Centralized programmable computer controlled automated biocidal/disinfection/chemical distribution system

An automated disinfection system, comprising:

• a controller including instruction code stored in a non-volatile computer readable medium that is instantiated by the controller for execution by the controller;
• a pump that is coupled to and operated by the controller;
• a reservoir including at least one disinfectant cartridge that contains a disinfectant agent, the reservoir being fluidly coupled to the pump;
• a valve manifold coupled to the pump at an intake and including a plurality of controllable valves;
• a fluid distribution network comprising:
• a plurality of conduits, each conduit routed to a different one of a plurality of spaces and separately connected to the pump by a respective one of the plurality of controllable valves at a pump end of each one of the plurality of conduits;
• each one of the plurality of conduits being branched, at a terminal end, to a plurality of remotely controlled nozzles, each one of the plurality of nozzles being disposed in one of the plurality of spaces;
• a plurality of sensors distributed among the plurality of spaces, where each one of the plurality of spaces include at least one sensor, and each sensor of the plurality of sensors being coupled to the controller and operable to indicate to the controller a signal indicating a presence of a person in the respective space;
• and
• wherein the controller is operable to, according to a schedule, operate the pump, the plurality of controllable valves, and remotely controlled nozzles to sequentially distribute disinfectant from the disinfectant bank to each one of the plurality of spaces, and to further inhibit a scheduled disinfection process for a given one of the plurality of spaces when the respective sensor in the given one of the plurality of spaces indicates a person is in the given one of the plurality of spaces.

A method for disinfecting a plurality of spaces, comprising:

• at a controller, determining that a disinfection process is to commence for at least one of a plurality of spaces;
• responsive to determining that the disinfection process is to commence, the controller receiving a signal from a sensor in the at least one of the plurality of spaces;
• when the signal indicates that the least one of the plurality of spaces does not contain any persons, the controller:
• activating one of a plurality of valves of a valve manifold and opening the valve;
• transmitting a signal that causes at least one nozzle in the space to activate;
• activating a pump that is coupled to a disinfectant bank on a first side of the pump and to the valve manifold on a second side of the pump to commence pumping disinfectant into the valve manifold;
• wherein the disinfectant is pumped through valve manifold into a respective one of a plurality of conduits that is connected at a pump end to the one of the plurality of valves in the valve manifold and at a terminal end to the at least one nozzle;
• and
• the at least one nozzle distributing aerosolized disinfectant into the space.