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Holmes & Associates, Inc.
Ken Holmes, E.E., President
19916 O l d O wen Road , S u i te 177
Mon roe, Was h i n gton 98272
I n n ovative Electron ic D es ign & Prod u ct D evelop men t
Phone: (360) 793-9723
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (360) 793-0364
Med al l i on In d oor En vi ron m en t al O zon e S t u d y
There are two primary methods used to produce ozone.
The first method uses ultraviolet light. Each individual photon in a beam of ultraviolet
light contains only a certain amount of energy, due to its spectral frequency and
wavelength. This energy is just enough to break apart the bonds between the two oxygen
atoms in an oxygen molecule. These atoms combine with two other oxygen molecules to
create two ozone molecules. The chemical reaction is: 3 O2 + Energy = 2 O3. The
energy of an ultraviolet light photon is not sufficient to break apart the bond between the
two nitrogen atoms in a nitrogen molecule, or to create the undesirable nitrous oxides or
nitric acid. This is why the ozone produced by the ultraviolet light method has a “sweet,
fresh, and clean” smell. Generating ozone by the ultraviolet light method is a “controlled
process”, since variations in the AC line voltage only affects the quantity of photons
produced, and not the spectral frequency, wavelength, or energy per photon. As a result,
the ultraviolet light method produces only clean, beneficial ozone.
The second method uses high-voltage to create ozone. The high-voltage energy is more
intense than the ultraviolet light energy, and breaks apart the nitrogen gas and water
vapor molecules in the air. This creates nitrous oxides, and nitric acid molecules, which
are harmful to human beings and to the environment. “Smog” contains these molecules.
These hazardous side effects are always present to some extent, and are inherent in the
high-voltage method of ozone production. As a result, the combination of gases
produced by the high-voltage method has an “acrid, pungent, or sharp” smell. Highvoltage is applied between two metal electrodes, plates, foils, or screens, often separated
by an insulator (which needs occasional replacement, due to self-contamination and
degradation). This is actually an “uncontrolled process”, because the high-voltage varies
with AC line voltage spikes, transients, surges, regulation, load shedding, and other factors.
This is why professional, industrial equipment manufacturers, which use the high-voltage
method, nearly always use pure, industrial or hospital-grade, oxygen (not just air) flowing
over the electrodes (in a special reaction chamber) to help create a more or less nitrousfree ozone. Using just air with the high-voltage method guarantees the production of
undesirable nitrous oxides, or nitric acid molecules.
The high-voltage method has been described by various manufacturers’ advertising
literature as “cold plasma”, “corona discharge”, “arc discharge”, “ionization”, “electric
field”, or other names. There are numerous claims, counter-claims, and technicalsounding terms used by these manufacturers. Many of these terms are confusing,
contradictory, or misleading. Understanding may seem like an impossible task, requiring
an advanced degree in chemistry and physics.
Yet there is a way to see through all these claims. Simply ask the manufacturer to
provide certified test data for the high-voltage ozone generator, identifying the amount of
every gas at the input, and at the output. Any amount of nitrous oxides or nitric acid
output is undesirable. The percentage of trace gases (argon, helium, etc.) at the input and
the output should be the same. If nitrogen and water vapor does not show up in the test
data, the data is questionable, since these are both included in the air we breathe, and the
ozone generator does not eliminate them.
Manufacturers of high-voltage ozone
generators (using just air) will not provide this data because of the problems it would
reveal.
It has been reported that some high-voltage ozone generating equipment is being used in
just air, with a tube spraying raw oxygen from a tank into the unit. This does not
eliminate the nitrous oxide problem, yet it does create a serious safety hazard. There is
an inherent potential problem in using raw oxygen in and around high-voltage “sparking”/
corona. Even in the most controlled “safe” process, and “explosion-proof” electrical
applications, there is still the danger of violent combustion and explosion. That is why
signs are posted near oxygen storage and use areas: No Smoking; Danger, Oxygen
Storage; Oxygen in Use; or Danger, Oxygen. Spraying raw oxygen into a high-voltage
unit is neither controlled, safe, or explosion-proof. It should be a prerequisite to post
danger signs in several languages, wherever such equipment is in use.
In summary, in an air environment, the high-voltage method produces undesirable and
hazardous by-products. The high-voltage method with an oxygen spray is dangerous.
Ultraviolet light is the only method of producing safe, clean, beneficial ozone.
Report dated April 24, 2003