Medium frequency pulse train ozone generation

In this paper an ozone generation system that uses square bipolar pulses at 1900 Hz frequency (carrier signal) modulated with low frequency square wave is presented. The optimization of the carrier was done by sweeping the frequency from 500 to 2400 Hz and the duty cycle from 20 to 100 %, obtaining the best results at 1900 Hz and 80 % respectively. The experiment was done using a corona discharge generator with glass dielectric, 2 mm gap, water-cooling at 26 degrees C and oxygen as the feed gas. Different levels of ozone production were obtained by changing the duty cycle of the modulator signal. The modulator signal works on a discrete way with whole numbers of pulses. The priority of the pulse polarity can be set so the beginning of the pulses may be either positive or negative. A dead time between pulse trains is always present with a minimum value of 10% of the modulator signal. The dead time contributes to the generator cooling because no energy is applied. A comparative study between the proposed system and a 60 Hz traditional source generator shows an increase in the ozone concentration and ozone production rate, as well as a reduction of the voltage required to produce the corona discharge by using a pulse train at medium frequency.