Acidic and alkaline cleaning of ion exchange systems, such as water purifiers, by ion exchange resin

34:

• A water purification module comprising:
• a fluid path including:
• a cationic resin cartridge,
• an anionic resin cartridge, wherein the anionic resin cartridge is fluidly connected in series with the cationic resin cartridge,
• at least one bypass fluid path including a first bypass fluid path arranged to bypass the anionic resin cartridge while allowing water to flow to the cationic resin cartridge, and
• a valve arrangement comprising one or more valves configured to selectively direct water to the at least one bypass fluid path;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the valve arrangement to direct water through the at least one bypass fluid path based on a production mode of the water purification module, wherein the production mode is one of (i) a water production mode wherein the water purification module is configured to generate purified water, and (ii) an acid cleaning mode where the water purification module is configured to selectively generate an acid cleaning fluid adapted to remove scaling and perform acid cleaning,
• wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve arrangement to direct water to both the cationic resin cartridge and the anionic resin cartridge in the water production mode, and to selectively control the valve arrangement to direct water through the cationic resin cartridge and through the first bypass fluid path to bypass the anionic resin cartridge in the acid cleaning mode.

52:

• A solution generation system comprising:
• a water purification module including:
• a fluid path comprising:
• a cationic resin cartridge,
• an anionic resin cartridge, wherein the anionic resin cartridge is fluidly connected in series with the cationic resin cartridge,
• at least one bypass fluid path including a first bypass fluid path arranged to bypass the anionic resin cartridge while allowing water to flow to the cationic resin cartridge, and
• a valve arrangement comprising one or more valves configured to selectively direct water to the at least one bypass fluid path;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the valve arrangement to direct water through the at least one bypass fluid path based on a production mode of the water purification module, wherein the production mode is one of (i) a water production mode wherein the water purification module is configured to generate purified water, and (ii) an acid cleaning mode where the water purification module is configured to selectively generate an acid cleaning fluid adapted to remove scaling and perform acid cleaning, wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve arrangement to direct water to both the cationic resin cartridge and the anionic resin cartridge in the water production mode, and to selectively control the valve arrangement to direct water through the cationic resin cartridge and through the first bypass fluid path to bypass the anionic resin cartridge in the acid cleaning mode;
• and
• a solution generation module comprising another fluid path fluidly connected to the fluid path of the water purification module, wherein the solution generation module is configured and arranged to:
• receive purified water from the water purification module, and
• prepare a solution by mixing a concentrate and the purified water.

53:

• A method for producing a cleaning fluid with a water purification module arranged for producing purified water, the water purification module comprising:
• a cationic resin cartridge and an anionic resin cartridge positioned along a fluid path, wherein the anionic resin cartridge is fluidly connected in series with the cationic resin cartridge, and
• at least one bypass fluid path including a first bypass fluid path arranged to bypass the anionic resin cartridge while allowing water to flow to the cationic resin cartridge,
• wherein the method comprises:
• directing water through the at least one bypass fluid path based on a production mode of the water purification module, wherein the production mode is one of (i) a water production mode for generating purified water, and (ii) an acid cleaning mode for selectively generating an acid cleaning fluid adapted to remove scaling and perform acid cleaning, wherein the water production mode comprises directing water to both the cationic resin cartridge and the anionic resin cartridge, and the acid cleaning mode comprises directing water through the cationic resin cartridge and through the first bypass fluid path to bypass the anionic resin cartridge.