# US 2020/0339447 A1 · Water sanitation system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0339447 A1 - Document ID: US20200339447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/862,248 - Filed: 2020-04-29 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-29 - Assignees: Logic Corporation - Applicants: Spa Logic, Inc. - Inventors: Darcy AMENDT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200339447A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/46104: {Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing} - C02F 1/4674: {with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine} - C02F 2103/42: from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools - C02F 2201/4613: Inversing polarity - C02F 2201/46135: Voltage - C02F 2201/4614: Current - C02F 2201/4615: Time - C02F 2201/4616: Power supply - C02F 2209/005: Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC] - C02F 2209/02: Temperature - C02F 2209/04: Oxidation reduction potential [ORP] - C02F 2209/05: Conductivity or salinity - C02F 2209/06: pH - C02F 2209/11: Turbidity - C02F 2209/29: Chlorine compounds - C02F 2303/04: Disinfection - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract Systems and methods for electrolytic spa sanitation are provided which control electrodes in a manner that extends the use of electrodes, reducing the frequency of replacement of electrodes. The system also incorporates electrodes that can be easily replaced by a user, further reducing the need to maintenance by trained service personnel. Systems and methods use measurements from ORP, pH, and temperature sensors to determine the amount of sanitizer necessary to be produced from the electrodes. The electrodes are capable or acting as either an anode or a cathode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spa sanitation system for use with a water-containing vessel, comprising: two or more electrodes comprised of a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes; an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor; a pH sensor; a temperature sensor; a power source; and a controller operatively connected to the power source, pH sensor, temperature sensor, power sensor, and the two or more electrodes, the controller configured to: determine a voltage and a current to be delivered to the two or more electrodes; determine a time period for which to run the two or more electrodes; and select a polarity configuration of the two or more electrodes; wherein the polarity configuration is selected from a first polarity where the first group of electrodes act as anodes and the second group of electrodes act as cathodes, or a second polarity where the first group of electrodes act as cathodes and the second group of electrodes act as anodes; and wherein the controller selects the polarity configuration based on a first wear and a second wear of the two or more electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the first wear based on a first measured impedance of the two or more electrodes in the first polarity, and the second wear based on a second measured impedance of the two or more electrodes in the second polarity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor cumulative charge delivered to the two or more electrodes in each of the first and second polarities. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the controller operates according to a plurality of operational cycles, and the steps of determining the voltage and current, determining the time period, and selecting a polarity configuration are performed for each operational cycle of the plurality of operational cycles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spa sanitation system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to reverse the polarity configuration of the two or more electrodes if it is detected that the same polarity configuration was selected for a threshold number of consecutive operational cycles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the two or more electrodes are located adjacent a side wall of the vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, further comprising a module configured to deliver controlled injections of an adjust down chemical to lower a pH level of the water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are contained in a user replaceable housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the spa sanitation system further comprises a sacrificial anode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the spa sanitation system further comprises a salinity sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the spa sanitation system comprises a chlorine sensor and a turbidity sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The spa sanitation system of claim 1, wherein the two or more electrodes are 5-plate electrodes. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling a spa sanitation system of a water-containing vessel, comprising: acquiring ORP measurements, pH measurements, and temperature measurements for the water; determining a voltage and a current to be delivered to two or more electrodes of the spa sanitation system to produce sanitizer; determining a time period for which to run the two or more electrodes; and selecting a polarity configuration of the two or more electrodes; wherein the polarity configuration comprises at least a first polarity and a second polarity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising turning off pumps of the vessel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a polarity configuration comprises measuring a first impedance of the two or more electrodes in the first polarity and measuring a second impedance of the two or more electrodes in the second polarity, and selecting the polarity configuration having a lower impedance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the steps of turning off the pumps, acquiring ORP measurements, pH measurements, and temperature measurements, determining the voltage and the current, determining the time period, and selecting the polarity configuration are performed in an operational cycle of a plurality of operational cycles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising periodically switching the polarity configuration if the same polarity configuration was selected for a threshold number of consecutive operational cycles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring a cumulative charge delivered to the two or more electrodes in each of the first polarity and the second polarity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising injecting a pH adjust down chemical into the water if the pH measurements are above a maximum pH threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the voltage delivered to the two or more electrodes is increased from zero to the determined voltage gradually over a ramp period.