Systems and methods for automatic concentration control

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of processing tanks (112x) configured to contain a chemical mixture including a first chemical;
• a chemical sensor (238) in fluid communication with each of the plurality of processing tanks via a respective chemical sensing channel extending between each of the respective plurality of processing tanks and the chemical sensor, the chemical sensor configured to sense one or more properties of the chemical mixture in each of the respective plurality of processing tanks and;
• a sensor conduit in fluid communication with an outlet of the chemical sensor;
• a recirculation loop (130) in fluid communication with each of the plurality of processing tanks and in fluid communication with the sensor outlet conduit;
• a plurality of first inlet valves (123x, 124x), each of the first inlet valves coupled between a supply of a first liquid (125/126) and an interior of a respective processing tank of the plurality of processing tanks;
• a plurality of outlet valves (143x), each of the outlet valves coupled between a respective processing tank of the plurality of processing tanks and the chemical sensor, the plurality of outlet valves in communication with the recirculation loop;
• a pump (32) communicatively coupled with the plurality of outlet valves and the plurality of second inlet valves (144x) and positioned between the plurality of outlet valves (143x) and the plurality of second inlet valves (144x), the pump configured to pump a flow of the chemical mixture from the interior of the plurality of processing tanks through the respective plurality of outlet valves, through the chemical sensor and back into the interior of the plurality of processing tanks through the respective second inlet valves;
• and
• control circuitry communicatively coupled to the chemical sensor and the plurality of first inlet valves, the control circuitry configured to automatically adjust an amount of the first liquid in the chemical mixture of a respective one of the processing tanks by selectively operating the first inlet valve of the respective one of the processing tanks based on the sensed one or more properties of the chemical mixture from the respective one of the processing tanks.

A method, comprising:

• forming a chemical mixture containing a first chemical in a plurality of processing tanks by introducing the first chemical into each of the plurality of processing tanks;
• flowing the chemical mixture from each of the plurality of processing tanks to a chemical sensor via a plurality of chemical sensing channels, each of the plurality of chemical sensing channels in fluid communication between a respective processing tank and the chemical sensor;
• sensing, by the chemical sensor communicatively coupled to the plurality of chemical sensing channels, one or more properties of the chemical mixture contained in each of the plurality of sensing channels;
• controlling, by control circuitry, an amount of the first chemical in the chemical mixture of a respective processing tank by selectively operating a first chemical inlet valve of the respective processing tank based on the sensed one or more properties of the chemical mixture received by the chemical sensor via the respective chemical sensing channel of the respective processing tank;
• flowing the chemical mixture of the respective processing tank from the chemical sensor to a recirculation loop via a sensor outlet conduit in fluid communication between the chemical sensor and the recirculation loop;
• and
• returning the chemical mixture to the respective processing tank via a chemical mixture inlet valve of the respective processing tank, the chemical mixture inlet valve in communication with the respective processing tank and the recirculation loop.