Patent ID: 6852236

Claim:
In an apparatus for generating ions within a water system whereby fouling of the system by algae, nuisance invertebrates, microorganisms and inorganic salts is prevented, which apparatus has a water containment tank, said tank including a generally cylindrical tank interior having an upper tank portion and a lower tank portion, means for outletting water from said tank, and an ion generating means disposed within said tank interior, the improvement comprising: an inlet pipe which is disposed generally perpendicularly to the upper portion of said tank interior; wherein said containment tank includes a tank aperture situated at said tank upper portion whereby said tank interior is made accessible through said aperture, a cover member that is functionally adapted to sealingly enclose said tank aperture, said cover member made of an electrically nonconductive material, a side wall and a sight glass defined within said tank side wall whereby the tank interior may be visualized; wherein said ion generating means includes at least one anode and at least one cathode, means for attaching the at least one anode and the at least one cathode to said tank cover member in proximal spatial relation whereby ions are generated therebetween when an electrical potential is applied across the at least one anode and the at least one cathode, and electronic circuitry for periodically reversing polarity of said at least one anode and said at least one cathode, said at least one anode and said at least one cathode are each configured in accordance with the formula F=K (σ,β,)[( AR )×( ESR )×( ER )] y wherein K=Af(σ, β) of a first order Arrhenius type at the micro scale σ=Electrolyte conductivity β=Electrolyte Chemistry parameter AR=Aspect Ratio=1.0+/−5% ESR=Electrode Space Ratio=0.5+/−5% ER=Electrode Edge Ratio=0.5+/−5% Y=Form Factor Exponent =0.25 F=0.7+/−5%; and wherein said at least one anode and said at least one cathode are each configured as a plate-like rectangular prism, said at least one anode and said at least one cathode are placed in generally parallel planes relative to each other, and said at least one anode and said at least one cathode are oriented in relation to said inlet pipe water flow whereby water flow between said at least one anode and said at least one cathode is maximized and whereby water flow from between said at least one anode and said at least one cathode creates a double vortex flow pattern along said containment tank side wall.