Automatic chemical monitor and control system

• US 5,422,014 A
• Filed: 03/18/1993
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen, Ross R., McLeod, Gary
• Original Assignee: Allen, Ross R., McLeod, Gary
• Inventors: McLeod, Gary, Allen, Ross R.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCarthy, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/033,589
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 210/739, 210/742, 210/743, 210/746, 210/138, 210/139, 210/143, 210/85, 210/87, 210/88, 210/89, 210/90, 210/96.1, 210/97, 210/149, 364/497, 364/499, 364/500, 364/502, 364/510
• US Class Current: 210/743
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/023 Water in cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 21/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

An automatic system to precisely maintain bactericidal action in a reservoir of water equipped with a recirculation system, such as a swimming pool, decorative fountain, spa, cooling water reservoir or the like. The automatic system includes: a service loop which bypasses a portion of the recirculating water past sensors which measure the pH and oxygen reduction potential (ORP) of the water and in which acid and halogen are injected by a chemical feed unit; an electronics unit for determining the injection quantity of the acid and/or halogen needed to restore pH and ORP to stored set-points, and for controlling the chemical feed unit in response to the injection time determination; and an optional telecommunication unit for reporting process control status to a remote location and allowing modification of the process parameters, selection of operating modes, and performance of diagnostic tests from the remote location. The service loop is constructed so that the acid injection results in water having a low pH flowing turbulently over the sensors and the halogen injector to keep the sensors and the halogen injector free from scale buildup and to produce data to the electronics unit from which the response characteristics of the sensors can be determined.

Claims

1. A monitoring and controlling system for a reservoir of water that has a recirculation system for recirculating the water in the reservoir, said monitoring and controlling system including:

a service loop positioned in the recirculation system to bypass a portion of the water flowing therethrough, said service loop including;

means to inject acid into the water flowing in said service loop;

a pH sensor positioned downstream of said means to inject acid to produce a signal representative of the pH of water flowing there past;

means to inject halogen as a bactericide into the water flowing in said service loop positioned downstream of said means to inject acid; and

an oxygen reduction potential sensor positioned downstream of said means to inject acid and upstream of said means to inject halogen, to produce a signal representative of the oxygen reduction potential of the flow of water out of said service loop; and

means to sense flow of water through said service loop and to produce a signal representative of the existence of flow of water through said service loop.

2. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said service loop is sized and shaped to assure turbulent mixing flow in said service loop at least downstream of said means to inject acid.

3. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 2 wherein said means to inject halogen include:

a portion that extends into the flowing water, and wherein said pH sensor, said oxygen reduction potential sensor and said means to inject halogen are spaced in said service loop downstream from said means to inject acid a distance that assures that said turbulent mixing flow mixes acid injected into the water by said means to inject acid to assure that the acid cleans said pH and oxygen reduction potential sensors and at least said portion that extends into the flowing water of said means to inject halogen.

4. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to sense flow of water through said service loop include:

a pressure sensor positioned to sense water pressure in said service loop.

5. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 3 further including:

a temperature sensor positioned in said service loop to sense the temperature of water flowing therein and to produce a signal representative thereof.

6. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 5 wherein said service loop is positioned to bypass water around a pressure drop in the recirculation system.

7. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 5 wherein said means to inject acid include:

an acid supply in liquid form;

a liquid acid injector in fluid connection with said service loop;

means to move said liquid acid from said acid supply to said service loop through said liquid acid injector, and wherein said means to inject halogen include;

a halogen supply generally in a flowable form;

a halogen injector in fluid connection with said service loop;

means to move said halogen from said halogen supply to said service loop through said halogen injector, said monitoring and controlling system further including;

computer control means responsive to said signals representative of water flow, water temperature, pH, and oxygen reduction potential connected to and controlling said means to move liquid acid and halogen to thereby maintain a bactericide activity range in the reservoir.

8. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means to sense flow of water through said service loop include:

a pressure sensor, and wherein said pressure and temperature sensors include;

sensing portions in said service loop upstream of said liquid acid injector.

9. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to inject acid include:

an acid supply in liquid form;

a liquid acid injector in fluid connection with said service loop; and

means to move said liquid acid from said acid supply to said service loop through said liquid acid injector, and wherein said means to inject halogen include;

a halogen supply generally in a flowable form;

a halogen injector in fluid connection with said service loop; and

means to move said halogen from said halogen supply to said service loop through said halogen injector, said monitoring and controlling system further including;

computer control means responsive to said signals representative of water flow, pH, and oxygen reduction potential connected to and controlling said means to move liquid acid and halogen to thereby maintain a bactericide activity range in the reservoir.

10. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to electrical power;

first switch means to controllably energize said means to move acid with electrical power;

second switch means to controllably energize said means to move halogen with electrical power; and

an electromechanical relay connected to disconnect electrical power from said means to move acid and said means to move halogen under control of said computer control means.

11. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 10 wherein said means to move acid include:

a first electric motor adapted for energizing with alternating current electrical power; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first electric motor, wherein said means to move halogen include;

a second electric motor adapted for energizing with alternating current electrical power; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second electric motor, wherein said power section further includes;

acid pump signal means connected across said first electric motor to produce to said computer control means a acid pump signal indicating that said first electric motor is energized; and

halogen pump signal means connected across said second electric motor to produce to said computer control means a halogen pump signal indicating that said second electric motor is energized, wherein said electromechanical relay is a normally closed electromechanical relay, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to energize said normally closed electromechanical relay to disconnect alternating current electrical power from said first and second electric motors when said logic means determines that an error condition exists in said monitoring and controlling system.

12. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer control means include:

logic means to prevent any liquid acid and halogen that has not passed through the reservoir from being present in said service loop at the same time.

13. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to low voltage direct current power;

first switch means to controllably energize said means to move acid with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means;

halogen switch means to controllably energize said meads to move halogen with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means.

14. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means to move acid include:

a first stepping motor adapted for energizing with first pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first electric motor, wherein said means to move halogen include;

a second stepping motor adapted for energizing with second pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second stepping motor, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to produce said first and second pulse sequences at different times to prevent any acid and halogen that has not passed through the reservoir from being present in said service loop at the same time.

15. The monitoring and controlling system as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer control means include:

memory means to store data concerning the amount of acid and halogen remaining in said acid supply and said halogen supply.

16. A water quality maintenance system for a reservoir of water that includes water recirculation means, said system including:

a service loop positioned in the recirculation means so that said water recirculation means flow reservoir water therethrough, said service loop including;

a water inlet connected to the water recirculation means;

a water outlet connected to the water recirculation means;

a first sensor to produce a signal representative of the pH of water at said water outlet of said service loop;

means to decrease the pH of water flowing in said service loop;

means to inject bactericide into the water flowing in said service loop; and

a second sensor positioned upstream from said means to inject bactericide, which produces a signal representative of the concentration of bactericide in the water in said service loop; and

means to sense flow of water in the water recirculation means to produce a signal representative of the existence of a flow rate through said service loop.

17. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 16 wherein said service loop is sized and shaped to assure turbulent mixing flow in said service loop at least downstream of said means to decrease the pH of water flowing in said service loop.

18. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 17 wherein said first sensor, said second sensor and said means to inject bactericide are spaced downstream in said service loop from said means to decrease the pH.

19. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 18 wherein said means to sense flow of water include:

a pressure sensor positioned to sense water pressure in said service loop.

20. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 18 wherein said means to sense flow of water include:

a flow sensor positioned in said service loop.

21. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 18 further including:

a temperature sensor positioned in said service loop to sense the temperature of water flowing in said service loop and to produce a signal representative thereof.

22. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 21 wherein the water recirculation means include:

a heat exchanger, said service loop being positioned in the water recirculation means to bypass water around the heat exchanger.

23. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means to decrease the pH include:

an acid supply;

an acid injector connected to inject acid into said service loop;

means to feed acid from said acid supply into water in said service loop through said acid injector, and wherein said means to inject bactericide include;

a sodium hypochlorite supply;

a sodium hypochlorite injector connected to inject sodium hypochlorite into said service loop;

means to feed said sodium hypochlorite from said sodium hypochlorite supply to said service loop through said sodium hypochlorite injector, said water quality maintenance system further including;

computer control means responsive to said signals representative of water flow, water temperature, pH, and concentration of bactericide connected to and controlling said means to feed acid and sodium hypochlorite to thereby maintain a bactericidal activity range in the reservoir.

24. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means to decrease the pH include:

an acid supply;

an acid injector connected to inject acid into said service loop;

means to move acid from said acid supply into water in said service loop through said acid injector, and wherein said means to inject bactericide include;

a bactericide supply;

a bactericide injector connected to inject bactericide into said service loop;

means to move bactericide from said bactericide supply to said service loop through said bactericide injector, said water quality maintenance system further including;

computer control means responsive to said signals representative of water flow, water temperature, pH, and concentration of bactericide connected to and controlling said means to move acid and bactericide to thereby maintain a bactericidal activity range in the reservoir.

25. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 24 wherein said bactericide supply contains bactericide whose bactericidal effectivity is sensitive to pH.

26. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 16 wherein said means to decrease the pH include:

an acid supply;

an acid injector connected to inject acid into said service loop;

means to move acid from said acid supply into water in said service loop through said acid injector, and wherein said means to inject bactericide include;

a bactericidal halogen supply;

a bactericidal halogen injector connected to inject bactericidal halogen into said service loop; and

means to move said bactericidal halogen from said bactericidal halogen supply into water in said service loop through said bactericidal halogen injector, said water quality maintenance system further including;

computer control means responsive to said signals representative of water flow, pH, and concentration of bactericide connected to and controlling said means to move acid and bactericidal halogen to thereby maintain a bactericidal activity range in the reservoir.

27. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 26 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to electric power;

first switch means to controllably energize said means to move acid with electric power;

second switch means to controllably energize said means to move bactericidal halogen with electrical power; and

an electromechanical relay connected to disconnect electrical power from said means to move acid and said means to move bactericidal halogen under control of said computer control means.

28. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 27 wherein said electromechanical relay is a normally closed electromechanical relay that is energized by said computer control means upon fault conditions to disconnect electrical power from said means to move acid and said means to move bactericidal halogen.

29. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 27 wherein said means to move acid include:

a first electric motor; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first electric motor, wherein said means to move bactericidal halogen include;

a second electric motor; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second electric motor, wherein said power section further includes;

acid pump signal means connected across said first electric motor to produce to said computer control means a acid pump signal indicating that said first electric motor is energized; and

halogen pump signal means connected across said second electric motor to produce to said computer control means a halogen pump signal indicating that said second electric motor is energized, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to control said electromechanical relay to disconnect electrical power from said first and second electric motors when said logic means determines signals indicating a faulty condition have been received by said computer control means.

30. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 26 wherein said computer control means include:

logic means to prevent any acid and bactericidal halogen from being present in said service loop at the same time in water that has not passed through the reservoir.

31. The-water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 26 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to low voltage direct current power;

first switch means to controllably energize said means to move acid with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means; and

second switch means to controllably-energize said means to move bactericidal halogen with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means.

32. The water quality maintenance system as defined in claim 31 wherein said means to move acid include:

a first stepping motor adapted for energizing with first pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first stepping motor, wherein said means to move bactericidal halogen include;

a second stepping motor adapted for energizing with second pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second stepping motor, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to produce said first and second pulse sequences at different times to prevent acid and bactericidal halogen from being pumped into said service loop at the same time.

33. A reservoir of water including:

water quality maintenance means;

a recirculation pump for recirculating water from said reservoir through said water quality maintenance means and back to said reservoir, said water quality maintenance means including;

a service loop connected to the recirculation system so that at least a portion of the recirculating water passes therethrough, said service loop including;

means to inject acid into the recirculating water in said service loop;

a pH sensor positioned downstream of said means to inject acid to produce a signal representative of the pH of recirculating water thereat;

means to inject bactericidal halogen into the recirculating water in said service loop positioned downstream of said means to inject acid; and

an oxygen reduction potential sensor positioned downstream of said means to inject acid and upstream of said means to inject bactericidal halogen, to produce a signal representative of the oxygen reduction potential of the recirculating water thereat;

means to sense flow of the recirculating water and to produce a flow signal representative of the existence of a quantity of flow of recirculating water through said service loop; and

controller means connected to receive said signals representative of the pH, the oxygen reduction potential, and the existence of flow of recirculating water and to produce therefrom, an acid inject signal to said means to inject acid to cause said means to inject acid to inject acid into the recirculating water to maintain the pH of the reservoir water in a range, and a bactericidal halogen inject signal to said means to inject bactericidal halogen to cause said means to inject bactericidal halogen to inject bactericidal halogen into the recirculating water to maintain effectiveness of the bactericidal halogen in the reservoir water.

34. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 33 further including:

a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of water in said reservoir and to produce a signal representative of the temperature to said controller means, said controller means using said signal representative of the temperature to compensate said signals representative of the pH and the oxygen reduction potential for water temperature to thereby maintain a bactericidal activity range in said reservoir.

35. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 33 wherein said means to inject acid include:

an acid supply;

an acid injector connected to said service loop;

means to pump said acid from said acid supply into the recirculating water in said service loop through said acid injector, said means to pump acid having sufficient flow rate capacity to significantly change the pH of the recirculating water at said pH sensor and said oxygen reduction potential sensor, and wherein said means to inject bactericidal halogen include;

a bactericidal halogen supply;

a bactericidal halogen injector connected to said service loop;

means to pump said bactericidal halogen from said bactericidal halogen supply into the recirculating water in said service loop through said bactericidal halogen injector, said water quality maintenance means further including;

computer control means connected to and controlling said means to pump acid and bactericidal halogen, said computer control means being responsive to said signals representative of existence of water flow, pH, and oxygen reduction potential to maintain a bactericide activity range in said reservoir by controlling said means to pump acid and bactericidal halogen to inject acid and bactericidal halogen into the recirculating water at different times.

36. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 35 wherein said means to pump acid and means to pump bactericidal halogen include:

electric powered devices, and wherein said computer control means include;

a power section including;

a connection to electric power; and

a normally closed electromechanical relay disconnecting said connection to electric power from said electric powered devices of said means to pump acid and means to pump bactericidal halogen when energized by said computer control means.

37. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 35 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to low voltage direct current power;

first switch means to controllably energize said means to pump acid with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means;

second switch means to controllably energize said means to pump bactericidal halogen with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means.

38. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 37 wherein said means to pump acid include:

a first stepping motor adapted for energizing with first pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first stepping motor, wherein said means to pump bactericidal halogen include;

a second stepping motor adapted for energizing with second pulse sequences of the low voltage direct current; and

a bactericidal halogen pump connected to be driven by said second stepping motor, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to produce said first and second pulse sequences at different times to prevent any acid and bactericidal halogen from being pumped into said service loop at the same time.

39. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 35 wherein said means to pump acid include:

a first electric motor adapted for energizing with alternating current; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first electric motor, wherein said means to pump bactericidal halogen include;

a second electric motor adapted for energizing with alternating current; and

a bactericidal halogen pump connected to be driven by said second electric motor, wherein said power section further includes;

acid pump signal means connected across said first electric motor to produce to said computer control means a acid pump signal indicating that said first electric motor is energized; and

bactericidal halogen pump signal means connected across said second electric motor to produce to said computer control means a bactericidal halogen pump signal indicating that said second electric motor is energized, and wherein said computer control means include;

a power section including;

a connection to alternating current; and

a normally closed electromechanical relay forming a portion of connections to alternating current for said first and second electric motors; and

logic means to energize said normally closed electromechanical relay to disconnect alternating current from said first and second electric motors when said logic means sense conditions of said water quality maintenance means.

40. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 35 wherein said reservoir includes:

a first water storage area having;

a first response to the addition of a first amount of chemical there into;

a second water storage area having;

a second response to the addition of an amount of chemical there into greater than said first response to the addition of the first amount of chemical;

valve means to switch said recirculation pump between recirculating water of said first water storage area and recirculating water of said second water storage area, said computer control means including;

first memory means storing;

data representative of said first and second responses;

a startup routine that;

causes the first amount of chemical to be injected into the recirculating water based on said second response;

measures the response of the recirculating water coming from said reservoir to such chemical injection;

determines the state of said valve means from the response of the recirculating water coming from said reservoir to such chemical injection in relation to said data representative of said first and second responses; and

adjusts said acid and halogen inject signals to maintain proper bactericidal effectiveness in said first water storage area when said valve means are determined to be recirculating water of said first water storage area.

41. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 40 wherein said computer control means further include:

a run routine that;

measures the response of the recirculating water coming from said reservoir to injection of chemical caused by said acid and halogen inject signals;

compares said response of the recirculating water coming from said reservoir to injection of chemical caused by said acid and halogen inject signals with said data representative of said first and second responses;

determines the state of said valve means from the response of the recirculating water coming from said reservoir to such chemical injection in relation to said data representative of said first and second responses; and

adjusts said acid and halogen inject signals to maintain proper bactericidal effectiveness in said second water storage area when said valve means are determined to be recirculating water of said second water storage area.

42. The reservoir of water as defined in claim wherein said computer control means further include:

second memory means including;

titration curves for the acid and bactericidal halogen; and

processor means that;

compute acid inject time from said determination of valve means state, said titration curves, the rate capacity of said means to pump acid, and the pH of the recirculating water from said reservoir, said computer control means causing injection of acid in accordance with said computation of acid inject time.

43. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 42 wherein said processor means:

computes bactericidal halogen inject time from said determination of valve means state, the titration curves, the rate capacity of said means to pump bactericidal halogen, the oxygen reduction potential and the pH of the recirculating water, said computer control means causing injection of bactericidal halogen in accordance with said computation of bactericidal halogen inject time.

44. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 43 wherein said computer control means:

determine the response of said reservoir of water to the injection of acid and bactercidal halogen;

adjust the acid and bactercidal halogen inject time in accordance with the response of said reservoir of water to the injection of acid and bactercidal halogen; and

establish a delay between acid injection and bactericidal halogen injection.

45. The reservoir of water as defined in claim wherein said reservoir includes:

a first water storage area having;

a first water storage capacity;

a second water storage area having;

a second water storage capacity smaller than said first water storage area;

valve means to switch said recirculation pump between recirculating water of said first water storage area and recirculating water of said second water storage area, said computer control means including;

memory means including;

data representative of the expected responses of said first and second water storage areas to the addition of chemical therein;

a startup routine that;

first determines that water is recirculating in said service loop before allowing injection of acid or bactericidal halogen;

causes first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen to be injected based on said second water storage capacity;

measures the response to injection of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen of the recirculating water;

compares the measured response to injection of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen of the recirculating water to;

determine therefrom whether the injections of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen took place from the response of said pH sensor thereto; and

determine therefrom whether said pH and said oxygen reduction potential sensors are operating properly from the response thereof to the injection of the first amount of acid and bactericidal halogen;

after a delay, compares the measured response to injection of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen of the recirculating water to;

determine therefrom the long term response of the recirculating water to injection of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen and thereby determine the state of said valve means from the long term response of the recirculating water to the injection of the first amounts of acid and bactericidal halogen; and

adjusts said acid and halogen inject signals to maintain proper bactericide effectiveness in said first water storage area when said valve means are determined to be recirculating water of said first water storage area.

46. The reservoir of water as defined in claim 45 wherein said data includes:

volume parameters of said first and second water storage areas; and

control parameters of said first and second water storage areas.

47. Water quality maintenance means for at least one reservoir of water open to biological contaminants that includes at least one water recirculation system, which recirculates water in the at least one reservoir, said water quality maintenance means including:

sensor means connected to the at least one water recirculation system so that at least a portion of the recirculating water passes adjacent thereto, said sensor means including;

means that produce a recirculation output signal when the at least one recirculation system is recirculating water;

a pH sensor that produces an pH output signal representative of the pH of recirculating water thereat; and

an oxygen reduction potential sensor that produces an ORP output signal representative of the oxygen reduction potential of the recirculating water thereat;

chemical feed means connected to the at least one water recirculation system so that at least a portion of the recirculating water passes adjacent thereto, said chemical feed means including;

an acid feed system to controllably feed acid into the recirculating water of the at least one water recirculation system; and

a halogen feed system to controllably feed halogen into the recirculating water of the at least one water recirculation system; and

controller means connected to receive said recirculation output signal, said pH output signal, and said ORP output signal and to produce therefrom, an acid feed signal to said acid feed system to cause said acid feed system to feed acid in the recirculation water to lower the pH of the water in the at least one reservoir to a first range, and a halogen feed signal to said halogen feed system to cause said halogen feed system to feed halogen in the recirculation water to raise the oxygen reduction potential of the water in the at least one reservoir to a second range, said sensor means further including;

a temperature sensor that produces a temperature output signal representative of the temperature of the recirculating water thereat, said controller means using said temperature output signal to compensate said pH and ORP output signals for temperature.

48. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 47 wherein the at least one reservoir is a pool and a spa having different water volume capacities, said controller means using said temperature output signal to determine whether the pool or spa is having its water recirculated by the recirculation system and hence the water volume to be controlled.

49. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 47 wherein said halogen feed system controllably feeds chlorine in soluble form.

50. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 47 wherein said halogen feed system controllably feeds sodium hypochlorite.

51. Water quality maintenance means for at least one reservoir of water that includes at least one water recirculation system, which recirculates water in the at least one reservoir, said water quality maintenance means including:

sensor means connected to the at least one water recirculation system so that at least a portion of the recirculating water passes adjacent thereto, said sensor means including;

means that produce a recirculation output signal when the at least one recirculation system is recirculating water;

a pH sensor that produces an pH output signal representative of the pH of recirculating water thereat; and

an oxygen reduction potential sensor that produces an ORP output signal representative of the oxygen reduction potential of the recirculating water thereat;

chemical feed means connected to the at least one water recirculation system so that at least a portion of the recirculating water passes adjacent thereto, said chemical feed means including;

an acid feed system to controllably feed acid at a rate into the recirculating water of the at least one water recirculation system, said acid feed system including;

a supply of liquid acid;

an acid port positioned for feeding liquid acid into the recirculating water; and

means to move said liquid acid from said supply of liquid acid into the recirculating water through said acid port, said acid port being spaced slightly upstream from said pH and oxygen reduction potential sensors, said means to move said liquid acid having sufficient rate capacity to substantially change the pH of the recirculating water at said pH sensor; and

a halogen feed system to controllably feed halogen at a rate into the recirculating water of the at least one water recirculation system, said halogen feed system including;

a supply of liquid halogen;

a halogen port positioned for feeding liquid halogen into the recirculating water; and

means to move said liquid halogen from said supply of liquid halogen into the recirculating water through said halogen port, said halogen port being spaced slightly upstream from said pH sensor and downstream from said oxygen reduction potential sensor, said means to move said liquid halogen having sufficient rate capacity to substantially change the pH of the recirculating water at said pH sensor; and

controller means connected to receive said recirculation output signal, said pH output signal, and said ORP output signal and to produce therefrom, an acid feed signal to said acid feed system to cause said acid feed system to feed acid in the recirculation water for time sufficient to lower the pH of the water in the at least one reservoir to a range, and a halogen feed signal to said halogen feed system to cause said halogen feed system to feed halogen in the recirculation water for time sufficient to raise the oxygen reduction potential of the water in the at least one reservoir to a range.

52. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 51 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to electrical power;

acid switch means to controllably energize said means to move said liquid acid with electrical power;

halogen switch means to controllably energize said means to move said liquid halogen with electric power; and

an electromechanical relay controlled by said computer control means to disconnect electric power from said acid and halogen switch means for said acid and halogen switch means to apply to energize said means to move said liquid acid and said means to move said liquid halogen when commanded by said computer control means.

53. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 52 wherein said means to move said liquid acid include:

a first electric motor; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first electric motor, wherein said means to move said liquid halogen include;

a second electric motor; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second electric motor, wherein said power section further includes;

acid pump signal means connected across said first electric motor to produce to said computer control means a acid pump signal indicating that said first electric motor is energized; and

halogen pump signal means connected across said second electric motor to produce to said computer control means a halogen pump signal indicating that said second electric motor is energized, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to cause said computer control means to command said electromechanical relay to disconnect electrical power from said first and second electric motors when said logic means determine improper signals have been received by said computer control means.

54. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 51 wherein said computer control means include:

a power section including;

a connection to low voltage direct current power;

acid switch means to controllably energize said means to move said liquid acid with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means; and

halogen switch means to controllably energize said means to move said liquid halogen with the low voltage direct current in response to digital signals from said computer control means.

55. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 51 wherein said means to move said liquid acid include:

a first stepping motor adapted for energizing with first digital signals; and

an acid pump connected to be driven by said first stepping motor, wherein said means to move said liquid halogen include;

a second stepping motor adapted for energizing with second pulses of the low voltage direct current; and

a halogen pump connected to be driven by said second stepping motor, and wherein said computer control means include;

logic means to produce said first and second digital signals to said first and second stepping motors at different times to prevent said liquid acid and said liquid halogen from being fed at the same time.

56. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 51 wherein said computer control means include:

non-volatile memory means storing;

data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said acid feed signal;

a routine that;

causes an amount of acid to be fed;

measures the long term response of the recirculating water to such acid feed;

determines whether the long term response of the recirculating water is consistent with the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said acid feed signal; and

adjusts said acid feed signal to maintain proper pH in the at least one reservoir when the at least one reservoir responds differently than the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water stored in said non-volatile memory means.

57. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 56 wherein said non-volatile memory means stores:

data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said halogen feed signal;

a routine that;

causes an amount of halogen to be fed;

measures the long term response of the recirculating water to such halogen feed;

determines whether the long term response of the recirculating water is consistent with the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said halogen feed signal; and

adjusts said halogen feed signal to maintain proper bactericidal activity in the at least one reservoir when the at least one reservoir responds differently than the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water stored in said non-volatile memory means.

58. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 57 wherein said routine performs the additional steps of:

updating said data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said acid feed signal stored in said non-volatile memory means when said routine adjusts said acid feed signal; and

updating said data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir of water to said halogen feed signal stored in said non-volatile memory means when said routine adjusts said halogen feed signal.

59. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 56 wherein said computer control means further include:

read only memory means including;

permanent storage of the titration curve for the acid; and

processor means that;

compute acid feed signal from at least said data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir, the titration curve, the rate capacity of said means to move acid, and the pH of the recirculating water, said computer control means causing feeding of acid in accordance with said computation of said acid feed signal.

60. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 56 wherein said non-volatile memory means also store:

at least one pH set point; and

at least one oxygen reduction potential set point, said computer control means further include;

read only memory means including;

permanent storage of the titration curves for the acid and halogen; and

processor means that;

compute said acid feed signal from said data representative of the expected response of the at least one reservoir, the acid titration curve, the at least one pH set point, the rate capacity of said means to move acid, and the pH of the recirculating water, said computer control means causing feeding of acid in accordance with said computation of said acid feed signal; and

compute said halogen feed signal from said data representative of the expected responses of the at least one reservoir, the halogen titration curve, the at least one oxygen reduction potential set point, the rate capacity of said means to move halogen, the pH of the recirculating water, and the oxygen reduction potential of the recirculating water, said computer control means causing feeding of halogen in accordance with said computation of said halogen feed signal.

61. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 60 wherein said computer control means establish delay between acid feed and halogen feed to prevent acid and halogen at relatively high concentrations from mixing together and undesirably reacting.

64. Means for controlling the bactericidal environment within a body of water that includes a recirculation system comprising:

a first conduit in fluid communication with the recirculation system so that water flows therethrough;

means for addition of acid to said flowing water;

means for detecting the oxygen reduction potential in said flowing water downstream from said means for addition of acid;

means for addition of halogen to said flowing water downstream from said means for addition of acid and said means for detecting the oxygen reduction potential;

means for detecting the pH of said flowing water downstream from said means for addition of acid, said means for detecting the oxygen reduction potential, and said means for addition of halogen.

65. The means for controlling the bactericidal environment within a body of water as defined in claim 64 wherein said flowing water has a Reynolds number of at least 2000.

66. The means for controlling the bactericidal environment within a body of water as defined in claim 64 wherein said means for detecting the oxygen reduction potential and pH comprise electrochemical cells.

67. The means for controlling the bactericidal environment within a body of water as defined in claim 64 wherein said means for addition of halogen produces an HOCl concentration in the body of water.

68. The means for controlling the bactericidal environment within a body of water as defined in claim 64 further including:

means to detect said water flow; and

computer control means responsive to said means to detect pH, oxygen reduction potential, and water flow and controlling said means for addition of acid and halogen so that acid and halogen is not added simultaneously and to maintain a bactericidal activity range in the body of water.

69. A method for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water comprising:

recirculating a portion of said body of water;

diverting a flow of the recirculating water;

detecting the existence of the diverted flow;

adding acid to the diverted flow for first time;

adding halogen to the diverted flow for second time at a time when acid is not being added;

detecting the oxygen reduction potential of the diverted flow when acid is being added thereto, and when acid is not being added thereto at a location upstream in the diverted flow from addition of halogen;

discharging said diverted flow back into the recirculating portion of said body of water;

detecting the pH of the diverted flow just prior to its discharge back into the recirculating portion when acid is being added thereto, when acid is not being added thereto, when halogen is being added thereto, and when halogen is not being added thereto;

controlling the addition of acid and halogen to maintain the chemical environment within the body of water in response to the detection of pH and oxygen reduction potential at times when existence of diverted flow is detected and acid and halogen are not being added thereto.

70. The method according to claim 69 wherein the halogen is added to the diverted flow just before the acid is added, whereby the acid acts as a cleaning agent for the halogen.

71. The method according to claim 69 wherein the pH level of said diverted flow downstream of where acid is added is maintained at values below 6.0 when acid is being added thereto.

72. An automatic system to maintain bactericidal action in a reservoir of water equipped with means for recirculating water, the automatic system including:

a first sensor responsive to pH;

a second sensor responsive to bactericidally effective halogen;

a service loop which bypasses a portion of the recirculating water past said first and second sensors;

acid injection means that on command inject acid upstream of said first and second sensors at a rate that establishes a first pH at least as low as a second pH at said first and second sensors when acid is being injected thereby;

halogen injection means that on command inject halogen upstream of said first sensor and downstream of said second sensor; and

electronics means for determining the injection times of the acid and halogen needed to restore pH and bactericidally effective halogen to stored set-points, and for controlling said acid and halogen injection means in response to said injection time determination.

73. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 wherein said second sensor is an oxygen reduction potential sensor and said second pH is at least as low as 6.0.

74. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 further including:

a display and input terminal; and

telecommunication means for connecting said electronics means and said display and input terminal means, said electronics means reporting process control status to said display and input terminal and said display and input terminal, allowing modification of the process parameters of said electronics means, selection of operating modes of said electronics means, and performance of diagnostic tests on said automatic system.

75. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 further including:

a display and input terminal at a remote location; and

telecommunication means for connecting said electronics means and said display and input terminal means, said electronics means reporting process parameters that are outside programmed limits.

76. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 further including:

a display and input terminal at a remote location; and

telecommunication means for connecting said electronics means and said display and input terminal means, said electronics means reporting supply levels of acid and halogen by subtracting amounts of acid and halogen used from starting amounts thereof.

77. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 further including:

a display and input terminal at a remote location; and

telecommunication means for connecting said electronics means and said display and input terminal means, said electronics means reporting historic data for process variables including date and time, pH and oxygen reduction potential levels and quantities of acid and halogen injected.

78. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 wherein said service loop is sized with respect to the recirculating water bypassed therethrough to keep the Reynolds Number of the water recirculating therein greater than 2000.

79. The automatic system as defined in claim 72 wherein said electronics unit includes:

logic means to determine the operability of said first and second sensors.

80. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water that includes a recirculation system comprising:

a first conduit forming a portion of the recirculation system;

a second conduit connected in parallel to said first conduit sized so that water flows turbulently therethrough;

means for addition of acid to said turbulent water in said second conduit;

means for detecting a representation of the level of base in said turbulent water downstream from said means for addition of acid;

means for addition of base to said turbulent water downstream from said means for addition of acid and said means for detecting the level of base;

means for detecting the pH level of said turbulent water downstream from said means for addition of acid.

62. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 80 wherein said computer control means delay halogen feed after an acid feed until the pH sensed by said pH sensor is greater than a second pH.

63. The water quality maintenance means as defined in claim 62 wherein said second pH is at least as large as 6.8.

81. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 80 that further include:

electronic means for receiving inputs from said means for detecting a representation of the level of base and means for detecting the pH level of said turbulent water downstream from said means for addition of acid and producing control signals to said means for addition of acid and means for addition of base in response to said inputs.

82. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 81 that further include:

terminal means having;

display means; and

user interface means;

communications means capable of connecting said electronic means to said terminal means, whereby actions of said means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water can be displayed on said display means, and a user can change operating parameters of said electronic means through said user interface means.

83. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 82 wherein said electronics means include:

means to adapt to environmental factors acting on the body of water by producing control signals to said means for addition of acid and means for addition of base in response to such environmental factors.

84. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 82 wherein said electronics means include:

means to adapt to environmental factors acting on the body of water by producing control signals to said means for addition of acid and means for addition of base in response to such environmental factors.

85. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 82 wherein said electronics means include:

memory means having stored therein;

amounts and time of addition of acid;

amounts and time of addition of base;

detected response to addition of acid; and

detected response to addition of base, said communications means providing such contents of said memory means to said terminal means.

86. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 85 wherein said memory means in addition have stored therein:

a daily maximum of acid; and

a daily maximum of base, said electronics means comparing said amounts of added acid and base and preventing more than said daily maximum of either from being added to the body of water, said daily maximum amounts being changable from said terminal means through use of said communication means.

87. Means for controlling the chemical environment within a body of water as defined in claim 82 wherein said electronics means include:

startup routine that;

signals said means for addition of acid to add acid;

detects if addition of acid occurs;

if acid addition does not occur, signals said means for addition of acid to add acid for a setable number of times;

if acid addition occurs, signals said means for addition of base to add base;

detects if addition of base occurs;

if base addition does not occur, restarts startup routine for a plurality of times; and

ends startup routine.