Posted by Dennis Mino on October 20, 2008 at 8:30am
Addition of an Ozonator to a swimming pool enhances the overall swimming experience and reduces maintenance time and chemical requirements. They are a great addition to swimming pools with or without salt chlorine generators.The advantages of using ozone in a swimming pool are many. To name a few:· Decreased chemical usage—significant savings considering the cost ofchlorine· Better water clarity· Reduction or total elimination of chloramines· Reduction or total elimination of odors-particularly valuable in indoor poolenvironments· Smoother water feel· No red itching eyes normally caused by chloramines· Very effective at destroying viruses and organisms· pH neutralIf you have questions about installation, or what to expect with the addition of an Ozonator, let me know, I will likely be able to help.
I have been asked by many what the differences are between the two technolgies of procucing man-made Ozone as they apply to swimming pools. So here we go. It is lengthy, but should help answer the question.
There are basically two ways that Ozone is produced by man or by nature. One is known as Corona Discharge (CD) and the other is passing air across special Vacuum Ultra Violet lamps. (VUV) often times referred to as UV Ozone or Very Ultra Violet Ozone.
Manufacturers of each of these technologies say the other technology uses more electricity. In reality they are pretty equal. In some applications VUV lamps use less and others Corona uses less, but in any event, not by much and not an issue. Neither uses much electricity.
Another statement by manufacturers is ease of maintenance between the two technologies. This is also subjective and used by who is selling what. Corona manufacturers require replacing check valves and hoses annually, and to wear protective gloves when doing so. Corona cell components also need periodic maintenance. VUV Lamp Ozone manufacturers state their lamps run between 9,000 and 20,000 hours, so they may need replacing depending upon pool filtration run time every several to seven or so years.
Both Vacuum Ultra Violet lamp Ozone systems and Corona Discharge systems are available for use in commercial swimming pools ranging to the millions of gallons.
Extremely large Corona Discharge systems are used for large metropolitan municipal water treatment systems.
Although this discussion is dealing with swimming pools, there are many applications for both Ozone technologies such as, but not limited to, water cooling towers, laundry systems, drinking water, wells and cisterns, wastewater treatment, aquariums, fruits and vegetables, meats, odors, medical, ice machines, many more.
The two technologies, CD and VUV, are briefly discussed below.
Corona Discharge (CD) Ozone Generators
Corona discharge is a high electrical energy field such as lightning in natural occurrences, and by man using two highly energized metal or ceramic plates or chambers with a narrow gap in which air flows through. The arcing of this high electrical energy called the corona field alters the electron structure of all elements in the air passing through the chamber.
When man made corona discharge ozone generator systems are fed pure oxygen input and also very dry air passed through an air drier, they produce high quantities of Ozone. When manufacturers of Corona Discharge Ozone systems provide Ozone output production graphs, they sometimes use pure oxygen and very low humidity or dry air in testing. At a minimum, they often use drier air than normally found in many areas of the United States.
In reality, Oxygen concentrators and air dryers are price prohibitive for the backyard pool so ambient air only is passed through the cell. Pure Oxygen does not exist in ambient air, and in some areas of the country, humidity is very high. Commercial CD systems that can afford the cost, and do provide Oxygen concentrators require additional maintenance such as cleaning concentrator filters, and life cycle issues. They also require Ozone monitoring safety devices.
(Ambient air: A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, mainly nitrogen (approximately 78 percent) and oxygen (approximately 21 percent) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
b. This mixture with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping the earth; the atmosphere.)
Corona Discharge systems provided with ambient air input to the chamber such as backyard pools have certain issues that arise. Below are two primary issues.
One issue is the high Nitrogen content of ambient air. As mentioned previously, all elements passing through a Corona chamber are altered. Nitrogen is the primary substance in air, and altering its state creates harmful byproducts such as nitric acid (nitric acid: A clear, colorless to yellow liquid that is very corrosive and can dissolve most metals. It is used to make fertilizers, explosives, dyes, and rocket fuels) and Nitric oxide (nitric oxide n. A colorless, poisonous gas), along with other Nitrous byproducts. To top it off, Nitrates. Nitrates are Algae food.
Another issue is Humidity. Ever wonder why it is that when you reach for something or someone in the winter time where the air is dry and you are zapped by a bolt of static electricity? Ever wonder why in the summer time, or when outdoors this does not occur? These answers are simple—Ambient Air Humidity. If humidity affects electrical conductivity in ambient air, could it not directly relate to the electrical field in a Corona Discharge cell hindering output?
In review: Corona Discharge systems that are supplied pure Oxygen and dry air produce high levels of pure Ozone. Corona Discharge units that are provided only ambient air, such as backyard pool applications, create Nitrogen byproducts and may experience diminished outputs with increased humidity.
Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) Ozone Generators
VUV lamp Ozone generators simulate nature’s way of creating the Earth’s outer Ozone layer. This is accomplished by creating the equivalent of the Sun’s solar light energy spectrum in the 185 nanometer range.
The outer Ozone layer is a continual process of the spectrum interacting with Oxygen and is considered very beneficial to our existence.
There are differences in Ozone generation using VUV lamps versus Corona Discharge (CD) equipment.
Ozone lamps are not affected by humidity. In fact, humidity is said to increase the effective oxidizing potential of Ozone generating lamps by drawing properties of the germicidal spectrum through the filtering quartz. Some refer to this as Advanced Oxidation Technology (AOT) and others Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). Ozone lamp systems perform very well in humid places, where there are issues with ambient air CD systems.
As with CD technology, the greater and purer the Oxygen amount introduced to the input chamber of the lamps, the higher output of Ozone.
Unlike CD systems that create potentially harmful Nitrogen byproducts with ambient air, Ozone lamps only alter Oxygen converting it to Ozone. Ozone lamps are not known to create harmful byproducts.
Ozone lamp systems normally do not require the maintenance of CD systems. The nitrogen byproducts created by CD hinder the effectiveness of check valves, injectors, and hoses which is not as evident with lamp Ozone generators. No special clothing or gloves are required for maintenance of lamp Ozone systems. Note: Do not look directly at an Ozone lamp. Ozone lamps also contain mercury, so proper disposal must be considered.
In review: VUV Lamp Ozone generating systems perform very well in all environments. They normally require less maintenance than CD systems. Warranties are often longer in duration. Ozone lamp systems are normally less expensive to purchase.
Many service companies are adding Ozonators to pools they service to increase revenues and increase customer base.
It is known that Ozonators reduce chemical usage by as much as 90% in a swimming pool. With the price of Chlorine accelerating faster than the U.S. national debt one could look at Ozone as a sales tool. What isn't known, except to those that install Ozonators on swimming pools, is that in addition to the reduction of chemicals both maintenance time and the frequency of required visits are reduced. Bottom line is less visits results in increased revenue. Think about having less vehicles, less fuel expense, less storage space for chemicals, less insurances, a reduction in the hard to find service technician staff, the ability to handle more clients with the added free time, and the list goes on. And to top it off, the customer is willing to pay extra monthly fees and for the cost of an ozonator to have a conceivably more healthy swimming environment.
I have attached three files. One is Alternative Sanitizers another is a broad Ozonator Installation guide which discusses more than just installing an Ozonator. And the last is a dats sheet of one of Ozone Joes ozonators.
Comments
There are basically two ways that Ozone is produced by man or by nature. One is known as Corona Discharge (CD) and the other is passing air across special Vacuum Ultra Violet lamps. (VUV) often times referred to as UV Ozone or Very Ultra Violet Ozone.
Manufacturers of each of these technologies say the other technology uses more electricity. In reality they are pretty equal. In some applications VUV lamps use less and others Corona uses less, but in any event, not by much and not an issue. Neither uses much electricity.
Another statement by manufacturers is ease of maintenance between the two technologies. This is also subjective and used by who is selling what. Corona manufacturers require replacing check valves and hoses annually, and to wear protective gloves when doing so. Corona cell components also need periodic maintenance. VUV Lamp Ozone manufacturers state their lamps run between 9,000 and 20,000 hours, so they may need replacing depending upon pool filtration run time every several to seven or so years.
Both Vacuum Ultra Violet lamp Ozone systems and Corona Discharge systems are available for use in commercial swimming pools ranging to the millions of gallons.
Extremely large Corona Discharge systems are used for large metropolitan municipal water treatment systems.
Although this discussion is dealing with swimming pools, there are many applications for both Ozone technologies such as, but not limited to, water cooling towers, laundry systems, drinking water, wells and cisterns, wastewater treatment, aquariums, fruits and vegetables, meats, odors, medical, ice machines, many more.
The two technologies, CD and VUV, are briefly discussed below.
Corona Discharge (CD) Ozone Generators
Corona discharge is a high electrical energy field such as lightning in natural occurrences, and by man using two highly energized metal or ceramic plates or chambers with a narrow gap in which air flows through. The arcing of this high electrical energy called the corona field alters the electron structure of all elements in the air passing through the chamber.
When man made corona discharge ozone generator systems are fed pure oxygen input and also very dry air passed through an air drier, they produce high quantities of Ozone. When manufacturers of Corona Discharge Ozone systems provide Ozone output production graphs, they sometimes use pure oxygen and very low humidity or dry air in testing. At a minimum, they often use drier air than normally found in many areas of the United States.
In reality, Oxygen concentrators and air dryers are price prohibitive for the backyard pool so ambient air only is passed through the cell. Pure Oxygen does not exist in ambient air, and in some areas of the country, humidity is very high. Commercial CD systems that can afford the cost, and do provide Oxygen concentrators require additional maintenance such as cleaning concentrator filters, and life cycle issues. They also require Ozone monitoring safety devices.
(Ambient air: A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, mainly nitrogen (approximately 78 percent) and oxygen (approximately 21 percent) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
b. This mixture with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping the earth; the atmosphere.)
Corona Discharge systems provided with ambient air input to the chamber such as backyard pools have certain issues that arise. Below are two primary issues.
One issue is the high Nitrogen content of ambient air. As mentioned previously, all elements passing through a Corona chamber are altered. Nitrogen is the primary substance in air, and altering its state creates harmful byproducts such as nitric acid (nitric acid: A clear, colorless to yellow liquid that is very corrosive and can dissolve most metals. It is used to make fertilizers, explosives, dyes, and rocket fuels) and Nitric oxide (nitric oxide n. A colorless, poisonous gas), along with other Nitrous byproducts. To top it off, Nitrates. Nitrates are Algae food.
Another issue is Humidity. Ever wonder why it is that when you reach for something or someone in the winter time where the air is dry and you are zapped by a bolt of static electricity? Ever wonder why in the summer time, or when outdoors this does not occur? These answers are simple—Ambient Air Humidity. If humidity affects electrical conductivity in ambient air, could it not directly relate to the electrical field in a Corona Discharge cell hindering output?
In review: Corona Discharge systems that are supplied pure Oxygen and dry air produce high levels of pure Ozone. Corona Discharge units that are provided only ambient air, such as backyard pool applications, create Nitrogen byproducts and may experience diminished outputs with increased humidity.
Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) Ozone Generators
VUV lamp Ozone generators simulate nature’s way of creating the Earth’s outer Ozone layer. This is accomplished by creating the equivalent of the Sun’s solar light energy spectrum in the 185 nanometer range.
The outer Ozone layer is a continual process of the spectrum interacting with Oxygen and is considered very beneficial to our existence.
There are differences in Ozone generation using VUV lamps versus Corona Discharge (CD) equipment.
Ozone lamps are not affected by humidity. In fact, humidity is said to increase the effective oxidizing potential of Ozone generating lamps by drawing properties of the germicidal spectrum through the filtering quartz. Some refer to this as Advanced Oxidation Technology (AOT) and others Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). Ozone lamp systems perform very well in humid places, where there are issues with ambient air CD systems.
As with CD technology, the greater and purer the Oxygen amount introduced to the input chamber of the lamps, the higher output of Ozone.
Unlike CD systems that create potentially harmful Nitrogen byproducts with ambient air, Ozone lamps only alter Oxygen converting it to Ozone. Ozone lamps are not known to create harmful byproducts.
Ozone lamp systems normally do not require the maintenance of CD systems. The nitrogen byproducts created by CD hinder the effectiveness of check valves, injectors, and hoses which is not as evident with lamp Ozone generators. No special clothing or gloves are required for maintenance of lamp Ozone systems. Note: Do not look directly at an Ozone lamp. Ozone lamps also contain mercury, so proper disposal must be considered.
In review: VUV Lamp Ozone generating systems perform very well in all environments. They normally require less maintenance than CD systems. Warranties are often longer in duration. Ozone lamp systems are normally less expensive to purchase.
It is known that Ozonators reduce chemical usage by as much as 90% in a swimming pool. With the price of Chlorine accelerating faster than the U.S. national debt one could look at Ozone as a sales tool. What isn't known, except to those that install Ozonators on swimming pools, is that in addition to the reduction of chemicals both maintenance time and the frequency of required visits are reduced. Bottom line is less visits results in increased revenue. Think about having less vehicles, less fuel expense, less storage space for chemicals, less insurances, a reduction in the hard to find service technician staff, the ability to handle more clients with the added free time, and the list goes on. And to top it off, the customer is willing to pay extra monthly fees and for the cost of an ozonator to have a conceivably more healthy swimming environment.
I have attached three files. One is Alternative Sanitizers another is a broad Ozonator Installation guide which discusses more than just installing an Ozonator. And the last is a dats sheet of one of Ozone Joes ozonators.