The Efficiency Increase of Equipments for Treatment in High

Intense Electric Fields with Abundant Ozone Generation

Ilie Suran1, Sorin Budu1, Octavian Daniel Oros1, Roman Morar1, Simona Ghizdavu Pellascio2, Letiia Ghizdavu3, Ioan Ovidiu Muntean4
1

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400020, 15 C. Daicoviciu Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2 French College, 8 Debarcadere Street, 2502
Bienne, Suisse; 3 - Babe-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, 1 Koglniceanu Street, Romania; 4 University of Petroani, Romania.
Email: ilie_suarasan@yahoo.com;
Abstract: The paper presents some results of experimental research work referring to the possibility of increasing the ozone electrosynthesis efficiency in liquid
solutions; direct treatment cells using high intense electric fields were developed. Directly corona or corona-electrostatic type treatment cells, provided with punctiform or
multiple thin wires corona discharging electrodes, feeded by A.C. and D.C. power supplies were analyzed. Evaluation of ozone electrosynthesis efficiency analyze by the
VA characteristics and corona discharging current, was strongly correlated with the configurations of corona discharging elements able to generate the most uniform and
abundant ionizations of the gaseous discharging gap. Measurement of the ozone quantity and concentrations generated by different corona configurations was made by
iodometric method upon the present ozone in aqueous solution treated by corona discharging. Ozone quantity depends by: average and polarity of the applied high
voltage, exposure period, width of the liquid layer and treatment cells configuration, using different length of corona discharging gap and different distances between the
corona discharging elements. Increased efficiency of the treatment using the remanent ozone, directly applied in aqueous solutions among with the presence of free
hydroxyl radicals.
Key-words: Efficiency of ozone generation; high intense electric fields.

1. Introduction
The ozone is, after fluorine, the most powerful oxidant element known; hes used as disinfectant in many industrial applications. Ozone is
considered as an ideal disinfectant choice for an ecological treatment of polluted environments because hes use is neither generating toxic residues
either wastes. Generally, the ozone production at industrial scale is performed through electrical discharges in Siemens ozonators.
Ozonization by direct exposure of liquids in high intense electric fields present some remarcable advantages: flexibility and large diversity of
the application field; major investments are not needed, such as for Siemens ozonization equipments; amazing simplicity of the application; very low
energy consumption; presence of some free radicals which are effective factors in the pollutants oxidation/neutralization processes and also to the
biostimulation of useful processes inside the living environment, etc.
The paper aim is to obtain the increase of direct treatment cells in high intense electric fields efficiency; with abundant ozone generation by
studying and analyzing of: current voltage characteristics, current density distribution and residual ozone concentrations in the treated liquids.
Electric parameters which influence the ozone concentration in the treated aqueous environments are the level and frequency of the high voltage,
exposure time and the width of the treated liquids layer. In order to obtain abundant and continuous ozonization, the corone current at the surface of
the treated liquid must have high values, able to determine the ozone electrosynthesis and an uniform distribution of it. Coulombian electrostatic
forces also influence the corone current distribution at the surface of treated liquid.

2. Material, methods and equipments

Elementary cells for direct treatment of liquids are composed by a high voltage supply, a Petri dish and two electrodes, (Figure 1).

a. The cell provided with an active electrode, having one, two, or three b. The cell with multiple punctiform discharge, provided with a "brush
corona discharge elements peaks.
type" active electrode.
Figure 1. The constructive elements of corona discharge cells; 1 - A. C. high voltage power supply; 2 - Petri dish containing the liquid; 3 - active
electrode; 4 - liquid; 5 - metallic piece for the contact between the liquid and the grounded electrode; 6 plate electrode connected to the earth.
2.1. The stand for the current-voltage characteristics
From the plotting of the experimental V - A characteristics of the directly ozonizing liquids cells, it has been provided the electrical scheme for
the high - voltage, respectively of the current, (Figure 2) and in the generally conditions - presented in Table 1, specific to each characteristic.
Figure
2.
The
Table 1. The experimental conditions of the performed tests.
electric
scheme
Value
used to realize the Condition
0 - 20 kV
V-A characteristics Voltage applied to electrodes
Fix corona discharge points
of
the
directly Type of active electrodes
ozonizing
liquids Thickness of disruptive interspace s = 20 mm, adjustable
cells; P1, P2 - Nr. of corona discharge points
1 - 2 -3 - and brush type
multimeters; R1 Steps of the discharge points
p = (1 - 2,5 - 5 - 7,5 - 10) mm
additional resistor; Duration of the corona discharge
(30 - 60) sec.
R2, R3 - shunts; Type of discharge
With, without dielectric barrier
F1, F2, F4, F5 - Absorbent liquid value
70 ml, normal drinking water
gas spark gaps;
F3,
F6 - mechanical
spark gaps.

2.2. The stand used for the study of the corona current density distribution
The covering degree of the liquid surface with charge carriers resulting from ionic bombing, carriers that are determining the ozone
electrosynthesis process during the treatment of different liquids inside direct treatment cells, will be shown in the experimental stand (Figure 3, 4)
and in specific measurement conditions.

Figure 3. Experimental stand for determining the electric field density distribution at
the treated liquid surface.
Figure 4. Measurement scheme of the current density distribution at the treated
liquid surface; P1 multimeter, type MAVO 35; P2 ballistic galvanometer Tesla,
type DG 20; R1, R2 shunts; F1, F2, F4, F5 gas spark gaps; F3, F6
mechanical spark gaps; V1, V2 rectifier monophased bridges; V3 V6
protecting diodes; C1, C2 - protection capacitors.
2.3. Ozone concentration determination in different corona cells configurations
In order to analyze and to compare the generated ozone quantity in corona discharges, tests were performed within the cells presented in
Figure 1, under the general experimental conditions presented in Table 1, but specifically adapted to each test type.
The potassium iodide titration method, used to determine the generated ozone quantity through corona discharges is further described:
70 ml of a 2% potassium iodide solution is introduced in a Petri dish;
Discharges were produced at the liquid surface, within the following experimental conditions: different types of discharge cells; variable
maintenance time; variable intensities for the corona discharge field; different solution thickness;
The lode in iodide solution is acidified (5 ml H 2SO4, 2N) and is titrated with a 0.001N Na 2S2O3 solution up to yellow reaction, 3-4 drops of a 0.5%
starch solution is added and the titration is continued up to complete loss of colour.
The calculation is performed according to the employed Na2S2O3 volume.
3

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Current-voltage characteristics
The corone current deppends by the level of the high voltage, presence or absence of the dielectric barrier, (Figure 7) and by the average of
the steps between the corone discharging elements, (Figure 9).
I, [mA]
2

I, [mA]
3.5
with barrier, p=20 mm

1.8

without barrier, p=20mm

with barrier, p=10 mm

1.6

without barrier, p=10mm

1.4

2.5

1.2

1
1.5

0.8
0.6

1
with barrier, 3 corona tops
without barrier, 3 corona tops

0.4
0.5

0.2
0

0
0.5

1.5

10

12

14

16

18

20 22
U, [kV]

2.5

7.5

10

20
30
p, [mm]

Figure 7. The current - voltage characteristic of the cell with active Figure 9. The evolution of the corona discharging current in dependence
electrode provided with three corona discharging peeks. to the punctiform discharging step in the directly ozonizing liquids cell.
Experimental conditions: the discharging interspace s = 20 mm; the Experimental conditions: active electrode with three corona peeks; the
distance of the punctiform discharges p = 10 mm and p = 20 mm.
discharging interspace s = 20 mm; high - voltage U = 20 kV = ct.
The volt - ampermetric characteristic of the directly ozonizing liquid cells, equipped with a high - voltage active electrode, containing two or
three punctiform corona discharging elements, where the ratio U/s had been preserved constant, is depicted in Figure 10, and in the Figure 11 the
current voltage characteristic attached to an active multiple brush type electrode.
The presence of a large number of variables that influence the corona discharge current like: the external factors (pressure, temperature,
humidity, air composition, etc.), the work parameters (level, frequency, voltage form, etc.), as well as the constructive cell differences (cell type,
different discharge interspaces, etc.) increase the sensibility and the difficulty of interpreting the current-voltage characteristics. The direct liquid
treatment cell current-voltage characteristics are similar to those of the Siemens ozonizers with dielectrically barrier and present a similar integration
( ) shape.

I, [mA]
1.6
1.4
I, [mA]

1.2

with barrier, 3 tops

without barrier, 3 tops
with barrier, 2 tops
without barrier, 2 tops

2.5

0.8
0.6

0.4
1.5

0.2

U, [kVv]

1
0.5

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

U, [kV]

0
5

7.5

10

12.5

15

17.5

20

22.5

25

Figure 10. The current - voltage characteristic of the directly ozonizing Figure 11. The current - voltage characteristic of the directly ozonizing
liquids cell. Experimental conditions with an active electrode provided of the stationary liquids in the cell equipped with the high - voltage
with two, respectively three punctiform corona discharging peeks; the active electrode with multiple punctiform discharges, brush type.
discharging interspaces s = 20 mm; the distance of the punctiform Experimental conditions: discharging interspace s = 30 mm, without
discharges p = 10 mm and p = 20 mm; the report U/s = 10 kV/cm = ct. dielectric barrier.
For the liquid direct treatment cells it is of interest only the situation comprises between the air ionization advent inside the gaseous interspace
and the corona discharge degeneracy into sparks or electrical arch.
The strongly nonlinear nature of the gaseous interspace is emphasized by the afferent current-voltage characteristics of the corona discharge
cells provided with two or three punctiform element, where, despite the fact that the U/s ratio = 10 kV / cm, (Figures 8 and 9) was kept constant, the
current showed significant variation.
3.2. Corona current density distribution
The difference between the theoretical aspect given by the Wartburg formula and the practical current density, in account with the distance x
-perpendicular is presented in Figure 13, and in the Figure 17 on the longitudinal y axis.

Figure 13. Current density variation with x distance, (1 punctiform Figure 17. Current density variation with y distance, (1 punctiform
corona element, perpendicular direction).
corona element, longitudinal direction, continuous current with
negative semialternancy, with dielectrically barrier).
The strongly nonlinear shape of the corona discharge is emphasized by the quick weakening of the charge carriers (shown by the current
density variation) when moving off of the punctiform vertical.
3.3. Ozone concentration in various corona cell configurations
Ozone generation in electrical discharges is a complex mechanism that is, until now, not fully understood, explored and studied; there are
many chemical reactions that can lead to ozone generation. Figure 18 presents the generated ozone concentration inside a punctiform, single
corona discharging cell, as a function of the level of the high voltage (a) and of the exposure time in the current (b).
Q ozon, [mg / l]
7
6
5

Q ozon, [mg / l]
80
without barrier
70
60
with barrier
50
40
30
20
10
0
10
20
30
60
90

without barrier
with barrier

4
3
2
1
0
0

10

12.5

15

U, [kV]
17.5
20

120
180
240
t exposure, [sec.]

300

a.
b.
Figure 18. The effect of the high field level on the generated ozone concentration (a) and of the exposure time in the corona discharge field (b).
Experimental conditions: 1 corona punctiform discharge element, s = 20 mm, exposure time: 60 sec (only for a), U = 20 kV (only for b).
6

The variation of ozone concentration in punctiform corona discharge cells depending of the density of the emissive tops is shown in Figure 19.
Q ozon, [mg / l]

3.5
3

12

2.5

10
2tops with barrier
2 tops without barrier
3 tops with barrier
3 tops without barrier

2
1.5

6
4

0.5

2
p, [mm]

0
2.5

7.5

10

20

2 tops with barrier

2 tops without barrier
3 tops with barrier
3 tops without barrier

Q ozon, [mg / l]

14

p, [mm]

30

2.5

7.5

10

20

30

a. Corona discharge exposure time texposure = 30 s.

b. Corona discharge exposure time texposure = 60 s
Figure 19. Direct relationship between the generated ozone concentrations in the corona discharge field as a function of the emissive punctiform
density. Experimental conditions: 2 or 3 corona punctiform elements, discharge interspace s = 20 mm, with or without dielectrically barrier, U=20 kV.
If the average intensity of the discharge corona field is kept constant, "E med" = U / s = 10 [kV / cm], the ozone concentration variation as a
function of the high voltage applied to the ozonization cell would have the shape represented in Figure 22. Figure 23 presents the residual ozone
variation in the potassium iodide solution, treated in the corona discharge cell containing three punctiform elements placed at p = 10 mm and with
an s = 20 mm interspace, with dielectrically barrier, alimented at 20 kV as a function of the width of the exposed liquid layer. The direct relation
between the treated liquid volume (QKI) and the layer width (h) is presented in Table 3.
Q ozon, [mg / l]
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
5
7.5
10

Q ozon, [mg / l]
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
12.5

15

17.5

20

10

22.5 25
U, [kV]

Figure 22. Direct relation between the generated ozone concentrations at

high voltage applied to the ozonization cell. Experimental conditions:
three element punctiform corona electrode, with step p = 10 mm, with
dielectrically barrier, texposure= 60 sec., U / s = 10 [kV / cm].

20

30

40

50

60
70
Q KI, [ml]

Figure 23. Correspondence between the generated ozone

concentrations, as a function of the ozone exposed liquid.
Experimental conditions: three element corona punctiform discharge
electrode, with p = 10 mm, s = 20 mm, with dielectrically barrier,
texposure= 60 sec., U = 20 kV.

The aqueous solution remanent ozone dependency as a function of the corona element steps, corresponding to a constant corona discharge
interspace, is shown in Figure 24.
Q ozon, [mg / l / mA]
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

without barrier
with barrier

2.5

Figure 24. Dependence of the generated ozone

concentration on the variation of the punctiform
corona element steps. Experimental conditions:
electrode with two punctiform corona discharge
elements, with s = 20 mm, with or without dielectrically
barrier, texposure= 60 sec., U = 20 kV, 50 Hz.
7.5

10

20

p, [mm]

30

4. Conclusion
Low intensities of the corona discharge electric fields leads to weak air ionization processes and thorough to low generated ozone quantities.
In punctiform corona discharge, the generated ozone quantity depends on the length of the exposure period and on the level of high voltage
applied to the direct treatment cell. The main factor in the increase of the ozone electrosynthesis efficiency is the number of charge carriers, hence
the corona discharge current.
At identical alimentation voltage values applied to the direct treatment cells, we observe that the absence of the dielectrically barrier leads to
high remanent ozone quantities in the treated solution. Due to the dielectrically barrier, the corona discharge gains a discrete character, as long as
the barrier dielectrically rigidity is not over passed. The barrier has also a standardizing role in distribution of the current density at the liquid surface.
The maximal current density at the liquid surface is aligned with the axe of the punctiform discharge element and depends on the voltage
value, on the corona discharge gap as well as on the dielectrically barrier existence. The fast reduction in current density at the liquid surface, in
case of the corona punctiform discharge, shows the strong nonlinear character of the gaseous gap/interspace.
The overlap between the electrostatic field due to the metallic support of the active electrode and the corona field of the punctiform elements
leads to additional changes in the current density when compared with the theoretical Wartburg formula. So the ozone electrosynthesis efficiency
increase is obtained through standardization at high end density values of the corona current due to the use of an electrostatic support, with the
shape of a metallic disc and of the same size as the Petri dish.
For a given surface, the density increase of the corona discharge punctiform elements leads to an insignificant increase of the generated
ozone concentration. For low density corona discharge punctiform surface, at places where the interaction between the generated charges from the
neighbouring elements is weak, the ozone generation will show a significant increase. This ozone generation increase, when cumulated with liquid
short exposure times will provide a maximal efficiency of the ozone electrosynthesis, at a proportion between the discharge interspace size over the
corona element step equal with s / p = 1, , 2; the same behaviour was observed for layer flow cells.
The treated liquids show an inversely proportion residual ozone concentration with the width of the treated liquid layer, thus a thin layer
treatment of the highly contaminated liquid is recommended.
8