Ozone and Spa Pools....
Ozone is increasingly recognised and popular as the principal water purifier for spa pools. Properly installed fittings and special purpose ozonators allow ozone's natural purification and oxidising qualities to be effectively harnessed in domestic spa pool environments.
Most commonly, swimming pool and spa pool water is purified using chemical based water-soluble sanitizers such as spa chlorine or bromine tablets. These sanitizers create chloramines or bromamines as by-products that may, in some circumstances, cause an odour. By contrast, ozone does not produce any chemical by-products and it oxidizes pathogens many times faster.
Ozone has a limited life as a water purifier. It is effective for only a few minutes after coming into contact with water. Therefore, water purification will mostly only take place when the ozonator is working. Ozone is not effective against algae.
Because traditional sanitizers - spa chlorine and bromine tablets - have ongoing residual sanitation qualities and control algae growth, it is best to use an ozonator in conjunction with small amounts of either of these. Most often bromine is the sanitizer of choice.
The first commercial use of ozone was in a municipal water system in 1906. Ozone is now used by a wide variety of industries worldwide, including wastewater plants, water parks, zoos, aquariums, food manufacturing and water bottling as well as commercial and residential swimming pools and spa pools.
How is ozone made?
Ozone results from the process where an oxygen molecule (O2) is split into two oxygen atoms and each atom attaches itself to another oxygen molecule thereby forming O3.
How does ozone work?
Ozone is an unstable compound due to the weak bond that holds ozone's third oxygen molecule to the original molecule. An oxidation reaction occurs upon any collision between an ozone molecule and a molecule of an oxidizable substance, e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses and some minerals.
The weak bond breaks and the single oxygen atom attacks the oxidizable substance, rendering it inert. The spa pool filter eventually removes the resultant inert material. The by-product of this process is oxygen.
Domestic spa pool use
Technology has developed to allow the production of ozone "on-site" in domestic situations via the use of an "ozonator". Two types of ozonator can be used in domestic spa pool use...
Our ozonators use the corona discharge method. The ozonator automatically operates when the spa pump is running. The ozone produced is drawn through a network of pipes and absorbed into the water, which then enters the pool. In this way, the purifying effect of ozone is maximised.
Ozonator fittings must be installed at the time of manufacture. They cannot be retrofitted.
A two page printable summary is available here: Note - Ozone & Ozonators.
Most commonly, swimming pool and spa pool water is purified using chemical based water-soluble sanitizers such as spa chlorine or bromine tablets. These sanitizers create chloramines or bromamines as by-products that may, in some circumstances, cause an odour. By contrast, ozone does not produce any chemical by-products and it oxidizes pathogens many times faster.
Ozone has a limited life as a water purifier. It is effective for only a few minutes after coming into contact with water. Therefore, water purification will mostly only take place when the ozonator is working. Ozone is not effective against algae.
Because traditional sanitizers - spa chlorine and bromine tablets - have ongoing residual sanitation qualities and control algae growth, it is best to use an ozonator in conjunction with small amounts of either of these. Most often bromine is the sanitizer of choice.
Using an ozonator reduces the quantity of chemical-based sanitizers required.What is ozone?
How much less will depend on how frequently you operate the ozonator and how often you use your spa pool. The saving could be as much as 80% for a typical household.
An ozonator will appeal to people who are affected by chlorine or wish to use fewer chemicals.
- Ozone is "active oxygen" - an ozone molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms.
- Ozone is created in nature from oxygen in the air by ultraviolet rays of the sun or by the corona or electrical discharge during a lightning storm.
- Ozone has a clean, fresh scent often noticed after a rainstorm.
- Ozone is a natural purifier and destroys bacteria, viruses, cysts, yeasts, moulds and mildew and fungus.
- Ozone is a powerful oxidiser and oxidises hydrogen sulphides, iron, manganese and most chlorinated hydrocarbons and eliminates oils.
- The Ozone layer in the atmosphere protects the earth from deadly radiation and there is a small amount of ozone in the air we breathe.
- Ozone is healthy and environmentally safe.
- Ozone is a by product of oxygen, it does not leave any chemical taste or smell, it will not cause any personal discomfort or irritation.
The first commercial use of ozone was in a municipal water system in 1906. Ozone is now used by a wide variety of industries worldwide, including wastewater plants, water parks, zoos, aquariums, food manufacturing and water bottling as well as commercial and residential swimming pools and spa pools.
How is ozone made?
Ozone results from the process where an oxygen molecule (O2) is split into two oxygen atoms and each atom attaches itself to another oxygen molecule thereby forming O3.
How does ozone work?
Ozone is an unstable compound due to the weak bond that holds ozone's third oxygen molecule to the original molecule. An oxidation reaction occurs upon any collision between an ozone molecule and a molecule of an oxidizable substance, e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses and some minerals.
The weak bond breaks and the single oxygen atom attacks the oxidizable substance, rendering it inert. The spa pool filter eventually removes the resultant inert material. The by-product of this process is oxygen.
Domestic spa pool use
Technology has developed to allow the production of ozone "on-site" in domestic situations via the use of an "ozonator". Two types of ozonator can be used in domestic spa pool use...
- Ultraviolet (UV) light - A UV lamp is used to generate ozone - a somewhat similar process to ozone creation in the atmosphere.
- Corona discharge. Electrical energy is utilized to split the oxygen molecule and create ozone - similar to the effect of an electrical storm in nature.
Our ozonators use the corona discharge method. The ozonator automatically operates when the spa pump is running. The ozone produced is drawn through a network of pipes and absorbed into the water, which then enters the pool. In this way, the purifying effect of ozone is maximised.
Ozonator fittings must be installed at the time of manufacture. They cannot be retrofitted.
A two page printable summary is available here: Note - Ozone & Ozonators.