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So, basically, a chloride ion is on one side of the plate and a hydrogen ion is on the other side of the plate and an electron moves from the chloride ion through the plate and onto the hydrogen ion.<ref>https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/low-salt-swg.193378/post-1708031</ref> | So, basically, a chloride ion is on one side of the plate and a hydrogen ion is on the other side of the plate and an electron moves from the chloride ion through the plate and onto the hydrogen ion.<ref>https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/low-salt-swg.193378/post-1708031</ref> | ||
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| + | The electrolytic cell generates chlorine gas at the anode and hydrogen gas at the cathode. The chlorine gas rapidly dissolves into the water and hydrates to form a mixture of HOCl/OCl- that is pH dependent and the hydrogen gas bubbles out of the return (hydrogen is not soluble in water).<ref> https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/hypochlorous-acid.205081/post-1805763</ref> | ||
==Does a SWG Create Bubbles?== | ==Does a SWG Create Bubbles?== | ||
Revision as of 13:58, 19 May 2020
How Does a Salt Water Chlorine Generator create Chlorine in a Pool?
The SWG cell consist of titanium metal plates coated with a layer of mixed metal oxide catalyst (ruthenium monoxide and iridium). An electrical current of 18-36 volts DC is passed between the plates. The electronic control circuitry control the voltage and amperage in the cell.
SWG Price Changes
The coverage of the titanium plates is about 80/20 ruthenium/iridium oxide. When the price of the ruthenium part increases 400% it's obvious that prices for the entire cell has to increase. The plates alone for a T-15 cell cost $200 in 2018 where as last year they were only about $50-60. Then there is the housing, electronics, cord and al the other fixed expenses before companies even get to their marketing expenses and overhead.[1]
Since there are only a couple of suppliers for coating plates there is no room for price negotiations. Suppliers of the cells will simply pass the costs on to customers.
Chemistry behind a SWG
Salt is sodium(NA) and chloride(CL). The Na and Cl break apart as soon as salt dissolves in pool water.
The chloride ions lose an electron at the cell plate to form chlorine gas Cl2.
Electrolysis is the process of removing an electron from the chloride and putting an electron on the hydrogen ions that make contact with the opposite side of the cell plates.
So, basically, a chloride ion is on one side of the plate and a hydrogen ion is on the other side of the plate and an electron moves from the chloride ion through the plate and onto the hydrogen ion.[2]
The electrolytic cell generates chlorine gas at the anode and hydrogen gas at the cathode. The chlorine gas rapidly dissolves into the water and hydrates to form a mixture of HOCl/OCl- that is pH dependent and the hydrogen gas bubbles out of the return (hydrogen is not soluble in water).[3]
Does a SWG Create Bubbles?
A SWG cell makes chlorine gas and hydrogen gas. The chlorine gas dissolves pretty fast and you won't normally see any coming out of the returns. Hydrogen gas does not dissolve very well. The gas coming from returns is hydrogen.
The only time that you can see chlorine gas is when you have a clear cell and can see the chlorine gas and hydrogen gas being generated at the plates.
