DIY Ozone Chamber

[woodsroad]

Yes, I'll sketch it out, giving part numbers where I can...there are still some refinements to be made. My idea is to make this a project that anyone with a modicum of mechanical ability could build, using off the shelf parts.

 

[woodsroad]

A few minor but important discoveries about Ozone generators. They need a steady supply of fresh air, with plenty of O2, in order to create the Ozone (O3). So, a sealed container is exactly what you do NOT want to use. However, Ozone is a lung irritant. You should never run an ozone generator in occupied areas. The half life of Ozone is somewhere between one and three days, depending on who you ask. My solution is to run the pipe deodorizer in my basement. The basement is well ventilated, and depending on the time of year or exactly how many mice our cat has killed and left down there, can attain a bit of an aroma. So, I am killing two birds mice with one ozone generator, so to speak, by running it in the basement.

 

[huntertrw]

Woodsroad (or should I write, Mr. Science):
Thank-you for a most enjoyable series of posts! You might contact Mr. Mike Myers of Walker Briar Repair to discuss your experiences, as he uses ozone to treat pipes.
Here is a link to some useful information about ozone:
Understanding Ozone

 

[woodsroad]

Thanks, huntertrw. I've had pipes out to Mike for a total rehab, and he's done a great job of it, including the Ozone Chamber. He only charges a few bucks for the Ozone, which barely covers his time. So, it's a great deal, and highly recomended.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Dan, you still use your ozone gadget? Any updates or experiences?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I need one of these. It would be easier than trying to give the cat a bath. ::

 

[bluto]

Excellent
Have considered using a spark gap or UV lamp to generate said ozone of cleanliness ?

 

[bluto]

Would a homemade autoclave clean dank pipes ?

 

[woodsroad]

The fatal flaw with this design is that is recirculates the air inside the chamber. In order to make ozone, the plates need O2. With a closed system like this, only a set amount of ozone is generated (and dissipated) before the O2 runs out. So I had to replumb it all to provide for a fresh air intake. I also made a manifold with tubes that attach to the pipe stems, so that it blows ozone through the pipe backwards. Works well.
An autoclave will not remove odors. It will sanitize a pipe, but it would also probably melt the stem and damage the finish. I'm guessing at this. Your best bet is to put your best pipe in a pressure cooker and give it a try.