Housing and method that provide extended resident time for dissolving generated oxygen into water

Abstract

An apparatus for increasing the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water. The apparatus includes an inlet for receiving untreated water. A cell housing having an electrolytic cell therein is coupled to the inlet. A resident time housing is connected to the cell housing for receiving water having oxygen and hydrogen gas therein. The resident time housing is vertically oriented and longitudinally extending for a selected vertical length above the cell housing. This provides sufficient resident time of the water in a quiet zone to permit the generated oxygen gas to transition into the dissolved state prior to reaching the top of the resident time housing. An outlet is provided at the top of the resident time housing. Treated water having a high dissolved oxygen content is delivered out of the outlet. A gas vent is provided at the outlet to permit the escape of hydrogen or other gases which have not been dissolved into the water. Preferably, a chill unit is provided prior to the electrolytic cell to reduce the temperature of the water to make it pleasing for human consumption and also to increase the quantity of dissolved oxygen which can enter the water. Additionally, a light or other artistic display may be provided adjacent to or with the resident time housing for the pleasure of viewers.

1 . An apparatus for increasing the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water comprising: 
 an inlet for untreated water;    a cell housing having an electrolytic cell therein coupled to the inlet, the cell housing vertically oriented and longitudinally extending for a selected vertical length above the electrolytic cell; and    an outlet fluidly connected to the cell housing for removing treated water therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the cell housing has generally the same cross-sectional area throughout for ensuring laminar flow of water from the electrolytic cell to the vertical length extending above the electrolytic cell.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vertical length extending above the electrolytic cell is a straight, longitudinally extending tube having an unrestricted, constant cross-sectional area so that water may pass therethrough in laminar flow without encountering obstructions.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vertical length of is selected to ensure that a majority of gaseous oxygen present at the electrolytic cell transitions into dissolved oxygen before reaching the outlet.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further including: 
 a first removable coupling member attached to the housing positioned prior to the electrolytic cell; and    a second removable coupling member attached to the housing positioned after the electrolytic cell for permitting access to the electrolytic cell.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a water chill unit positioned prior to the inlet for reducing the temperature of the water.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 an outlet tube connected to the outlet for carrying treated water;    an outlet valve connected to the outlet tube for removing treated water from the outlet tube; and    a recirculation tube coupled from the outlet tube to the inlet for recirculating the treated water through the cell housing.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further including a pump positioned in the recirculation tube for providing the recirculation flow of the water.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further including a gradual cross-sectional reduction member positioned in the outlet tube and shaped to gradually reduce the cross-sectional area from a large cross-sectional area to a smaller cross-sectional area in the outlet tube.  
     
     
         10 . A method of increasing the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water comprising: 
 chilling untreated water;    passing the chilled untreated water into an electrolytic cell that generates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from the water;    passing treated water out of the electrolytic cell, the treated water containing hydrogen and oxygen in gaseous state;    transporting the treated water for a selected resident time period to allow some of the oxygen in a gaseous state to become dissolved oxygen in the treated water to increase the dissolved oxygen content of the water.    
     
     
         11 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the transporting step includes: 
 flowing the water in a laminar flow pattern in an unrestricted tube for permitting gaseous oxygen to transition into the dissolved state without obstructions or turbulent flow in the flowing water.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further including recirculating the treated water through the electrolytic cell.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further including reducing the cross-sectional diameter of a flow tube positioned for water to flow therethrough, the reduction being a gradual reduction without a sudden transition so as to maintain substantial laminar flow of the volume of water passing therethrough.