Patent ID: 7767157

Claim:
A system for producing a hypochlorous acid solution comprising: (a) a source of an aqueous carrier liquid; (b) a chlorination source of a chlorinating agent in communication with the aqueous carrier liquid, and downstream in the system from the source of aqueous carrier fluid, wherein the chlorination source is disposed to introduce a quantity of the chlorinating agent into the aqueous carrier liquid to form a first stream having a pressure; (c) a source of carbon dioxide gas provided as a second stream in communication with the first stream including the chlorinating agent, the source of carbon dioxide disposed to introduce a quantity of carbon dioxide gas into a quantity of the first stream including the chlorinating agent or create a quantity of carbonic acid in the first stream thereby forming a third stream, the source of carbon dioxide gas configured to introduce the quantity of carbon dioxide gas into the first stream including the chlorinating agent at a pressure greater than the pressure of the first stream; (d) a diffuser through which the third stream passes, the diffuser maintaining pressure in the third stream and forcing at least some of the carbon dioxide gas to remain in solution in the third stream; (e) a monitoring system for monitoring chlorine levels and the pH of the third stream; and (f) means coupled to the monitoring system for controlling either the amount of chlorinating agent or the amount of carbon dioxide gas or both introduced into the system forming hypochlorous acid and maintaining a minimum desired hypochlorous acid level in the third stream based on the chlorine levels or the pH or both monitored, wherein the chlorination source is limited to introducing chlorinating agents which form hypochlorous acid in the third stream of the system.