Technical · updated 03 August 2026
There are two practical ways to turn oxygen into ozone.
Corona discharge
A high-voltage electrical field splits O₂ molecules, and the free atoms recombine into O₃. This is lightning, in a controlled gap.
Strengths: high concentration, efficient, scales well, output is controllable and repeatable.
Requirements: the feed gas must be dry. Moisture in a corona discharge forms nitric acid, which corrodes the cell. It also generates heat, which is why cell design matters.
Why "cold corona" comes up
Ozone decomposes as it warms, so a cell that runs hot destroys some of what it just made. A cold-corona design keeps the discharge cooler, which improves yield and extends cell life. On long runs, such as ozonating oil, the difference compounds.
Why quartz
If the discharge touches metal, the metal oxidises and ends up in the output. A quartz dielectric keeps the gas path away from metal. This is the main quality divide between units.
Ultraviolet
UV light at 185 nm splits oxygen the way sunlight does in the upper atmosphere.
Strengths: mechanically simple, tolerant of humidity, produces no nitrogen oxides even on air.
Limits: much lower concentration, typically a fraction of what corona achieves. Lamps dim with use, so output falls invisibly over time unless you measure it. Less efficient per watt.
Side by side
| Corona discharge | Ultraviolet | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | High | Low |
| Efficiency | Better | Worse |
| Feed gas | Must be dry | Humidity tolerant |
| Output drift | Stable, cell ages slowly | Falls as the lamp ages |
| Typical use | Water and oil treatment, lab and workshop | Air purification, some water polishing |
Which we build
Our generators are quartz cold-corona units, fed from an oxygen source, shipped with a calibrated output chart. See the range.
Equipment information only. Nothing here is medical advice.