BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional structure of an ozone tube;
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another conventional ozone tube;
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure of an ozone generator according to first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the channel structure when viewing from the top; and
FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure of an ozone generator according to first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, an ozone generator 30 comprises a cooling plate 32, a high-voltage plate 34 and a channel structure 36. The cooling plate 32 is disposed opposite to the high-voltage plate 34 and the channel structure 36 is arranged between the two plates 32 and 34. The high-voltage plate 34 is further electrically connected to a power supply 39 and a transformer 40, and the cooling plate 32 may be grounded. In addition, the cooling plate 32 can be a hollow plate comprising a hollow portion to be filled with cooling agent, and openings 322 and 324 communicating with the hollow portion to provide the inflow and the outflow of the cooling agent. Similarly, the high-voltage plate 34 can be a hollow plate comprising a hollow portion to be filled with cooling agent, and openings 342 and 344 communicating with the hollow portion to provide the inflow and the outflow of the cooling agent. The cooling plate 32 and the high-voltage plate 34 are preferred to be hollow plates made of aluminum and may be further connected with a circulated cooling system so as to provide good capabilities of electric conductivity and heat dissipation together with low manufacturing cost.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the channel structure 36 when viewing from the top. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the channel structure 36 comprises a first plate 361, a second plate 362, a plurality of lateral plates 363, and two openings 364 and 365. The first plate 361 has an inner surface and an outer surface attached to one side of the cooling plate 32. The second plate 362 also has an inner surface opposite to the inner surface of the first plate 361, and an outer surface attached to one side of the high-voltage plate 34. Lateral plates 363 are configured to connect the first plate 361 and the second plate 362 so as to define a space 366 therebetween. The openings 364 and 365 are formed on at least one of the lateral plates 363 and communicate with the space 366 as the inlet and the outlet of space 366, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the channel structure 36 can further comprise a plurality of separators 367 extended from the lateral plates 363 and spaced so as to further divide the space 366 into a fluid passage 368. Therefore, the air entering the fluid passage 368 inside the channel structure 36 via the opening 364 is confined to flow along the passage 368, and then leaves the channel structure 36 via the opening 365. It should be noticed that the profile of the separators 367 may be cylinders or rectangular pillars, which are in contact with the inner surfaces of the first plate 361 and the second plate 362. In other words, the diameter or the thickness of the separators 367 is equal to the gap distance between the first plate 361 and the second plate 362. In addition, the gap distance is preferred to be about 0.5 mm so as to have a better performance of corona discharge effect.
The outer surfaces of the first plate 361 and the second plate 362 of the channel structure 36 are in contact with the inner surface of the cooling plate 32 and the inner surface of the high-voltage plate 34, respectively. Further, channel structure 36 should be made of material that can be used as a dielectric substance having the property of anti-oxidation. According to the present invention, it is preferred that quartz be used as the material for manufacturing the channel structure 36 and each part of the channel structure 36 can be weld sealed. Moreover, the outer surface of the second plate 362 can be coated with a metal layer, such as gold (Au), so as to have better electric conductivity between the second plate 362 and the high-voltage plate 34.
The operation principle of the ozone generator according to the present invention is explained as follows. The cooling plate 32 and the high-voltage plate 34 serve as two electrodes of the ozone generator 30. While the electric current is provided by the power supply 39, a high frequency of electric current in a range of about 7000 Hz to about 17000 Hz is generated and fed into the high voltage transformer 40. The high voltage transformer 40 raises the voltage of the electric current to a range of about 6000 volts to about 30000 volts to apply on the high-voltage plate 34. Since the cooling plate 32 is grounded, a high electric potential difference accordingly exists between the high-voltage 34 and the cooling plate 32. As it may be expected, corona discharge takes place in the gas flowing through the fluid passage 368 of the channel structure 36 because of such a high electric potential difference. The gas or air in the fluid passage 368 coming from the opening 364 will be ionized due to corona discharge and then ozone is generated. The air-flow containing ozone therein then flows out of the channel structure 36 through the opening 365 and therefore the ozone generator 30 achieves the function of generating ozone.
While the ozone generator 30 is being operated, cooling agent is fed into the hollow portions of the cooling plate 32 and the high-voltage plate 34 via openings 322 and 342, respectively. Afterward, the cooling agent flows out of the cooling plate 32 and the high-voltage plate 34 via openings 324 and 344 respectively so that the heat generated due to the high voltage is removed and the ozone generator is therefore cooled. In addition, the channel structure 36 made of quartz can effectively prevent the formation of metallic oxidation contamination and therefore extend the lifespan of the ozone generator. Also, the quartziferous channel structure 36 is capable of sustaining the electric current with high frequency and high voltage such that it may avoid cracking.
Several ozone generators according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be stacked up to form a stack assembly 50. FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the current embodiment, two ozone generators can be combined into a module 51 by using a common high-voltage plate 54. As shown, each ozone generator module 51 comprises a pairs of opposite channel structures 52, a high-voltage plate 54, as well as two cooling plates 56. The structure of each channel structure 52 is the same as that disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention and contains a first plate 521 and a second plate 522 (the power supply and the transformer are omitted in FIG. 5). Two cooling plates 56 sandwich the two channel structures 52 therebetween. The first plate 521 of each channel structure 52 contacts with the respective cooling plate 56 and the second plate 522 of each channel structure 52 sandwiches the high-voltage plate 54 therebetween so as to construct an ozone generator module 51. Based on the above structure, an ozone generator module 51 can be combined with another ozone generator module 51′ by using a common cooling plate 56, as shown in FIG. 5 and form a stack assembly 50. In this way, the stack assembly of ozone generator has the advantages of high generating rate, high volume flow rate, and being small in size.
In summary, the ozone generator according to the present invention provides the following advantages:
I. The structure can easily be stacked up. Therefore, the overall size of the ozone generator is reduced and the ozone-generating rate and the volume flow rate are raised.
II. Since ozone is generated between the first plate and the second plate of the channel structure made of quartz, the defects of oxidation of electrodes and the formation of metallic oxidation contamination no longer exist. Fracture of the quartziferous channel structure under high voltage and high frequency will not occur. Accordingly, the lifespan of the ozone generator is extended.
III. The design of the cooling structure of the high-voltage plate and the cooling plate can efficiently remove the heat from the high-voltage plate, the cooling plate and the quartziferous channel structure so that the temperatures thereof are lowered and therefore the failure of the components in the ozone generator will not occur.
The invention may also be implemented in other specific modes without departing from the spirit and the essence of the invention. Thus, the above-mentioned embodiments shall be regarded as explanatory but not restrictive. All changes consistent with the meaning and range of the claims and the equivalents shall fall within the scope claimed by the invention.
Patent Application
20080025883
