Benefits of using Ozone Generators
Ozone destroys bacteria, molds, and mildew, eliminates spores, yeast, and fungus, deactivates viruses and cysts, and will oxidize and destroy oils and other contaminants in water. Ozone will reduce or eliminate the need for high levels of harsh chemicals such as chlorine and bromine, significantly reducing maintenance costs. Ozone aids in the removal of minerals such as iron, sulfur and manganese. Ozone also removes irritating chloramines and objectionable odors. Ozone leaves no unpleasant chemical taste and is less corrosive than chlorine. Ozone dissolved in water will not irritate skin, nose, or ears, nor will it dry out or leave a chemical film on skin. Ozone does not affect the pH balance of water like traditional chemical treatment methods. Ozone is a powerful sanitizer and oxidizer and reverts back into oxygen, leaving no harmful byproducts whatsoever.
Ozone Generators are designed for water purification in residential and commercial hot tubs, small pools, fountains, cisterns and water tanks up to 10,000 gallons. They are supplied in a plastic rainproof enclosure that can be wall-mounted outdoors. The Ozone Generators have air compressors which can pump ozone into a pool, tub or tank up to 24 hours a day independently of water circulation. They are typically installed with either an over-the-side kit, venturi injector, or drill-in adapter.
How does an ozone system work?
The expensive, massive ozone systems of the past have given way to smaller, modern systems that provide public pools a viable water quality solution at an affordable cost. Today’s commercial ozone systems are simple, compact and efficient. Many are skid-mounted with flange to flange hook-ups for easy installation as a partial wall-mount or floor-mount. An ozone disinfection system consists of two basic components that ensure optimum performance at the lowest operating cost:
• Ozone generation system: produce ozone gas
• Ozone management system: efficiently dissolves the gas into the water while preventing off-gas of undissolved ozone.
The ozone management system maintains appropriate ozone levels in the water regulated with an ORP controller/ monitor. These components operate in unison and are easily installed to an existing public pool as a side stream to the pool’s main filtration system. Ozone is introduced to the water after filtration (and heating) and before the chlorine feeder. The side-stream flow is normally 15 to 25 percent of the main flow, depending on the size and type of pool. The system output is increased as the water quantity or organic loading increases. When sized and applied in compliance with the MSHC, the broad-spectrum oxidation of an ozone system offers significant benefits:
• Ozone destroys substances (chlorine can’t effectively eliminate, like human fluids, cosmetics and organics of all kinds)
• Ozone controls the chloramine levels in the water to 0.2 ppm or less.
• Ozone can eliminate shocking for chloramine reduction.
• Ozone offers significantly more oxidation than free available chlorine (FAC) alone.
• Ozone produces a minimum three-log (99.9 percent) kill of Cryptosporidium parvum and other RWI pathogens in a side-stream-applied single pass.
• Ozone provides micro-flocculation to aid filtration and improve water clarity.
• Ozone reduces the amount of chlorine usage required to maintain a FAC residual.
UV (ultraviolet) disinfection/sterilization System vs. Ozone Generators
While two completely different technologies, there remains confusion about the difference between an ozone generator system and a UV (ultraviolet) system. The difference between the two systems essentially is: UV(ultraviolet) kills germs with light energy (Killing bacteria with UV light requires the use of germicidal wavelengths of 185-254 nanometers (nm)), whereas ozone kills germs as an oxidizer Ozone gas dissolves in water to kill microorganisms, destroys organics that create chloramines and breaks down existing chloramines by oxidation. This oxidation happens immediately at the ozone gas injection point and continues as the side stream.
If you are using UV (ultraviolet) for water disinfection/sterilization –most likely you need an oxidizer like ozone too. But if you are using ozone – UV (ultraviolet) is not necessary.
Ozone does everything that UV (ultraviolet) does, but UV (ultraviolet) does not do everything that ozone does.
UV and Ozone can work perfectly together.
Ozone oxidizes and combines the contaminants so they are easily filtered out. That is why water is so crystal clear when using ozone. UV (ultraviolet) is not an oxidizer (except in very small amounts right at the unit). Ozone will also disinfect the walls inside the tank above the water line, preventing mold and mildew from growing on the tank walls. UV (ultraviolet) will not decontaminate the tank walls.
If a UV (ultraviolet) unit is present, it can only work well in very clear water. If water is cloudy, UV rays will not reach impurities as effectively. UV (ultraviolet) will actually work much more effective when used with an Ozonator (Ozone Generator) because of the crystal clear water achieved with ozone.
• Ozone kills microorganisms. UV (ultraviolet) inactivates them, sometimes only temporarily.
• Ozone destroys biofilm. UV (ultraviolet) does not affect biofilm.
• Ozone destroys Humic and Fulvic Acid UV (ultraviolet) doesn’t affect Humic and Fulvic acid
• Ozone destroys sulfur odors and other foul odors. UV (ultraviolet) does not eliminate odors
• Ozone kills Cryptosporidium parvum. UV inactivates it.
Ozone Generators are typically much less expensive than a UV (ultraviolet) system. The ozone-producing subassembly only needs to be replaced once every 4 to 5 years (2 to 3 years if ozone is pumped in 24 hours per day). The total cost of replacing the corona discharge subassembly is usually much less expensive than replacing UV lamps. UV lamps contain mercury vapor and must be disposed of as hazardous waste.