On-site on-demand chlorine gas generator

Abstract

A method and device to produce chlorine gas on demand utilizing an electrolytic process for water treatment. The electrolytic components are mounted in a substantially rectangle shaped assemblage. This design of the rectangle shape assemblage ensures that the device consistently operates at peak efficiency. The device monitors and adjusts chlorine generation for changing demands and conditions for the production of disinfected water.

1 . An improved apparatus for the generation of chlorine by means of an electrolysis unit, the improvement comprising:
 An electrolytic cell comprising an anode portion and a cathode portion, the anode portion containing an anode and the cathode portion containing a cathode;   Means for separating the anode portion of the electrolytic cell from the cathode portion of the electrolytic cell;   Means for providing brine solution to the anode portion of the electrolytic cell;   Means for providing make-up water to the cathode portion of the electrolytic cell;   Means for removing chlorine gas from the electrolytic cell;   Means for removing hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell;   Measuring means to measure temperature and conductivity within the electrolytic cell; and   Controlling means for controlling operation of the electrolytic cell.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises means for cooling the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring means comprises one or more combination temperature/conductivity sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrolytic cell is comprised of an anode tank and a cathode tank, the means for separating the anode portion from the cathode portion is an ion-selective membrane, and the anode and cathode are located adjacent to the ion-selective membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the anode tank and the cathode tank each further comprise a drain valve and an overflow port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for providing brine solution to the anode portion of the electrolytic cell comprises a brine tank with supply water input and brine water output, the brine water output connected to the anode portion of the electrolytic cell through a brine water pump and a brine solution feedline, and the brine water pump is electrically controlled by the controlling means. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for providing make-up water to the cathode portion of the electrolytic cell comprises a mineral tank, a flow rate sensor, a solenoid valve and a make-up water feedline connected to the cathode portion of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for removing chlorine gas from the electrolytic cell further comprises water supply chlorine gas introduction means. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the water supply chlorine gas introduction means comprises in-line gas injection means. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the anode and cathode are located parallel to and within a range of 1.0 to 0.25 inches from the ion-selective membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for removing hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell comprises means to vent hydrogen gas to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controlling means for controlling operation of the electrolytic cell is comprised of a main electrical control cabinet, the main electrical control cabinet comprising a programmable logic controller, a low voltage direct current power device, an alternating current power supply, and a human interface means electrically connected to the logic controller. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the controlling means provides voltage across an anode and a cathode located within the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the ion-selective membrane is disposed in said connecting means between said anode tank and said cathode tank, the ion-selective membrane separating the anode tank interior from the cathode tank interior. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising cooling means disposed within the anode portion and the cathode portion, the cooling means comprising a water cooling system comprising cooling water feedlines within the electrolytic cell and means for supplying the cooling system with cooling water from a water source. 
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  claim 4  wherein the anode tank and the cathode tank can have different geometric shapes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the separation means is comprised of a polytetrafluoroethylene fiber ion-selective membrane. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for producing an output solution having a predetermined level of available free chlorine comprising:
 A main electrical control cabinet comprising a logic controller, a low voltage direct current power device, an alternating current power supply, and human interface means electrically connected to the logic controller;   An anode tank containing an anode and a cathode tank containing a cathode, the anode tank and cathode tank further comprising flanges connecting the interior portion of the anode tank with interior portion of the cathode tank;   An ion-selective membrane located within the junction of the anode tank flange and the cathode tank flange, the anode tank and cathode tank containing one or more temperature sensors located within the anode tank and the cathode tank, the anode tanks and cathode tank containing one or more conductivity sensors located within the anode tank and cathode tank;   A brine tank, brine solution feed line connected to the brine tank and the anode tank, and a brine pump disposed within the brine feed line;   A make-up water supply comprising a mineral tank, flow rate sensor, solenoid valve and make-up water feedline connected to the cathode tank;   A low voltage direct current device electrically connected to the anode and the cathode;   A potable water source comprising a source water input, a chlorinated water output, a potable water pump electrically connected to the alternating current power supply, logic controller and a venturi valve for injecting gas removed from the anode tank into a water supply;   Means for removing chlorine gas from said anode tank, the means for removing chlorine gas connected to a venturi valve disposed within the potable water supply tubes;   Means for removing hydrogen gas from said cathode tank;   A drain valve located proximally to the bottom of the anode tank and a drain valve located proximally to the bottom of the cathode tank;   Overflow discharge means located in the anode tank and overflow discharge means located in the cathode tank;   Cooling means comprising a cooling tube running into and out of the interior of the anode tank and cathode tank, a cooling water pump, one or more cooling tubes located in the interior of the anode tank and the cathode tank, and cooling tube return connected to the potable water source;   A logic controller electrically connected to the low voltage direct current device, the one or more temperature sensors, the one or more conductivity sensors, the brine pump, the flow rate sensor, the solenoid valve, and the cooling water pump;   A hydrogen gas sensor electrically connected to the logic controller;   A chlorine gas sensor electrically connected to the logic controller.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the anode and the cathode are located proximal to and substantially parallel to the ion-selective membrane. 
     
     
         20 . An method for producing an output solution having a predetermined level of available free chlorine, the method comprising:
 Providing a main electrical control cabinet comprising a logic controller, a low voltage direct current power device, an alternating current power supply, and human interface means electrically connected to the logic controller;   Providing an anode tank containing an anode and a cathode tank containing a cathode, the anode tank and cathode tank further comprising flanges connecting the interior portion of the anode tank with interior portion of the cathode tank;   An ion-selective membrane located within the junction of the anode tank flange and the cathode tank flange, the anode tank and cathode tank containing one or more temperature sensors located within the anode tank and the cathode tank, the anode tanks and cathode tank containing one or more conductivity sensors located within the anode tank and cathode tank;   A brine tank, brine feed line connected to the brine tank and the anode tank, and a brine pump disposed within the brine feed line;   A make-up water supply comprising a mineral tank, flow rate sensor, solenoid valve and make-up water feedline connected to the cathode tank;   A low voltage direct current device electrically connected to the anode and the cathode;   A potable water source comprising a source water input, a chlorinated water output, a potable water pump electrically connected to the alternating current power supply, logic controller and a venturi valve for injecting gas removed from the anode tank into a water supply;   Means for removing chlorine gas from said anode tank, the means for removing chlorine gas connected to a venturi valve disposed within the potable water supply tubes;   Means for removing hydrogen gas from said cathode tank;   A drain valve located proximally to the bottom of the anode tank and a drain valve located proximally to the bottom of the cathode tank;   Overflow discharge means located in the anode tank and overflow discharge means located in the cathode tank;   Cooling means comprising a cooling tube running into and out of the interior of the anode tank and cathode tank, a cooling water pump, one or more cooling tubes located in the interior of the anode tank and the cathode tank, and cooling tube return connected to the potable water source;   A logic controller electrically connected to the low voltage direct current device, the one or more temperature sensors, the one or more conductivity sensors, the brine pump, the flow rate sensor, the solenoid valve, and the cooling water pump;   A hydrogen gas sensor electrically connected to the logic controller;   A chlorine gas sensor electrically connected to the logic controller.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the anode and the cathode are located proximally and substantially parallel to the ion-selective membrane. 
     
     
         22 . A method of producing chlorinated water, the method including the steps of:
 Causing a brine tank to filled with a brine solution;   Causing an anode tank to be filled with brine solution from the brine tank;   Causing a cathode tank to be filled with a caustic solution;   Providing a main electrical control cabinet, the main electrical control cabinet comprising a logic controller, a low voltage direct current power device, an alternating current power supply, and human interface means electrically connected to the logic controller;   Entering desired chlorine generation parameters into the human interface means;   Causing a voltage to be applied to an anode located within the anode tank;   Causing a voltage to be applied to a cathode located within the cathode tank;   Monitoring the brine concentration in the anode tank;   Monitoring the sodium hydroxide concentration in the cathode tank;   Withdrawing chlorine gas from the anode tank and injecting the withdrawn chlorine gas into a water supply;   Withdrawing hydrogen gas from the cathode tank;   Providing a cooling means within the anode tank and the cathode tank;   Monitoring the temperature of the brine solution in the anode tank;   Monitoring the temperature of the caustic solution in the cathode tank;   Monitoring the flow rate of supply water to be chlorinated; and   Varying the voltage applied to the anode and voltage applied to the cathode.