Pool chlorine generators, perhaps, boast the most utility value among all pool accessories. This invention relieved pool owners of the hassles of buying and storing chlorine, and releasing them in measured quantities into the pools regularly.
Pools using this generators are also called 'salt water pools,' because of the common misconception that these pools remain chlorine-free. However, the fact is that this pool generators convert salt to chlorine through a special chlorine generator cell. Swimming pool water must contain 2500 - 6000 parts per million (ppm) of salt. Through electrolysis, water running over the this generator cell instantly transforms into hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid is a powerful sanitizer, which kills algae, bacteria and other harmful germs in the pool water.
During the process of electrolysis, the acid is also converted into salt; thus the salt does not get completely exhausted. Salt needs to be added to the swimming pool only once or twice a year. This helps in replacing the salt that is lost when the water splashes out or during filter backwash. However, the efficacy of pool chlorine generators rest on balanced water conditions, especially pH balance.
Pool Chlorine Generators: Types
There are two kinds of pool chlorine generators used in residential swimming pools:
* Those with brine units. Pools having brine unit do not require additional salt to be dispersed into the pool. This device has a chamber which contains the required amount of salt. Chlorine is produced through the process of electrolysis and then released into the pool. However, the device is not very convenient to use, since it produces by-products that cannot be easily disposed.
* This popular device is available in two different types. One type has a chlorine-producing cell and the electronics fitted inside the device. The other type has the cell installed in the pool's deck and the electronics fixed inside the device. The deck unit produces chlorine even when the pump is off, while the other type of unit produces chlorine only as water passes through the cell. The latter is the more preferred and popular of the two options.
For both units to operate effectively, the chlorine-generating cell must remain free of mineral deposits.