Application of photovoltaic electro-chlorination process

Electricity generated by photovoltaic panels can be used directly to convert salt to liquid chlorine using a specially designed electrolysis cell. Experiments were conducted to test the effect of applied voltage, current, salinity level, water flow rate, and duration of chlorination. Results showed that proper matching can be achieved by carefully selecting the PV array parameters with respect to the electrolytic load parameters. Besides, the change in solar radiation matches well the need for chlorine production during the day. Using PV for salt water chlorination is an effective way to semi-automate the input of chlorine into the pool. If adopted, PV-based chlorinators offer a cheaper and cleaner alternative to mains power. The new application offers to contribute to the growth in the renewable energy industry in Australia.