Salt chlorinator and method for cleaning salt chlorinator without polarity reversal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a salt chlorinator and a salt chlorinator for a swimming pool, the salt chlorinator being provided with means for eliminating the formation of scale deposits on electrodes without the need for electrode polarity reversal, comprising: a chamber (1) defining an internal space in which a set of electrodes (2) are housed; a chamber water inlet (1 '); the device comprises a chamber (1), a chamber water outlet (1 ''), a system (15) for holding the water in the chamber (1), a stirring device (16) for stirring in the chamber (1), an injection point (12) for injecting a pH reducing acid into the chamber (1), and a pH meter (13) for measuring the pH of the water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, as its name indicates, an electrolytic chlorinator for disinfecting pool water in a swimming pool. More specifically, these chlorinators, also known as "salt chlorinators", are responsible for generating chlorine from (table) salt to keep the water in the swimming pool in optimal condition for use.

[0002] More specifically, the chlorinator of the present invention is equipped with means for eliminating the formation of lime deposits (calcium / magnesium carbonates / hydroxides) on its electrodes without the need to reverse the polarity of its electrodes.

[0003] Similarly, the present invention also relates to a method for cleaning a salt chlorinator, which can eliminate lime deposits in an economical, efficient and autonomous manner, enabling it to achieve optimal operation and maintenance and minimizing the need for human intervention. Background Art

[0004] It is well known that in the electrochemical industry, chlorine can be generated by the electrolysis of chloride salts (referred to as salt chlorination). This process is widely used in many industrial processes and various technical fields, such as waste treatment, healthcare, agriculture, etc.

[0005] In recent years, one of the fields where salt chlorination is increasingly used is the disinfection / treatment of pool water from swimming pools. Compared with the prior art of directly adding chlorine (liquid or solid chlorine) to the water, salt chlorination has significant advantages in terms of operational safety, water conservation and water quality, due to the increased anodic oxidation of organic matter and the ability to break down chloramines at the cathode.

[0006] Specifically, this type of salt chlorinator to which the present invention relates includes an electrolytic cell or electrolyzer for electrolyzing chloride salts dissolved in water. The cathode / anode reactions that occur in the salt chlorinator (electrolyzing chloride salts in the absence of a separated chamber) are as follows:

[0007] At the cathode or negative electrode, hydrogen and hydroxide are produced, causing the cathode to exhibit a high pH value on its surface, which results in the deposition of calcium / magnesium carbonates / hydroxides ("calcareous" scale), which ultimately blocks the flow path between the cathode and anode of the electrolytic cell, thereby reducing the chlorine production efficiency, causing electrode deterioration, and requiring frequent cleaning of the electrodes. Based on the following:

[0008] 2H2O + 2e - →H2 + 2OH -

[0009] Water → Hydrogen (gas) + Hydroxide ions

[0010] On the other hand, there are two concurrent competitive reactions at the anode or positive electrode: one is the electrolysis of chloride to produce chlorine, and the other is the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen and protons, thereby imparting acidic characteristics to the surface (when in the case of polarity reversal, as an acidic anode, calcified deposits on the electrode can be removed by acidifying and dissolving calcium / magnesium carbonates / hydroxides). Based on the following:

[0011] 2H2O → O2 + 4H + + 4e -

[0012] Water → Oxygen (gas) + Protons

[0013] 2NaCl → Cl2 + 2Na + + 2e -

[0014] (Table) Salt → Chlorine + Sodium ions

[0015] In an electrolysis chamber where there is no physical separation between the anode and the cathode, hypochlorous acid / hypochlorite is generated according to the pH value of the medium. They have disinfection properties and are also oxidizing agents (which can mineralize organic substances). Proper water treatment not only requires the elimination of pathogens and the prevention of infection between people (water that needs to be disinfected and a disinfectant with a continuous effect), but also the ability to "decompose" organic substances (ideally oxidize them to CO2 and H2O). Based on the following:

[0016] Cl2 + OH - → HClO + Cl -

[0017] Chlorine + Hydroxide ions → Hypochlorous acid + Chloride

[0018] In addition, electrolysis has additional advantages in treatment. It can simultaneously and in parallel achieve the anodic oxidation of organic substances (additional oxidation / mineralization) and the cathodic reduction of chloramines (chloramines are harmful by-products generated by the reaction of free chlorine with organic nitrogen in the pollutants on swimmers, and these pollutants mainly come from sweat, urine, sunscreen, etc.). The maximum limit of chloramines is specified as 0.6 mg / L, which is usually a challenge in busy public swimming pools.

[0019] In the past, in order to prevent the collapse of the cathode-anode path due to the formation and growth of scale, this problem was solved by periodically cleaning the electrolysis cell with an acid that reduces the pH (also known as chemical cleaning), which required consumers to disassemble the electrodes to place them in a container with the said acid. Another known cleaning method is described in the literature WO201132212, which provides a mechanical solution to the problem of removing scale from the cathode. That is, the scale is physically scraped off from the cathode surface.

[0020] However, both of these methods require direct user intervention, which is not only laborious and complex, but may also pose certain risks, or cause physical damage to the electrodes. Obviously, these drawbacks are usually repulsive and not acceptable to people.

[0021] Therefore, as an alternative to these systems, other systems have emerged in which the chemical cleaning is carried out automatically, providing means for chemical cleaning to be carried out in the electrolysis chamber of the chlorinator without having to disassemble the electrodes or perform any manual cleaning operations. To this end, the water flow inside the electrolysis chamber needs to be stopped, its outlet closed to isolate the internal liquid, and a certain amount of pH-lowering acid injected into the interior, and then the interior shaken for a period of time so that the cleaning agent or pH-lowering acid comes into contact with the electrodes. Once the cleaning process is complete, the outlet is opened, the water flow restored, and the acidic water mixture containing dissolved calcium is drained back into the swimming pool. Since the volume of this acidic water is small compared to the volume of water in the pool, it does not cause problems. An example of this method can be found in the document WO201085847.

[0022] However, although this method solves the problem of user manual handling and automates the electrode cleaning process to a certain extent, it still has significant drawbacks. First of all, the cleaning process requires a dedicated control system, which is expensive and has a certain volume. On the one hand, this increases the overall cost, and on the other hand, since the cleaning agent enters through a specific opening on the reactor lid, it is difficult to use in existing installations. In other words, it requires agitation through an auxiliary circuit formed by a bypass valve and a pump cycle, which is only acceptable in industrial chlorinators for public swimming pools, resulting in cumbersome and costly installation, and also involves handling acids to fill tanks or reservoirs, along with the risks already described above.

[0023] Secondly, it is well known that the agitation system that generates hydrogen / oxygen bubbles by connecting the electrodes in the absence of water flow is inefficient and slow. Specifically, the H2 / O2 gas mixture generated simultaneously at the cathode / anode not only has no effect (poor agitation), but also forms a certain volume of explosive H2 / O2 mixture. If the electrolysis continues for several minutes, this gas mixture will accumulate into a pressurized airbag due to lack of recirculation, thus posing a danger.

[0024] Last but not least, the cleaning agent or pH reducer supply control system described in the above document describes a cleaning cycle that includes supplying a fixed amount of pH reducer, alternately shaking the interior of the chamber and standing still for a fixed period of time. During the above time, adding pH reducer, stirring, or cleaning is not related to parameters related to the amount of scale deposits accumulated on the electrodes. That is, this is a method of applying a general cleaning method without evaluating any external parameters such as water hardness, temperature, type and size of the electrodes, etc. Therefore, the efficiency of this method is obviously doubtful because the indicated time is ineffective for the vast majority of special cases and conditions. Finally, using this system, it is impossible to determine whether the treatment is effective, and thus it is also impossible to determine whether the treatment is sufficient, which means that the cleaning setpoint must be continuously adjusted manually.

[0025] In view of these drawbacks, in recent years, an alternative technique of reversing the electrode polarity, also known as electrolytic self-cleaning, has been started to be used. Its basic principle is to periodically reverse the polarity of the electrodes, alternately acting as the cathode and the anode. In this way, the calcium salts deposited on the electrode surface during cathode operation (the surface pH is alkaline, "NaOH" → scale) will dissolve during subsequent anode operation (the surface pH is acidic, "HCl" → scale cleaning), and at this time the environmental reaction tends to acidify:

[0026] HNaCO3 + Cl2Ca + NaOH → CaCO3 + H2O + 2NaCl: Scaling at the cathode

[0027] CO3Ca + 2HCl → H2CO3 + Cl2Ca: Anode cleaning

[0028] However, on the one hand, this system is not perfect because it cannot well solve the dissolution of scale on the electrode edges (usually 1 mm thin sheets), and it is even worse when the electrodes do not have an activation coating (oxides of ruthenium, iridium, etc.), especially in areas such as the edge region, sharp edges, or the area of cathode-anode contact welding. This means that in actual operation, some areas with "poor cleaning" need to be manually chemically cleaned with a pH reducer after a certain period of time. These areas are the so-called "non-self-cleaning" areas.

[0029] On the other hand, there is another, even more serious drawback with the polarity reversal or electrode self-cleaning systems. Specifically, the operation of polarity reversal on the activated titanium electrodes means a shorter operating life compared to electrodes without polarity reversal (fixed polarity). Assuming a two - to three - fold reduction in service life, this would result in a higher electrode cost (at the same operating hours, it would cost approximately twice as much as a fixed - polarity electrode). Additionally, the extremely bullish market for raw materials (such as precious metals like ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt) required for activating titanium electrodes) has doubled or even tripled the relevant costs in the past few years.

[0030] In addition to these methods, there is a partial solution (which cannot solve the calcification problem but only slightly reduces the degree of calcification), namely the method described by the same applicant in European Patent Application No. 12840325.0. In this method, in order to achieve a "minimized" treatment of scale deposits, the injection position of the pH - reducing agent used to control the pH value of the water in the pool is set at a lower position in the electrolysis chamber. In this way, when the water circulates, this substance will flow along the entire length of the electrode. However, on the one hand, the contribution of the pH - reducing agent is only to correct the pH value of the water in the pool at a fixed point, so it is not sufficient to clean the deposits. On the other hand, the pH - reducing agent passes through the electrode at a certain speed, so it cannot effectively act on the deposits. Summary of the Invention

[0031] The present invention proposes a new salt chlorinator and cleaning method, which solves the above - mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, especially the high cost of electrodes in the polarity reversal solution, and the low - efficiency cleaning problem of non - self - cleaning areas that require manual cleaning during the swimming pool use season, especially manually in hard water.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the salt chlorinator is located in the water of the swimming pool treatment circuit, usually in a room or compartment where other elements required for maintenance are also located, such as filters, multi - way valves associated with the filters, control electronics, etc. More specifically, usually, the water in the swimming pool leaves the pool through the skimmer, carrying dirt and large particles such as leaves, paper scraps, insects, etc. These impurities are intercepted in the basket or filter of the skimmer, and then, with the help of a water pump, the water flows through pipes or channels, through the multi - way valve, to the sand filter, where small particles and dirt are filtered, and then again through the multi - way valve to the conduit leading to the chlorinator. After treatment, the water flows back to the pool through another outlet conduit, ending the cleaning and disinfection cycle.

[0033] Thus, as long as there is water flow inside the salt chlorinator, the salt chlorination operation and subsequent electrolysis occur constantly and continuously within the chlorinator. The speed of the water flow allows, on the one hand, for the proper discharge of hydrogen / oxygen generated by electrolysis and, on the other hand, for the generation of the active chlorine concentration required for treating the water. As described above, the treated water is returned to the pool.

[0034] On the other hand, it is well known that during the disinfection of pool water, the electrolysis carried out during the salt chlorination process causes the pH value to increase. Therefore, the pH value must be adjusted. The optimal values for disinfection and treatment are generally between 7.0 and 7.8. Thus, in order to ensure that the water in the pool remains at a pH value within the above range, real-time monitoring of the pH value needs to be carried out simultaneously and pH-lowering acid (usually formed by hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid) needs to be continuously added.

[0035] In other words, for the water in a pool maintenance facility that uses electrolysis to disinfect water, without using the electrode polarity reversal technique, two different pH-lowering acids need to be introduced. This is because, on the one hand, it is necessary to compensate for the increase in the pH value of the water in the pool due to electrolysis, and on the other hand, to avoid the formation of scale deposits on the electrodes.

[0036] This is because, as already explained, the amount of pH-lowering acid provided to control the pH of the water in the pool is completely insufficient to remove the scale deposits from the electrodes. This is due to the very small amount of acid added to control the pH value and the fact that the speed of the water flow through the electrodes is too fast, so the acid does not have enough time to act on the scale deposits to remove them.

[0037] For this reason, in a device type such as that described in the present invention, the electrodes must be cleaned when there is no water flow, for example, by using the inactive period at night in the pool, so that the chlorinator can be shut down or isolated to be able to supply a sufficient amount of pH-lowering acid and keep it acting on the electrodes within the chlorinator for the necessary time.

[0038] Once this cleaning is completed, the duration of the cleaning depends on the amount of deposits, which in turn is affected by factors such as the hardness of the water, temperature, and the characteristics of the electrodes. After that, the chlorinator is turned on again. The water in the chlorinator has dissolved salt and unconsumed pH-lowering acid, and this water is sent back to the circulation system and then back to the pool. Due to the difference in capacity between the pool and the chlorinator, the water in the pool is usually more than 15,000 liters, while the capacity of the chlorinator is generally only about 1 liter. Therefore, the amounts of the salt and the pH-lowering acid do not have a significant impact on the various values of the water in the pool.

[0039] However, different from the described prior art, the chlorinators and methods included in the present invention can accomplish the above-mentioned task of cleaning scale deposits on the electrodes in the best way in terms of efficiency, automation level, speed, and user comfort. In addition, since it does not rely on the electrode polarity reversal technology, the high cost of such equipment is also reduced. As mentioned before, from an economic perspective, the precious metals for forming active titanium (ruthenium, iridium, platinum, etc.) are expensive, and the precious metal content required per square centimeter is high, which makes the cost of the electrode polarity reversal technology remain high.

[0040] On the other hand, the chlorinator of the present invention has an additional advantage that the system for injecting pH-lowering acid to clean the scale deposits on the electrodes is the same system as the one used for dosing the water in the swimming pool to adjust its pH value (controlling its pH value between 7 and 7.8). In other words, the same means for maintaining the pool pH value at an appropriate value (pH value between 7 and 7.8) is also used for chemical cleaning of the electrodes.

[0041] Therefore, different from the prior art (in the prior art, different systems are required to inject pH-lowering acid to control the pH value of the swimming pool water and clean the chlorinator), the present invention can achieve a dual contribution mode of pH-lowering acid through the same components, thereby saving costs and being more concise in structure and function.

[0042] For this purpose, the salt chlorinator of the present invention includes:

[0043] - A chamber that defines an internal space for treating water from a swimming pool through salt chlorination;

[0044] - A set of electrodes that are prone to electrolyzing chloride salts dissolved in water when connected to a direct current (DC) source;

[0045] - An inlet for the water of the chamber;

[0046] - An outlet for the water of the chamber;

[0047] - A water retention system inside the chamber;

[0048] - At least one stirring device for stirring the water inside the chamber;

[0049] - At least one water pH sensor or meter; and

[0050] - At least one injection point for pH-lowering acid inside the chamber;

[0051] Wherein, as a basic part of the present invention, the water pH meter is located in the space defined by the chamber (1) of the chlorinator and the internal water retention system (15).

[0052] That is, when the water retention system is in operation, the pH meter is located within the chlorinator chamber. In other words, the pH meter is positioned such that when the water flow through the chlorinator is interrupted and the water retention system retains water within the chamber, the pH of the water retained within the chamber can be measured.

[0053] In this way, during the normal operation of the swimming pool, as the water flow exists within the chamber during the chlorination process, the sensor will measure the corresponding pH value of the water within the measuring facility. Logically, the water being measured is the water in the swimming pool for people to swim in, and the water volume can reach dozens of cubic meters.

[0054] However, when the chamber is closed by the action of the water retention system of the present invention, the pH sensor or meter will measure the pH value of the water contained and retained within the chamber. In this way, the pH level can be monitored during the cleaning operation of the electrode. In this case, the water volume within the chamber is only a few liters (usually 1 or 2 liters).

[0055] Through this pH value measurement, a sufficient amount or sufficient time of pH-lowering acid can be injected to ensure thorough cleaning of the electrode. In other words, by controlling the pH level within the closed chamber of the chlorinator, the degree and manner of change of this pH value can be examined, and the consumption degree of the injected pH-lowering acid when neutralized by scale can be estimated, which will also help calculate the total dissolved amount of scale. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the pH level can be achieved, eliminating the need to inject a fixed amount of pH-lowering acid as in the prior art - this approach may result in too much or too little acid injection due to factors such as water hardness, temperature, electrode size, or time since the last cleaning. Instead, the chlorinator of the present invention will be able to first provide an initial dose of pH-lowering acid. After a period of time, it will check if there is still scale. If there is still scale, a new amount of pH-lowering acid will be provided, which can be the same as or less than the initial dose. Such operations can be carried out multiple times as needed to provide a pH-lowering acid amount proportional to and adapted to the amount of scale deposits present on the electrode.

[0056] In this way, when there is no longer any scale, it will be observed that the pH value of the chamber remains low and at a constant level. Thus, we can know that there is no longer any acid consumption, and therefore no scale residue remains. In other words, the reaction occurs:

[0057] CO3Ca + 2HCl → H2CO3 + Cl2Ca

[0058] In other words:

[0059] Calcium carbonate + Hydrochloric acid = Carbonic acid + Soluble calcium chloride.

[0060] On the other hand, in order to effectively clean the electrodes with an acid that reduces pH, the salt chlorinator of the present invention includes at least one stirring device that can stir the water inside when the chamber is closed due to the water retention system. This makes it easier for the cleaning mixture to be evenly distributed and reach all parts of the electrodes, and can significantly speed up the cleaning process (up to three to four times faster than without stirring).

[0061] In addition, the chlorinator of the present invention is connected to processing and control means that, through corresponding software or control code, are used to command the reading of a pH sensor or meter for water, and use the measured pH result and a series of predefined variables to provide data for an internal control algorithm, the result of which is to generate a control signal for controlling the injection pump of the pH-reducing acid to supply the required amount of pH-reducing acid to the injection point, depending on whether it is to correct the rising pH of the water in the swimming pool or to clean the scale deposits on the electrodes. In addition, in the latter case, the control means will be responsible for stopping the flow of water so that the water can be retained in the chlorinator chamber by the action of the water retention system. Similarly, the control means will start the stirring device, enabling the stirring device to change its speed and alternate between start / stop phases in a manner most suitable for the electrode cleaning operation.

[0062] On the other hand, the present invention also proposes a cleaning method for a salt chlorinator that can effectively remove scale (calcium / magnesium carbonate-hydroxide) on the electrodes. As described above, in the prior art, it is known to use a cleaning agent such as a pH-reducing acid to remove the deposits. However, the known methods include supplying a fixed amount of pH-reducing agent to the chamber, stirring or shaking the mixture to disperse it, and then allowing it to stand to promote its action. This cycle can be repeated several times until it is considered that the deposits have been sufficiently removed or reduced, which can be judged by direct observation or by estimating the time based on previous experience. That is, a systematic method adapted to each specific situation (such as water hardness, ambient temperature, type and size of the electrodes, etc.) has not yet been established.

[0063] However, the method of the present invention solves these drawbacks, can thoroughly clean the electrodes, and at the same time adjusts the time and dosage of the pH-reducing acid (added) for each cleaning without user intervention or prior knowledge of the installation, thus achieving a more efficient, simple, and autonomous cleaning, which means that the method can be used for countless installations regardless of their geographical location.

[0064] Specifically, the method of the present invention is mainly based on continuously measuring the pH of the water contained in the chlorinator chamber during the electrode cleaning stage or cleaning mode.

[0065] As described above, by controlling the pH level in the closed chamber of the chlorinator, it will be possible to estimate the consumption of the pH-lowering acid injected to dissolve the deposits, which will also help to determine whether there is still scale deposition on the electrodes, and thus to determine whether new pH-lowering acid needs to be added.

[0066] Similarly, in addition to facilitating the automatic cleaning of the electrodes, the method of the present invention also allows adjustment of the amount of pH-lowering acid added to the chlorinator chamber, i.e., the injection amount of the acid can be adjusted according to the estimated amount of scale deposits still to be removed. In this way, for example, a first initial dose can be provided first, and after a period of time, it is checked whether there are still deposits. If so, a new amount of pH-lowering acid equal to or less than the initial dose is added, and this is repeated as needed to provide an amount of pH-lowering acid proportional to and adapted to the amount of existing scale deposits on the electrodes.

[0067] To this end, the method for cleaning a salt chlorinator according to the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0068] - Filling the chamber of the salt chlorinator with water;

[0069] - Closing the chamber of the salt chlorinator to keep the water inside and placing at least one pH meter inside the chamber;

[0070] - Adding a certain amount of pH-lowering acid to the chamber and continuously stirring the mixture during the cleaning operation to make it evenly distributed;

[0071] - Continuously measuring the pH value V of the mixture in the chamber in the following specific manner:

[0072] ○ If it is confirmed that the pH value V of the mixture is greater than or equal to the preset reference value Vref, a new amount of acid is added, which indicates that there are still traces of carbonate to be dissolved;

[0073] ○ If it is confirmed that the pH value V of the mixture is lower than the preset reference value Vref, check the change of the pH value V of the mixture over time as follows:

[0074] ■ If the pH value V of the mixture remains constant between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, the cleaning is completed, the stirring of the mixture is stopped and the chamber of the chlorinator is opened again; or

[0075] ■ If the pH value V of the mixture increases between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, a new amount of acid is added, which indicates that there are still traces of carbonate to be dissolved.

[0076] Thus, the method can ensure the dissolution of scale deposits completely automatically, without being affected by external conditions and without manual intervention.

[0077] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the method of the present invention can also make the subsequent addition amount of the pH-lowering acid proportional to the amount of lime deposit remaining in the chlorinator chamber. This is because when the system determines that a new pH-lowering acid needs to be added, the amount added when the pH value V of the mixture is higher than the preset value Vref is different from the amount added when the pH value is rising between two measurement time values t1 and t2 even though the pH value is lower than Vref. The latter case means that the pH-lowering acid is still being consumed, but at a lower rate, so it is not necessary to add the same amount as when the pH value is higher than Vref.

[0078] It should also be emphasized that the preset value Vref must ensure that the carbonate dissolves at an acceptable rate. That is, if Vref is set to a very high value (for example, greater than pH 4), it means that the acidification degree of the mixture is very low. Therefore, although the carbonate deposit may eventually disappear, this process takes up to 8 hours or even longer, which not only consumes energy but also causes the normal operation of the swimming pool to be interrupted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] To supplement the ongoing description and help better understand the features of the present invention, this illustrative report is accompanied by a set of drawings as an integral part of it, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following are shown:

[0080] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device for treating swimming water from a swimming pool based on salt chlorination according to the prior art.

[0081] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the chlorinator of the present invention connected to a device for treating swimming water from a swimming pool is shown.

[0082] Figure 3 A perspective sectional view of the chlorinator of the present invention is shown, in which the main elements can be observed.

[0083] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A sectional view of the chlorinator of the present invention in

[0084] Figure 5a A perspective view of an example of a stirring device for homogenizing and uniformly distributing a cleaning solution inside the chlorinator is shown.

[0085] Figure 5b A schematic diagram of the water path inside the chlorinator chamber when the stirring device is in operation is shown.

[0086] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the change of the pH value V of the water inside the chlorinator chamber over time presented in a straight line during an example process of applying the method of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0087] From the above diagrams and the markings employed, an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be observed, which includes the components and elements pointed out and described in detail below.

[0088] Specifically, Figure 1 shows a diagram of an apparatus for treating swimming water from a swimming pool based on salt chlorination according to the prior art.

[0089] The figure shows the position occupied by the chlorinator in the installation, which is typically confined in a suitable compartment. The internal chamber (1) of the chlorinator houses the electrodes (2) (not shown) responsible for performing electrolysis. Also visible are the filter (3), the multi-way valve (4) associated with the filter (3), the electronics or control means (5), the power panel (6), the pH lowering acid tank (7), the metering pump (8) for the acid, and the filtration pump (9) responsible for maintaining the flow of water in the circuit. As previously mentioned, this water comes from the swimming pool and enters the system via the skimmer. Additionally, the figure shows how the water from the swimming pool enters the disinfection and cleaning circuit through the action of the filtration pump (9), flows through the first suction pipe (10), enters the filter (3) through the multi-way valve (4), and then, after passing through the filter, the water flows through the multi-way valve (4) again towards the second pipe (11) and thus enters the chamber (1) of the chlorinator. After being treated in chamber (1), the water flows through the outlet pipe and returns to the swimming pool, completing the cleaning and disinfection cycle.

[0090] On the other hand, the figure specifically shows how the control means (5) is connected to the chlorinator and the pH lowering acid tank (7) and to the metering pump (8) for the acid, i.e., the acid is injected into the chamber (1) of the chlorinator through the injection point (12) located in the second pipe (11). Similarly, at the same injection point, the device is equipped with a pH meter (13) and, additionally, an ORP sensor (14) for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (i.e., the ability of the water in the device to oxidize pollutants).

[0091] However, as previously explained, in the state-of-the-art installation of Figure 1, the problem of scale deposits on the electrodes is solved by polarity inversion, which causes the aforementioned problems, or even without polarity inversion, but by installing a second set of pH lowering acid injection equipment (not shown) inside the chamber (1) of the chlorinator, which means providing means to enclose the chamber (1) so that the cleaning solution acts inside the chamber (1) for a period of time, but there are also the aforementioned drawbacks, namely that continuous and controlled pH measurement cannot be carried out.

[0092] However, to obtain the aforementioned advantages, as Figure 2 shown in the example embodiments of Figures 19 to 5, the salt chlorinator of the present invention includes:

[0093] - A chamber (1) that defines an internal space for treating water from a swimming pool by salt chlorination;

[0094] - A set of electrodes (2) located inside the chamber (1) that are prone to electrolyzing chloride salts dissolved in water when connected to a direct current (DC) source;

[0095] - An inlet (1') of the chamber;

[0096] - An outlet (1”) of the chamber;

[0097] - A water retention system (15) inside the chamber (1);

[0098] - At least one stirring device (16) for stirring water inside the chamber (1);

[0099] - At least one injection point (12) for injecting pH-lowering acid into the chamber (1); and

[0100] - At least one pH meter (13) for measuring the pH of the water.

[0101] Wherein, according to an example of a preferred embodiment, the pH meter (13) for the water is located in the space defined by the chamber (1) of the chlorinator and the internal water retention system (15).

[0102] That is, when the water retention system (15) is operating, the pH meter (13) is located inside the chamber (1) of the chlorinator, or in other words, the pH meter (13) is located in such a position that when water flows through the chlorinator and the water retention system (15) and retains the water inside the chamber (1), the pH of the water retained in the chamber (1) can be measured.

[0103] On the other hand, according to Figures 2 to 4 the possible implementation shown, the water retention system (15) inside the chamber (1) will consist of independent check valves or stop valves that, during normal operation of the chlorinator (during normal filtration, disinfection, and electrolysis operations), can allow water flow, i.e., open under the thrust of the water flow, but close when the water flow is interrupted, preventing water from flowing out of the chamber (1), thus enabling the cleaning of the electrodes (2) (cleaning mode).

[0104] Specifically, these two valves are respectively located at the water inlet (1') and the water outlet (1”) of the chamber. As an example of the embodiment where the chlorinator shown in the figure is cylindrical, they can be composed of independent conduction segments or pipes that are transverse to the chamber (1) and aligned with each other. However, according to another possible embodiment not shown, the water inlet and the water outlet can also be composed of pipes located at different heights of the chlorinator, without alignment, or located on the same side of the chlorinator, and / or even longitudinally or obliquely arranged relative to the chlorinator (one or both of them).

[0105] Therefore, in Figures 2 to 4 the example shown, the internal space defined by the chamber (1) of the chlorinator does not have to be limited to the space defined by the geometry of the chlorinator (cylindrical in this example), but extends to the internal space defined by the water inlet (1') and the water outlet (1”) of the chamber, which are transverse pipes in this example, until it defines the position of the check valve of the water retention system (15).

[0106] Therefore, the pH meter (13) does not necessarily have to be located within the geometric space defined by the chlorinator body, but can be located within the internal space (1) defined by the action of the water retention system (15) when the chamber is closed. As described above, this space also extends to the area defined by the water inlet (1') and the water outlet (1”) of the chamber.

[0107] That is, this approach is advisable because experiments have shown that the measurement of the pH meter (13) may be affected by the electric field generated by the electrode, and its measured value may vary depending on whether the electrode is operating (electrolyzing) or stationary (not electrolyzing). Therefore, according to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the pH meter is placed as far away from the electrode as possible together with any other type of sensor (such as an ORP sensor), that is, within the water inlet (1') and / or the water outlet (1”) of the chamber, up to the boundary of the water retention system (15).

[0108] Therefore, to ensure that the pH value measured in the isolated chamber is accurate and not affected by the electric field, the solution includes placing the pH meter (13) far from the electrode, or using a shielding device to place the probe (i.e., the glass bulb) in the “shadow” area of the electric field.

[0109] In the case of the first solution, to achieve the said distance, it is recommended to set either the check valve of the water inlet (1') or the water outlet (1”) to be farther away from the chamber (1) of the chlorinator than the other, so as to place the pH meter (13) in it so that the pH meter (13) is located in a farther position. In this sense, in Figures 2 to 4As can be seen in the illustrated exemplary embodiments, to ensure sufficient distance between the pH meter (13) and the electrode, the pH meter is placed within the inlet (1'), but the water retention system is positioned further away than in the case of the outlet (1").

[0110] On the other hand, the check valve we use for isolating the chamber (1) is a preferred but non - restrictive option, and other check valve designs (such as spring - type, swing - flap type, piston - type, ball check valves, etc.) can also be used.

[0111] On the other hand, Figure 5a An exemplary embodiment of the stirring device (16) of the present invention is shown, which is a magnetic stirrer in this case, such as a propeller - shaped stirrer or a magnetically - driven rod, but it is not excluded that it can be any other type.

[0112] However, as mentioned above, the device helps to evenly distribute the cleaning mixture (pH - lowering acid) to all parts of the electrode (2) and accelerate the scale dissolution by rapidly renewing the acidic pH environment on the electrode surface. Therefore, the device must ensure water circulation within the chamber so that it not only distributes on the electrode surface but also flows through the space where the injection point (12) of the pH - lowering acid is located, thereby pushing the acid and evenly distributing it throughout the entire chamber (1) of the chlorinator, as Figure 5b shown.

[0113] Finally, the chlorinator of the present invention additionally includes processing and control means (5) that manage its operation through corresponding software or control code, activate the pH meter (13), and use the measured pH results and a series of predefined variables to provide data for the internal control algorithm, ultimately obtaining a control signal to command the metering pump (8) of the pH - lowering acid to inject the acid into the interior of the chamber (1) at the best time and in the best way through the injection point (12), both for correcting the increase in pH value in the pool basin water during normal operation and for cleaning the scale deposits on the electrode (2).

[0114] These processing and control means (5) may also include the necessary wireless communication module, enabling the user to remotely program, control, and / or monitor the process without having to be physically present in the room where the chlorinator is located.

[0115] On the other hand, the present invention also proposes a method for cleaning a salt chlorinator without polarity inversion, including the following steps:

[0116] - Filling the chamber (1) of the salt chlorinator with water;

[0117] - Closing the chamber (1) of the salt chlorinator to retain the water inside and placing at least one pH meter (13) within the chamber;

[0118] - Add a certain amount of pH-lowering acid into the chamber (1), and continuously stir the mixture during the cleaning operation to make it evenly distributed;

[0119] - Continuously measure the value V of the pH of the mixture in the chamber (1) in the following specific manner:

[0120] ○ If it is confirmed that the pH value V of the mixture is greater than or equal to the preset reference value Vref, add a new amount of acid, which indicates that there are still traces of carbonate to be dissolved;

[0121] ○ If it is confirmed that the pH value V of the mixture is lower than the preset reference value Vref, check the change of the pH value V of the mixture over time as follows:

[0122] ■ If the pH value V of the mixture remains constant between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, the cleaning is completed, stop stirring the mixture and open the chamber (1) of the chlorinator again; or

[0123] ■ If the pH value V of the mixture increases between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, add a new amount of acid, which indicates that there are still traces of carbonate to be dissolved.

[0124] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the method of the present invention also allows the subsequent addition amount of the pH-lowering acid to be proportional to the amount of lime deposits remaining in the chamber of the chlorinator.

[0125] This is clearly visible in the example of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 At time t0 and t1, the pH value V of the mixture is much higher than the preset reference value Vref, so a certain amount of pH-lowering acid (for example, 30 ml of 20% HCl) needs to be added. However, at time t2, the pH value V is only slightly higher than the preset reference value Vref, and at this time, a smaller amount of acid (for example, 10 ml of 20% HCl) can be added, which is sufficient to complete the dissolution of the carbonate.

[0126] This figure also shows how the increase in the pH value V of the mixture during two measurements (for example, between t1 and t2) indicates the need for a new addition amount of pH-lowering acid - the straight line representing the pH value V of the mixture in the chamber (1) of the chlorinator shows a positive slope in the figure, that is, since the pH-lowering acid present in the mixture is consumed by dissolving the scale deposits, the pH value V increases.

[0127] Continuing with the example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference value Vref needs to be set in such a way that the carbonate deposited on the electrodes of the chlorinator can be dissolved within a reasonable time, meeting the usage purpose without disturbing the normal operation of the swimming pool. In this regard, a large number of tests have been carried out and it has been determined that the optimal range for setting the pH reference value Vref when implementing the method of the present invention is 1.5 - 3.

[0128] Therefore, following the method of the present invention can also adapt the cleaning cycle of the chlorinator to the needs or convenience of each user.

[0129] For example, a cleaning program can be established, including performing the cleaning cycle described in the method of the present invention every day, i.e., cleaning after the chlorinator has served the pool for a whole day (in other words, if it has been running for 7 hours), because the electrolysis process does not occur throughout the entire time the pool is running. In this case, according to the tests conducted, the duration of the cleaning cycle will be very short, 0.5 hours, and the total amount of 20% hydrochloric acid to be supplied will be approximately 4 to 5 milliliters.

[0130] Conversely, according to another possible application form of the method of the present invention, the user may wish to apply the method of the present invention and the chlorinator cleaning cycle only once a week, which would mean that the chlorinator will run for 49 hours (7 days × 7 hours / day). In this case, it is also logical that, due to the accumulation of more scale deposits on the chlorinator electrodes than in the previous embodiment, the cleaning cycle will be longer. Specifically, according to the tests conducted, the cleaning cycle lasts for 1.5 hours, and the total supply is approximately 20 to 30 mL of 20% hydrochloric acid.

[0131] That is, if a cleaning cycle once a week consumes 20 to 30 milliliters of 20% hydrochloric acid, when performed daily, this means 7 days a week × 4 to 5 milliliters per day, which will result in a total of 28 to 35 milliliters of 20% hydrochloric acid. It can be seen that in both cases, the consumption of the pH-lowering acid is very similar.

Claims

1. A salt chlorinator, comprising - a chamber (1) that defines an internal space for treating water from a swimming pool by salt chlorination; - a set of electrodes (2) located within the chamber (1); - a chamber water inlet (1'); - a chamber water outlet (1"); - a water retention system (15) inside the chamber (1); - at least one stirring device (16) for stirring water within the chamber (1); - at least one injection point (12) for injecting pH-lowering acid into the chamber (1); and - at least one pH meter (13) for measuring the pH of the water. It is characterized in that The pH meter (13) for the water is located within the space defined by the chamber (1) of the chlorinator and the internal water retention system (15).

2. The salt chlorinator according to claim 1, wherein, The chamber water inlet (1') and the chamber water outlet (1") are constituted by independent conduction segments.

3. The salt chlorinator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The water retention system (15) inside the chamber (1) is constituted by an independent check valve that can open in the presence of water flow and close when the water flow is interrupted to prevent water from flowing out of the chamber (1).

4. The salt chlorinator according to claim 3, wherein, Two check valves are respectively provided at the chamber water inlet (1') and the chamber water outlet (1").

5. The salt chlorinator according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, One of the check valves is farther from the chlorinator chamber (1) than the other, and the pH meter (13) is provided near the check valve that is the farthest away.

6. The salt chlorinator according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The stirring device (16) is a magnetic stirrer.

7. The salt chlorinator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The salt chlorinator includes processing and control means (5) for controlling its operation.

8. The salt chlorinator according to claim 7, wherein The processing and control means (5) includes a wireless communication module, enabling the user to remotely program, control, and / or monitor the process without physically being in the space where the salt chlorinator is located.

9. A cleaning method for a non-polarity reversing salt chlorinator, characterized in that, Including the following steps: - filling the chamber (1) of the salt chlorinator with water; - closing the chamber (1) of the salt chlorinator so that the water is retained inside and placing at least one pH meter (13) inside the chamber; - adding a certain amount of pH-lowering acid into the chamber (1) and continuously stirring the mixture during the cleaning operation to make it evenly distributed; - continuously measuring the pH value V of the mixture inside the chamber (1) in the following manner: If the pH value V of the mixture is greater than or equal to a preset reference value Vref, add a new amount of acid; If the pH value V of the mixture is lower than the preset reference value Vref, check the change of the mixture pH value V over time, so that: If between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, the pH value V of the mixture remains constant, the cleaning is completed, stop stirring the mixture and open the chamber (1) of the chlorinator again; or If between two consecutive time points t1 and t2, the pH value V of the mixture increases, add a new amount of acid.

10. The cleaning method of the non-polarity reversing salt chlorinator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The amount of pH-lowering acid added to the mixture can vary proportionally according to the difference between the measured pH value V in the mixture and the preset reference value Vref.

11. The cleaning method of the salt chlorinator without polarity inversion according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The pH reference value Vref is between 1.5 and 3.

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