Using a high-current electron beam to generate ozone

Abstract

Calculations and experiments have shown that the repetitive high-current electron beam (HCEB) generation of ozone from the air is an order of magnitude more favorable energetically than producing ozone by a persistent electron beam. But it is less advantageous than the production of ozone by the electric-discharge method (w/sub sp//spl sim/13 kw h/kg), if one takes into account the efficiency of converting energy into a beam (about 50%). However, specific power intakes fall as the electron energy rises because of an increase in the free path length of electrons in the air. Calculations for RUSLAN (E=700 keV, I=5000 A, t=50 ns), and SIBERIA (E=1000 keV, I=5000 A, t=50 ns) accelerators provide evidence that these machines are becoming competitive in power intake with electric-discharge accelerators. Virtues of the ozone production process involving the use of a repetitive accelerator include the simplicity in design, low cost, and reliability of the air oxygen-to-ozone-conversion unit.