatus such dimensions as will cause
it to act as a "resonator." When the metal sheets M or "armatures" of my
ozonizer are brought to equal potentials and to opposite signs, two phenomena of
very different natures are produced thereby; namely 1. Either a sudden discharge
which produces a number of vibrations of very short duration;-e.g. thousand-
millionths of a second, causes the apparatus to become hot very quickly, and
produces a very small yield of ozone whilst there is no resonance; or 2. An
oscillating discharge producing a number of oscillations of very much larger
duration; in which case the apparatus does not become hot, and the yield of ozone
is considerable, whilst there is resonance. My apparatus is arranged in such a
manner that there exists between its co-efficient of self-induction L and its
electrical capacity C, a ratio.or relation such that the resistance of the system is
less than
恶
resonance.
This condition must be realized in order that there may be
The duration of an oscillation is given by the formula :—

page_text: These conditions must be realized in order that the apparatus shall give the
maximum production of ozone.
The wires R and S having been placed respectively in contact with the
terminals of a high tension transformer, oxy gen (or atmospheric air, or a mixture
of oxygen with any other gas or gases) is supplied through the opening O, and the
electric current is passed at the same time. The oxygen, pure or in admixture,
follows the path indicated by the arrows X, and when it reaches P, it will have been
partly converted into ozone by the action of the electrical discharges produced along
its path.
The transformer is operated by an alternating current dynamo electric machine.
During the operation of the apparatus, the armatures M being brought periodically
to equal potentials and to opposite signs so as to cause an oscillatory discharge
as hereinbefore stated, there is produced a very perceptible "resonance such
that sparks can be drawn from all conducting bodies in the vicinity of the
apparatus.
The dimensions of my apparatus may vary according to the amount of ozone
required to be produced therewith. With an apparatus having glass sheets, 0-40 m.
long, 0-16 m. wide, and 0.001 m. thick, with sheets of conducting metal 0-27 m. long,
0.05 m. wide, and 0.0001 m. thick, slotted as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the
elements being arranged at a distance of 0-0015 m. apart, and the apparatus being
supplied with a current having a periodicity of 80 per second, and a tension of
5700 volts, the power consumed in full operation is 10 watts. The yield in ozone
is considerable, and is obtained at a very low cost.
As hereinbefore stated, the apparatus may be constructed so as to produce ozone
with a greater or less number of elements.
The shape and dimensions of the conducting sheets may also vary. Instead
of being cut out in the shape of a grating, as shewn in Fig. 3, they may be
unperforated or be recessed in any manner, so long as the angles and corners
are rounded off, which is necessary in order to obviate angular portions which
would produce discharges of such a kind as to render the elements quickly unfit
Sheets formed with openwork portions in the shape of parallel bands or
strips, as shown, act to "polarise," so to speak, the vibrations and give excellent
for use.
results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture or production of ozone, by "polymerising," by means of
oscillatory electric discharges, pure oxygen, or atmospheric air, or a mixture of
oxygen with another gas, as set forth.
2. For producing electric resonance for effecting the production of ozone,
apparatus comprising a number of elements each consisting of a conducting sheet,
whether in the form of a grating, or unperforated, arranged between two sheets of
glass or other dielectric, the said elements being enclosed within a casing and
separated from one another so as to allow of the gas or gases to be treated passing
between them, and connected to the terminals of a high tension transformer,
substantially as described.
3. My improved apparatus for the manufacture or production of ozone, constructed
and operating substantially as described and shewn."
Dated this 7th day of March 1906.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Loudon, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.