GB2441215A

GB2441215A - Beverage dispense

Info

Publication number: GB2441215A
Application number: GB0716262A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Michael Cook; Jeffrey Reece
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2006-08-24
Filing date: 2007-08-21
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Also published as: GB0716262D0

Abstract

A cooler 1 supplies a coolant to a cooling circuit 4 that is configured to cool a coolant in a beverage cooler 2 and to supply coolant to a remote serving area. Coolant in the coolant circuit 4 is transported to the serving area in an insulated trunk line 6 and beverage is transported to the serving area in a separate insulated trunk line 5 which includes the cooling circuit 4. In a modification, the trunk line contains a separate coolant circuit supplied with coolant from the beverage cooler 2.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSE

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to beverage dispense. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application for dispense of alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager, cider, stout and the like.

Beer and similar alcoholic beverages are typically dispensed at low temperatures. The beer is usually stored in a container such as a keg or barrel in a cellar or similar location remote from the serving area and is transferred to the serving area in a beer line that passes through a cooler at the remote location to reduce the temperature of the beer for dispense and then through an insulated trunk line commonly referred to as a python to reduce heat transfer with the environment. Usually, a plurality of beer lines are bundled together within the same python for supplying several dispense heads in the same or different serving areas.

One common type of cooler employs a water bath through which the beer lines pass to cool the beer by heat exchange with the water. The water is cooled by a refrigeration system including an evaporator coil located in the water bath. In periods of low demand, ice forms on the evaporator coil and provides a thermal reserve for periods of high demand when the ice can melt to counteract any increase in temperature of the water bath.

The chilled water is usually circulated in a loop extending within the python to assist in maintaining the temperature of the beer in the beer lines passing through the python.

These coolers are commonly referred to as "ice-bank coolers" and provide adequate cooling for many applications where dispense temperatures of 5 C to 8 C is acceptable. Recently, however, there is a trend towards lower dispense temperatures approaching 0 C that cannot be met by the known ice-bank coolers. It has been proposed to employ additional cooling of the beer in the serving area immediately prior to dispense to meet this demand for lower dispense temperatures. Such additional cooling may be provided by thermoelectric coolers such as Peltier devices. However, these are expensive to install and run and generate heat in the serving area that is undesirable.

Another solution uses the water re-circulating in the python to cool the beer in a heat exchanger positioned in the serving area under the counter.

With this solution, however, the temperature of the water returning to the cooler in the python is increased by a few degrees which results in an increase in the core temperature of the python and also faster erosion of the ice bank in the cooler to counteract the higher temperature of the water returning to the cooler. As a result, the desired dispense temperature may not be obtained under all possible operating conditions and, in particular during periods of high demand.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing and seeks to provide dispense systems and methods of dispensing beverages at low temperatures that overcomes or at least mitigates some of the aforementioned problems and disadvantages of existing dispense systems.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for dispensing beverages comprising a serving area, a dispense head at the serving area, a beverage source remote from the serving area, a product line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to the dispense head, a beverage cooler remote from the serving area for cooling beverage in the product line by heat exchange between the beverage and a coolant, and a further cooler remote from the serving area for cooling a coolant, and a coolant line for transporting coolant from the further cooler to the serving area.

Preferably, coolant in the beverage cooler is cooled by heat exchange with coolant in the coolant line. By using coolant from another cooler in place of the refrigeration system conventionally used, the capacity of the beverage cooler can be increased without increasing the overall size of the cooler. In particular, where the beverage cooler is an ice-bank cooler, the size of the ice-bank can be increased so that the cooler is better able to cope with increased cooling loads during periods of high demand.

Preferably, the beverage source and coolers are provided at a location remote from the serving area. For example, a storage area such as a cellar or the like where beverage containers such as kegs or barrels can be stored for connection to the dispense system when required.

Preferably, the product line passes from the remote location to the serving area in an insulated beverage trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python") to reduce heat exchange with the environment.

Preferably, the beverage trunk line includes a coolant line to assist in maintaining the temperature of the beverage contained in the product line within the trunk line. The coolant line may include a re-circulation loop that receives coolant from a cooler and returns the coolant to the cooler.

The re-circulation loop may be supplied with coolant from the beverage cooler but more preferably is supplied with coolant from the further cooler.

The coolant re-circulation ioop in the beverage trunk line may be used to transport coolant to the serving area for additional cooling in the serving area. For example, the coolant may be used to cool further the beverage for lowering the dispense temperature of the beverage in a heat exchange device located in the serving area.

Alternatively or additionally, the coolant may be used to create ice or condensation on an external surface of the dispense head or to provide trace cooling of the beverage line within the dispense head. Alternatively or additionally, the coolant may be used to cool other beverages in the serving area for example wine or soft drinks such as fruit juices.

Preferably, coolant from the further cooler is transported to the serving area in an insulated coolant trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python") separate from the beverage trunk line and this separate source of coolant can be used in the serving area for any of the cooling applications discussed above.

By supplying the coolant from the further cooler to the serving area in a separate trunk line, the temperature of the coolant in the beverage cooler and in the beverage trunk line is unaffected by the additional cooling provided in the serving area. In this way, the beverage trunk line may be provided with a substantially stable core temperature and the cooling capacity of the beverage cooler reserved for cooling the beverage. As a result, it may be possible to dispense beverages having a lower dispense temperature.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cooling a beverage for dispense comprising the steps of providing a beverage source, providing a beverage line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to a remote serving area, providing a cooler remote from the serving area for cooling the beverage by heat exchange between coolant in the cooler and beverage in the beverage line, providing a further cooler remote from the serving area and a coolant line for transporting coolant from the further cooler to the serving area.

Between the remote location and the serving area, the beverage line and coolant line may be contained in a common insulated trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python"). Alternatively, the beverage line and coolant line may be contained in separate insulated trunk lines.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling system for beverages comprising first and second coolers remote from a serving area, the first cooler supplying coolant in a coolant line to the serving area, and the second cooler cooling a beverage transported in a beverage line from a beverage source to the serving area.

The coolant line may supply coolant to the serving area in an insulated trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python") separate from the beverage line.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for dispensing beverages comprising a serving area, a dispense head at the serving area, a beverage source remote from the serving area, a beverage line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to the dispense head, a beverage cooler remote from the serving area for cooling beverage in the beverage line by heat exchange between the beverage and a coolant, and a further cooler remote from the serving area for cooling the coolant in the beverage cooler by heat exchange between the coolant in the beverage cooler and a coolant circuit supplied with a coolant from the further cooler.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling system for beverages comprising a primary cooler for supplying coolant to a cooling circuit including a beverage cooler for cooling coolant in the beverage cooler that, in use, cools a beverage by heat exchange with the beverage.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cooling a beverage for dispense comprising the steps of providing a beverage source, providing a beverage line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to a remote dispense head, providing a cooler remote from the dispense head for cooling the beverage by heat exchange between coolant in the cooler and beverage in the beverage line, and cooling coolant in the cooler by heat exchange between coolant in the cooler and coolant in a further cooler.

Preferably, beverage is transported between the cooler and the dispense head in an insulated trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python") and the trunk line is provided with a re-circulation loop for circulating coolant from the further cooler within the trunk line.

Preferably, the method includes transporting coolant from the further cooler to a serving area at which the dispense head is located in an insulated coolant trunk line (also referred to herein as a "python") separate from the beverage trunk line and using the coolant from the coolant trunk line for cooling in the serving area. The coolant from the coolant trunk line may be used to cool the beverage to lower the dispense temperature. Alternatively or additionally, the coolant from the coolant trunk line may be used to create ice or condensation on an external surface of the dispense head. Alternatively or additionally, the coolant from the coolant trunk line may be used to cool other beverages in the serving area for example wine or soft drinks such as fruit juices.

According to yet another aspect the present invention, there is provided a beverage dispense system including a dispense site, a beverage source remote from the dispense site, a first cooler remote from the dispense site for transporting a cooling medium to the dispense site, and a second cooler remote from the dispense site through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense.

In one embodiment, at least one product coil connected to the beverage source and at least one cooling coil connected to the first cooler are submerged in a cooling medium within the second cooler. In this embodiment, the first and second coolers may contain different cooling mediums, for example an aqueous glycol/water mixture in the first cooler and water in the second cooler, whereby beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium in the second cooler that has been cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium from the first cooler.

Preferably, the cooling medium in the second cooler forms an ice bank on the at least cooling coil that provides a thermal reserve for periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler.

Preferably, the at least one product coil is connected to a beverage supply line for delivery of chilled beverage to the dispense site. The beverage supply line may be connected to one or more dispense taps at the dispense site. *8

Preferably, the beverage supply line is contained in an insulated trunk line (python) between the remote location and the dispense site.

Preferably, the trunk line contains a re-circulation loop for cooling medium.

Preferably, cooling medium in the re-circulation loop is used for cooling at the dispense site. For example, the beverage and cooling medium may be passed through a heat exchange device at the dispense site to cool further the beverage prior to dispense.

Preferably, cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through a cooling circuit providing a source of the cooling medium at the dispense site. Preferably, the cooling circuit includes a re-circulation loop between the remote location and the serving area that is contained in an insulated trunk line separate from the beverage trunk line.

Preferably, the cooling medium in the first cooler is at a lower temperature than the cooling medium in the second cooler. For example, the cooling medium in the first cooler may comprise an aqueous water/glycol mixture whereby the freezing point is depressed below 0 degrees centigrade and the cooling medium in the second cooler may comprise water.

In one arrangement, the at least one cooling coil and re-circulation loop of the cooling circuit are connected in series. In this arrangement, the at least one cooling coil may be located before or after the dispense site.

Preferably, the at least one cooling coil is located before the dispense site to receive cooling medium from the first cooler before it passes to the dispense site.

In another arrangement, the at least one cooling coil and re-circulation loop of the cooling circuit are connected in parallel. In this arrangement, cooling medium from the first cooler may be directed selectively to the second cooler or dispense site according to cooling demand. Preferably, the cooling demand at the dispense site takes precedence over the cooling demand in the second cooler.

In this arrangement, the thermal reserve provided by the ice bank that forms on the at least one cooling coil during periods of low demand is gradually eroded during periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler when cooling medium from the first cooler is directed to the serving area.

From another aspect, the invention provides a beverage dispense system including a beverage source, a first cooler, and a second cooler, the second cooler having at least one product coil through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense, wherein a cooling medium in the first cooler is employed for cooling in the second cooler.

The at least one product coil may be submerged in cooling medium received in the second cooler from the first cooler. In this way, beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium. In this arrangement, the cooling medium in the second cooler is circulated between the first and second coolers to maintain the desired temperature of the cooling medium in the second cooler.

Alternatively, the at least one product coil may be submerged in a cooling medium in the second cooler and the cooling medium in the first cooler is passed through a cooling coil submerged in the cooling medium in the second cooler. In this way beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium in the cooling coil. In this arrangement, the cooling medium in the second cooler is maintained at the desired temperature by the cooling medium from the first cooler.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a beverage dispense system in which a first cooler contains a cooling medium that is cooled by a refrigeration unit including an evaporator coil located in the first cooler, and a second cooler is supplied with cooling medium from the first cooler for cooling beverage in at least one product coil contained in the second cooler.

The beverage may be cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium from the first cooler (direct cooling) or with a cooling medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium from the first cooler (indirect cooling).

According to a still further aspect, the invention provides a method of cooling a beverage in a dispense system comprising providing a first cooler for cooling a cooling medium, providing a second cooler for at least one product coil, and using cooling medium from the first cooler for cooling beverage in the at least one product coil.

In one method, the at least one product coil is submerged in the cooling medium in the second cooler. In another method, the at least one product coil is submerged in a cooling medium in heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium from the first cooler.

According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of cooling a beverage by connecting a source of beverage to a product coil in a cooler and connecting the cooler to a source of cooling medium and circulating the cooling medium through the cooler to cool beverage in the product coil.

The source of the cooling medium may be a separate cooler. The separate cooler may include a refrigeration unit for cooling the cooling medium. The cooling medium may be water or an aqueous water/glycol mixture.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the various aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter of exemplary embodiments given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a beverage dispense system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a modification to the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a beverage dispense system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a modification of the system of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic view of a beverage dispense system according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a modification of the system of Figure 5.

The following Figures show dispense systems for draft beer although it will be understood the systems are equally applicable to other alcoholic beverages such as lager, cider stout etc as well as non-alcoholic beverages such as colas, lemonade, soda etc. In each of the systems at least one keg (not shown) or other suitable source of beer is located in a cellar (not shown) or other suitable storage area remote from at least one dispense head (not shown) provided at a serving area or dispense site such as a bar for dispensing the beer into a glass or other suitable container for consumption by the customer.

The storage temperature of the beer in the keg is usually several degrees higher than the dispense temperature and the beer is cooled between the keg and the dispense head to the required dispense temperature as now described. All temperatures given in the following description are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting on the scope of protection. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the temperatures can be altered as desired to suit a given installation and/or to provide a desired dispense temperature. In the drawings, coolant flow lines are indicated by single-headed arrows and beer flow lines are indicated by double-headed arrows.

Referring now to Figure 1 in more detail, the system includes two coolers 1,2 located in the storage area remote from the serving area. One cooler 1 supplies coolant 3 to a cooling circuit 4 that includes the other cooler 2 and two insulated trunk lines referred to as pythons 5,6.

In this embodiment, the coolant 3 is a water/glycol mixture cooled to a temperature below zero degrees centigrade, for example minus 10 C, by means of a refrigeration system including an evaporator coil 7 located in a tank 8 containing the glycol/water mixture and a compressor 9 located under the tank 8.

It will be understood that any suitable coolant may be employed to provide a low temperature coolant for the purpose described herein. The coolant 3 is circulated around the circuit 4 by means of a submersible pump 10 driven by a motor 11.

Two beer lines 12,13 for transporting beer from the same or different kegs in the storage area to the same or different dispense heads in the serving area pass through the cooler 2 to cool the beer by heat exchange with coolant 14 contained in a tank 15. The beer lines 12,13 pass from the cooler 2 to the serving area in the python 5.

In this embodiment, the coolant 14 is water that is cooled to approximately zero degrees centigrade as described in more detail later by coolant 3 from the cooler 1. It will be understood that the number of beer lines passing through the cooler 2 may vary according to the installation.

The storage temperature of the beer in the storage area may be around 12 C and, on passing through the cooler 2, the temperature of the beer is lowered by heat exchange with the chilled water in the cooler 3.

The temperature of the beer leaving the cooler 2 can be controlled by increasing/decreasing the surface area of the beer lines 12,13 in contact with the chilled water.

Thus, as shown, the beer lines 12,13 are provided with one or more coils 12a, 13a within the cooler 2. By appropriate selection of the length of the coils 12a, 13a, the temperature of the beer leaving the cooler 2 may be lowered by several degrees. For example, the beer temperature may be reduced to a temperature in the range from 2 C to 8 C which may be suitable for dispense of the beer at the dispense head.

The cooling circuit 4 includes a loop 4a for circulating low temperature coolant 3 through a coil 16 located in the tank 15. The temperature of the coolant 3 circulating in the loop 4a is such that the water 14 can form an ice-bank 14a on the coil 16 in periods of low demand to provide a thermal reserve for periods of high demand in which the ice melts to maintain the temperature of the water 14 for cooling the beer in the beer lines 12,13 to the desired temperature. An agitator 17 driven by a motor 18 is operable to circulate the chilled water in the tank 15 to wash over the ice-bank and assists in maintaining a uniform water temperature in the tank 15 as the ice-bank melts.

The cooling circuit 4 further includes a ioop 4b for circulating the coolant 3 within the python 5 to prevent the beer warming up to any appreciable extent between the storage area and the serving area. The beer lines 12,13 are bundled together with supply and return lines of the loop 4b and all the lines are enclosed in the python 5 to reduce heat exchange with the environment.

The cooling circuit 4 also includes a loop 4c for supplying coolant to the serving area in the python 6. The coolant 3 circulated in the loop 4c may be employed to provide cooling in the serving area for different purposes.

For example, the coolant 3 may be employed to form condensation or ice on an outer surface of the dispense head and/or trace cooling of the product lines 12,13 in the dispense head.

Alternatively or additionally, the coolant 3 may be employed to cool further the beer in one or both of the product lines 12,13 from the python 5 to a desired temperature prior to dispense. For example, for dispense of extra-cold beer. Such additional cooling may be provided in a heat exchanger located internally or externally of the dispense head.

The temperature of the coolant 3 supplied to the loops 4b,4c is controlled by a device 19 to raise the temperature of the coolant 3 from minus 10 C so that the beer does not freeze in the python. For example, the temperature of the coolant 3 circulating in the loops 4b,4c may be approximately minus 2 C.

The device 19 may comprise any suitable means for controlling the temperature of the coolant 3 circulating in the loops 4b,4c. For example, the device 19 may comprise a heat exchanger for warming the coolant by heat exchange with air. Alternatively, the device may comprise an electrical heater.

In a modification (not shown), a timer or temperature sensor may be employed to control the circulation of coolant in the circuit 4 to provide an intermittent or pulsed flow of coolant according to cooling demand in the cooler 2 and/or pythons 5,6. Such intermittent or pulsed flow may provide energy savings by reducing operation of the pump used to circulate the coolant The above-described system has a number of benefits for achieving and maintaining a desired beer dispense temperature at all times including periods of high demand. In particular, using coolant 3 from the cooler 1 to cool the water 14 in the cooler 2 and to cool product in the python 5 and to provide an additional supply of coolant to the serving area in the python 6 results in improved product temperature control.

More especially, by cooling the water 14 in the cooler 2 with the coolant 3 from the cooler 1 * the cooler 2 does not require a conventional refrigeration system. As a result, the capacity of the tank 15 can be increased without increasing the overall size of the cooler 2 enabling an additional ice reserve to be produced during the available low serving period recovery times.

Increasing the ice reserve assists in preventing the water bath temperature increasing during periods of heavy demand and thus the desired temperature of the beer leaving the cooler 2 can be maintained.

Moreover, by cooling the python 5 with the coolant 3 from the cooler 1, the core temperature of the python 5 is not affected by heavy demand on the cooler 2. As a result, a stable core temperature can be achieved in the python 5 to prevent the beer warming up not only during periods of high demand but also during periods of Low demand when the beer may be stationary in the python 5 for a period of time between dispenses or overnight.

Furthermore, by supplying coolant to the serving area in the python 6 separate from the product python 5, a source of low temperature coolant is available in the serving area for additional cooling that is not affected by the cooling demand in the cooler 2 and/or in the product python 5.

This may enable the beer temperature to be lowered for dispense of extra-cold beer by employing the coolant from the python 6 in a suitable device such as described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0710489.6 filed 1 June 2007.

In a modification (not shown) of the system shown in Figure 1, the device 19 comprises a separate cooler for the pythons 5,6. Coolant in this separate cooler is cooled by heat exchange with coolant 3 circulating in the cooling circuit 4 from the cooler 1. The coolant from the separate cooler is circulated in the loops 4b,4c by means of a submersible pump driven by a motor.

The circulation of the coolant 3 to cool the coolant in this separate cooler may be controlled to provide an intermittent or pulsed flow of coolant 3 according to the cooling demand in the separate cooler to maintain a desired coolant temperature. For example, the circulation of coolant 3 may be controlled by a valve such as solenoid valve in response to the temperature of the coolant in the cooler. Any suitable coolant may be used in the separate cooler to meet the cooling requirements, for example water or a glycol-water mixture.

Referring now to Figure 2, a modification of the system in Figure 1 is shown in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts. As shown, the re-circulation loop 4b in the product python 5 is supplied with coolant 14 from the cooler 2. For this, the agitator 17 iscombined with a submersible pump 21 driven by the motor 18 for circulating the coolant 14 from the tank 15.

The temperature of the coolant 14 supplied to the python 5 is a few degrees higher than the temperature of the coolant 3 supplied to the python 5 from the device 19 in Figure 1. As a result, the core temperature of the product python 5 is slightly higher than in Figure 1 but the core temperature remains stable due to the larger thermal reserve provided by the ice bank that forms on the coil 16 in the cooler 2.

Referring now to Figure 3 in more detail, a system is shown having a first cooler 101 located in a cellar or other location remote from a bar or other serving area. The first cooler 101 has a tank 103 containing an aqueous waterlglycol mixture 151 up to a level 105 and a refrigeration unit for cooling the mixture to provide a source of sub- zero cooling medium, for example minus 7 C, suitable for the cooling requirements of the system.

The refrigeration unit includes a compressor 107 and a condenser 108 located under the tank 103 and evaporator coils 109 positioned in the tank 103 adjacent its walls. A submerged agitator 111 driven by a motor 113 circulates the water/glycol mixture 151 over the evaporator coils 109 whereby the water/glycol mixture is cooled.

The system has a second cooler 117 also located in the cellar. The second cooler 117 has a tank 119 containing water up to a level 121 and a plurality of product coils indicated generally by reference numeral 123 and a cooling coil 153 adjacent its walls.

The cooling coil 153 forms part of a re-circulation ioop 155 through which cooling medium 151 from the first cooler 101 is circulated by means of a submerged pump 125 driven by motor 113 whereby water in the tank 119 is cooled and an ice bank 154 formed on the coil 153.

As a result, an additional refrigeration unit for the second cooler 117 is not required. Furthermore, the water/glycol temperature in the first cooler can be controlled and used to control the size of the ice bank 154 avoiding the need for electrical or mechanical control of the ice bank 154.

The product coils 123 are connected to beverage sources (not shown) located in the cellar, for example kegs or barrels of beer, lager, cider or stout. A submerged agitator 129 driven by a motor 131 circulates the water over the product coils 123 whereby beverage is cooled to a desired temperature suitable for dispense by passage through the product coils 123.

The product coils 123 are connected to beverage supply lines indicated generally by reference number 124 that pass from the cellar to dispense taps indicated generally by reference numeral 133 in the bar for dispense of chilled beverage into glasses indicated generally by reference numeral 135. ft will be understood that any number of product coils 123, supply lines 124 and dispense taps 133 may be provided as required.

Between the cellar and the bar, the supply lines 124 are contained in an insulated trunk line 137 (also referred to as a python) to reduce heat exchange with the environment. The trunk line 137 also contains a water re-circulation ioop 139 for circulating water from the tank 119 by means of a submerged pump 141 driven by the motor 131.

The chilled water circulating in the loop 139 helps to prevent beverage in the supply lines 124 warming up between the cellar and the bar and may be used to provide additional cooling of the beverage in the bar prior to dispense.

Such additional cooling may be provided by connecting the ioop 139 and supply line 124 of the beverage to be cooled to a heat exchange device 143 before the dispense tap 133. A suitable heat exchange device is described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0710489.6 filed 1 June 2007 although it will be understood that any other suitable device could be employed.

In this embodiment, the water/glycol re-circulation loop 155 also passes from the second cooler 117 to the bar before returning to the first cooler 101. Between the cellar and the bar, the water/glycol re-circulation loop 155 is contained in an insulated trunk line 157 separate from the trunk line 137 containing the beverage supply lines 124 and water re-circulation loop 139.

The sub-zero water/glycol mixture circulating in the re-circulation loop 155 may be used in the bar for a variety of purposes. For example, the water/glycol may be circulated through a heat exchange device 159 to cool beverage prior to dispense to a temperature lower than can be achieved by heat exchange with chilled water from the water re-circulation loop 139 in heat exchange device 143.

The heat exchange device 159 may be of the type described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0710489.6 filed 1 June 2007 or any other suitable device.

Alternatively or additionally, the water/glycol mixture may be employed to generate ice and/or condensation on the outer surface of a font as described in our co-pending UK patent applications No.2400597-A and No.2401423-A.

Alternatively or additionally, the water/glycol mixture may be employed for any other cooling application in the bar such as a wine cooler or cold shelf or cabinet. Other possible uses of the water/glycol cooling medium will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The above-described dispense system has many of the advantages of the previous systems as well as additional benefits. In particular, beverage throughput capacity can be increased compared to a water/glycol only system and any number of product coils can* be accommodated by changing the size of the second cooler.

The water/glycol re-circulation loop enables the range of beverage dispense temperatures that can be achieved to be increased and provides for additional cooling applications in the bar. The thermal reserve provided by the icebank in the second cooler reduces the cooling load on the first (water/glycol) cooler during periods of high demand.

The second cooler can be located semi-remotely from the first cooler.

Alternatively, the coolers can be located side-by side or the second cooler can be located on top of the first cooler.

An existing dispense system employing an ice bank cooler or a water/glycol cooler can be converted by removing the product coils and placing them in a second cooler and using the first cooler to produce a sub-zero water/glycol mixture for producing an ice bank in the second cooler.

Referring now to Figure 4, another system is shown which is a modification of the system shown in Figure 3 and in which parts corresponding to the previous embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals in the series 200.

In this system, the water/glycol re-circulation loop 255 is provided with solenoid valves 261,263 in supply and return lines 255a, 255b controlled by a water/glycol temperature sensor such as a thermistor 265 in the return line 255b in response to cooling requirements.

The cooling coil 253 is connected across the supply and return lines 255a,255b via solenoid valves 267,269 controlled by an ice bank sensor such as a thermostat 271 in response to the size of the ice bank 254 formed on the cooling coil 253 in the second cooler 217.

In this arrangement, when there is a demand for water/glycol cooling in the bar as detected by the thermistor 265 in response to the temperature of the water/glycol in the return line 255b, the solenoid valves 261,263 open and the solenoid valves 267,269 close to isolate the cooling coil 253 from the re-circulation ioop 255. As a result, the pump 225 is operable to deliver water/glycol from the first cooler 201 to the bar through the re-circulation loop 255 to meet the cooling demand.

During off-duty periods when the demand for water/glycol cooling in the bar is low, such as overnight or between serving periods, the solenoid valves 261,263 close and the solenoid valves 267,269 open. As a result, the pump 225 is operable to deliver water/glycol from the first cooler 201 through the cooling coil 253 until the thermostat 271 detects the maximum thickness of the icebank 254 has been formed on the cooling coil 253 causing the solenoid valves 267,269 to close and the pump 225 to operate on no-load (dead-ended) until there is a cooling demand in the bar or the second cooler 217.

When the valves 261,263 are closed, by-pass lines 273,275 allow a reduced flow of water/glycol around the re-circulation ioop 255 to prevent excessive warming up of the water/glycol in the ioop 255 and prevent the valves 261,263 cycling between open and closed conditions in response to small changes in temperature of the water/glycol detected by the thermistor 265.

In a modification (not shown), three-way solenoid valves may be employed in place of valves 261,267 and 263,269. In another modification (not shown), one pair of solenoid valves 261,267 or 263,269 or an equivalent three-way valve may be omitted.

This system has all the advantages of the system shown in Figure 3 with the added advantage that water/glycol circulation to the bar takes precedence over water/glycol circulation to the second cooler when there is a cooling demand in the bar.

Normally this will occur during a serving period when the second cooler will be able to accommodate cooling demand by eroding the icebank formed on the evaporator coil during periods when the cooling demand in the bar is low.

Referring now to Figure 5 in more detail, a system is shown that includes three coolers 50,51,52 located in the storage area remote from the serving area. Each cooler 50,51,52 has a tank 53 containing coolant that is cooled by a refrigeration system 54 including an evaporator coil 55 located in the tank 53 and a compressor 56 located under the tank 53.

The coolers 50,51 contain water 57 that forms an ice-bank 58 on the evaporator coil 55 to provide a thermal reserve for periods of high demand in which the ice melts to maintain the temperature of the water 57 in the tank 53 at or just above zero degrees centigrade. The cooler 52 contains a water/glycol mixture to provide a source of coolant having a temperature below zero degrees centigrade, for example minus 2 C.

A beer line 59 from the beer source in the storage area passes through the cooler 50 and then passes from the storage area to the serving area through an insulated trunk line referred to as a python 60. The python 60 is provided with a re-circulation loop 61 supplied with coolant from the cooler 50 that is circulated by a submersible pump 62 driven by a motor 63 that also drives an agitator 64 to circulate the coolant within the tank 53.

Two beer lines 65,66 from the same or different beer sources pass through the cooler 51 and then pass from the storage area to the serving area through an insulated trunk line referred to as a python 67. The python 67 is provided with a re-circulation ioop 68 supplied with coolant from the cooler 52 that is circulated by a submersible pump 69 driven by a motor 70.

The surface area of the beer lines 65,66 in contact with the coolant in the cooler 51 is increased by providing the lines 65,66 with longer coils 65a,66a compared to the coil 59a of the beer line 59 in the cooler 50. As a result the temperature of the beer leaving the cooler 51 is slightly lower than that leaving the cooler 50.

This lower temperature is maintained for transfer of the beer to the serving area by using a separate supply of lower temperature coolant from the cooler 52 for the re-circulation ioop 68 in the python 67. In this way, the core temperature of the python 67 is lower than that of the python 60.

In the serving area, the beer in lines 59,65,66 may be dispensed at the temperature produced by the remote coolers 50,5 1 in the storage area.

Alternatively, the beer in one or more of the lines 59,65,66 may be further cooled in the serving area before dispense.

The additional product cooling in the serving area may be provided by passing coolant circulating in the coolant ioop of the associated product python 60,67 through a heat exchanger located in the serving area such as the device described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0710489.6 filed 1 June 2007.

Alternatively, the heat exchanger may be supplied with coolant delivered to the serving area in a separate insulated trunk line referred to as a python 71 provided with a re-circulation loop 72 supplied with coolant from the cooler 52 in the same coolant circuit as the re-circulation loop 68 in the python 67.

It will be understood that the coolant circulated in the ioop 72 may be employed for any desired purpose in the serving area, for example to cool the beer as described andlor to create ice or condensation on the outer surface of the dispense head and/or to cool other products in the serving area such as wine coolers or soft drinks and/or for trace cooling of the beer lines in the dispense head.

Referring now to Figure 6, a modification of the system in Figure 5 is shown in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts. As shown, the re-circulation ioop 68 in the product python 67 is supplied with coolant from the cooler 51.

The temperature of the coolant supplied to the python 67 from the cooler 51 is a few degrees higher than the temperature of the coolant supplied to the python 67 from the cooler 52 in Figure 5. As a result, the core temperature of the product python 67 is slightly higher than in Figure 5 but the core temperature remains stable due to the thermal reserve provided by the ice bank that forms on the coil 55 in the cooler 51.

In the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, the ice-bank coolers 50,51 can cool the beer to different temperatures for supply to the dispense head in the serving area. The beer can be further cooled in the serving area to lower the dispense temperature if desired.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for dispensing beverages such as beer at low temperatures. A particular feature of the embodiments described herein is that the systems have application both for new installations and for existing installations where the existing systems can be converted to the lay-outs to make use of some or all of the equipment currently in use.

More especially, an existing system with an ice-bank cooler employing a conventional refrigeration system can be converted to the systems shown in Figures 1 to 4 by using a glycol-water mixture in place of water as the coolant in the existing ice-bank cooler, adapting the temperature controls of the cooler to the glycol-water mixture, and adding a new, larger capacity ice-bank cooler to be cooled by the glycol-water mixture.

Similarly, the systems shown in Figures 5 and 6 can make use of existing equipment for conversion to the system of the invention.

This capability to convert existing systems for dispense of beverages at lower temperatures than currently possible with the existing system is a particular benefit for many users by allowing the improved lower dispense temperatures to be achieved without complete replacement of the existing dispense system.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes can be made without departing from the principles or concepts described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A system for dispensing beverages comprising a serving area, a dispense head at the serving area, a beverage source remote from the serving area, a beverage line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to the dispense head, a beverage cooler remote from the serving area for cooling beverage in the beverage line by heat exchange between the beverage and a coolant in the beverage cooler, a further cooler remote from the serving area for cooling a coolant, and a coolant line for transporting coolant from the further cooler to the serving area.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the coolant in the beverage cooler is cooled by heat exchange with coolant in the coolant line.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the beverage source and coolers are provided at a location remote from the serving area.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein, the beverage line is contained in an insulated beverage trunk line between the remote location and the serving area.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein, the coolant line is contained in the beverage trunk line between the remote location and the serving area.

6. A system according to claim 4 wherein, the coolant line is contained in an insulated coolant trunk line between the remote location and the serving area separate from the beverage trunk line.

7. A system according to any preceding claim wherein, the beverage line and coolant line are connected to a heat exchange device located in the serving area for cooling further the beverage prior to dispense.

8. A system according to any preceding claim wherein, the coolant line is configured to create ice or condensation on an external surface of the dispense head.

9. A system according to any preceding claim wherein, the coolant line is configured to provide trace cooling of the beverage line within the dispense head.

10. A system according to any preceding claim wherein a thermal reserve is provided in the beverage cooler.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the coolant line passes through the beverage cooler and the thermal reserve is provided by coolant in the beverage cooler that freezes on the coolant line.

12. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the coolant line includes means for controlling the temperature of coolant transported to the serving area.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the means comprises a heater.

14. A system according to any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the coolant line includes means for controlling flow of coolant according to cooling demand in the beverage cooler and the serving area.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the means comprises valve means.

16. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the coolant line is provided by a re-circulation loop and coolant supplied to the loop from the further cooler is circulated around the loop and returns to the further cooler.

17. A method of cooling a beverage for dispense comprising the steps of providing a beverage source remote from a serving area including a dispense head, providing a beverage line for transporting beverage from the beverage source to the remote dispense head, providing a cooler remote from the dispense head for cooling the beverage by heat exchange between coolant in the cooler and beverage in the beverage line, and providing a further cooler remote from the dispense head and transporting coolant in the further cooler to the serving area in a cooling line.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein coolant in the beverage cooler is cooled by heat exchange with coolant in the coolant line.

19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein, the beverage line is contained in an insulated trunk line between the beverage cooler and the serving area.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the coolant line is contained in the beverage trunk line between the further cooler and the serving area.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein, the coolant line is contained in an insulated coolant trunk line between the further cooler and the serving area separate from the beverage trunk line.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein the coolant line is contained in the beverage trunk line and in an insulated coolant trunk line separate from the beverage trunk line.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein the coolant line is contained in an insulated coolant trunk line separate from the beverage trunk line and the beverage trunk line contains a further coolant line supplied with coolant from the beverage cooler.

24. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 22 wherein coolant in the coolant line is used for cooling in the serving area.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein coolant in the further coolant line is used for cooling in the serving area.

26. A method according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein coolant in the coolant line and/or further coolant line is used to cool the beverage to lower the dispense temperature.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein, coolant from the coolant line is used to create ice or condensation on an external surface of the dispense head.

28. A method according to claim 17 wherein the beverage line and coolant line are contained in a common insulated trunk line for transporting beverage and coolant to the serving area.

29. A method according to claim 17 wherein, the beverage line and coolant line are contained in separate insulated trunk lines for transporting beverage and coolant to the serving area.

30. A method according to any of claims 17 to 29 wherein, the beverage source and coolers are provided at a location remote from the serving area.

31. A system for dispensing beverages substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A method of cooling a beverage for dispense substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.