Apparatus and method for treating impurities in air and materials

Abstract

An assembly and method for treating or otherwise improving an atmosphere contained within an enclosed space. The enclosed space can be a container such as a bag or other housing for equipment, food and/or suitable material. Ozone is generated within an atmosphere that is exposed to the material. The generated ozone is mixed with the atmosphere. At least a portion of the generated ozone is then removed from the mixed atmosphere. The assembly and method 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 sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning and drying an atmosphere exposed to a material within an enclosed space, the method comprising:
 circulating the atmosphere through an atmosphere treating unit;   generating ozone within the atmosphere treating unit;   mixing generated ozone with the atmosphere in the atmosphere treating unit;   exposing the mixture of atmosphere and ozone to UV light in the atmosphere treating unit to remove at least a portion of the contaminants in the atmosphere;   removing at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone to form an ozone-depleted mixture containing an amount of ozone below a preselected threshold amount; and   exhausting the ozone-depleted mixture into the enclosed space.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 recirculating at least a portion of the ozone-depleted mixture through the atmosphere treating unit to remove at least a portion of the contaminants remaining in the ozone-depleted mixture.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein ozone is generated with at least one of an ultraviolet light source and a corona discharge device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the generating of ozone is within a generation zone, the exposing of the mixture of atmosphere and ozone to UV light is within a reaction zone, and the reaction zone is at least one of within the generation zone and downstream of the generation zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing of at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone is within a removal zone, the exposing of the mixture of atmosphere and ozone to UV is within a reaction zone, and the reaction zone is at least one of within the removal zone and upstream of the removal zone. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of atmosphere and ozone are exposed to UV light of either 185 or 254 nm wavelength at an input rate of 0.5 watt per cfm to 10 watts per cfm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing of at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone comprises removal of ozone by at least one of thermally decomposing ozone, absorbing and reacting ozone on a combustible support, catalytically decomposing ozone, and photo-disassociating ozone with an ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the removing of at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone comprises catalytically decomposing ozone with a catalyst comprising manganese dioxide and copper oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the removing of at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone is monitored via an ozone fuse whereby ozone presence in the exhausted ozone-depleted mixture in an amount greater than preselected results in shutdown of the atmosphere treating unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ozone-depleted mixture contains at least a portion of the generated ozone. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere is at least one of heated, cooled, dried and diluted. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a controller operates at least one parameter corresponding to at least one of the generating, mixing, exposing and removing steps. 
     
     
         13 . A method for at least one of sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning and drying an atmosphere exposed to a material within an enclosed space, the method comprising:
 circulating the atmosphere through an atmosphere treating unit;   generating ozone within the atmosphere treating unit;   mixing generated ozone with the atmosphere in the atmosphere treating unit;   exposing the mixture of atmosphere and ozone to UV light in the atmosphere treating unit to remove at least a portion of the contaminants in the atmosphere;   removing at least a portion of the ozone from the UV light-exposed mixture of atmosphere and ozone to form an ozone-depleted containing an amount of ozone below a preselected threshold amount;   exhausting the ozone-depleted mixture into the enclosed space;   recirculating at least a portion of the ozone-depleted mixture through the atmosphere treating unit to remove at least a portion of the contaminants remaining in the ozone-depleted mixture; and   repeating said exhausting and recirculating steps until the ozone-depleted mixture exhausted into the enclosed space contains an amount of the contaminants below a preselected threshold amount.   
     
     
         14 . An atmosphere treatment assembly for at least one of sanitizing, decontaminating, deodorizing, conditioning and drying an atmosphere exposed to a material within an enclosed space, the assembly comprising:
 a structure forming a first zone in which ozone is generated within the atmosphere, a second zone in which the generated ozone is mixed with the atmosphere and exposed to UV light, and a third zone in which at least a portion of the generated ozone is removed from the mixed atmosphere to form an ozone-depleted mixture; and   a shut-off device in operational communication with the structure to shut-off the atmosphere treatment assembly when a selected ozone level parameter exceeds a preselected amount.   
     
     
         15 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , additionally comprising:
 a first conveyance assembly for conveying the atmosphere from the enclosed space into the structure; and   a second conveyance assembly for conveying at least a portion of the ozone-depleted mixture to the enclosed space.   
     
     
         16 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of an ultraviolet light source and a corona discharge device generates the ozone within the first zone. 
     
     
         17 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         18 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         20 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein UV light bulbs are used to generate ozone and to irradiate ozone mixed with the atmosphere and wherein the UV light bulbs are oriented perpendicularly to atmosphere flow through the structure. 
     
     
         21 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of a thermal decomposer, a combustible 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. 
     
     
         22 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein an outlet of the structure forms communication between the third zone and the enclosed space. 
     
     
         23 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the enclosed space is one of a transportation trailer, a storage trailer, a storage bin, a bag, a shipping container, an equipment bin and an expandable structure. 
     
     
         24 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller operating at least one parameter corresponding to at least one of the ozone generation, mixing and removal. 
     
     
         25 . The atmosphere treatment assembly according to  claim 14 , 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.