Amperometric sensor probe for an automatic halogen control system

• US 6,270,680 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Balboa Water Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bioquest, Co.
• Inventors: Silveri, Michael A., Calic, Caba
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US09/187,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 210/143, 210/192, 210/198.1, 210/243, 210/169, 210/96.1, 210/748, 210/754, 210/746, 204/228.6, 204/555, 204/556, 204/667, 205/743, 205/744, 205/778.5, 134/1
• US Class Current: 210/746
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46119 Cleaning the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46123 Movable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46128 Bipolar electrodes
• 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: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4612 Controlling or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4617 DC only
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4045 for gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44 using electrolysis to generate a reagent, e.g. for titration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy

Abstract

An amperometric bromine control system accurately maintains a desired concentration of bromine within a home spa or in other water features. The control system employs amperometric sensing to measure the bromine concentration in the spa water and uses this measurement to control the electrochemical production of bromine through the oxidation of aqueous bromide. The level of bromide in the spa water desirably is greater than 50 ppm in order to obtain a linear relationship between the current level sensed through the amperometric measurement and the concentration level of bromine in the water. In this manner, the control system can accurately measure the bromine concentration in the spa water and precisely maintain the bromine concentration within a desired range between about 2 ppm and 6 ppm.

Claims

1. A method of treating water at a site having a water feature comprising:

providing a concentration of a sanitizing agent in water within the water feature;

passing water from said water feature across respective portions of a first electrode and a second electrode;

applying a sequence of different voltages between said first electrode and said second electrode while said electrode portions are in contact with said aqueous solution;

measuring the concentration of the sanitizing agent in the water at the water feature site using said first electrode and said second electrode, said measuring comprising applying one of said different voltages between said first electrode and said second electrode during a time interval spanning a first time and a second time, and determining the current between the electrodes at said second time, wherein said first time and said second time are separated by a substantial time interval;

using the measured concentration of the sanitizing agent in the water to maintain the concentration of the sanitizing agent within a preset range; and

utilizing at least two of said different voltages between said first electrode and said second electrode to clean said first electrode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sequence comprises at least three reference voltages.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein applying the sequence of three different reference voltages involves applying a reference voltage of +1 volts for one minute between the electrodes, applying a reference voltage of −

80 millivolts for one minute between the electrodes, and applying a reference voltage of +300 millivolts between the electrodes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reference voltages are applied in the following sequence:

applying a positive potential between the electrodes;

applying a negative potential between the electrodes; and

applying a positive potential between the electrodes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sequence is performed at least five times.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said substantial time interval is one minute.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current comprises:

measuring the current multiple times in rapid succession; and

averaging those multiple current measurements to determine an average current value.