Types and Selection of Ozone Generator

Ozone generators are essential equipment in water treatment, air purification, food processing, pharmaceutical sterilization, aquaculture, and environmental protection industries. As ozone is a strong oxidizing agent capable of sterilization, deodorization, decolorization, and advanced oxidation, choosing the right type of ozone generator is crucial for ensuring efficiency, safety, and operational reliability.

This article provides a detailed, SEO-optimized comparison of the types and selection of ozone generator, explaining how different generation methods, dielectric materials, cooling systems, and structural designs affect performance and application scope.

Based on the method of ozone production, ozone generators can be divided into three main categories:

1. High-pressure discharge ozone generators (Corona discharge type)
2. Ultraviolet irradiation ozone generators (UV ozone generators)
3. Electrolytic ozone generators

Below is a detailed explanation of each type, their advantages, limitations, and suitable applications.

A high-pressure discharge generator uses a high-frequency electrical current to create a high-voltage corona field. When oxygen molecules pass through this electric field, they split and recombine to form ozone (O₃).

• Mature and reliable technology
• Stable operation and long service life
• High ozone output (single machines can produce up to 1 kg/h)
• Widely used in industrial water treatment, municipal water plants, and environmental engineering

Because of these advantages, high-pressure discharge ozone generators are considered the mainstream and most commonly used type internationally.

• Power frequency generators (50–60 Hz)
  Large size, high power consumption – mostly phased out.
• Medium frequency generators (400–1000 Hz)
  Compact, efficient, widely used.
• High frequency generators (>1000 Hz)
  Higher ozone output, lower energy use, best-performing type currently.

Medium and high-frequency generators dominate today’s market due to efficiency and stability.

• Oxygen-type ozone generators
  Use oxygen cylinders or oxygen concentrators (purity >90%).
  → Produce high-concentration ozone, suitable for tratamiento de aguas y industrial oxidation.
• Air-type ozone generators
  Use compressed air as the feed gas.
  → Lower ozone concentration, suitable for environmental disinfection and air purification.

Important Note:

• Air-type units are commonly used for environmental disinfection.
• Oxygen-type units are preferred for tratamiento de aguas to improve ozone solubility, concentration, and oxidation efficiency.
• Older water plants that rely on traditional ozone mixing towers can only use air-type generators.

Cooling is essential because ozone decomposes at high temperatures.

• Water-cooled ozone generators
  • Excellent cooling effect
  • Stable ozone concentration
  • Suitable for continuous operation
  • Higher cost
    → Best for industrial, municipal, or high-output applications
• Air-cooled ozone generators
  • Simple structure
  • Lower cost
  • Less effective cooling
  • Ozone production drops noticeably at high temperatures
    → Suitable only for small units and low-demand applications

Recommendation:
For professional or industrial use, water-cooled systems are strongly preferred.

Dielectric material directly affects efficiency, stability, and lifespan.

• Quartz tubes
  • High dielectric constant
  • Uniform wall thickness
  • Excellent temperature and humidity resistance
  • Most widely used in high-end generators
• Ceramic plates
  • Brittle, suitable only for small generators
• Ceramic tubes
  • Inconsistent quality, prone to uneven discharge
• Glass tubes / Enamel tubes
  • Low performance, poor heat resistance
  • Used only in low-end or disposable generators

Quartz dielectric tubes are the industry standard for high-performance systems.

• Closed-type ozone generators
  • Fully sealed structure
  • High ozone concentration
  • Suitable for tratamiento de aguas, industrial disinfection, and centralized ozone delivery
• Open-type ozone generators
  • Electrodes exposed to air
  • Low concentration, ozone cannot be collected efficiently
  • Best for small room disinfection or surface sterilization

Warning:
Some low-quality manufacturers “enclose” open-type generators to mimic closed-type units.
This causes:

• Heat buildup
• Rapid ozone decay
• Short equipment lifespan
• Safety risks

Always ensure the generator is designed as a closed system, not modified afterward.

UV ozone generators use UV lamps emitting 185 nm wavelength to split oxygen molecules and form ozone.

• Simple structure
• Easy maintenance
• Low cost

• Large UV lamp size
• Very low ozone output
• Short lamp lifespan

• Disinfection cabinets
• Small air disinfection devices
• Light-duty sterilization applications

Due to low output, UV ozone generators are not suitable for water treatment or industrial use.

Electrolytic generators produce ozone by electrolyzing purified water. No external oxygen supply is required.

• Can produce high-concentration ozone water
• Simple use and low manufacturing cost

• Limited ozone production
• Short electrode lifespan
• Difficult to collect gaseous ozone
• Not suitable for medium or large-scale projects

• Laboratory devices
• Small food sterilization equipment
• Specialized applications only

Electrolytic ozone generators cannot replace high-pressure discharge systems in industrial scenarios.

High-pressure discharge ozone generators remain the primary and most reliable choice for industrial, municipal, and water treatment applications. When selecting an ozone generator, priority should be given to the following configuration:

• Medium or high-frequency corona discharge
• Quartz dielectric tube
• Refrigeración por agua
• Oxygen-fed gas source
• Closed-type structural design

By following these criteria, users can ensure high ozone concentration, stable performance, and long equipment lifespan.
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A water-cooled, oxygen-type, high-frequency discharge generator is recommended for high efficiency and stable ozone concentration.

No. UV generators produce very low ozone output and are suitable only for small enclosed spaces or cabinets.

Oxygen produces higher ozone concentration, improves solubility in water, and prevents the formation of unwanted nitrogen oxides (NOx).

No. Open-type generators are for small air purification tasks only. Water treatment requires closed-type systems.

Very important. Poor cooling causes ozone decomposition, reduces efficiency, and damages the generator. Water cooling is recommended for all high-output applications.

Xian CHIWATEC Water Treatment Technology es una empresa de alta tecnología especializada en varios dispositivos de procesamiento de agua. Aparte de estos productos individuales, que cubren una serie de tipos y series, también podemos ayudar con proyectos de ingeniería integrales relacionados. Gracias a nuestro arduo trabajo y dedicación desde nuestra fundación, ahora somos uno de los fabricantes de equipos de tratamiento de agua de más rápido desarrollo en el oeste de China.

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