System and Method for Generating and Dispensing Electrolyzed Solutions

Abstract

A system and method for generating and dispensing a diluted electrolyzed solution, where the system includes a solution generator, one or more containers, and one or more dispensing stations separate from the solution generator. The solution generator generates and dispenses a concentrated electrolyzed solution to the container(s). The dispensing station(s) draw the concentrated electrolyzed solution from the container(s), dilutes the drawn concentrated electrolyzed solution, and dispenses the diluted electrolyzed solution.

1 . A system for generating and dispensing a diluted electrolyzed solution, the system comprising:
 a solution generator configured to electrochemically generate and dispense an electrolyzed solution;   a dispensing station separate from the solution generator, and configured to dilute the electrolyzed solution, and to dispense the diluted electrolyzed solution; and   a container configured to:
 engage with the solution generator to receive the dispensed electrolyzed solution, 
 transport between the solution generator and the dispensing station; and 
 engage with the dispensing station to drawn the electrolyzed solution from the container to the dispensing station. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solution generator comprises an electrolysis cell configured to electrochemically generate the electrolyzed solution. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solution generator comprises:
 a dispenser configured to dispense the electrolyzed solution to the container; and   a controller configured to regulate an amount of the electrolyzed solution that is dispensed by the dispenser to the container.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the container comprises a sensor configured to communicate with the controller, and configured to detect a fill level of the electrolyzed solution that is in the container, and wherein the controller is configured to regulate the amount of the electrolyzed solution that is dispensed by the dispenser to the container based at least in part on the detected fill level. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a housing and an access port through the housing that is configured to separately engage the solution generator and the dilution station. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing station comprises:
 a water line configured to receive water; and   a mixing region configured to mix a portion of the electrolyzed solution with the received water to dilute the electrolyzed solution.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzed solution comprises an alkaline solution and the diluted electrolyzed solution comprises a diluted alkaline solution. 
     
     
         8 . A system for generating and dispensing a cleaning solution, the system comprising:
 a solution generator comprising:
 an electrolysis cell configured to generate an alkaline solution; and 
 one or more fill dispensers configured to dispense the alkaline solution; 
   one or more containers, each comprising:
 a container housing; and 
 an access port through the container housing that is configured to receive the concentrated alkaline solution from one of the fill dispensers when the access port of the container is engaged with the one fill dispenser; and 
   one or more dispensing stations separate from the solution generator, wherein at least one of the dispensing stations comprises:
 a water line configured to receive water; 
 a fluid line configured to engage the access port of one of the containers when the one container is engaged with the fluid line to draw the alkaline solution from the one container; 
 a mixing region at which the received water and the drawn alkaline solution are configured to mix to provide a diluted alkaline solution; and 
 a primary dispenser configured to dispense the diluted alkaline solution as the cleaning solution. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the solution generator comprises a controller configured to regulate an amount of the alkaline solution that is dispensed from each of the one or more fill dispensers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the container further comprises a sensor configured to communicate with the controller, and configured to detect a fill level of the alkaline solution that is in the container, and wherein the controller is configured to regulate the amount of the alkaline solution that is dispensed by the dispenser to the container based at least in part on the detected fill level. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the solution generator further comprises:
 a water softener configured to generate softened water;   a brine tank configured to generate a brine solution; and   a mixing chamber configured to mix the softened water and the brine solution to provide a mixed solution, wherein the electrolysis cell is configured to generate the alkaline solution from the mixed solution.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the solution generator further comprises:
 a dilution line configured to receive water; and   a secondary dispenser configured to mix the water from the dilution line and the alkaline solution to provide a second diluted alkaline solution, and to dispense the second diluted alkaline solution.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing station further comprises a secondary dispenser configured to dispense the diluted alkaline solution at a flow rate that is less than a flow rate dispensed by the primary dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing station comprises a controller configured to control a dilution ratio for the diluted alkaline solution. 
     
     
         15 . A method for generating and dispensing a diluted electrolyzed solution, the method comprising:
 electrochemically generating an electrolyzed solution in a solution generator;   dispensing a regulated amount of the generated electrolyzed solution from the solution generator to a container that is removable from the solution generator;   moving the container having the electrolyzed solution to a dispensing station;   drawing the electrolyzed solution from the container to the dispensing station;   diluting the drawn electrolyzed solution at the dispensing station; and   dispensing the diluted electrolyzed solution from the dispensing station.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein electrochemically generating the electrolyzed solution comprises:
 introducing a first stream of a salt solution to a cathode chamber of an electrolysis cell;   introducing a second stream of the salt solution to an anode chamber of the electrolysis cell; and   applying a voltage across the electrolysis cell to form the electrolyzed.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 dispensing a second regulated amount of the generated electrolyzed solution from the solution generator to a second container that is removable from the solution generator;   moving the second container having the electrolyzed solution to a second dispensing station;   drawing a portion of the electrolyzed solution from the second container to the second dispensing station;   diluting the drawn electrolyzed solution at the second dispensing station; and   dispensing the diluted electrolyzed solution from the second dispensing station.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein dispensing the regulated amount of the generated electrolyzed solution from the solution generator to the container comprises:
 detecting a fill level of fluids in the container at the solution generator; and   controlling the dispensing based at least in part on the detected fill level.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 detecting a fill level of fluids in the container at the dispensing station; and   controlling the drawing of the electrolyzed solution from the container based at least in part on the detected fill level.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 diluting a portion of the electrolyzed solution at the solution generator to provide a second diluted electrolyzed solution; and   dispensing the second diluted electrolyzed solution from the solution generator.