Electrolytic cell assembly and process for production of bromine

A method for electrolytically producing bromine from an aqueous electrolyte bromide solution to provide brominated water for sanitizing a body of water, the method comprising:

• (a) pumping the bromide solution through an electrolytic cell, said electrolytic cell including a canister having a compartment that houses two electrodes functioning as an anode and a cathode, and a plurality of bipolar planar electrode plates in spaced-apart relationship between the anode and the cathode and parallel to a flow of the bromide solution moving from an input end of the canister, across the electrode plates, and out an output end of the canister;
• (b) supplying a direct current from a power supply to the electrolytic cell in an adjustable operating cycle controlled by a DC power timer, the operating cycle being 60 seconds or less in length and defined by connecting the power supply to the anode and cathode for up to 90% of the cycle and by disconnecting the power supply from the anode and cathode for the balance of the operating cycle, the direct current from the power supply establishing a polarity at the anode and cathode and passing through the bipolar electrode plates and the aqueous solution in the electrolytic cell to produce brominated water;
• (c) directing the brominated water from the canister to the body of water for sanitizing the body of water;
• (d) reversing the polarity of the electrodes functioning as the anode and the cathode in an adjustable polarity cycle controlled by a polarity timer, the polarity of the anode and the cathode being switched every 3 to 10 minutes, which results in the bipolar electrode plates alternatively functioning as an anode on one face and as a cathode on the other face;
• (e) overriding the DC power timer to disconnect the direct current power supply from the anode and the cathode for approximately 3 to 10 seconds prior to the reversing of the polarity of the electrodes, and then returning to the operating cycle;
• (f) monitoring the bromine content of the brominated water and the build-up of a deposit on the electrodes;
• and
• (g) adjusting the DC power timer to control the operating cycle and adjusting the polarity timer to control the polarity cycle and override, whereby brominated water with the desired bromine concentration is supplied to the body of water and the build-up of the deposits on the electrodes is eliminated.