Method and apparatus for controlling the feed of water treatment chemicals using a voltammetric sensor
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling the chemical treatment of a solution comprising the steps of:
- (a) feeding a treatment chemical into the solution to obtain a mixture of the treatment chemical and the solution;
(b) applying an external voltage across a reference electrode and a working electrode of a voltammetric sensor while the electrodes are immersed in and contact the mixture;
(c) measuring a current that flows through the working electrode;
(d) converting the measured current into a feedback signal which is indicative of a concentration of a substance in the mixture; and
(e) using the feedback signal to control a rate of feeding the treatment chemical in step (a).
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Abstract
A method for controlling the chemical treatment of a solution comprises the steps of feeding a treatment chemical into the solution, applying an external voltage across a reference electrode and a working electrode of a voltammetric sensor while the electrodes are immersed in the solution, measuring a current that flows through the working electrode, converting the measured current into a feedback signal indicative of the concentration of treatment chemical in the solution, and using the feedback signal to control the rate of feeding the treatment chemical.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the chemical treatment of a solution comprising the steps of:
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(a) feeding a treatment chemical into the solution to obtain a mixture of the treatment chemical and the solution; (b) applying an external voltage across a reference electrode and a working electrode of a voltammetric sensor while the electrodes are immersed in and contact the mixture; (c) measuring a current that flows through the working electrode; (d) converting the measured current into a feedback signal which is indicative of a concentration of a substance in the mixture; and (e) using the feedback signal to control a rate of feeding the treatment chemical in step (a). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for controlling the amount of treatment chemicals to be added to a solution, comprising:
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means for feeding a treatment chemical into the solution to obtain a mixture of the treatment chemical and the solution; a voltammetric sensor including; a reference electrode, a working electrode, means for applying a voltage across the reference electrode and working electrode while the electrodes are immersed in and contact the mixture, means for measuring a current that flows through the working electrode, and means for converting the measured current into a feedback signal which is indicative of a concentration of a substance in the mixture; and means for applying the feedback signal to the feeding means so as to control a rate of feeding the treatment chemical. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling the chemical treatment of a solution comprising the steps of:
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(a) feeding a treatment chemical into the solution to obtain a mixture of the treatment chemical and the solution; (b) applying an external voltage across a counter electrode and a working electrode of a voltammetric sensor while the electrodes are immersed in and contact the mixture; (c) maintaining a voltage between a reference electrode of the voltammetric sensor and the working electrode at a desired voltage level; (d) measuring a current that flows through the working electrode; (e) converting the measured current into a feedback signal which is indicative of a concentration of a substance in the mixture; and (f) using the feedback signal to control a rate of feeding the treatment chemical in step (a). - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for producing a feedback signal in a system for controlling the amount of treatment chemicals to be added to a solution, comprising:
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means for feeding treatment chemicals into the solution to obtain a mixture of the treatment chemicals and the solution; a voltammetric sensor including; a reference electrode, a working electrode, a counter electrode, means for applying an external voltage across the counter electrode and working electrode while the electrodes are immersed in and contact the mixture, means for maintaining a voltage between the reference electrode and working electrode at a desired voltage, means for measuring a current that flows through the working electrode, and means for converting the measured current into a feedback signal which is indicative of the concentration of a substance in the mixture; and means for using the feedback signal to control a rate of feeding the treatment chemicals in the solution. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification