Systems and methods for detecting and measuring oxidizing compounds in test fluids

Abstract

This disclosure relates to improved devices, systems and methods for detecting and measuring oxidizing compounds in test fluids. Certain embodiments include a measurement device configured to apply a constant current to the test fluid and measure a reference voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid. The measurement device is further configured to measure a second voltage indicating an oxidizing potential of the test fluid, and to calculate an oxidizer concentration measurement indicating the concentration of the oxidizing compound in the test fluid based on a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the second voltage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A measurement device comprising:
 a processor;   a power supply configured to provide a constant current;   a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode,   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are assembled on a first circuit as a first electrode pair to which the constant current is applied,   wherein the third electrode is not assembled on the first circuit,   wherein the first electrode pair is configured to electrolyze a test fluid and measure a reference voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid;   wherein the third electrode is coupled to the first electrode; and   wherein the third electrode is configured to measure a voltage indicating an oxidizing potential of the test fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The measurement device of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature measurement component configured to measure a third voltage indicating a temperature of the test fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The measurement device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode each comprise at least one of a noble metal, a passivated transition metal, and a glass-like carbon. 
     
     
         4 . The measurement device of  claim 3 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode are constructed of at least one of gold, platinum, titanium, or a glass-like carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The measurement device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode comprises at least one of a pH electrode, a proton selective electrode, and an ion selective electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The measurement device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth electrode assembled on a second circuit with the third electrode as a second electrode pair, wherein the second electrode pair is configured to electrolyze the test fluid and measure a voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a test fluid comprising a concentration of an oxidizing compound; and   a measurement device configured to:
 apply a constant current to the test fluid; 
 measure a reference voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid; 
 measure a first voltage indicating a first oxidizing potential of the test fluid; 
 compare the reference voltage to the first voltage to determine a first voltage difference; 
 measure a second voltage indicating a second oxidizing potential of the test fluid; 
 compare the reference voltage to the second voltage to determine a second voltage difference; and 
 calculate the concentration of the oxidizing compound in the test fluid based on the first voltage difference and the second voltage difference. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the test fluid comprises water, the oxidizing compound comprises ozone, the reference voltage indicates the electrochemical potential at which water electrolysis occurs in the water, and the oxidizing compound is ozone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the measurement device is further configured to measure the pH of the test fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the measurement device is further configured to measure an ion concentration of the test fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the measurement device comprises:
 a processor;   a power supply configured to apply a constant current; and   a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode,   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are assembled on a first circuit to which the constant current is applied when the first electrode and the second electrode are submerged in the test fluid, and the third electrode is not assembled on the first circuit;   wherein the first electrode is configured to measure the reference voltage; and   wherein the third electrode is configured to measure the first voltage and the second voltage.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are each comprised of at least one of a noble metal, a passivated transition metal, and a glass-like carbon. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement device further comprises a fourth electrode assembled on a second circuit with the third electrode as a second electrode pair, wherein the second electrode pair is configured to electrolyze the test fluid and measure a voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement device is configured to operate in a reverse polarization mode during which the constant current applied to the first circuit is reversed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement device further comprises a temperature measurement component configured to measure a third voltage indicating a temperature of the test fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an oxidizer generator configured to communicate the oxidizing compound to the test fluid, wherein the processor receives at least three of the reference voltage, the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage, and wherein the processor controls the oxidizer generator based on the at least three of the reference voltage, the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage. 
     
     
         17 . A method for measuring an oxidizer concentration of a test fluid, the method comprising:
 submerging a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode of a measurement device into the test fluid, the measurement device comprising:
 a processor; 
 a power supply that is configured to provide the constant current; and 
 the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein:
 the first electrode and the second electrode are assembled on a first circuit to which the constant current is applied when the first electrode and the second electrode are submerged in the test fluid, 
 the third electrode is not assembled on the circuit; and 
 
   the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are each comprised of at least one of a noble metal, a passivated transition metal, a glass-like carbon, or some combination thereof,
 applying, by the power supply, a constant current to the test fluid; 
 measuring, by at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, a reference voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid; 
 measuring, by the third electrode, a first voltage indicating an oxidizing potential of the test fluid; and 
 calculating, by the processor, the oxidizer concentration of the test fluid. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the test fluid comprises water, the oxidizing compound comprises ozone, the reference voltage indicates the electrochemical potential at which water electrolysis occurs in the water, and the oxidizer concentration comprises an ozone concentration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises measuring, by the measurement device, the pH of the test fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises measuring, by the measurement device, the ion concentration of the test fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises operating the measurement device in reverse polarization mode. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 submerging a fourth electrode of the measurement device into the test fluid;   measuring, by at least one of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a reference voltage;   measuring, by the second electrode, a second voltage indicating the oxidizing potential of the test fluid; and   calculating, by the processor, the oxidizer concentration of the test fluid.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 measuring, by a temperature measurement component, a third voltage indicating a temperature of the test fluid;   receiving, by the processor, the reference voltage, the first voltage, and the third voltage; and   controlling, by the processor, an oxidizer generator based on the reference voltage, the first voltage, and the third voltage.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 connecting the third electrode to an electrical ground,   disconnecting the third electrode from an electrical ground,   reapplying a constant current to the first circuit at a first time,   measuring the maximum voltage difference between the reference voltage and the first voltage at a second time;   calculating, by the processor, the oxidizer concentration of the test fluid based on difference between the first time and the second time.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises, calculating, by the processor, the microbe concentration of the test fluid based on difference between the first time and the second time. 
     
     
         26 . A system comprising:
 a test fluid; and   a measurement device configured to:
 apply a constant current to the test fluid; 
 measure a reference voltage indicating an electrochemical potential at which electrolysis occurs in the test fluid; 
 measure a first voltage indicating a potential of the test fluid related to one of an oxidizing potential, a pH potential, or an ion concentration chemical potential; and 
 calculate a concentration measurement in the test fluid based on a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the first voltage.