The Electric Characteristics of the Ozonator Discharge

Oscillographic studies of the ozonator discharge, together with power measurements, have shown that: (1) The ozonator discharge is intermittent; during each cycle of the alternating voltage there are two discharge periods alternating with two dark periods. (2) During the discharge periods, the potential drop across the air space has constant value of +e 0 or −e 0 depending on the direction of the current. The quenching of the discharge coincides with the maximum of the voltage wave. (3) During the succeeding dark period there appears to be no transport of charges across the air spaces, so that the charges accumulated on the inner surfaces of the dielectrics during one discharge period remain to influence the starting of the next discharge period. (4) An equation has been found which gives the power consumption of an ozonator in terms of the peak voltage, the capacity of the dielectrics, the frequency and the discharge potential, e 0 . (5) Methods have been found for measuring e 0 , which proves to be proportional to the spacing, d, and the air density : e o / d = 28.6 kv . / cm . at 0°C, 760 mm. This is considerably lower than the potential for spark breakdown at comparable spacing.