초록 ▼

An easily installed, automatically operated sanitizing direct current, electrolytic cell canister assembly and a method or efficiently providing brominated water for swimming pools and the like, the method including furnishing d.c. power at a constant amperage to the bipolar electrode graphite plate

An easily installed, automatically operated sanitizing direct current, electrolytic cell canister assembly and a method or efficiently providing brominated water for swimming pools and the like, the method including furnishing d.c. power at a constant amperage to the bipolar electrode graphite plate electrolytic cell canister, controlling the flow of electrolyte through the canister, turning the d.c. current on and off to provide d.c. on/off switching, turning the d.c. power off, adjusting the time of the on/off switching so that the current is off for a predetermined selected time in a cycle of about 1 to 60 seconds, and, just prior to reversing the polarity of the electrodes, turning the power off for about five seconds, with separate polarity changing switching to help efficiently clean the graphite plates and keep the bromine atoms from going back to their ionized state and reduce any power surge due to the reversal of the polarity.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [14.] A method for electrolytically producing bromine from an aqueous electrolyte bromide solution to provide brominated water for sanitizing a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:pumping the bromide solution through an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell in

[ What is claimed is:] [14.] A method for electrolytically producing bromine from an aqueous electrolyte bromide solution to provide brominated water for sanitizing a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:pumping the bromide solution through an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell including a canister having a compartment that houses two electrodes functioning as an anode and a cathode, the bromide solution moving from an input end of the canister, across the electrodes, and out an output end of the canister;supplying a direct current from a power supply to the electrolytic cell in an opening cycle comprising a first time period wherein the power supply is connected to the anode and the cathode and a second time period wherein the power supply is disconnected from the anode and the cathode, the direct current from the power supply establishing a polarity at the anode and the cathode and passing through the aqueous solution in the electrolytic cell to produce brominated water, the brominated water for sanitizing the body of water;reversing the polarity of the electrodes functioning as the anode and the cathode in a polarity cycle, the polarity of the anode and the cathode being switched in a cycle time; andoverriding the operating cycle to disconnect the direct current power supply from the anode and the cathode for a period prior to the reversing of the polarity of the electrodes, and then returning to the operating cycle, wherein the overriding step is for preventing buildup of unwanted deposits on the electrodes. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The bromine producing method recited in claim 14 wherein the canister further comprises a bipolar electrode plate positioned between the anode and the cathode; andthe reversing step results in the bipolar electrode plate alternatively functioning as an anode on one face and as a cathode on the other face. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The bromine producing method recited in claim 15, wherein the anode, the cathode, and the bipolar electrode plate are positioned parallel to the movement of the bromide solution from the input to the output end of the canister. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The bromine producing method recited in claim 16, wherein the bipolar electrode plate comprises a plurality of bipolar electrode plates positioned in spaced apart relationship to each other. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The bromine producing method recited in claim 14, wherein the operating cycle is controlled by a DC power timer and the operating cycle is 60 seconds or less. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The bromine producing method recited in claim 18, wherein the first time period of the operating cycle comprises a portion of up to 90% of the operating cycle. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The bromine producing method recited in claim 19, wherein the DC power timer is adjustable. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The bromine producing method recited in claim 14, wherein the polarity cycle is controlled by a polarity timer and the polarity is switched every 3 to 10 minutes. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The bromine producing method recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:monitoring a bromine content of the brominated water; andadjusting the operating cycle, the polarity cycle, and overriding period to supply brominated water with a desired bromine concentration to the body water. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The bromine producing method recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:monitoring a build-up of a deposit on the electrodes; andadjusting the operating cycle, the polarity cycle, and overriding period to eliminate the build-up of the deposit on the electrodes. ddend..Iadd. A sanitizing electrode assembly apparatus for delivering brominated water to a body of water, the assembly comprising:a canister having an inlet for an aqueous bromide electrolyte and an outlet for brominated water;an anode and a cathode positioned in the canister in spaced apart relationship between the canister inlet and outlet;means in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode for selectively transmitting a supplied direct current thereto for establishing a polarity for the anode and the cathode;first control means for determining and establishing an operating cycle for the transmitting means, the operating cycle including a first time period during which the transmitting means is supplying direct current for producing brominated water and a second timer period during which the transmitting means is supplying no direct current; andsecond control means for reversing the polarity of the anode and the cathode in a polarity cycle, the second control means including means for establishing a polarity cycle time and overriding means for selectively preventing the transmitting means from supplying direct current to the anode and the cathode prior to reversing the polarity of the anode and the cathode, and further for preventing buildup of unwanted deposits on the electrodes. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The assembly recited in claim 24, further comprising a bipolar electrode plate positioned in spaced-apart relationship between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the second control means further reverses the polarity for the bipolar plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The assembly recited in claim 25, wherein the bipolar electrode plate comprises a plurality of bipolar electrode plates positioned in spaced-apart relationship from each other. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The assembly recited in claim 26, wherein the anode, the cathode, and the bipolar electrode plates are positioned parallel to a flow of the electrolyte from the inlet, across the electrode plates, and out the outlet. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The assembly recited in claim 24, further comprising power supply means in electrical contact with the transmitting means for supplying direct current thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The assembly recited in claim 24, wherein the first control means comprises a timer for establishing the operating cycle. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The assembly recited in claim 29, wherein the timer comprises an adjustable timer for establishing an adjustable first time iod. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The assembly recited in claim 30, further comprising a bipolar electrode plate positioned in spaced-apart relationship between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the second control means further reverses the polarity for the bipolar plate. .Iaddend.