Apparatus and method for treating impurities in air and materials

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning, drying, treating, cleaning, modifying and/or otherwise improving an atmosphere within a container. The container can be a bag or other housing for equipment, food and/or suitable material. Ozone is generated within an atmosphere that is exposed to the materials. The generated ozone is mixed with the atmosphere. At least a portion of the generated ozone is then removed from the mixed atmosphere. The apparatus and method of this invention can be used to treat contaminated sports equipment and the like, as well as to treat food storage atmospheres, such as those exposed to fresh fruits and vegetables.

1 . A method for at least one of exposed to a material sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning and drying an atmosphere within a container, the method comprising:
 generating an ozone within the atmosphere;   mixing the generated ozone with the atmosphere; and   removing at least a portion of the generated ozone from the mixed atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ozone is generated with at least one of an ultraviolet light source and a corona discharge device. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ozone is generated within a generation zone, the atmosphere and the generated ozone are mixed within a mixing zone, and the mixing zone is at least one of within the generation zone and downstream of the generation zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the generated ozone is removed within a removal zone, the atmosphere and the generated ozone are mixed within a mixing zone, and the mixing zone is at least one of within the removal zone and upstream of the removal zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the generated ozone and the atmosphere are mixed by at least one of passing the atmosphere through a flow nozzle, passing the atmosphere across a baffle, passing the atmosphere through a mechanical mixer, passing the atmosphere through a changing diameter nozzle, passing the atmosphere through a plurality of flow channels, and changing a flow direction of the atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the generated ozone is removed by at least one of thermally decomposing the generated ozone, absorbing and reacting the generated ozone on a combusitble support, catalytically decomposing the generated ozone, and photo-disassociating the generated ozone with an ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing the at least a portion of the generated ozone produces a reduced atmosphere, and the reduced atmosphere is introduced into a space of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the reduced atmosphere contains at least a portion of the generated ozone. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere is at least one of heated, cooled, dried and diluted. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the generated ozone removes ethylene from the atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for at least one of sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning and drying an atmosphere exposed to a material within a container, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure forming a first zone in which an ozone is generated within the atmosphere, a second zone in which the generated ozone is mixed with the atmosphere, and a third zone in which at least a portion of the generated ozone is removed from the mixed atmosphere.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of an ultraviolet light source and a corona discharge device generates the ozone within the first zone. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein with respect to a flow direction of the atmosphere through the structure, the second zone is at least one of within the first zone and downstream of the first zone. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein with respect to a flow direction of the atmosphere through the structure, the second zone is at least one of within the third zone and upstream of the third zone. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of a flow nozzle, a baffle, a mechanical mixer, and a nozzle forming a plurality of flow channels, is at least one of mounted within and exposed to the second zone. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of a thermal decomposer, a combusitble support, a catalytic decomposer, a photo-disassociating device and an ultraviolet light source is at least one of mounted within and exposed to the third zone. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein an outlet of the structure forms communication between the third zone and a space of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the container is one of a transportation trailer, a storage trailer, a storage bin, a bag, a shipping container, an equipment bin and an expandable structure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the structure is mounted near at least one of an air conditioner and an air mover. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein an ultraviolet light source generates at least one of ultraviolet light at about 187 nm within the first zone and ultraviolet light at about 254 nm within the third zone.