WO2008119979A2 - Method for controlling a beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Method for controlling a beverage dispenser Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008119979A2
WO2008119979A2 PCT/GB2008/001129 GB2008001129W WO2008119979A2 WO 2008119979 A2 WO2008119979 A2 WO 2008119979A2 GB 2008001129 W GB2008001129 W GB 2008001129W WO 2008119979 A2 WO2008119979 A2 WO 2008119979A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
barrel
product
orifice
line
pressure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2008/001129
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008119979A3 (en
Inventor
Douglas P. Goulet
Balaji Maniam
Daniel W. Celotta
Original Assignee
Imi Vision Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Imi Vision Limited filed Critical Imi Vision Limited
Publication of WO2008119979A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008119979A2/en
Publication of WO2008119979A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008119979A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
    • B67D1/1252—Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
    • B01F23/2363—Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0015—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
    • B67D1/0016—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components the beverage being stored in an intermediate container before dispensing, i.e. pre-mix dispensers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0057—Carbonators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D7/00—Control of flow
    • G05D7/06—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D7/0617—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials
    • G05D7/0629—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means
    • G05D7/0635—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means by action on throttling means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to frozen beverage machined and in particular, but not exclusively, to a method and apparatus for controlling the rate of delivery of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in a frozen carbonated beverage machine.
  • CO 2 carbon dioxide
  • Frozen carbonated beverages are typically formed from three ingredients, namely water, syrup and CO 2 . These ingredients must be mixed in a product barrel in the correct ratio in order to deliver a drink having the correct consistency.
  • the amount of CO 2 is particularly important in achieving the desired overrun, that is to say the desired "fluffiness" of the carbonated drink.
  • An upstream pressure sensor measures the gas pressure at exit from a known regulator.
  • a solenoid valve is positioned after the pressure sensor in order to control the flow of CO 2 so as to deliver a pressure downstream of the valve of 4psi lower than the pressure at exit from the regulator.
  • the downstream pressure effectively equates to the barrel pressure as the CO 2 line passes through the downstream pressure sensor and into the product barrel.
  • a CO 2 line for a carbonated beverage machine the CO 2 line arranged to deliver CO 2 from a CO 2 tank to a product barrel, the line comprising a solenoid valve upstream of and in fluid connection with an orifice, the orifice being sized such that, in use, the flow through the orifice is choked so as to deliver a constant flow rate of CO 2 into the barrel when the solenoid valve is open.
  • the flow rate of the CO 2 in the line is fixed by the orifice so that the volume of CO 2 entering the product barrel is known for a given period of opening of the solenoid valve. In this way the ratio of the ingredients in the product barrel can be far more accurately controlled.
  • a further advantage is that the ratio of ingredients in the product barrel is controlled on flow rate (ie, unit volume per time) rather than pressure. This is advantageous since volume is the parameter which directly affects the ratio of ingredients and is therefore a far more effective control parameter of drink consistency than pressure.
  • a regulator arranged in the fluid line upstream of the solenoid valve to regulate the pressure of the CO 2 delivered to the solenoid valve to a pressure sufficiently high that the pressure difference across the orifice results in a choked flow.
  • the regulated pressure is 70psi.
  • a carbonated beverage machine comprising: a product barrel for receiving a beverage; and a CO 2 line according to the first aspect of the invention.
  • the beverage received in the product barrel comprises a concentrate and a diluent.
  • the product barrel is refrigerated so as to at least partially freeze the product within the barrel.
  • a method of controlling the production of a carbonated beverage comprising: adding a beverage to a product barrel; regulating a supply pressure of CO 2 to a set value; controlling the amount of CO 2 added to the barrel by opening a valve for a controlled period of time so as to pass CO 2 through an orifice so that the flow is choked, wherein the volume of CO 2 added is a controlled by the valve open time.
  • the method further comprises cooling the product barrel so as to at least partially freeze the product therein.
  • a beverage machine 10 is shown schematically having a product barrel 12 for mixing water, syrup and CO 2 prior to dispensing.
  • the machine has a water line 14 and a syrup line 16 which come together at a T-junction 18.
  • the machine also has a CO 2 line 20 which joins the water-syrup line at a second T-junction 22. Downstream of the second T-junction 22 is a pressure sensor 24 which measures the product barrel pressure.
  • the CO 2 line has a CO 2 tank 26 and a pressure regulator 28 upstream of a "sold-out" sensor 30.
  • the pressure regulator 28 regulates the pressure to in the region of 70psi.
  • Downstream of the sold out sensor is a solenoid valve 32 and fixed orifice 34. Whilst the valve 32 and orifice 34 are shown in close proximity in the figure they could be arranged more distant from one another. Since the barrel pressure is in the region of 30 psi the pressure differential across the orifice 34 is sufficient to choke the orifice meaning that the flow rate downstream of the orifice is fixed. Thus, the volume of CO 2 delivered from the solenoid valve into the product barrel is known for a given period of opening of the valve.
  • the CO 2 line is further provided with a non-return valve 36 so as to maintain the pressure in the product barrel.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

A line (20) for supplying CO2 from a CO2 supply (26) to a product barrel (12) of a carbonated beverage machine is provided with a solenoid valve (32) upstream of and i fluid connection with an orifice (34) sized such that, in use, the flow through the orifi (34) is choked so as to deliver a constant flow rate of CO2 into the product barrel (12) when the solenoid valve (32) is open.

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A BEVERAGE DISPENSER
This invention relates to frozen beverage machined and in particular, but not exclusively, to a method and apparatus for controlling the rate of delivery of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a frozen carbonated beverage machine.
Frozen carbonated beverages are typically formed from three ingredients, namely water, syrup and CO2. These ingredients must be mixed in a product barrel in the correct ratio in order to deliver a drink having the correct consistency.
The amount of CO2 is particularly important in achieving the desired overrun, that is to say the desired "fluffiness" of the carbonated drink.
It is known to control the amount of CO2 delivered to the product barrel as follows. An upstream pressure sensor measures the gas pressure at exit from a known regulator. A solenoid valve is positioned after the pressure sensor in order to control the flow of CO2 so as to deliver a pressure downstream of the valve of 4psi lower than the pressure at exit from the regulator. The downstream pressure effectively equates to the barrel pressure as the CO2 line passes through the downstream pressure sensor and into the product barrel.
However, since the flow rate of the COj is not known in the above system, the open time of the solenoid valve does not correspond exactly to the volume of gas being delivered to the product barrel. Accordingly the consistency of the beverage cannot be controlled accurately.
It is an object of the present invention to at least mitigate the above problem.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a CO2 line for a carbonated beverage machine, the CO2 line arranged to deliver CO2 from a CO2 tank to a product barrel, the line comprising a solenoid valve upstream of and in fluid connection with an orifice, the orifice being sized such that, in use, the flow through the orifice is choked so as to deliver a constant flow rate of CO2 into the barrel when the solenoid valve is open.
Thus the flow rate of the CO2 in the line is fixed by the orifice so that the volume of CO2 entering the product barrel is known for a given period of opening of the solenoid valve. In this way the ratio of the ingredients in the product barrel can be far more accurately controlled.
A further advantage is that the ratio of ingredients in the product barrel is controlled on flow rate (ie, unit volume per time) rather than pressure. This is advantageous since volume is the parameter which directly affects the ratio of ingredients and is therefore a far more effective control parameter of drink consistency than pressure.
Preferably, there is a regulator arranged in the fluid line upstream of the solenoid valve to regulate the pressure of the CO2 delivered to the solenoid valve to a pressure sufficiently high that the pressure difference across the orifice results in a choked flow. Most preferably the regulated pressure is 70psi.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a carbonated beverage machine comprising: a product barrel for receiving a beverage; and a CO2 line according to the first aspect of the invention.
Preferably, the beverage received in the product barrel comprises a concentrate and a diluent.
Preferably, the product barrel is refrigerated so as to at least partially freeze the product within the barrel. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling the production of a carbonated beverage comprising: adding a beverage to a product barrel; regulating a supply pressure of CO2 to a set value; controlling the amount of CO2 added to the barrel by opening a valve for a controlled period of time so as to pass CO2 through an orifice so that the flow is choked, wherein the volume of CO2 added is a controlled by the valve open time.
Preferably, the method further comprises cooling the product barrel so as to at least partially freeze the product therein.
The invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to accompanying Figure 1 which shows a schematic representation of the CO2 line of the present invention.
In Figure 1, a beverage machine 10 is shown schematically having a product barrel 12 for mixing water, syrup and CO2 prior to dispensing. The machine has a water line 14 and a syrup line 16 which come together at a T-junction 18. The machine also has a CO2 line 20 which joins the water-syrup line at a second T-junction 22. Downstream of the second T-junction 22 is a pressure sensor 24 which measures the product barrel pressure.
The CO2 line has a CO2 tank 26 and a pressure regulator 28 upstream of a "sold-out" sensor 30. The pressure regulator 28 regulates the pressure to in the region of 70psi. Downstream of the sold out sensor is a solenoid valve 32 and fixed orifice 34. Whilst the valve 32 and orifice 34 are shown in close proximity in the figure they could be arranged more distant from one another. Since the barrel pressure is in the region of 30 psi the pressure differential across the orifice 34 is sufficient to choke the orifice meaning that the flow rate downstream of the orifice is fixed. Thus, the volume of CO2 delivered from the solenoid valve into the product barrel is known for a given period of opening of the valve. The CO2 line is further provided with a non-return valve 36 so as to maintain the pressure in the product barrel. Although in the embodiment described the CO2, water and syrup lines merge prior to entering the barrel, any or all of the lines could enter the barrel separately.

Claims

Claims:
1 A CO2 supply line for a carbonated beverage machine, the CO2 line arranged to deliver CO2 from a CO2 supply to a product barrel, the line comprising: a solenoid valve upstream of and in fluid connection with an orifice, the orifice being sized such that, in use, the flow through the orifice is choked so as to deliver a constant flow rate of CO2 into the barrel when the solenoid valve is open.
2 The CO2 line according to claim 1 further comprising a regulator arranged therein, upstream of said solenoid valve.
3 The CO2 line according to claim 2, wherein said regulator is arranged to regulate the pressure of the CO2 delivered to said orifice to a pressure sufficiently high so that the pressure difference across the orifice results in a choked flow therethrough.
4 The CO2 line according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising: a non return valve to prevent backflow of CO2 in the line from the barrel.
5 A carbonated beverage machine comprising: a product barrel for receiving a beverage; and a CO2 line according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6 A carbonated beverage machine according to claim 5 wherein: the beverage received in the product barrel comprises a concentrate and a diluent.
7 A carbonated beverage machine according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the product barrel is refrigerated so as to at least partially freeze the product within the barrel.
8 A method of controlling the production of a carbonated beverage comprising: adding a beverage to a product barrel regulating a supply pressure of CO2 to a set value; controlling the amount of CO2 added to the barrel by opening a valve for a controlled period of time so as to pass CO2 through an orifice so that the flow is choked, wherein the volume of CO2 added is a controlled by the valve open time.
9 The method according to claim 8 further comprising: cooling the product barrel so as to at least partially freeze the product therein.
PCT/GB2008/001129 2007-03-29 2008-03-28 Method for controlling a beverage dispenser WO2008119979A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0706106.2 2007-03-29
GBGB0706106.2A GB0706106D0 (en) 2007-03-29 2007-03-29 Method for controlling a beverage dispenser

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008119979A2 true WO2008119979A2 (en) 2008-10-09
WO2008119979A3 WO2008119979A3 (en) 2008-12-11

Family

ID=38050442

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2008/001129 WO2008119979A2 (en) 2007-03-29 2008-03-28 Method for controlling a beverage dispenser

Country Status (2)

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GB (1) GB0706106D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2008119979A2 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3226099A (en) * 1962-05-07 1965-12-28 Vendo Co Apparatus for preparing and discharging water having controlled amounts of carbonation
AU529557B2 (en) * 1979-11-09 1983-06-09 Cornelius Co., The Carbonator water level control
US5033645A (en) * 1987-10-13 1991-07-23 Abc/Sebrn Tech Corp. Carbonation system for soft drink dispenser
EP1421988A1 (en) * 2001-08-28 2004-05-26 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Device and method for manufacturing carbonated spring and carbonic water, control method for gas density applied thereto, and membrane module
US20040124548A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-07-01 Gyorgy Rona Carbonation system and method

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3226099A (en) * 1962-05-07 1965-12-28 Vendo Co Apparatus for preparing and discharging water having controlled amounts of carbonation
AU529557B2 (en) * 1979-11-09 1983-06-09 Cornelius Co., The Carbonator water level control
US5033645A (en) * 1987-10-13 1991-07-23 Abc/Sebrn Tech Corp. Carbonation system for soft drink dispenser
US20040124548A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-07-01 Gyorgy Rona Carbonation system and method
EP1421988A1 (en) * 2001-08-28 2004-05-26 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Device and method for manufacturing carbonated spring and carbonic water, control method for gas density applied thereto, and membrane module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008119979A3 (en) 2008-12-11
GB0706106D0 (en) 2007-05-09

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