Introduction
Commercial swimming pools and aquatic facilities require continuous monitoring and precise chemical control to maintain water quality and ensure bather safety. Salt chlorination systems, although effective, can be energy-intensive and often result in fluctuating pH levels that necessitate constant manual correction. This case study illustrates how a large aquatic facility installed our Terra S salt chlorinator-based controller to achieve 40% lower energy consumption while maintaining safe and balanced chlorine and pH balance through advanced automation.
The Challenge
The client’s commercial aquatic facility faced significant operational challenges:
- High Energy Consumption: The existing chlorination system was a major electrical draw, included chemicals, and also impacted the operational budget.
- Chemical Imbalance: Salt chlorination naturally raises pH, requiring frequent manual acid dosing. This pH instability caused bather discomfort and reduced the efficacy of the chlorine.
- Maintenance Downtime: The salt cell electrodes required regular manual cleaning due to deposit buildup, leading to downtime.
- Safety Risk: Lack of flow detection meant the system could accidentally generate chlorine or dose chemicals without proper water circulation.
The Solution
The facility installed our Terra S controller, a smart blend of IoT and green technology designed for electrolysis-based water treatment. The solution leveraged its intelligent system to automate chlorine generation, maintenance, and self-cleaning.
Precise FRC Derivation and Control
The Terra S uses its integrated sensors to derive the Free Residual Chlorine (FRC) level in water. The controller then controls the current passing through the Titanium electrolysis cell to produce the exact amount of Free Chlorine needed for disinfection. This intelligent control minimizes energy waste, achieving lower energy consumption.
Automated Correction
Since the salt cell electrolysis makes the water basic, the controller automatically engages the dosing system via its relay to inject acid and bring the pH back down. This automated control ensures continuous optimal pH and chlorine efficiency.
Predictive and Preventative Maintenance
- Automated Polarity Reversal: The system automatically reverses the polarity of the salt cell electrodes to remove deposit buildup, eliminating the need for frequent manual cleaning and extending the cell’s lifespan (Titanium electrode with a lifespan of 5 years).
- Dry-Run Protection: A digital flow switch is integrated to check for water flow in the circulation line before starting the salt cell or dosing, preventing damage and ensuring safe operation.
Reduction in Energy Consumption
By optimizing the electrolysis process and precisely controlling the salt cell current, the energy required for chlorination was dramatically lowered.