The subject of the invention relates to a device with improved characteristics to facilitate the production of ozone, which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as ^' a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode are fitted with electric terminals that may be connected to a high voltage energy supply, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a space.

The subject of the invention also relates to a instrument for the production of ozone, which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space suitable for ozone production, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a space, also the work chamber has an inlet opening and outlet opening, the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a high voltage energy supply, and the high voltage energy supply has a connection with an operation adjustment part-unit suitable for transmitting signals.

The subject of the invention also relates to equipment for increasing the effectiveness of ozone treatment, which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space suitable for ozone production, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a space, also the work chamber has an inlet opening and outlet opening, the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a high voltage energy supply, and the high voltage energy supply has a connection with an operation adjustment part-unit suitable for transmitting signals.

The subject of the invention also relates to equipment for increasing the effectiveness of ozone treatment, which has an operation unit with a housing delimiting a treatment space.

Closed spaces used for various purposes, as well as the objects, pieces and produce placed in such closed spaces serve as habitats for numerous pathogens. In the given places, depending on the conditions, the various microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, fungi proliferate quickly, and may cause serious harm, in given cases they may serve as a source of illnesses arid infections that may be dangerous for humans or even fatal.

Numerous attempts have been made to date to prevent these dangers. Such disinfecting procedures include sterilisation with ozone gas, during which gas with increased ozone concentration is injected into the given closed area, which, due to its very intensive oxidising effect, is capable of destroying numerous pathogens. Patent specification with basic number HU P 13 00131 presents such ozone producing equipment. The given specification merely makes mention of the production of ozone, it only discusses in detail how to position the equipment for the production of ozone in closed spaces with various spatial geometries and how to release the ozone gas.

Patent specification with basic number HU P 05 01204 presents a water work cell serving for the production of ozone in which the ozone is produced by water decomposition using electrodes with a unique structure. While patent specification with basic number HU P 04 00278 presents a dry electrode arrangement serving for producing ozone where the electrodes used for producing the arc are located in concentric pipe- shaped space parts, which are arranged as a single electrode, and the one electrode is cooled with flowing water, and the insulation insert between the two electrodes is made from a ceramic material or glass. Patent specification with basic number HU P 08 00578 relates to an ozone generator comprising a single electrode composed of sheet-like grid electrodes arranged in parallel, where a glass sheet is placed between the two sheet-like electrodes as insulation.

However, the deficiency of the known solutions is that they use the electrode pair comprising electrodes cooperating with each other on its own for the production of the ozone, and so they only slightly "fill up" the reaction space with the useful final product, i.e. with the structural elements serving for the production of ozone. As a consequence the concentration of the ozone produced is low, which is insufficient for performing the desired level of disinfection. Therefore, the devices with small dimensions are not suitable for effectively treating larger closed areas and more densely position objects and produce.

In the interest of increasing the concentration several independent pieces of equipment are operated in a given place, which, however, require a significant amount of space, a great deal of energy, and in the case of periodical use the installation of the equipment and its subsequent dismantling involves further unjustified extra costs.

The objective with the solutions according to the invention was to overcome the deficiencies of the known devices used for the production of ozone and to create an electrode pair arrangement in the reaction space of a work cell with which ozone can be produced simply, with the use of less energy, more effectively and in a much greater concentration.

The objective was also to set up an instrument using the effective ozone production device which, in addition to its small space demand and simple mode of installation, is capable of quickly and effectively disinfecting and sterilising large enclosed spaces. It was also an objective of the invention to create equipment that makes it possible to effectively disinfect infected stocks, such as documents stored in files or even stocks of eggs stored in trays, the effective performance of which tasks was not at all possible using the known equipment, or they were only partially effective at the expense of high costs.

The recognition that led to the structure of the device serving to facilitate the production of ozone was that if differently to what is usual several independent electrode pairs are located in the space part serving for the production of ozone, i.e. in the reaction space, and certain electrodes of the electrode pairs are arranged as compared to each other in a unique way, and furthermore, the electrodes are connected to the energy source providing the high voltage electric current in a novel way, then, on the one part, the inactive space in the reaction space that does not participate in ozone production can be substantially minimised, and, on the other part, the amount of ozone produced in a unit of active volume can be substantially increased, i.e. the efficiency of ozone production can be significantly increased even in a small reaction space, and so the task can be solved.

In the case of the novel instrument serving for the production of ozone the idea behind the invention also included that if, in addition to the unique features used in the case of the device serving for facilitating the production of ozone, several work chambers containing uniquely arranged electrode pairs are arranged in a suitable way in a suitably shaped reaction space next to and behind each other, and a suitably designed coil transformer is used in the energy source supplying the electrode pairs with high voltage electricity, and if uniquely prepare air is injected in a novel way into the space serving for the production of ozone, then even in a small volume an amount of ozone may be produced that realises a significant ozone concentration level even in the case of a significant flow rate, and so may be effectively used for sterilising any contaminated surface, and so the task may be solved.

The recognition that led to the creation of the equipment for increasing the effectiveness of ozone treatment was that if the decontamination of moveable objects and items using ozone is performed not at atmospheric pressure, but in a suitably depressurised space then pressure conditions may be established where air movement may be created in the air spaces established between the delimiting surfaces of the given objects that gets the ozone even into closed off spaces much more effectively, and so these difficult to access zones become easy to treat and may be contaminated in a short period of time.

On the basis of this recognition an invention idea was conceived relating to that if the ozone produced is fed in a completely novel way into a gas-tight sealed treatment space into which the object to be decontaminated may be placed, and also in a unique way the treatment space is unusually connected to an air suction device to appropriately reduce the pressure in the gas tight sealed treatment space, then in a controlled and regulated way pressure conditions may be created in the given sealed treatment space with which a flow of ozone may be created in the gas tight sealed treatment space as a consequence of which high concentration ozone is able to get to the most inaccessible space parts of the object to be decontaminated and to the surface elements delimiting it, such as between paper sheets placed on each other, or between the shell of a stored egg and the egg tray, as a consequence of which total decontamination can be actually achieved, and so the task may be solved.

In accordance with the set aim the device with improved characteristics according to the invention to facilitate the production of ozone, - which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode are fitted with electric terminals that may be connected to a high voltage energy supply, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a gap, - is set up in such a way that at least two electrode pair ^' s are arranged in the work chamber delimiting the reaction space, where the most external electrode of the first electrode pair and the most external electrode of the last electrode pair are fixed to the spacer body without electrode coupling, while the intermediate electrodes belonging to the other electrode pairs are firmly fixed on the two delimiting surfaces of a carrier member made from an electrically insulating material electrically isolated from each other, and the intermediate electrodes belonging to the given other electrode pairs are allocated to each other via this electrode coupling, and the carrier member is also fixed to the spacer body.

A further feature of the device according to the invention may be that also the electric terminals of the intermediate electrodes belonging to the different electrode pairs located on the two delimiting surfaces of the same carrier member are electrically connected to each other, and the electric terminals electrically connected to one another of the sequential intermediate electrodes fixed to the carrier member are alternately connected to electric cables that may be. connected to the first pole and the second pole of the high voltage energy supply.

In the case of another version of the device the rear surface of the most external electrode of the first electrode pair opposite the insulation piece cooperating with it, and the rear surface of the most external electrode of the last electrode pair opposite the insulation piece cooperating with it are fixed to an electrically insulating edge support member, and are fixed to the spacer body with the help of the edge support member.

In the case of yet another different embodiment of the invention the delimiting surfaces of the carrier members in contact with the intermediate electrodes, and the contact surfaces of the edge support members carrying the most external electrodes are planar surfaces, and the covering planes of these are substantially parallel with each other, where the deviation from the parallel is a maximum of 3%.

In the case of another embodiment of the device air gaps are arranged in the material of the electrode throughout the entire thickness of the electrode. The air gaps form the shape of a quadrilateral, e.g. a rhombus, on the covering plane of the frontal surface of the electrode facing the insulation piece. In the case of another embodiment of the invention the insulating material of at least a part of the spacer bodies and/or the carrier members and/or the edge support members is an organic polymer and/or silicone. Furthermore, the electrodes are made from alloy steel plate, preferably stainless steel plate.

In accordance with a further set aim the instrument according to the invention for the production of ozone, - which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space suitable for ozone production, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a gap, also the work chamber has an inlet opening and outlet opening, the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a high voltage energy supply, and the high voltage energy supply has a connection with an operation adjustment part-unit suitable for transmitting signals, - is set up in such a way that at least two electrode pairs are arranged in the work chamber delimiting the reaction space, furthermore the high voltage energy supply connected to the electrodes has a coil transformer, the input coil of the coil transformer is electrically connected to the electricity supply input, and the output coil of the coil transformer is electrically connected to the electrodes.

A further feature of the instrument according to the invention may be that the work chamber, the high voltage energy supply and the operation adjustment part unit are located in a single housing.

In the case of another embodiment of the instrument several work chambers are arranged in the housing, and independent safety separation members associated with the individual work chambers are installed in the electric cables connecting the electrode pairs located in the individual work chambers. In the case of yet another different embodiment of the invention an air treatment unit is connected to the inlet opening of at least the one work chamber, where the air treatment unit is supplied with a drying part-unit and medium forwarding part-unit. The drying part- unit of the air treatment unit is an adsorption dryer or a dryer containing dry ice.

In the case of yet another different embodiment of the instrument at least some of the work chambers are provided with sensor bodies serving for measuring physical characteristics, and the individual sensor bodies are connected to the operation adjustment part-unit via an information forwarding channel. The outlet opening of at least one work chamber is supplemented with air spoiler pieces.

In accordance with a further set objective equipment according to the invention for increasing the effectiveness of ozone treatment, - which has a work chamber delimiting a reaction space suitable for ozone production, at least two electrodes arranged in the work chamber, and an insulation piece inserted between the electrodes, where the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to each other as a cooperating electrode pair, furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode forming the electrode pair, and the insulation piece are firmly clamped in one or more electrically insulating spacer bodies, and the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulation piece are, in this way, separated from each other by a gap, also the work chamber has an inlet opening and outlet opening, the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a high voltage energy supply, and the high voltage energy supply has a connection with an operation adjustment part-unit suitable for transmitting signals, - is set up in such a way that the work chamber is coupled with a treatment unit, where the treatment unit has a cover delimiting the gas tight sealed treatment space, the cover has a door that may also be sealed in a gas tight manner serving for inserting the object to be treated into the treatment space, and the treatment space of the treatment unit is connected to an air suction device suitable for reducing the pressure in the treatment space, and the outlet opening of the work chamber is connected to the treatment space of the treatment unit so as to permit flow. A further feature of the equipment according to the invention may be that an air discharge opening is created in the cover of the treatment unit, and the air suction device is connected to the air discharge opening of the treatment unit with a gas tight seal.

In the case of another version of the equipment, the outlet of the air suction device is connected to a pressure vessel, and, optionally, the inlet opening of the work chamber is connected to the independent external environment, or the inlet opening of the work chamber is connected to the pressure vessel.

From the point of view of the invention it may be preferable if the work chamber is located in the treatment space of the treatment unit, and the outlet opening of the work chamber is directed directly into the treatment space of the treatment unit.

In the case of yet another different embodiment of the equipment, the cover of the treatment unit is provided with an air admittance opening, and the air admittance opening of the treatment unit is connected to the inlet opening of the work chamber with a gas tight seal.

> In the case of another embodiment of the invention flow regulation fittings are installed between the air admittance opening of the treatment unit and the outlet opening of the work chamber and/or between the air discharge opening of the treatment unit and the inlet opening of the work chamber.

Also in accordance with the set aim equipment according to the invention for increasing the effectiveness of ozone treatment, - which has an treatment unit with a housing delimiting a treatment space, - is set up in such a way that the treatment unit is coupled with a preparation unit comprising a preparation space also enclosed by a cover and separated from the treatment space, with the help of the cover the treatment space is isolated from the preparation space and also from the external environment with a gas tight seal, and the cover of the treatment unit is provided with a door for inserting the piece to be treated into the treatment space which may be closed with a gas tight seal, furthermore the treatment space of the treatment unit is connected to an air suction device for reducing the pressure of the treatment space, while the preparation space is constructed to be suitable for receiving the ozone supply outlet of ozone production equipment, and the treatment space of the treatment unit is in a connection with the preparation space of the preparation unit periodically permitting flow via a transfer passage supplied with a flow regulation device.

A further feature of the equipment according to the given invention may be that the cover delimiting the treatment space of the treatment unit and the cover delimiting the preparation space of the preparation unit form a single unit, and the treatment space and the preparation space are isolated from each other with a separation member that forms a gas tight seal.

The device according to the invention, the instrument constructed using it, as well as the equipment that uses it have numerous preferable characteristics. The most important of these is that as a consequence of the completely novel arrangement and unique structure of the electrode pairs in the reaction space, such effective ozone production may be realised that results in a much more significant ozone concentration that that of the known art even in the case of a smaller work chamber, and so with substantially quickly moveable, mobile equipment large rooms may be effectively disinfected at a high level of decontamination in a simple way, in a short period of time and involving favourable costs.

Also as a consequence of the unusual number of electrode pairs with a unique arrangement located in the device, not only can the cooling of the reaction space be simply solved in the instrument according to the invention, but also effectively. Therefore, with a small amount of energy in addition to the simple structure, highly reliable operation can be realised, and the distribution of the arc produced is more preferable and more even than in the case of traditional solutions. This makes it possible to produce ozone more effectively with a greater mass flow rate. Which, then, results in a much greater ozone concentration that can be also used in a large volume. Therefore, using a smaller sized, portable instrument it is possible to achieve that the appropriate ozone concentration is coupled with a high mass flow rate, which, to date, was not even possible with large sized, fixed-position ozone production equipment. An advantage derived from the above is that due to the smaller dimensions and ease of moving of the instrument it only has to be placed in the given air space for the duration of the treatment, which in the case of foodstuff production plants, warehouses, produce stores, for example, reduces the size of the space that cannot be used, and so an increase in capacity may be implemented even in the case of existing facilities. And this may result in an improvement in efficiency of the given production unit.

Another feature that may be listed among the advantages is that due to the greater ozone concentration that may be produced with the instrument, even in the case of high levels of contamination, complete decontamination of large rooms may be performed in a shorter time than usual, which reduces down-time, and the loss of income resulting from it.

It is also important to highlight the advantage that in healthcare facilities or areas stricken by epidemics or natural disasters, due to the ease of moving the instrument it can be used with greater efficiency, and so resulting in faster disinfecting and more efficient decontamination, which in many cases may result in human lives being saved.

Another important advantage from the point of view of use in healthcare is that as a consequence of achieving a much greater specific ozone concentration than is usually possible, it may be effectively used in the case of all types of microorganism, and makes fast decontamination possible even in the case of dangerous, multidrug resistant microorganisms, the destruction of which that to date was difficult to carry out or even impossible.

Another advantage is that the instrument is easy to use, and its operation does not require any specialist knowledge, therefore effective decontamination may be realised with a small investment of untrained labour.

As a consequence of the unusually structured equipment the decontamination of uniquely structured but mobile stocks may be performed, such as the surfaces of paper sheets arranged on top of each other, books, document packages, eggs stored on trays, agricultural produce and products, the disinfection of which had no effective and efficient solution.

An additional advantage is that the structure of the device and the instrument creates the possibility of connecting several devices or even several instruments in a cascade system, and so due to the further increase in ozone concentration, the efficiency of decontamination can be even further improved.

Overall it ^" can be stated that by using the solutions according to the invention those microorganisms and pathogens may be destroyed against which to date there was no available effective protection, furthermore the decontamination of large volume spaces may be performed is a much shorter amount of time and much more effectively.

In the following the solutions according to the invention are presented in detail in connection with embodiment with reference to the figures. Wherein

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section picture of a possible structure of the device according to the invention for facilitating the production of ozone,

Figure 2 depicts a detail of the device according to figure 1 from direction II,

Figure 3 illustrates a schematic illustration in partial cross-section of a version of the instrument according to the invention fitted with the device according to the invention,

Figure 4 illustrates a schematic illustration of the possible embodiment of the equipment according to the invention operated with an instrument according to the invention,

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic picture of another embodiment of the equipment according to the invention,

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic picture of another different embodiment of the equipment according to the invention,

Figure 7 is a schematic picture of another different arrangement of the equipment according to the invention.

A version of the device according to the invention may be seen in figure 1 that may be used to good effect also as the ozone production source of the instrument forming the subject of the invention. It may be observed that it comprises structural units uniquely arranged in the reaction space 11, enclosed by the work chamber 10, that has an inlet opening 12 and an outlet opening 13. On viewing the figure the inlet opening 12 is located inwards from the plane of the sheet, while the outlet opening 13 is located in the plane of the sheet. The reaction space 1 1 itself is in the shape of a rectangular based prism with its longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.

In the case of this embodiment, two spacer bodies 24 with identical geometric shape but facing one another are located in the reaction space 1 1. These spacer bodies 24 carry the first electrode pair 20, the last electrode pair 20', as well as the others arranged between them. It should be noted that an optional number of electrode pairs 20 may be located in the reaction space, but in the interest of manageability it is always the most preferable version that must be selected.

The work chamber 10 visible in figure 1, unusually, is also itself in the shape of a rectangular prism, and the electrode pairs 20 are arranged regularly one under the other. This arrangement results in the preferable circumstance that the proportion of inactive space parts in the reaction space 1 1 not participating in the production of ozone is minimal on comparison with the active space parts. As a result of the novel arrangement specific ozone production may be much higher than in the case of the known solutions. Furthermore, the cooling of the reaction space 11 and the dispensing of the produced ozone gas may be performed more effectively and simply.

In a way known of in itself the electrode pair comprises an electrode 21, an electrode 22 and an insulation member 23 installed between the electrode 21 and electrode 22. In the interest of the gap "T" between the electrode 21 and the electrode 22 being equal everywhere the electrode 21 , which is one of the edge electrodes, is firmly fixed to the connection surface 26a of the edge support member 26. While the electrode 22 is fixed to the delimiting surface 25a of a carrier member 25, the connection surface 26a of the edge support member 26 and the delimiting surface 25a of the neighbouring carrier member 25 are machined and positioned in the spacer bodies 24 so that the covering planes S of the connection surface 26a and the delimiting surface 25a are substantially parallel to each other, and their deviation from the parallel is a maximum of 3%. In this way it may be achieved that the gap "T" between the electrode 21 and the electrode 22 remains constant, and due to this the arc distribution between the electrode 21 and the electrode 22 of the given electrode pair 20 is even.

Figure 2 shows what structure and geometry the electrode 22, for example, has. On the detail of the electrode 22 it may be seen that the electrode 22 itself is not a solid sheet, but here it is punctuated by rhombus-shaped air gaps 40. The air gaps 40 pass through the entire thickness of the electrode 22, so at given positions the carrier member 25 carrying the electrode 22 also appears. The circumstance that the air gaps 40 completely pass through the thickness "V" of the electrode 22 is also illustrated well in figure 1. This patterning has a preferable effect on arc formation, and so on ozone production as well.

It must be noted here that obviously electrode 21 and electrode 21 ' and electrode 22' of the electrode pair 20' have an identical structure and patterning, but naturally electrode 21 and electrode 22 may also have other geometry.

In figure 1 that further unique feature of the device according to the invention may be observed that, in addition to that several electrode pairs 20 and electrode pairs 20' are arranged parallel to each other in the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10, the neighbouring electrode 22 and electrode 21 ' of the electrode pairs 20 and the electrode pairs 20' lined up next to one another are arranged in a way different to what is conventional.

Although figure 1 displays several electrode pairs, for the sake of simplicity here only the topmost electrode pair 20 and the bottommost electrode pair 20' are taken into account. The arrangement may be ascertained on the basis of this also, and, naturally, the arrangement is the same in the case of any two neighbouring intermediate electrode pairs.

The electrode 21 of the electrode pair 20 has an electric terminal 21a, and while its rear surface 21c is in contact with the contact surface 26a of the edge support member 26, its frontal surface 21b stands free, and faces towards the insulation member 23 of the electrode pair 20. The electrode 22 of the electrode pair 20 is located symmetrically with respect to the insulation member 23 in the reaction space 11 so that its frontal surface 22b faces towards the frontal surface 21b of the electrode 21, while its rear surface 22c is in contact with and connected to the delimiting surface 25a of the carrier member. The electrode 22 also has an electric terminal 22a.

The electrode 21 ' of the electrode pair 20' neighbouring the electrode pair 20 is connected to the delimiting surface 25b of the carrier member 25 stiffening the electrode 22 of the electrode pair 20 on its delimiting surface. The delimiting surface 21 ' of the carrier member 25 is in contact with the rear surface 21c' of the electrode 21 ', while the frontal surface 21b' of the electrode 21 ' faces towards the insulation member 23 of the electrode pair 20'. The electric terminal 21a' of the electrode 2Γ of the electrode pair 20' is combined with the electric terminal 22a of the electrode 22 fixed on the delimiting surface 25a of the same carrier member 25.

The other electrode 22' of the electrode pair 20', which is the bottommost independent electrode in the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10, is located on the side of the insulation member 23 of the electrode pair 20' opposite the electrode 21 ', also symmetrical with the insulation member 23. The frontal surface 22b' of the electrode 22' faces towards the insulation member 23, while the rear surface 22c' of the electrode 22' is fixed to the connection surface 26a of the edge support member 26. Naturally the electrode 22' also has an electric terminal 22a'.

In figure 1 it can be seen that the electric terminal 21a belonging to the upper electrode 21 of the topmost electrode pair 20 of the work chamber is connected to the electric cable 34 starting from the first pole 31 of the high voltage energy supply 30. While the lower electrode 22 of the electrode pair 20 in unison with the electrode 2 of the next electrode pair 20' located on the same carrier member 25 are connected to the electric cable 35 starting from the second pole of the high voltage energy supply 30. The electrode 22 and electrode 2 carrying every first carrier member 25 is connected to the electric cable 34, while the electrode 22 and electrode 21 ' carrying every second carrier member 25 is connected to the electric cable 35.

All of the spacer bodies 24, the carrier members 25 and the edge support members 26 are made from an insulating material. The insulation material is preferably an organic polymer and/or silicone. The electrode 21, electrode 22, electrode 2Γ and electrode 22' of the electrode pair 20 and the electrode pair 20' are made from alloy steel plate, preferably stainless steel plate.

The operation of the device according to the invention presented in figure 1 does not substantially deviate from that of a conventional ozone production device having one electrode pair 20. The electric cable 34 connected to the first pole 31 of the high voltage energy supply 30 and the electric cable 35 connected to its second pole 32 are connected, in the case of the given embodiment, to the appropriate electrodes of the electrode pair 20 and the electrode pair 20' lined up under one another so that when the high voltage energy supply 30 is switched on the arc discharge may be established between the cooperating electrode 21 and electrode 22, and also between electrode 2 and electrode 22'. Moreover as a result of the appropriate and unique arrangement very evenly distributed and intensive arc discharge takes place within the individual electrode pairs 20 and electrode pairs 20'. As a consequence of this a significant proportion of the oxygen of the air or of the pure oxygen made to flow through the inlet opening 12 into the reaction space 1 1 of the work chamber 10 transforms into ozone due to the effect of the ionisation and leave the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 through the outlet opening 13 of the work chamber 10.

Moving over now to figure 3, this shows a schematic picture of an instrument serving for producing ozone according to the invention in the work chamber 10 of which a device according to the invention has been placed. Moreover due to the appropriate structure of the work chamber 10 two identically structured work chambers 10 are lined up next to each other in the given instrument. However, it must be noted here that the number and arrangement of the work chambers may vary always depending on the task. It may be observed that the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 here also contains at least two electrode pairs 20 and 20', where in the case of the electrode pair 20 an insulation member 23 is inserted between electrode 21 and electrode 22 spaced at a gap "T" from each other and in the case of electrode pair 20' an insulation member is inserted between electrode 2Γ and electrode 22' spaced at a gap "T" from each other.

It may also be observed that the given instrument is assembled from structural elements arranged in a single housing 1. Therefore, the work chambers 10 lined up next to one another may be found in the housing 1, among which work chambers 10 the inlet opening 12 of the first is connected to the air treatment unit 60, while the outlet opening 13 of the last work chamber 10 opens out to the air spoiler pieces 70. In this case the air treatment unit 60 includes a drying part-unit 61 and a medium forwarding part-unit 62, where the drying part-unit 61 preferably operates on an adsorption or dry ice principle. The task of the drying part-unit 61 is to reduce the moisture content of the gas to be dispensed into the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 to the preferred level, while the medium forwarding part-unit 62, which in this case is a fan, provides the required rate of flow for the work chambers 10 to produce the desired amount of ozone. Its other task is to cool the reaction space 11 of the work chambers 10 and the electrodes 21 and electrodes 22 of the electrode pairs 20 by maintaining the airflow at a sufficient level.

In the case of the given embodiment the air treatment unit 60, the work chambers 10 and the air spoiler pieces 70 are arranged in one axis, and the operation adjustment part-unit 50, the high voltage energy supply 30 and the safety separation member 80 are located under these structural units in the lower part of the housing. While ozone production is being performed in the upper part of the housing 1, the lower part of the housing 1 contains the elements required for appropriate operation.

The task of the operation adjustment part-unit 50 is to regulate the instrument on the basis of the information sent by the sensing body 51 and the sensing body 52, and, within this, the operation of the coil transformer 33 of the high voltage energy supply 30. In this case the sensing body 51 is installed between the medium forwarding part-unit 62 of the air treatment unit 60 and the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10, and its task is to determine the moisture content of the gas entering the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 and to forward the measured value to the operation adjustment part-unit 50 with the help of the information forwarding channel. Here the sensing body 52 is located near to the outlet opening 13 of the last work chamber 10 and measures the ozone concentration, in the outlet cross-section. It forwards the measured value to the operation adjustment part-unit 50 with the help of the information forwarding channel 53. Naturally the operation adjustment part-unit 50 may also be provided with other sensing bodies.

The tasks of the operation adjustment part-unit 50 also include taking the regulated 230 V alternating current arriving at the electricity supply input 90 to the input coil 33a of the coil transformer 33 of the high voltage energy supply 30. The coil transformer 30 is dimensioned so that high voltage, optionally 10 kV is created at the output coil 33b and so that then this high voltage be created between the first pole 31 and the second pole 32 of the output coil 33b of the coil transformer. In the interest of protecting the work chambers 10 a safety separation member 80 is installed between the first pole 31 and the second pole 32 of the output coil 33b of the coil transformer 33, and between the electric cable 34 and the electric cable 35 providing the power to the electrode pairs 20 of the work chambers 10. The task of the safety separation member 80 is in the case of a short circuit or other operation disorder, in the interest of preventing greater damage, to isolate the given electrode pair 20 or, optionally the entire work chamber 10 from the high voltage energy supply 30.

It must be noted here that placing the part-units forming the instrument according to the invention in a single housing 1 also makes it possible for the instrument to be simple to carry and easy to operate.

When using the instrument according to the invention with the operation adjustment part-unit 50 installed in the housing 1 switched on it monitors the condition of the other part-units, then starts the high voltage energy supply 30, which takes the high voltage electric current required for producing the appropriate amount of ozone through the first pole 31 and the second pole 32 of the output coil 33b to the electrode pairs 20 of the work chambers 10. Switching on the operation adjustment part-unit 50 also starts the medium forwarding part-unit 62 of the air treatment unit 60, which at the rotation speed set by the operation adjustment part-unit 50 transports the air dried by the drying part-unit 61 through the inlet opening 12 of the first work chamber 10 into the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10.

In the way presented previously ozone gas is created in the reaction space 11 in the plasma created between the electrodes 21 and the electrodes 22 of the electrode pairs 20, which leaves the instrument through the outlet opening 13 of the last work chamber 10.

If the air getting into the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 is insufficiently dry, then this is indicated by the sensing body 51 to the operation adjustment part-unit 50, which intervenes at the dryer part-unit 61 so that the air drying takes place with greater intensity. While the sensing body 52 informs the operation part-unit 50 about the ozone concentration of the output gas. If there is a difference between the desired and measured values, then the operation adjustment part-unit 50 intervenes. It optionally reduces or increases the flow rate, or even changes the magnitude of the voltage at the output coil 33b of the coil transformer 33.

Finally the ozone gas mixture of the desired concentration passes through the last outlet opening 13 from the reaction space 11 of the work chamber 10 and collides with the air spoiler pieces 70. Due to the effect of this the ozone gas mixture flowing out may be homogenously distributed throughout the closed space to be treated.

A possible, version of the equipment according to the invention may be seen in figure 4, with which the decontamination of portable objects may be performed which could not be effectively treated to date. Such objects that are difficult to treat include, for example, eggs stored in trays, the safe salmonella decontamination of which in a short amount of time had not been solved. The disinfection of contaminated paper materials stored bundled or bound had also been. a problem to date. It may be observed that the given equipment has a treatment unit 2, the cover 2a of which encloses the treatment space 2b. The door 2c is located in the cover 2a, which is fitted into the cover 2a with a gas tight seal. This door 2c makes it possible to put the objects to be treated 3 and, optionally, the portable equipment serving for the production of ozone into the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2.

In the case of the given embodiment the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2 also has an air admittance opening 2d and an air discharge opening 2e. Via a gas tight seal the air discharge opening 2e is connected to the air suction device 4 located outside the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2, while, for example, the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10 belonging to an instrument according to the invention is connected to the air admittance opening 2d also with a gas tight seal. The given ozone production equipment has an operation adjustment part-unit 50, a high voltage energy supply 30 connected to it, and a work chamber 10 supplied by the high voltage power supply 30. The electrode 21, electrode 22 and the insulation member 23 located between them may be found in the reaction space 1 1 of the work chamber 10, which with the help of the spacer body 24 are set in a position so that the gap "T" is created between the electrode 21 and the electrode 22. ^'

In the case of the given embodiment the instrument for the production of ozone is located in the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2.

The operation of the equipment according to figure 4 is as follows. The objects to be treated 3 first need to be placed in the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2, then with the door 2c closed a treatment space 2b with a gas tight seal may be created. A low pressure space may be created then by removing some of the air in the isolated treatment space 2b surrounding the objects to be treated with the air suction device 4. After the desired reduction in pressure is achieved by starting the operation adjustment part-unit 50, the high voltage energy supply transmits electricity to the electrode 21 and the electrode 22 in the reaction space 1 1 of the work chamber 10, while the air made to flow through the air admittance opening 2d gets into the reaction space 1 1 through the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10. Ozone is created from the oxygen flowing in in the arc created between the electrode 21 and the electrode 22 and this ozone gets into the treatment space 2b with reduced pressure through the outlet opening 13 of the work chamber 10. As the ozone gas mixture gets into the treatment space 2b, the pressure there increases and as a result of this pressure change the ozone also gets into those parts of the space where it would not have under environmental pressure. In this way the effectiveness of decontamination may be improved.

Figure 5 depicts a schematic picture of another version of the equipment according to the invention. Here the treatment unit may be observed 2, the cover 2a of which encloses the treatment space 2b. The treatment space 2b has a door 2c, and the air admittance opening 2d and the air discharge opening 2e are located here in the cover 2a. In the case of this version the work chamber 10 serving for the production of the ozone gas is also located in the treatment space 2b, and the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10 is connected to the pressure vessel 5 via the air admittance opening 2d.

The air suction device 4 is located outside the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2 and is connected to the air discharge opening 2e. The air suction device 4 is also connected to the pressure vessel 5.

In the interest of being able to regulate the pressure conditions of the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2 in the desired way, a flow regulation fitting 2g is installed at the air admittance opening 2d, and a flow regulation fitting 2f is installed at the air discharge opening 2e. The task of the flow regulation fitting 2f and the flow regulation fitting 2g is to open or close the air admittance opening 2d and the air discharge opening 2e.

The operation of this equipment differs from that of the previous in that here the air sucked out of the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2 by the air suction device 4 gets into the pressure vessel 5 and from there during ozone production it passes through the air admittance opening 2d into the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10, then through the outlet opening 13 of the work chamber 10 it once again gets into the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2. The advantage of the given solution is that during the multiple "recycling" of the air of the treatment space 2b the work chamber 10 on every occasion sterilises the air passing through it and increases its ozone concentration as well. Therefore such closed circuit equipment makes the treatment safer and more effective.

Figure 6 present equipment according to the invention in the case of which the work chamber 10, the air suction device 4 and the pressure vessel 5 are located in the treatment space 2b delimited by the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2. Naturally here also the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2 has a door 2c, however, in the case of this arrangement no other opening that may be closed with a gas tight seal are required in the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2. Here the air suction device 4 sucks out the air directly from the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit and collects it in the pressure vessel 5. Then the work chamber 10 uses this air stored in the pressure vessel 5. The air flows from the pressure vessel 5 into ^' the inlet opening 12 of the work chamber 10, and the gas mixture with increased ozone concentration is returned directly into the treatment space 2b via the outlet opening 13.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the equipment according to the invention. Here the treatment unit is coupled with a preparation unit 6. Essentially the preparation space 6b enclosed by the cover 6a of the preparation unit 6 may be viewed as a collection space that is connected to the ozone supply output 7a of ozone production equipment 7, and the ozone produced may be stored in this preparation space 6b until it is used.

Here also the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2 encloses a treatment space 2b for receiving the Objects to be treated 3 and is provided with a door 2c. The air suction device 4 may also be found here, the task of which is to periodically suck out a part of the air from the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit 2 in order to produce a space at reduced pressure.

An important characteristic of the given solution is that the treatment space 2b delimited by the cover 2a and the preparation space 6b enclosed by the cover 6a should be connected to each other in a way to permit the flow of air via the transfer passage 8 in such a way that the transfer passage 8 is supplemented with a flow regulation structure 8a, and so whether or not there is flow between the preparation space 6b and the treatment space 2b can be controlled.

The given embodiment is essentially formed as a portable container, where the cover 2a of the treatment unit 2 and the cover 6a of the preparation unit 6 form a single unit, and the treatment space 2b and the preparation space 6b are separated by a separation member 9. The transfer passage 8 and the flow regulation structure 8a are located in this separation member 9.

When the equipment according to figure 7 is operated, while the air suction device 4 is sucking out a part of the air from the treatment space 2b, the ozone production equipment 7 is creating increased ozone concentration in the preparation space 6b of the preparation unit 6. After the desired conditions have been achieved by opening the flow regulation structure 8a the reduced-pressure treatment space 2b may be connected with the preparation space 6b with increased ozone concentration, and in this way the treatment space 2b substantially sucks the gas mixture rich in ozone out of the preparation space 6b. This increased air flow helps the ozone get into those space parts in the objects to be treated that would not take place under environmental pressure.

The given solution may also be set up so that the spaces next to each other perform opposite tasks as well. However, in such a case the air suction device 4 and the ozone production equipment 7 must connected to both the treatment space 2b of the treatment unit and to the preparation space 6b of the preparation unit 6. And in this case the appropriate controls must also be installed in the air suction unit 4 and in the ozone production equipment 7 as well. However, alternating in this way the two chambers may be alternately used for ozone collection and for decontamination, which may result in an increase in productivity. The device, instrument and equipment according to the invention may be used to good effect in all cases when large rooms that are difficult to decontaminate need to be quickly, simply and cost-effectively disinfected without the use of chemicals, or in the case when objects need to be treated that are difficult to treat or cannot be treated with the known solutions as a consequence of their shape or method of storage.

List of references

housing

treatment unit 2a cover

2b treatment space

2c door

2d air admittance opening 2e air discharge opening 2f flow regulation fitting 2g flow regulation fitting object to be treated

air suction device

pressure vessel

preparation unit 6a cover

6b preparation space ozone production equipment 7a ozone supply output transfer passage 8a flow regulation structure separation member

0 work chamber 11 reaction space

12 inlet opening

13 outlet opening

0 electrode pair 21 electrode

21a electric terminal 21b frontal surface 21c rear surface

22 electrode

22a electric terminal 22b frontal surface 22c rear surface ' electrode pair 21' electrode

21a' electric terminal

21b' frontal surface

21c' rear surface

22' electrode

22a' electric terminal

22b' frontal surface

22c' rear surface

23 insulation piece

24 spacer body

25 carrier member

25a delimiting surface

25b delimiting surface

26 edge support member

26a contact surface

high voltage energy supply 31 first pole

32 second pole

33 coil transformer

33a input coil

33b output coil

34 electric cable

35 electric cable

0 air gap

0 operation adjustment part unit 51 sensor body

52 sensor body

53 information forwarding channel0 air treatment unit 61 dryer part-unit

62 medium forwarding part-unit0 air spoiler piece 80 safety separation member 90 electricity supply input "S" covering plane

"T" gap

"V" thickness