System and method for electrochemical disinfection

A system for electrochemical disinfection of an aqueous solution, the system comprising:

• one or more disinfecting cells for retaining an aqueous solution, each disinfecting cell including one or more electrode pairs positioned therein;
• the one or more disinfecting cells arranged along a flow path, the flow path including an inlet to and an outlet from the one or more disinfecting cells;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• regulate a flow of an aqueous solution from the inlet to the one or more disinfecting cells;
• determine at the one or more disinfecting cells an electrical conductivity, or specific conductance of the aqueous solution;
• determine, in each of the one or more disinfecting cells, a temperature of the aqueous solution within the disinfecting cell by the measurement of an electric current drawn by the aqueous solution, wherein the temperature of the aqueous solution is directly proportional to the electric current being drawn by the aqueous solution;
• determine the electrical conductivity by detecting an increase or decrease in the electric current drawn by the aqueous solution and determine, from the electrical conductivity, a voltage to apply across the one or more electrode pairs at a current sufficient to produce disinfection species therein;
• and
• pass the current from the one or more electrode pairs to the aqueous solution to produce a modified aqueous solution.

A method for electrochemical disinfection of an aqueous solution, the method comprising the steps of:

• passing the aqueous solution along a flow path from an inlet to an outlet, the flow path including at least first and second disinfecting cells positioned along the flow path such that the aqueous solution passing the first disinfecting cell subsequently passes the second disinfecting cell, each disinfecting cell including at least one electrode pair between which an electric current is passed through the aqueous solution to produce disinfection species therein during its passage along the flow path, and wherein at least one of the disinfecting cells includes at least one segmented electrode, the segmented electrode comprising a plurality of electrically separable segments allowing an effective surface area of the segmented electrode to be controlled by selectively activating the segments such that upon application of a voltage to the activated electrode segment(s), current drawn will depend in part upon the effective surface area;
• determining the aqueous solution conductivity, or specific conductance at the inlet;
• determining from measured aqueous solution conductivity, or specific conductance a required voltage and current to be delivered to the aqueous solution by the first disinfecting cell to raise the concentration of disinfection species therein by a first amount;
• determining a modified aqueous solution conductivity, or specific conductance resulting from operation of the first disinfecting cell;
• determining from the modified aqueous solution conductivity, or specific conductance a required voltage and current to be delivered to the aqueous solution by the second disinfecting cell to raise the concentration of disinfection species therein by a second amount;
• and
• activating segments of the segmented electrode in a manner to effect delivery of desired current and voltage by the segmented electrode.