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 drinking water management system comprising:
 a water generator configured to generate liquid water by extracting water vapor from ambient air;   an oxidizer generator configured to apply an oxidizing compound to sanitize water generated by the water generator;   a processor in communication with the water generator and the oxidizer generator,   a measurement device in communication with the water generator, the oxidizer generator and the processor, the measurement device comprising:
 a first and second reference electrode configured on a first circuit as a reference pair to electrolyze water generated by the water generator; and, 
 a first sensor electrode configured to sense an oxidizing potential of water generated by the water generator; 
   wherein the measurement device is configured to:
 measure a reference voltage between the reference pair indicating the electrochemical potential at which water electrolysis occurs in the water generated by the water generator; 
 measure a first sense voltage between the sensor electrode and the first reference electrode indicating a potential of the water generated by the water generator; and, 
   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive the reference voltage and the first sense voltage; 
 determine a concentration measurement in the water generated by the water generator based on a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the first sense voltage; and, 
 control the oxidizer generator to apply the oxidizing compound to the water generated by the water generator based on the concentration measurement to ensure that the water generated by the water generator is safe for consumption. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sense voltage indicating the potential of the water relates to one of: an oxidizing potential, a pH potential, or an ion concentration chemical potential of the water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sense voltage indicates an oxidizing potential value in a range that falls within the electrochemical potential at which water electrolysis occurs in water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing compound is ozone, the first sense voltage is an ozone voltage, and the concentration measurement is an ozone concentration measurement. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the oxidizer generator by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the oxidizing compound in the water generated by the water generator based on the concentration measurement. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the oxidizer generator by activating the oxidizer generator if the concentration measurement reaches a first specified threshold and deactivating the oxidizer generator if the concentration measurement reaches a second specified threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The system of claim X, wherein the first specified threshold indicates that the oxidizing compound should be applied to reduce a concentration of microbial life in water generated by the water generator, and the second specified threshold indicates a concentration of the oxidizing compound in the water generated by the water generator is sufficient. 
     
     
         8 . The system of claim X, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to reaching the second specified threshold, implement a timeout period during which the measurement device does not measure the reference voltage or the first sense voltage. 
     
     
         9 . The system of claim Y, wherein a duration of the timeout period is about one hour or less. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the oxidizer generator in a closed loop control technique in which the processor is configured to:
 activate the oxidizer generator to maintain the concentration measurement at a first concentration measurement threshold; and,   deactivate, in response to reaching a second concentration measurement threshold, one or more of: the measurement device and the oxidizer generator.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration measurement is a microbe concentration measurement; and, wherein the processor is configured to:
 compare the microbe concentration measurement to a library of pre-stored conditions; and,   control the oxidizer generator based on the comparison of the microbe concentration measurement to the library of pre-stored conditions.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply configured to provide a constant current of about 1 to about 10 μA of current to the reference pair circuit to electrolyze water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water generator, the oxidizer generator, the processor and the measurement device are in communication with each other over a network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computing device in communication with the measurement device, the oxidizer generator and the water generator; the computing device being configured to:
 monitor data measured by the measurement device; and,   transmit control commands to the measurement device, the oxidizer generator and the water generator.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reference electrode, the second reference electrode and the first sensing electrode are each constructed of a similar metal that does not oxidize under the conditions applied to the measurement device when submerged in water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reference electrode, the second reference electrode and the first sensing electrode are each constructed of a similar metal that does not elute ions into water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reference electrode, the second reference electrode and the first sensing electrode are each constructed of a noble metal, a passivated transition metal, or a glass-like carbon. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device further comprises a temperature measurement component that is configured to measure a second sense voltage indicating a temperature of the water generated by the water generator. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device is configured to operate in a reverse polarization mode during which a constant current applied to the water is reversed to produce a redox reaction on the first reference electrode and the second reference electrode. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device further comprises a third reference electrode that is paired on a second circuit with the first sensor electrode.