GB2121396A - Water treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Ozone water treatment apparatus particularly for treating swimming pool water comprises an air-tight enclosure (15) within which is located an ozone generating system (14) from which ozone gas is delivered along a gas line (13) to an injector (12) which interconnects the pipeline (10) along which water to be treated is delivered and the pipeline (11) along which treated water is delivered. The interior of the enclosure (15) is held slightly below atmospheric pressure and the generating system (14) generates ozone at above atmospheric pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water treatment apparatus This invention relates to water treatment apparatus, and in particular to ozone treatment apparatus.

Treatment of water by dosage with ozone is already known and has particular application to the treatment of swimming pool water. The swimming pool water is continuously bled off, mixed with ozone gas for disinfection purposes and the treated water is returned to the pool. In this application the treatment apparatus is located in a building to which the general public have access and since ozone gas is toxic there is a requirement to ensure that leakage of ozone gas from the apparatus is minimised in the interests of public safety. This is achieved by the use of specially designed apparatus which functions at sub atmospheric pressures and the generated ozone gas is mixed with a pilot water supply which in turn is injected into the main water flow.

With this arrangement fracture of the ozone containing conduit would lead to an inhalation of atmospheric air and the ozone gas would be contained thereby. Unfortunately this known apparatus is relatively complicated and many of the components operating at sub atmospheric pressure require to be purpose built and this is disadvantageous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of ozone water treatment apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided ozone water treatment apparatus comprising an air-tight enclosure arrangement surrounding an ozone generating system coupled -via an injector to a pipeline along which water to be treated is flowed, wherein the enclosure arrangement comprises means establishing a sub atmospheric pressure within the arrangement and the ozone generating system is arranged to generate ozone at above atmospheric pressure.

Conveniently said means establishing sub atmospheric pressure within the enclosure arrangement comprises a controlled air bleed device in the vicinity of the ozone generating system. Alternatively a controlled air bleed may be integrated with a safety vent by means of a fan therein.

The enclosure arrangement may comprise a single housing or a plurality of interconnected housings.

By virtue of the present invention public safety is maintained in the event of fracture of the ozone containing gas system whilst a special purpose built ozone generating system is no longer required. Furthermore with the ozone gas generated at a pressure above atmospheric it can be directly injected into the water pipe line without a specialised injector being required.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing water to be treated is delivered at A to pipeline 10 and treated water is emergent at B from pipeline 11. Pipelines 10 and 11 interconnect at an injector 12 to which ozone is delivered on gas line 13 from an ozone generating system 14, components 12, 13 and 14 all being housed within an air-tight enclosure 15 the interior of which is held at a pressure slightly below atmospheric pressure as will be explained.

Pipeline 11 incorporates a static mixer device 16.

The generating system 14 comprises an ozone generator 1 4A connected with an air drier 1 4B which receives its air supply from compressor 1 4C. The sub atmospheric pressure within the enclosure 15 may be attained by compressor 14C receiving its air supply from the interior of enclosure 15, there being a controlled air bleed arrangement 1 7 in the wall of the enclosure 1 5.

Alternatively the pressure within the enclosure 15 may be maintained at slightly below atmospheric pressure in the absence of the bleed 17 by providing a controlled extract fan 19 in vent 18.

This vent would be taken outside the building.

Components 1 4A, 1 4B, 1 4C, may take any known form designed to operate under pressure and pipelines 10 and 11 may be connected to a swimming pool.

Claims

1. Ozone water treatment apparatus comprising an air-tight enclosure arrangement surrounding an ozone generating system coupled via an injector to a pipeline along which water to be treated is flowed, wherein the enclosure arrangement comprises means establishing a sub atmospheric pressure within the arrangement and the ozone generating system is arranged to generate ozone at above atmospheric pressure.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generating system comprises an air compressor receiving its air from the interior of the enclosure arrangement and said means establishing sub atmospheric pressure comprises a controlled air bleed device in the wall of the enclosure arrangement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generating system comprises an air compressor receiving its air from the interior of the enclosure arrangement and said means comprises a vent containing a controlled extract fan.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Water treatment apparatus This invention relates to water treatment apparatus, and in particular to ozone treatment apparatus. Treatment of water by dosage with ozone is already known and has particular application to the treatment of swimming pool water. The swimming pool water is continuously bled off, mixed with ozone gas for disinfection purposes and the treated water is returned to the pool. In this application the treatment apparatus is located in a building to which the general public have access and since ozone gas is toxic there is a requirement to ensure that leakage of ozone gas from the apparatus is minimised in the interests of public safety. This is achieved by the use of specially designed apparatus which functions at sub atmospheric pressures and the generated ozone gas is mixed with a pilot water supply which in turn is injected into the main water flow. With this arrangement fracture of the ozone containing conduit would lead to an inhalation of atmospheric air and the ozone gas would be contained thereby. Unfortunately this known apparatus is relatively complicated and many of the components operating at sub atmospheric pressure require to be purpose built and this is disadvantageous. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of ozone water treatment apparatus. According to the present invention there is provided ozone water treatment apparatus comprising an air-tight enclosure arrangement surrounding an ozone generating system coupled -via an injector to a pipeline along which water to be treated is flowed, wherein the enclosure arrangement comprises means establishing a sub atmospheric pressure within the arrangement and the ozone generating system is arranged to generate ozone at above atmospheric pressure. Conveniently said means establishing sub atmospheric pressure within the enclosure arrangement comprises a controlled air bleed device in the vicinity of the ozone generating system. Alternatively a controlled air bleed may be integrated with a safety vent by means of a fan therein. The enclosure arrangement may comprise a single housing or a plurality of interconnected housings. By virtue of the present invention public safety is maintained in the event of fracture of the ozone containing gas system whilst a special purpose built ozone generating system is no longer required. Furthermore with the ozone gas generated at a pressure above atmospheric it can be directly injected into the water pipe line without a specialised injector being required. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing water to be treated is delivered at A to pipeline 10 and treated water is emergent at B from pipeline 11. Pipelines 10 and 11 interconnect at an injector 12 to which ozone is delivered on gas line 13 from an ozone generating system 14, components 12, 13 and 14 all being housed within an air-tight enclosure 15 the interior of which is held at a pressure slightly below atmospheric pressure as will be explained. Pipeline 11 incorporates a static mixer device 16. The generating system 14 comprises an ozone generator 1 4A connected with an air drier 1 4B which receives its air supply from compressor 1 4C. The sub atmospheric pressure within the enclosure 15 may be attained by compressor 14C receiving its air supply from the interior of enclosure 15, there being a controlled air bleed arrangement 1 7 in the wall of the enclosure 1 5. Alternatively the pressure within the enclosure 15 may be maintained at slightly below atmospheric pressure in the absence of the bleed 17 by providing a controlled extract fan 19 in vent 18. This vent would be taken outside the building. Components 1 4A, 1 4B, 1 4C, may take any known form designed to operate under pressure and pipelines 10 and 11 may be connected to a swimming pool. Claims

1. Ozone water treatment apparatus comprising an air-tight enclosure arrangement surrounding an ozone generating system coupled via an injector to a pipeline along which water to be treated is flowed, wherein the enclosure arrangement comprises means establishing a sub atmospheric pressure within the arrangement and the ozone generating system is arranged to generate ozone at above atmospheric pressure.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generating system comprises an air compressor receiving its air from the interior of the enclosure arrangement and said means establishing sub atmospheric pressure comprises a controlled air bleed device in the wall of the enclosure arrangement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generating system comprises an air compressor receiving its air from the interior of the enclosure arrangement and said means comprises a vent containing a controlled extract fan.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.