Types of Ozone Laundry Systems

A properly designed ozone laundry system will improve laundry performance by:

• Activating laundry detergents;
• Reducing water usage;
• Cutting the number of wash steps in the cycle;
• Drastically reducing the need for hot water as much as 85% or more.

A properly designed ozone laundry will dramatically outperform a traditional laundry in terms of both higher laundry quality and lower operational costs.

Aquawing

This system is a variation on the diffusion system, but is equipped with a patented variable ozone system. This variable ozone system automatically adjusts ozone levels to maintain 1.0 ppm in the wash wheel. This system automatically adjusts the ozone generator output too match each specific load according to the load size and soil contents. A washer with low levels of soil and small amounts of laundry simply does not need as much ozone as a full machine with heavy soils. This system makes the adjustments with a series of ozone sensors that monitor the amounts of ozone within the wash wheel. Aquawing is the only system that can validate ozone in the wash wheel with the new VO3 system. Up until this point, there has been no system that can truly validate ozone levels in the washing machines.

Advantages

• Gentle on linen
• Gentle on machines
• Low capital investment, low rent/lease payment
• Short payback period
• Easy install and maintain - no added plumbing, contact tanks, pumps, filters, etc.
• Minimal components to maintain
• Small footprint and optional wall-mounting available
• Low operating costs
• All models available as wall-mountable

The only clinically validated ozone system to kill the super bugs MRSA (staph), C. diff and aspergillus niger, etc. Also, doctor verified to kill HIV and all Hepatitis strains. Patented variable ozone continually injects ozone throughout each step of the cycle as is automatically determined by sensors mounted to each washer. Room monitoring device is standard. This device will shut down the ozone unit If recommended levels are exceeded, but all washers remain fully operational.

For list of full benefits please see the benefits page.

Other Systems

Side Arm System

Also referred to as recirculation Injection (RI) - This system circulates water between the washer and the ozone system re-oxidizing and returning newly charged ozone-enriched water to the washer continuously. To facilitate this continuous recirculation, piping along with pumps, contact vessel and filters must be installed. Even though the side arm approach can handle heavy microbe loads and save water, it is seldom used because it is also the most complex and expensive of the four design alternatives. Another reason this design is not widely adopted involves the continuous maintenance necessary to prevent water leaks and to keep lint filters clean for proper system performance.

Disadvantages:

• Complex plumbing system and Installation process
• Maintenance issues; leaks are common and filters must be cleaned after every wash
• Expensive and long payback periods
• Large footprint
• Uncontrolled ozone in the wash wheel—low levels of O3 are injected

Direct Water Injection (DWI)

With DWI equipment, ozone is directly injected via a venturi into the cold water supply line leading to the washer. This is a single charge system (only Injected with ozone once on the way to the washer), although some DWI systems also incorporate a single pass contact vessel (contact tank), which slightly increases ozone levels in solution. The contact tank may be an actual tank or simply some pipes/pvc on the wall, which is commonly used to fill this function. The ozone-enriched water is not recharged once it enters the washer and all water must pass through a 1/4" hole In the venturi before filling the washing machine(s). An oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP) controller is commonly used to monitor ozone levels, but they are notoriously unreliable for ozone laundry. ORP's were designed to monitor ozone levels in water purification in controlled environments and have no business in the laundry room.

Disadvantages:

• Complex plumbing system and Installation process
• Single pass ozone contact vessel (contact tank). Ozone is not recharged during wash steps
• High Price - long payback period
• ORP meters are typically used, but are very unreliable (More on ORP LINK)
• Past history of major water leaks and damage (fires)
• No clinically verified microbe kill in linen on record
• More components to maintain
• Uncontrolled ozone in the wash wheel - Ozone is pulled from solution when the basket rotates, releasing the gas into the room
• Typically, no free trials due to extensive plumbing
• High water value failure because Ozone comes in contact with the water value

Charge System (CS)

Charge systems are a variation of the DWI approach, but include a recirculation loop from the contact vessel to the ozone system. A charge system mixes ozone with cold water and then continually recycles it between the contact vessel and the ozone system to maintain a predetermined ozone level in the water, as measured by an ORP meter (ORP's are unreliable in laundry LINK). This system typically has a large free standing tank. The CS approach makes it possible to achieve higher dissolved levels of ozone in the water prior to releasing it into the washer. It is important to note that having ozone dissolved in the water is unnecessary for cleaning laundry. Again, this Is a technology used for purifying water, not cleaning laundry.

Disadvantages

• Complex plumbing and installation
• Single charge ozone. When wash fills, a fixed amount of ozone is used and is not replenished with ozone until the next step
• 2nd fill will have the ozone of the first because of the water retention on the fabric
• High Price; long ROI
• Large footprint (large storage tank)
• ORP meters are typically used, but are very unreliable (More on ORP LINK)
• More components to maintain
• No clinically validated microbe kill in linen
• Uncontrolled ozone in the wash wheel - Ozone is pulled from solution when the basket rotates, releasing the gas into the room.
• No Free trials due to extensive plumbing

Bubble Diffusion

With diffusion systems, ozone is continuously injected directly into the sump of the washer throughout each step of the wash cycle. Because it directly injects ozone into the washer sump, as opposed to the water supply, no additional pumps, contact vessels, filters, or piping are needed. The Diffusion approach can deliver disinfection with improved laundry quality compared to other design approaches. Disinfection is achieved not only in the ozone-enriched water, but also in the direct contact between ozone and linen as they tumble together in the wash drum.

Disadvantages

• Ozone systems that are not calibrated and installed correctly can produce ambient ozone issues
• Uncontrolled ozone in the wash wheel
• Too low level of ozone
• Off gassing can be a concern
• No clinically validated microbe kill in linen