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The Principles of Water Disinfection by Copper / Silver Ionization
Chapter 3 - The ClearWater Purification System
The ClearWater Purification System consists of a state of the art, microprocessor control box and a scientifically designed set of electrodes comprised of copper and silver.
Currently, ClearWater Enviro Technologies, Inc. manufactures 37 different models to handle any amount of water. Most of the systems can work on fresh or salt water with no adjustments required.
The control box works by generating a precise, low voltage, DC current at milliamp levels to the electrodes. These electrodes consist of a metal-plated cathode and a metal-plated anode. The metals consist of copper and silver.
The percentage of silver versus copper varies on the application. A swimming pool unit requires only 1% of the electrodes to consist of silver, while cooling towers and hospital water disinfection requires up to 20% silver.
The electrodes are housed in a flow cell chamber to allow easy access to them. The electrodes may need occasional cleaning and need to be replaced every year or two.
The flow cell chambers vary between the residential and commercial units. The residential unit includes a black flow-cell tee that the electrodes screw into. The electrodes are secured in a clear bowl that can be removed without any tools and installed without Teflon tape.
The flow cell is installed on the return line on swimming pools after the pump and either before or after the filter.
On other applications, the flow cell can be installed on the incoming line as the water enters the building.
Commercial units have the option of two sizes of tees - 3 in. or 4 in. There is a clear extension coming out of the tee that allows full view of the electrodes.
As water is passed through the chamber, water flows past the electrodes where the control box sends a low voltage DC (direct current) charge to the electrodes. As the current moves, it produces metal ions courtesy of the copper and silver plating.
The control box is a micro-processor that releases a controllable low voltage DC charge to the electrodes that causes some of the outermost atoms to lose an electron, thus becoming positive ions. As they attempt to flow across from one electrode to another, the flow of the water causes many of the ions to be released into the water where the copper ions kill algae and the silver ions kill bacteria and viruses.
To control the amount of ions to be released into the water, simply turn the control knob on the microprocessor clockwise to increase the amount or counterclockwise to lower the amount. A digital readout in milliamp levels tells you the exact charge being applied to the electrodes. This can vary due to TDS levels (total dissolved solids) or conductivity of the water and wear & tear of the electrodes.
The charge or polarity switches back and forth between the two electrodes bars to prevent plating of the cathode - or buildup of scale and copper plating. ClearWater’s unit changes the polarity every 5 minutes. This polarity change also allows for an even wear and tear on the electrodes. The electrodes are both identical in composition.
The actual setting of the control box is determined by the readings from a copper-ion text kit included with the unit.
The recommended reading on the test kit should be between .20 - .30 ppm. A reading lower than that indicates that the control knob should be turned up. A reading lower than that means the control knob should be turned down.
Generally, the reading will stay on the same setting during the season. The only change is when the water temperature increases - which promotes more algae, bacteria and viruses in the water. The more algae and bacteria, the more demand for copper ions.
Chapter 2 - History of Ionization | Chapter 4 - Copper/Silver Disinfection