Analysis, Design, and Implementation of Multiple Parallel Ozone Chambers for High Flow Rate

Abstract

It is well known that ozone concentration depends on air/oxygen input flow rate and power consumed by the ozone chamber. For every chamber, there exists a unique optimum flow rate that results in maximum ozone concentration. If the flow rate is increased (beyond) or decreased (below) from this optimum value, the ozone concentration drops. This paper proposes a technique whereby the concentration can be maintained even if the flow rate increases. The idea is to connect n number of ozone chambers in parallel, with each chamber designed to operate at its optimum point. Aside from delivering high ozone concentration at high flow rate, the proposed system requires only one power supply to drive all these (multiple) chambers simultaneously. In addition, due to its modularity, the system is very flexible, i.e., the number of chambers can be added or removed as demanded by the (output) ozone requirements. This paper outlines the chamber design using mica as dielectric and the determination of its parameters. To verify the concept, three chambers are connected in parallel and driven by a single transformer-less LCL resonant power supply. Moreover, a closed-loop feedback controller is implemented to ensure that the voltage gain remains at the designated value even if the number of chambers is changed or there is a variation in the components. It is shown that the flow rate can be increased linearly with the number of chambers while maintaining a constant ozone concentration.Index Terms-Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), high-voltage power supply, ozone chamber, ozone concentration, resonant inverter.

On the employment of 1φ, voltage-source, switch-mode PWM, DC-AC converters for supplying dielectric barrier discharge devices

“…In many industrial applications, DBD devices are fed from utility mains (60 Hz or 50 Hz) through step-up power transformers, which are set to provide secondary side voltages in the range of 20 kV/mm of the spacing between the electrodes. In such DBD devices, the plasma-generated body force can be significantly increased by increasing the frequency of the applied voltage between the electrodes [1]- [3]. This relationship between the plasma-generated body force and the supply frequency has lead to employment of power electronic converters (PECs) for supplying DBD devices.…”

“…If a sufficiently high ac voltage is applied across the electrodes, plasma is created. The thrust (commonly called the body force) produced by this plasma has lead to the design and commercial manufacture of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) devices [1]- [3]. These devices have gained significant popularity in a wide range of industrial applications due to their ability to function under atmospheric conditions.…”

“…The function of the controller is set to increase the ozone concentration in order to reduce the flow rate, while decreasing the ozone concentration to increase the flow rate. The major challenge in the ozone chambers is the impact of the chamber dimensions, geometry, and material [3]- [6]. The application of dielectric barrier discharge has been extended to water purification, where ozone is generated for providing a powerful oxidizing agent that is toxic to most waterborne organisms.…”

“…The control of the voltage is achieved by a current-fed parallel resonant push-pull PEC. The main limitation for this dielectric barrier discharge is due to the necessity of a series inductance to stabilize the discharge [3], [4], [8], [9]. Another application of dielectric barrier discharge devices is in petro-chemical industries, where these devices are used to assist in removing pollutant gases.…”

A Model Parameter Extraction Method for Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ozone Chamber using Differential Evolution

“…An adequate spacing between electrodes (known as discharge gap) is introduced to allow for the air or oxygen to pass through. The electrical discharge created in this type of chamber is known as Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) [2][3]. The DBD chamber is considered as a source of non-thermal plasma which operates at atmospheric pressure.…”