CA2679351A1 - Device and method for cooling beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser (1000) for dispensing a beverage comprising: a refrigerant circuit (41); a reservoir (10) adapted to contain said refrigerant in liquid form coming from this first pipe (20) in its lower part and permettre evaporation of said refrigerant in gaseous form, and adapted to contain said refrigerant under gaseous form in its upper part; a second pipe (30) adapted to take the refrigerant gas-like form of said reservoir (10); at least one conduit (40) adapted to circulate said beverage to be dispensed inside said reservoir (10) and e n heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant in liquid and / or gaseous form.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COOLING BEVERAGES
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and a method allowing to cool and distribute drinks. In particular, the invention relates to a device and a method for cooling and dispensing of the beer and other drinks in a flying pump.
BACKGROUND

[0002] Systems for a long time have been known to perform the distribution of beverages such as beer, sparkling wines, sodas, etc.
while keeping the drinks at a given temperature that can vary from one drink to another. In the case of beer, for example, we know that below a temperature of -1.5 C it freezes and above 40 C it foam and that the tasting temperature depends on the type of beer (so depending on the type of beer, the temperature allows the drink to reveal its tastes, aromas and fragrances). Typically, two methods are known for cool drinks.

The first method is that where a coil or a tank containing a drink, bathes either in an ice bath or in a bath refrigerated water by a conventional refrigeration unit. In this respect we can refer to the apparatus described by the patent FR2684088. In case the coil or the tank is bathed in an ice bath, one can observe as main disadvantages: the low efficiency of heat transfer ice and its price, as well as the difficulty in obtaining and transporting blocks of ice whose longevity is limited. In the case where the coil or tank is immersed in a chilled water bath by a refrigeration unit classical, we can observe as main disadvantages of such a device:

the need to have a tank of significant dimensions to contain refrigerated water, the long filling time of the water tank (this who is not easy for a pump-out distribution), as well as time cooling of the water volume and therefore the significant delay in the implementation of serving the appliance and dispensing a first cooled drink.

[0004] The second method is that where a reservoir containing a drink is surrounded by an evaporator (so in direct contact with it) of a conventional cooling circuit. The tank is integrated in a insulated compartment and it is cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator. In this respect reference may be made to US Pat. No. 3,712,514, whose main disadvantages are: the cooling time of the tank which must be cooled completely before distribution, the dimensions important of the insulated chamber containing the tank and the evaporator, and the presence of air (with a very low heat exchange coefficient) between tank and the evaporator.

Also known from FR 2815024 is a distributor of refrigerated drink in which the beverage is cooled by two means refrigerants. However this dispenser is suitable for a small flow of drinks. In addition, this document describes a method comprising both the method described by FR2684088 and that described by US3712514.

Also known by US5970732 a system of cooling of beverages in which a drink is cooled by means of a heat exchanger. In this system, the heat exchange is realized by direct thermal contact between the drink and the coolant circulating inside this exchanger, these two liquids being separated by a metal surface. However, this system has the disadvantages following. The construction of such a system is complex and expensive, due to the presence of the set of plates arranged at a precise distance b and difficult to achieve. Therefore, the cleaning inside of exchanger is practically impossible because of the presence of areas with difficulty accessible. In addition, this system involves high risks of contamination of the beverage with refrigerant gas due to a defect sealing (thus a defect of a weld or a perforation in the zone separation between the drink and the gas). In addition, the heat exchanger requires, for its own operation, a liquid separator 3. Due to the shape of the latter, the heat exchanger can not be easily insulated. In addition, this system can cool only one drink at a time. So, in the case where a large draw is requested and a first barrel is empty, before being able to continue the distribution it is necessary wait replace the empty drum with a full drum, or have a second heat exchanger waiting for use.

[0007] Three types of compressor unit used in this type are known.
type of application:
- open group: in which the compressor and the engine are separated and are interconnected by belts or a transmission mechanical. This compressor unit is available in mono or phase. However, this compressor unit is very heavy, bulky and expensive;
- semi hermetic group: in which the engine and the compressor are directly assembled against each other. mating between the engine and the compressor is therefore not accessible (unless dissociate the two parts by disassembly). This compressor unit is reparable. However, this compressor unit is very expensive and exists than three-phase and above 1.5 Ch. This type of compressor unit is only therefore not suitable for a Flying Pump Dispenser as it requires a three-phase plug;
hermetic group: in which the engine and the compressor are confined in a hermetic bell not dismountable hence their name. This compressor unit is available in single phase (for small powers, ie below 1.5 Ch). This group is provided with a relay and a starter capacitor and sometimes also a permanent capacitor. However, this compressor unit has a risk of overheating of said relay and of the starting capacitor during frequent stops and starts.

The invention aims to provide a drink dispenser cooled not having all these disadvantages.

In particular, the invention aims to provide a distributor of drinks to continuously and instantly cool a source of drink, including when the drum containing a drink is at a temperature high, without having an intermediate between the refrigerant and the conduit of drink. In addition, the object of the invention is to provide a distributor of drinks to cool beverages without the need for water or bench ice, no mass or agitator to create a reserve and exchange heat. The invention aims, finally, to provide a distributor of beverages for use in a pump, so a distributor easily movable, easy to install and allowing the distribution of chilled beverages shortly after installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for the distribution of a drink comprising a refrigerant circuit comprising:
= a compressor that compresses the refrigerant in phase gaseous, increasing its temperature; said compressor being a single-phase compressor;
= a condenser that lowers the temperature and condenses the refrigerant gas;
= means able to reduce the pressure of said refrigerant passing through a first channel, said first pipe adapted to circulate said refrigerant under liquid form;
a reservoir capable of containing said refrigerant in liquid form coming from this first pipe in its lower part and to allow the evaporation of said refrigerant in the form of gas, and adapted to contain said refrigerant in the form gaseous in its upper part;
a second pipe capable of taking the refrigerant under gaseous form of said reservoir;
at least one duct capable of circulating said beverage to be dispensed at inside said tank and in heat exchange relation with the refrigerant in liquid and / or gaseous form.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the distributor of drinks also includes = an auxiliary circuit connected to the cooling circuit by two connections, the first of which is between the exit compressor and the condenser, and the second between the compressor inlet and the tank;
= two check valves placed, respectively, between the first connection and the condenser, and between the tank and the second connection, able to close automatically if the refrigerant flows from the condenser to said auxiliary circuit or circuit auxiliary to the tank;
= a balancing valve, normally open when the compressor is stationary, placed inside the auxiliary circuit to balance the pressure inside said auxiliary circuit and closed at startup said compressor;
= a magnetic valve, normally closed when the compressor is stationary, placed between the condenser and the tank, to stop the refrigerant flow from the condenser to the reservoir and opened during starting said compressor.

[0012] Advantageously, the beverage dispenser comprises a thermostat adapted to measure the temperature inside said tank and to make stop or restart said compressor. This restart is executed from preferably after a delay of at least 4 seconds

In a preferred variant of the invention, said reservoir includes inside a cylinder welded to the bottom of said tank and opened on the top adapted to allow the collection of refrigerant form gas in the upper part of said tank and its evacuation by the second channel to said compressor. This cylinder also allows to increase, for a given volume of refrigerant, the level of this last inside the tank in order to improve the heat exchange between the fluid and drink.

[0014] Advantageously, said at least one duct is surrounded around of said cylinder.

Advantageously, said duct is a coil, which can be Stainless steel.

In another preferred variant of the invention, said at least one a duct is inserted into a tube to form a double wall duct so to avoid any risk of food contamination in the event of leakage coil.

[0017] Advantageously, this tube is made of copper.

[0018] Preferably, the beverage dispenser comprises a safety pressure switch adapted to start or stop said compressor 50

The present invention finally relates to the use of a beverage dispenser pump.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 is a simplified view of a device for cooling the drinks of the prior art.

[0021] FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of a mode of preferred embodiment of a beverage dispenser according to the invention.

FIG. 3 represents a schematic view of a general mode.
operation of the beverage dispenser of FIG.

FIG. 4 illustrates an advantageous embodiment of the distributor of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF
THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 is a simplified view of a device for cooling of the prior art beverages in which a pipe 100 (eg a coil) carrying a drink is dipped in a water tank containing ice.

[0025] FIG. 2 represents a general block diagram of a mode operating a beverage dispenser according to the invention. The 1000 distributor includes:
= a source of refrigerant (such as a conventional refrigerant circuit with for example R22, R404 or R407, or a bottle of liquefied gas containing, for example, CO2, etc.);

= a tank 10 heat insulated, cylinder-shaped 28cm in diameter and 40cm high sheet metal 4mm thick, able to contain said refrigerant liquid form in its lower part and to allow the evaporation of it, and to contain the refrigerant gaseous form in its upper part;
= a first pipe 20 for transporting the refrigerant under liquid form in the lower part of the tank 10;
= a second pipe 30 able to take the refrigerant under gaseous form of the upper part of the tank;
= a conduit 40 able to circulate the drink to be distributed inside of said tank and make it cool by heat exchange with the fluid refrigerant in liquid and gaseous form.

[0026] Figure 3 schematically shows a distributor of favorite drinks in which the source of refrigerant is a circuit conventional refrigeration according to the invention. The distributor 1000 includes = a refrigerant circuit 41 comprising:
^ a single phase 50 compressor unit (referred to below for simplicity compressor 50) that compresses a fluid refrigerant in the gas phase;
a condenser 60 which, cooled by water or by external air, lowers the temperature and condenses the refrigerant gas;
a dehydrator 70 and a pressure reducer 80 which reduce the pressure said refrigerant passing through the pipe 20 and going to the tank 10;
^ a thermostat 90 able to measure the temperature inside said tank 10;
= an auxiliary circuit 42 connected to the refrigerant circuit 41 by two connections 42a and 42b, the first between the output of the compressor 50 and the condenser 60, and the second between the inlet of the compressor 50 and the reservoir 10;
= two non-return valves 43 and 43 'placed, respectively, between the connection 42a and the condenser 60, and between the tank 10 and the connection 42b;

= a balancing valve 44, normally open, placed in the auxiliary circuit 42;
= a normally closed magnetic valve 45 placed between the condenser 60 and the reservoir 10.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compressor 50 is selected from hermetic conditioning groups of air in single phase. This choice is preferred to refrigerated compressors because they are provided in higher powers, and have neither relays nor ... `~ .....
starting capacitor. This choice therefore has the advantage of being less expensive to equal power. Moreover, they do not have the disadvantage warming up the relay and starting capacitor. These groups compressor are originally designed to start 7 to 8 times per hour, with each time, a minimum stop of 2 to 3 minutes. They exist in single phase and use R22, R404A, R507, R407C and R410A fluids.

The power of said compressor 50 is calculated according to the desired flow of beverage. In the case of a pump, the flow is calculated continuously with a differential of about 26 C. For example, in order to cool 150 liters of beer from 27 C to 10 C in one hour, the compressor 50 must have a power of about 4000 W (at an evaporation temperature at 0 C).

The preferred beverage dispenser 1000 is used in the manner next. When the distributor 1000 is switched on, and when the thermostat 90 commands the compressor 50 to start, the latter compresses the refrigerant in the gas phase. During operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 44, which is supplied in parallel compressor 50, is closed and thus prevents the circulation refrigerant in the auxiliary circuit 42 and prevents, therefore, balancing the pressure of the refrigerant entering and leaving the 50. In the same way, during the operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 45 is open, allowing the free circulation of the fluid in the refrigerant circuit 41. The refrigerant in gas phase, compressed by the compressor 50, goes through the condenser 60 which, cooled by water or by outside air, causes its temperature and the condensate in liquid form. The refrigerant in liquid form passes by a dehydrator 70 and an expander 80 which ensure the good filling the tank 10 while controlling the good evaporation of the Refrigerant. This first part of the cooling circuit is characterized by a high pressure of the fluid exiting compressor 50 and entering the expander 80. When the fluid in liquid form enters the tank 10, passing through the expander 80 and through the pipe 20, it will be place in the lower part of the tank 10 and boil taking heat from his environment. The drink, circulating in the led 40, typically a stainless steel coil 21 m in length, to inside the tank 10, is therefore cooled by the exchange between this duct 40 and the refrigerant in liquid form and gas. In order to avoid any risk of leakage and contamination of the drink, the duct 40 is, in a variant of the invention, inserted into a tube of copper, that is to say forming a double-walled conduit having the intermediate between the two walls at atmospheric pressure. The refrigerant under gaseous form is evacuated via the pipe 30 which leads the latter to the compressor 50. The second part of the cooling circuit is characterized by a low pressure of the fluid exiting the expander 80 and entering the compressor 50.

When the compressor 50 is stopped, or when the temperature measured inside the tank 10 by the thermostat 90 reaches the value required when the valve is de-energized, the valve magnetic 44 inside the auxiliary circuit 42 is open, while the valve magnetic 45 is closed and the two non-return valves 43, 43 'close automatically any reflux of the refrigerant. In this way, it is possible to balance the pressure of the refrigerant inside the circuit auxiliary 42 without balancing the pressure (and therefore the temperature) to interior of the tank 10 and the condenser 60. The balancing between the high pressure of the fluid leaving the compressor 50 and the low pressure of the fluid entering the compressor 50 allows it to be able to restart easily after a stop and maintain unchanged the temperature inside the tank 10 and of condenser 60. With this mechanism, it can be used as a compressor the compressor unit 50 described in paragraph [0027] and avoid by therefore the use of a three-phase compressor unit requiring a three-phase, which would limit the possibility of using the pump distributor Flying.
The single-phase compressor 50 has a power of between 0.5 and 4 CH.

As shown in FIG. 4, in another variant of the invention the second pipe 30 can be replaced by a cylinder 31, welded in the bottom of the tank 10, open on the top allowing the output of the gaseous refrigerant from the upper part of said tank 10. This cylinder 31 is placed inside the tank and is surrounded through line 40 containing the drink. The presence of this cylinder 31 allows to increase the level of liquid refrigerant contained in the tank 10, and thus to improve the heat exchange between the drink and the same refrigerant, and thus reduce the cooling time of said drink inside the tank 10.

In another variant of the invention, the tank 10 can also provide several drink ducts 40, surrounded around the cylinder 11, without the need for other heat exchangers. This variant is particularly advantageous since it allows a distribution important and continuous drinks and therefore avoids the waste of time during the change of empty barrels or allows different choices of drinks.

[0033] It is obvious that when the inside of the tank 10 is at temperature, it is no longer necessary to cool the beverage that might otherwise freeze or be too cold to be distributed.

According to the invention, it is possible, when the temperature of said tank 10 reaches an adjustable minimum threshold, to stop compressor 50 at using a thermostat 90.

With a mechanical thermostat, the differential stop / walk is in general 2 C and the reaction time is very long. Variations of temperature would be great, the compressor would recover too late en route and the power of it could not make up for the delay during an instantaneous flow.

In the invention, a thermostat is preferably used.
electronic system, with which it is possible to adjust the temperature and differential stop / run at 0.1 C. For example: the liquid coming out of the evaporator is at 0.1 c, the compressor stops, if the differential is set to 0.4c the compressor will restart when the temperature in the evaporator will be 0.5 c. The downtime, therefore, can be very short especially so precisely at that time we began to debit. The weather must be calculated as short as possible and must be adjusted by the differential off / on the thermostat, this one at a certain reading speed (speed minimum and maximum). Whatever the speed of reading or the minimum of differential, it must at least provide 4 seconds of compressor shutdown.
No original single-phase hermetic compressor can only restart normally after so little time without the balancing mechanism of the high and low pressure fluid previously described in the paragraph [0026].

During large temperature differences (for example during the getting started), the actual temperature at evaporation will go down faster than the display at the electronic thermostat 90. Not to go below of a threshold (typically 0 C), the distributor 1000 comprises, in a advantageous variant of the invention, a safety pressure switch (not shown) able to stop the compressor 50 when the pressure inside the tank 10 reaches the value corresponding to the value of the required temperature.

By means of the beverage dispenser, according to the invention, it is possible to build a compact and simple device. In addition, the distributor of the invention requires no reserve of cold (ice or chilled water).
In addition, the dispenser of the invention makes it easy to respond to safety standards imposing a double wall by inserting the conduit 40 into stainless steel inside a tube, for example a copper tube. In addition, we have experienced that the distributor, according to the invention, can distribute after a few minutes a drink at a temperature of 2, while the barrel containing this drink is at 27.

Claims (11)

Beverage dispenser (1000) for dispensing a drink comprising:
a refrigerant circuit (41) comprising:
.cndot. a compressor (50) which compresses the refrigerant into gaseous phase, increasing its temperature; said compressor being a single-phase compressor;
.cndot. a condenser (60) which lowers the temperature and condenses refrigerant gas;
.cndot. means (80) adapted to reduce the pressure of said fluid refrigerant passing through a first pipe (20), said first pipe (20) adapted to circulate said fluid refrigerant in liquid form;
a reservoir (10) capable of containing said refrigerant in the form of liquid coming from this first pipe (20) in its part lower and allow the evaporation of said refrigerant under gaseous form, and adapted to contain said refrigerant under gaseous form in its upper part;
a second pipe (30) capable of withdrawing the refrigerant in gaseous form of said reservoir (10);
at least one duct (40) able to circulate said drink to distributing inside said reservoir (10) and in exchange relation thermal with the refrigerant in liquid form and / or gas. Beverage dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises:
a circuit (42) connected to said refrigerant circuit (41) by two connections (42a) and (42b), the first of which lies between the compressor outlet (50) and the condenser (60), and the second located between the compressor inlet (50) and the reservoir (10) - two non-return valves (43) and (43 ') placed, respectively, between the connection (42a) and the condenser (60), and between the reservoir (10) and the connection (42b), able to automatically close the reflux of said refrigerant from the condenser (60) to said circuit (42) or circuit (42) to the tank (10);
- a balancing valve (44), normally open when the compressor (50) is stationary inside the circuit (42) to balance the pressure inside said circuit (42) and closed when starting said compressor (50);
a magnetic valve (45), normally closed when the compressor (50) is stationary between the condenser (60) and the tank (10) to stop the flow of refrigerant from the condenser (60) to the reservoir (10) and opened during starting said compressor (50). 3. Beverage dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises a thermostat (90) adapted to measure the temperature inside said reservoir (10) and starting or stopping said compressor 50. 4. Beverage vending machine according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that said reservoir (10) comprises inside a cylinder (31) welded to the bottom of said tank (10) and open at the top, capable of allowing the collection of the refrigerant gaseous form in the upper part of said tank (10) and its evacuation by the second pipe (30) to said compressor (50). Beverage dispenser according to Claim 4, characterized in that said at least one duct (40) is surrounded around said cylinder (31). 6. Beverage dispenser according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that said conduit (40) is a coil. Beverage dispenser according to Claim 6, characterized in that this coil is made of stainless steel. 8. Beverage vending machine according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one conduit (40) is inserted into a tube to form a double-walled conduit to avoid any risk of food contamination in the event of a leak at coil. Beverage dispenser according to Claim 8, characterized in that said tube is made of copper. 10. Beverage vending machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a pressure switch security able to start or stop said compressor 50. 11. Use of the beverage dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 for dispensing pumped beverages Flying.