Electrolytic On-Site Generator

A method of cleaning an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:

• lowering a salinity of an electrolyte until a current density of the electrolytic cell falls to or below a predetermined cleaning current density;
• reversing a electrode polarity;
• maintaining a constant electrode voltage;
• ceasing a flow of water into the electrolytic cell;
• operating the electrolytic cell until the current density increases to or above the predetermined cleaning current density;
• starting the flow of water into the electrolytic cell until the current density decreases to or below the predetermined current density;
• and
• repeating the ceasing, operating, and starting steps.

A bipolar electrolytic cell comprising:

• a plurality of modules arranged in parallel, each module comprising primary electrodes and one or more intermediate electrodes;
• a manifold for distributing electrolyte substantially evenly between each module;
• a flow diffuser in each module located inside an electrolyte inlet;
• and
• a gap region in each module or openings in one or more of the intermediate electrodes to facilitate uniformity of electrolyte and oxidant flow in the electrolytic cell;
• wherein a general flow direction of electrolyte in each module is parallel to the electrodes.

A method of operating a bipolar electrolytic cell, the method comprising:

• substantially evenly distributing a flow of electrolyte entering the electrolytic cell between a plurality of modules whose inlets and outlets are connected in parallel;
• diffusing a flow of electrolyte entering each module so that electrolyte flow is substantially even between one or more intermediate electrodes present in each module;
• mixing the electrolyte flows between the intermediate electrodes in a gap region or via openings in one or more of the intermediate electrodes;
• and
• generally flowing electrolyte in a direction parallel to the intermediate electrodes.