Electrochemical systems that are especially well suited for the small-scale generation of ozone and ozonated water for local use have been invented. These systems can operate with very little maintenance, and the only inputs needed during operation are electric power and water. These systems are closely related to the ones described in "Electrochemical Systems Generate Ozone and Ozonated Water" (MSC-23046), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 26, No. 3 (March 2002), page 68. Ozonated water produced by these systems can be used in diverse industrial applications: A few examples include sterilization in the brewing industry, general disinfection, and treatment of sewage and recycled water.

The System Generates Ozonated Water, with an O2/O3 gas mixture and H2 gas by-products. The water pressure is high enough and the water temperature low enough to maintain an adequate concentration of dissolved ozone for a usefully long time.
The basic principle of operation admits of several alternative system configurations, of which one is depicted schematically in the figure. The heart of the system is a stack of electrolytic cells, each containing a proton-exchange membrane (which serves as a solid electrolyte) sandwiched between a catalytic anode and a catalytic cathode. Preferably, the proton-exchange membrane is made of a perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer. During electrolysis, a mixture of O2 and O3 gases is generated at the anode and H2 is generated at the cathode. Some of the O3 generated at the anode becomes dissolved in the water. The proportion of O3 in the O2/O3 mixture can be maximized by the selection of suitable electrode materials and the use of a high overpotential. Although the proton-exchange membrane conducts protons, it does not conduct electrons. It is also impermeable by gases; consequently, it maintains separation between the O2/O3 mixture evolved at the anode and the H2 evolved at the cathode.

Water circulates upward through the anode and cathode compartments of the stack of electrolytic cells. Water from the bottom of an anode and a cathode reservoir is gravity-fed to the bottom inlet of the anode and cathode compartment, respectively. From the tops of the anode compartments, the mixture of water and O2 and O3 gases and water containing dissolved ozone can flow freely upward, through a standpipe that ends in the anode reservoir, and from the tops of the cathode compartments, the mixture of water and H2 gas can flow freely upward, through standpipe that ends in the cathode reservoir. The reservoirs double as liquid/gas separators: O2 and O3 diffuse out of the water in the anode reservoir, are collected at the top of the reservoir, and are either vented or sent to an ozone-consuming process. Similarly, H2 diffuses out of the water in the cathode reservoir, is collected at the top of that reservoir, and can be flared, vented, or sent to an H2-consuming process.

As water is consumed in electrolysis and/or withdrawn from the anode reservoir for external use, makeup water (which must be deionized) is supplied to the system. The addition of makeup water and the circulation of water between the anode and cathode plumbing subsystems is controlled to maintain the desired levels of water in the reservoirs. The control subsystem responds to measurements by high- and low-water-level sensors in the reservoirs and exerts control via several solenoid shutoff valves and a transfer pump. The makeup water can be potable water, in which case it is preferable to introduce a secondary recirculation loop that purifies the water circulated through the cathode compartments and reservoir. Typically, such a recirculation loop includes a recirculation pump in series with a carbon-filter bed followed by an ion-exchange-resin bed.

The system operates with pressures high enough to maintain desired high concentrations of dissolved ozone: The reservoirs and electrolytic cells are preferably designed to operate at gauge pressures up to about 30 psi (Å0.2 MPa). Makeup water is conveniently supplied at a gauge pressure of about 50 psi (Å0.35 MPa): the supply pressure must exceed the reservoir pressure in order to make the water flow into the reservoirs.

A refrigeration subsystem includes a compressor, a condenser, and a cooling tube coiled within the cathode reservoir. This subsystem removes the heat introduced by electrolysis and maintains the water in the system at or below a set temperature, which is typically about 35 °C: This is an important function because lowering the temperature extends the lifetime of the ozone dissolved in the water.

This System Generates Ozonated Water, with an O2/O3 gas mixture and H2 gas as by-products. The water pressure is high enough and the water temperature low enough to maintain an adequate concentration of dissolved ozone for a usefully long time.

This work was done by Craig C. Andrews and Oliver J. Murphy of Lynntech, Inc., for Johnson Space Center.

In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its commercial use should be addressed to

Lynntech, Inc.

3900 Texas Ave. South

Suite 106

College Station, TX 77845

Refer to MSC-23045, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.