EP2038593A1 - Chemical cooling - Google Patents

Chemical cooling

Info

Publication number
EP2038593A1
EP2038593A1 EP07764459A EP07764459A EP2038593A1 EP 2038593 A1 EP2038593 A1 EP 2038593A1 EP 07764459 A EP07764459 A EP 07764459A EP 07764459 A EP07764459 A EP 07764459A EP 2038593 A1 EP2038593 A1 EP 2038593A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
acid
container
reactants
cooling
temperature
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07764459A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Steen Vesborg
Jan Nørager RASMUSSEN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carlsberg Breweries AS
Original Assignee
Carlsberg Breweries AS
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 Carlsberg Breweries AS filed Critical Carlsberg Breweries AS
Publication of EP2038593A1 publication Critical patent/EP2038593A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D5/00—Devices using endothermic chemical reactions, e.g. using frigorific mixtures
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K5/00—Heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants; Materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion
    • C09K5/16—Materials undergoing chemical reactions when used
    • C09K5/18—Non-reversible chemical reactions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
    • F25D31/006—Other cooling or freezing apparatus specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks
    • F25D31/007—Bottles or cans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/803—Bottles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/805—Cans

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle, which content, i.e. beverages is cooled by a chemical reaction.
  • the chemical reaction generates cooling energy which is used to cool the beverages of the container.
  • the invention relates to a cooling method in which the beverages of a container, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle, is cooled by a chemical reaction which generates cooling energy. Both instant cooling and controlled prolonged and continuous cooling are possible to achieve by means of the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to a system comprising more than one container, in which a chemical reaction in a first container cools the beverages of another container.
  • Cooling of vessels known today is related to costly systems wherein an external force for heat exchange is used.
  • This system comprises a cooling medium which flows in e.g. coils or at least outside a cooling area, like a wall, and by heat exchange cools the content of a container.
  • a cooling medium which flows in e.g. coils or at least outside a cooling area, like a wall, and by heat exchange cools the content of a container.
  • One example is e.g. a cooling pump.
  • the system is run by means of some kind of external energy, e.g. electric energy, and sometimes in the combination with use of a change in state of aggregation from liquid to gas of the cooling medium, as in the case of evaporation mentioned above where vacuum is employed.
  • the prior art document DE29911156U1 discloses a beverage can which comprises a single or a multipart cooling element.
  • the cooling element is an external system in that it is separately mounted on the wall lining of the beverage.
  • the cooling element comprises at least two reactants which are separated from each other by a breakable barrier. Upon manual breakage of the barrier the reactants are mixed providing an endothermal reaction.
  • US 6.338.252B1 discloses a single-use heat or cold transfer container for e.g. beverages.
  • the technical principles of said container corresponds essentially to the external cooling system according to DE29911156U1 except for the fact that the heating or cooling unit in US 6.338.252B1 is5 integrated into the product container.
  • GB 2.384.846A discloses a beverage can which comprises a device for cooling pressurised beverages.
  • the cooling device contains at least two reactants separated by a uk diaphram. After opening of the can and the0 resulting drop in pressure, the diaphram changes shape whereby the reactant are mixed. The mixing of reactants generates an endotherm reaction.
  • DE29911156U1 , US 6.338.252B1 and GB 2.384.846A are based on a non-controiable reaction for instant 5 cooling of the beverages. Such reactions are provided via external or "semi- external" cooling system. However, neither of these systems result in prolonged continuous and contolled temperature reduction.
  • the present invention is aimed at providing a prolonged continuous o and contolled temperature reduction directed to solving the problems associated with external system for the cooling of beverages in containers, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle.
  • the present invention provides simple and cost efficient alternative solutions to the relatively complex and costly cooling systems known in the art.
  • the present invention provides a method for the cooling of the beverages in a a container by use of a chemical reaction which provides cooling energy.
  • the need of cooling in this case is usually instantaneous, both some reactions are quite slow and therefore able to provide a cooling which is longer but not as rapid. This could be preferred in some cases when a stable temperature is required during a longer time.
  • a controlled stable temperature reduction is obtained by controlled continous addition of reactants.
  • the present invention provides a system for cooling beverages, comprising
  • the mechanism for controlled mixing is activated manually and subsequently automatically controls the mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain the stable predetermined target temperature.
  • the mechanism is activated when opening the beverage container.
  • the mechanism comprises a switch which opens when the temperature of the beverage is higher than a predetermined level and closes when the temperature of the beverage is at or below the predetermined temperature.
  • the switch is a bimetal switch.
  • one of the containers is positioned inside the second container.
  • the containers are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles.
  • the beverages being cooled are chosen from the group consisting of beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks and lemonade.
  • At least one of the reactants is an acid.
  • the acid is citric acid.
  • the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
  • At least one of the reactants is ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride or calcium chloride In a further preferred embodiment of the invention.the at least two reactants and the products obtained by the reaction are non-toxic.
  • a beverage container comprising a cooling system according to any one of the preferred embodiments is provided.
  • the present invention provides a system for cooling beverages, which system comprises at least one container, which at least one container besides the content being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverages
  • the system comprises more than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately.
  • One specific embodiment in this sense is a system comprising two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container and the beverages being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers. Examples where the beverages being cooled normally is positioned inside the inner container are a keg-in-keg or a bag-in- box.
  • All endothermal reactions can in principle be used in a system according to the present invention Due to the fact that the endothermal reactions require heat energy, as such they also cool the environment during reaction.
  • at least one of the reactants is a viscous gel. In the case of a separate reaction not in contact with the content being cooled, as is the case with more than one container, this is preferred due to the good heat transfer properties of a viscous gel.
  • Examples of different kinds of containers according to the invention are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles. Keg-in-kegs and bag-in-boxes with two containers each are also possible types according to the invention.
  • the system according to the invention can also be a system for dispensing beverages.
  • the content being cooled or the beverages in a system for dispensing beverages is beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks or lemonade.
  • both systems wherein the reactants are in contact with the beverages of a container which is to be cooled, such as the case with a single container, and systems where the reaction takes place in a separate environment separated from the beverages, are possible according to the invention. In the latter it is important to achieve good heat transfer conditions.
  • This embodiment of the present invention also diminished the importance of using non-toxic reactions, that is reactions with non-toxic reactants and giving non-toxic products, but they are still preferred.
  • One requirement of the present invention is of course that actual reaction occurs, i.e. that the reactants react with each other under the applied conditions.
  • the preferred applied conditions regarding e.g. applied pressure differ from reaction to reaction and have to be chosen on basis of that.
  • the reactions are non-toxic in most applications, but toxic ones are possible to use in some cases.
  • Suitable reactants include acids, e.g. citric acid, acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride and calcium chloride, but other reactants are also possible to use.
  • a beverage such as beer, juice, soda, mineral water, a soft drink or lemonade, is cooled by a reaction involving citric acid as one of the reactants.
  • One possible endothermal reaction according to the present invention also is
  • the endothermal reaction is a dissolution reaction wherein crystals are dissolved in water.
  • examples of such preferred reactions are a) NH 4 NO 3 + H 2 O b) Citric acid + H 2 O c) Urea + H 2 O d) Sodiumacetate +H2O e) Sodiumnitrate + H2O f) Sodiumformiate + H2O
  • examples of other salts which can be used in the present invention are maltose , sodiumnitrite , magnesiumsulphate, 6 H 2 O, calciumchloride 6H 2 O and magnesiumnitrate.
  • Other preferred salts are the corresponding phosphate salts and sodium sulphate.
  • combinations of more than one salt may be used. In particular if the salts do not give rise to identical ions, such as e.g. a combination of ammonium nitrate and citric acid a dramatic temperature reduction may be obtained.
  • the dry reactant is present in concentric containers. These can be arranged in each bottle or can or in a special thermo-bucket or alternatively in a waterproof "6-pack".
  • the reactants may be in a plastic bag with a breakable barrier which separates the salts from the water.
  • reaction is controllable and also independent of the orientation of the container (inclined, inversed etc.)
  • the cooling of the reaction is instantaneously, i.e. the cooling energy of the reaction is transferred to the content being cooled instantaneously.
  • the cooling energy is transferred until at least one of the reactants is consumed or until temperature equilibrium between the content of the container and the temperature required for starting the reaction is obtained. Thereafter the cooling energy transfer is stopped.
  • the instantaneously cooling is of course preferably performed to a preferred range of temperature for the content being cooled.
  • the reactants are supplied continuously to a container or a system comprising more than one container, therefore making it possible to cool continuously. In this case it is important to use reactants and a preferred reaction which are linked together with the desired temperature of the content of a container.
  • the method comprises holding the beverages being cooled and the reactants together in one mixture in a container, whereby direct cooling in the mixture is performed.
  • the method comprises holding the beverages being cooled and the reactants separately in different containers, whereby the cooling is performed via the wall of the container with the content being cooled. Examples of systems wherein such a cooling method can be applied are keg-in-kegs and bag-in-boxes.
  • the reactants are supplied or feed continuously to the system to achieve continuous cooling.
  • reactants are supplied or feed to the system manually, i.e. reactans are mixed or supplied manually when cooling is required.
  • the reactants are mixed in a cascade arrangement, i.e. a first portion of water reacts with a first solid reactant resulting in cooling of a second portion of water which subsequently reacts with another solid reactant reducing the temperature further.
  • the mixing of the chemical components is controlled by a switch which opens when the temperature of the beverage is higher than a predetermined level and closes when the temperature of the beverage is at or below the predetermined temperature.
  • This "Thermostat principle" allows for an initial rapid cooling of the beverage and subsequently that the temperature of the beverage is maintained at the desired level.
  • a target temperature e.g. 5 0 C, can be selected.
  • the temperature-sesitive switch is a bimetal switch.
  • Bi-metal refers to an object that is composed of two separate metals joined together, instead of being a mixture of two or more metals, like alloys, bimetallic objects consist of layers of different metals.
  • a bi- metallic shutter in the form of e.g. a tongue, strip or disc can thus convert a temperature change into mechanical displacement.
  • the two reactants are thus separated by a wall, wherein an opening is shut by a bi-metal shutter when the temperature is at or below the target temperature.
  • the bi-metal shutter bends away from the opening and allows water to enter.
  • the bi-metal shutter bends back and closes the opening, effectively reducing or stopping the mixing of the two reactants thus reducing or stopping the progression of the endothermal reaction.
  • the opening in the wall between the compartments containing the reactants is blocked such that only after removal of said blockage, the bi-metal shutter controls the opening /closing of the switch.
  • the blockage is a pin situated in the compartment containing the water and resting on a diaphragm which can flex upwards. When the pressure of the beverage container is reduced, typically by opening the container, the diaphragm flexes upward and thereby the 'locking'-pin is removed leaving only the bi-metal shutter to control the opening.
  • a combination of two or more salts and/or acids are used to obtain a very fast temperature reduction.
  • a combination of, e.g. ammonium nitrate and citric acid provides for a very fast and efficient cooling, wherein the colling effect of the dissolution reactions are at least to a certain extent additive.
  • the addition of the reagents to the reaction chamber may be controlled manually.
  • the mixing is controlled manually, e.g. by manually adding reactants from a reactant reservoir when cooling is required.
  • the reservoir may be internal or external.
  • a system for cooling beverages is provided, wherein, the cooling is the result of a sequence of endothermal reactions.
  • the first endothermal reaction is progressing, e.g. as a result of openeing the beverage container, this will result in a reduction in temperature.
  • This reduction in temperature will then affect a5 temperature sensitive switch which will allow the mixing of the reactants for a second endothermal reaction, which will result in a further temperature increase.
  • Such a set-up provides a very efficient, but controlled cooling.
  • a system for cooling beverages which system comprises at least one container, in which the at least one container besides the beverages being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverage.
  • a system according to embodiment 1 wherein the system comprises more 5 than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately in different containers.
  • a system for cooling beverages which system comprises at least one container, in which the at least one container besides the beverages being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an o endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverages, the system comprises two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container (keg-in-keg, bag-in-box) and the beverages being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers. 4.
  • the containers are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles.
  • a system according to any of the preceding embodiments which is a system for dispensing beverages.
  • a system according to embodiment 8, wherein the acid is citric acid.
  • the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
  • a method for cooling a content of a system which system comprises at least one container, wherein at least two reactants, excluded from the content, react with each other in the at least one container by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said content.
  • a method according to embodiment 13, wherein the system comprises only one single container in which the content being cooled and the reactants together are held in one mixture, thereby performing direct cooling in the mixture. 15. A method according to embodiment 13, wherein the system comprises more than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately in different containers, thereby performing cooling via the wall of the container containing the content being cooled. 16. A method according to embodiment 13 or 15, wherein the system comprises two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container (keg-in-keg, bag-in-box) and the content being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers, thereby performing cooling via the wall of the container containing the content being cooled.
  • keg-in-keg, bag-in-box keg-in-keg, bag-in-box

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)

Abstract

System for cooling beverages and beverage containers comprising said system, wherein at least two reactants that react with each other by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverages. A bimetal switch is provieded for controlled mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain a stable predetermined target temperature.

Description

Chemical cooling
Technical field
The present invention relates to a container, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle, which content, i.e. beverages is cooled by a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction generates cooling energy which is used to cool the beverages of the container. Moreover, the invention relates to a cooling method in which the beverages of a container, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle, is cooled by a chemical reaction which generates cooling energy. Both instant cooling and controlled prolonged and continuous cooling are possible to achieve by means of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprising more than one container, in which a chemical reaction in a first container cools the beverages of another container.
Background of the invention
It is known to cool beverages in vessels by means of an external medium at a lower temperature than the temperature of the content of the beverage. Moreover, it is known to cool a beverage container by using the evaporation enthalpy of an external medium at a lower temperature than the temperature of the content of the beverage.
Cooling of vessels known today is related to costly systems wherein an external force for heat exchange is used. This system comprises a cooling medium which flows in e.g. coils or at least outside a cooling area, like a wall, and by heat exchange cools the content of a container. One example is e.g. a cooling pump. The system is run by means of some kind of external energy, e.g. electric energy, and sometimes in the combination with use of a change in state of aggregation from liquid to gas of the cooling medium, as in the case of evaporation mentioned above where vacuum is employed.
It is also known to cool beverages in e.g. cans by means of endothermic reaction provided in an external "reaction chamber" which is placed in close vicinity to the beverage to be cooled, e.g. mounted on the side of the can.
Thus, the prior art document DE29911156U1 discloses a beverage can which comprises a single or a multipart cooling element. The cooling element is an external system in that it is separately mounted on the wall lining of the beverage. The cooling element comprises at least two reactants which are separated from each other by a breakable barrier. Upon manual breakage of the barrier the reactants are mixed providing an endothermal reaction.
US 6.338.252B1 discloses a single-use heat or cold transfer container for e.g. beverages. The technical principles of said container corresponds essentially to the external cooling system according to DE29911156U1 except for the fact that the heating or cooling unit in US 6.338.252B1 is5 integrated into the product container.
GB 2.384.846A discloses a beverage can which comprises a device for cooling pressurised beverages. The cooling device contains at least two reactants separated by a flexibel diaphram. After opening of the can and the0 resulting drop in pressure, the diaphram changes shape whereby the reactant are mixed. The mixing of reactants generates an endotherm reaction.
Thus, a common feature of DE29911156U1 , US 6.338.252B1 and GB 2.384.846A is that they are based on a non-controiable reaction for instant 5 cooling of the beverages. Such reactions are provided via external or "semi- external" cooling system. However, neither of these systems result in prolonged continuous and contolled temperature reduction.
The present invention is aimed at providing a prolonged continuous o and contolled temperature reduction directed to solving the problems associated with external system for the cooling of beverages in containers, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle. Thus, the present invention provides simple and cost efficient alternative solutions to the relatively complex and costly cooling systems known in the art.
Summary of the invention The problem mentioned above is solved by the present invention, wherein the beverages of a container, such as a vessel, keg, can or bottle, is cooled by a chemical reaction without the use of an external cooling system which e.g. needs some kind of external energy supply, such as electric energy. The only work which has to be performed in the cooling systems according to the present invention is the input supply of the reactants. The present invention provides a method for the cooling of the beverages in a a container by use of a chemical reaction which provides cooling energy. The need of cooling in this case is usually instantaneous, both some reactions are quite slow and therefore able to provide a cooling which is longer but not as rapid. This could be preferred in some cases when a stable temperature is required during a longer time. In preferred embodiments according to the invention, a controlled stable temperature reduction is obtained by controlled continous addition of reactants. In a first aspect the present invention provides a system for cooling beverages, comprising
• a first container of beverage,
• a second container with two chemical components separated from each other but which upon contact with each other give rise to an endothermal reaction and,
• a mechanism for controlled mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain a stable predetermined target temperature.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism for controlled mixing is activated manually and subsequently automatically controls the mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain the stable predetermined target temperature. In a further preferred embodiment the mechanism is activated when opening the beverage container.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism comprises a switch which opens when the temperature of the beverage is higher than a predetermined level and closes when the temperature of the beverage is at or below the predetermined temperature. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch is a bimetal switch.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the containers is positioned inside the second container.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the containers are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the beverages being cooled are chosen from the group consisting of beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks and lemonade.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the reactants is an acid.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the acid is citric acid. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the reactants is ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride or calcium chloride In a further preferred embodiment of the invention.the at least two reactants and the products obtained by the reaction are non-toxic.
In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprising a cooling system according to any one of the preferred embodiments is provided. Detailed description of the invention
In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for cooling beverages, which system comprises at least one container, which at least one container besides the content being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverages
According to another aspect the present invention the system comprises more than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately. One specific embodiment in this sense is a system comprising two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container and the beverages being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers. Examples where the beverages being cooled normally is positioned inside the inner container are a keg-in-keg or a bag-in- box.
All endothermal reactions can in principle be used in a system according to the present invention Due to the fact that the endothermal reactions require heat energy, as such they also cool the environment during reaction. According to one embodiment of the present invention at least one of the reactants is a viscous gel. In the case of a separate reaction not in contact with the content being cooled, as is the case with more than one container, this is preferred due to the good heat transfer properties of a viscous gel.
Examples of different kinds of containers according to the invention are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles. Keg-in-kegs and bag-in-boxes with two containers each are also possible types according to the invention. Moreover, the system according to the invention can also be a system for dispensing beverages.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the content being cooled or the beverages in a system for dispensing beverages is beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks or lemonade.
In other words, both systems wherein the reactants are in contact with the beverages of a container which is to be cooled, such as the case with a single container, and systems where the reaction takes place in a separate environment separated from the beverages, are possible according to the invention. In the latter it is important to achieve good heat transfer conditions. This embodiment of the present invention also diminished the importance of using non-toxic reactions, that is reactions with non-toxic reactants and giving non-toxic products, but they are still preferred.
Reactants
One requirement of the present invention is of course that actual reaction occurs, i.e. that the reactants react with each other under the applied conditions. The preferred applied conditions regarding e.g. applied pressure differ from reaction to reaction and have to be chosen on basis of that.
As said, preferably the reactions are non-toxic in most applications, but toxic ones are possible to use in some cases. Suitable reactants include acids, e.g. citric acid, acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride and calcium chloride, but other reactants are also possible to use. According to one embodiment of the invention a beverage, such as beer, juice, soda, mineral water, a soft drink or lemonade, is cooled by a reaction involving citric acid as one of the reactants.
One possible endothermal reaction according to the present invention also is
2 NH4SCN + Ba(OH)2 — > Ba(SCN)2 + 2NH3 + H2O.
Preferably the endothermal reaction is a dissolution reaction wherein crystals are dissolved in water. Examples of such preferred reactions are a) NH4NO3 + H2O b) Citric acid + H2O c) Urea + H2O d) Sodiumacetate +H2O e) Sodiumnitrate + H2O f) Sodiumformiate + H2O Examples of other salts which can be used in the present invention are maltose , sodiumnitrite , magnesiumsulphate, 6 H2O, calciumchloride 6H2O and magnesiumnitrate. Other preferred salts are the corresponding phosphate salts and sodium sulphate. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, combinations of more than one salt may be used. In particular if the salts do not give rise to identical ions, such as e.g. a combination of ammonium nitrate and citric acid a dramatic temperature reduction may be obtained.
According to one embodiment of the invention the dry reactant is present in concentric containers. These can be arranged in each bottle or can or in a special thermo-bucket or alternatively in a waterproof "6-pack". The reactants may be in a plastic bag with a breakable barrier which separates the salts from the water.
It is important that the reaction is controllable and also independent of the orientation of the container (inclined, inversed etc.)
According to one embodiment of the invention the cooling of the reaction is instantaneously, i.e. the cooling energy of the reaction is transferred to the content being cooled instantaneously. In this case the cooling energy is transferred until at least one of the reactants is consumed or until temperature equilibrium between the content of the container and the temperature required for starting the reaction is obtained. Thereafter the cooling energy transfer is stopped. The instantaneously cooling is of course preferably performed to a preferred range of temperature for the content being cooled. According to another embodiment of the present invention the reactants are supplied continuously to a container or a system comprising more than one container, therefore making it possible to cool continuously. In this case it is important to use reactants and a preferred reaction which are linked together with the desired temperature of the content of a container. According to one embodiment of the present invention the method comprises holding the beverages being cooled and the reactants together in one mixture in a container, whereby direct cooling in the mixture is performed. According to another embodiment of the invention the method comprises holding the beverages being cooled and the reactants separately in different containers, whereby the cooling is performed via the wall of the container with the content being cooled. Examples of systems wherein such a cooling method can be applied are keg-in-kegs and bag-in-boxes.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the reactants are supplied or feed continuously to the system to achieve continuous cooling.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention the reactants are supplied or feed to the system manually, i.e. reactans are mixed or supplied manually when cooling is required.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the reactants are mixed in a cascade arrangement, i.e. a first portion of water reacts with a first solid reactant resulting in cooling of a second portion of water which subsequently reacts with another solid reactant reducing the temperature further.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the mixing of the chemical components is controlled by a switch which opens when the temperature of the beverage is higher than a predetermined level and closes when the temperature of the beverage is at or below the predetermined temperature. This "Thermostat principle" allows for an initial rapid cooling of the beverage and subsequently that the temperature of the beverage is maintained at the desired level. By selecting appropriate chemicals and using a temperature sensitive switch with the desired properties a target temperature, e.g. 50C, can be selected.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the temperature-sesitive switch is a bimetal switch. Bi-metal refers to an object that is composed of two separate metals joined together, instead of being a mixture of two or more metals, like alloys, bimetallic objects consist of layers of different metals. A bi- metallic shutter in the form of e.g. a tongue, strip or disc can thus convert a temperature change into mechanical displacement. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the two reactants are thus separated by a wall, wherein an opening is shut by a bi-metal shutter when the temperature is at or below the target temperature. When the temperature is above the target temperature the bi-metal shutter bends away from the opening and allows water to enter. When the temperature drops as a result of the endothermal reaction the bi-metal shutter bends back and closes the opening, effectively reducing or stopping the mixing of the two reactants thus reducing or stopping the progression of the endothermal reaction.
Preferably the opening in the wall between the compartments containing the reactants is blocked such that only after removal of said blockage, the bi-metal shutter controls the opening /closing of the switch. In a preferred embodiment useful in cooling systems under pressure, the blockage is a pin situated in the compartment containing the water and resting on a diaphragm which can flex upwards. When the pressure of the beverage container is reduced, typically by opening the container, the diaphragm flexes upward and thereby the 'locking'-pin is removed leaving only the bi-metal shutter to control the opening.
Examples of the reduction in temperature when preferred salts and acids are used as chemical reactants in a system according to the invention are illustrated in the below table
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a combination of two or more salts and/or acids are used to obtain a very fast temperature reduction. As illustrated in the table above a combination of, e.g. ammonium nitrate and citric acid provides for a very fast and efficient cooling, wherein the colling effect of the dissolution reactions are at least to a certain extent additive.
In another embodiment of the invention the addition of the reagents to the reaction chamber may be controlled manually. Here the mixing is controlled manually, e.g. by manually adding reactants from a reactant reservoir when cooling is required. The reservoir may be internal or external. In another embodiment of the invention, a system for cooling beverages is provided, wherein, the cooling is the result of a sequence of endothermal reactions. When the first endothermal reaction is progressing, e.g. as a result of openeing the beverage container, this will result in a reduction in temperature. This reduction in temperature will then affect a5 temperature sensitive switch which will allow the mixing of the reactants for a second endothermal reaction, which will result in a further temperature increase. Such a set-up provides a very efficient, but controlled cooling.
List of further embodiments. 0 1. A system for cooling beverages, which system comprises at least one container, in which the at least one container besides the beverages being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverage.
2. A system according to embodiment 1 , wherein the system comprises more 5 than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately in different containers.
3. A system for cooling beverages, which system comprises at least one container, in which the at least one container besides the beverages being cooled contains at least two reactants that react with each other by an o endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said beverages, the system comprises two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container (keg-in-keg, bag-in-box) and the beverages being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers. 4. A system according to embodiments 2, wherein at least one of the reactants is a viscous gel. 5. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the containers are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles.
6. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, which is a system for dispensing beverages.
7. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the beverages being cooled are chosen from the group consisting of beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks and lemonade.
8. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the reactants is an acid.
9. A system according to embodiment 8, wherein the acid is citric acid. 10. A system according to embodiment 9, wherein the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
11. A system according to embodiments 1 -10, wherein at least one of the reactants is ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride or calcium chloride. 12. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two reactants and the products obtained by the reaction are non-toxic.
13. A method for cooling a content of a system, which system comprises at least one container, wherein at least two reactants, excluded from the content, react with each other in the at least one container by an endothermal reaction that provides cooling energy to said content.
14. A method according to embodiment 13, wherein the system comprises only one single container in which the content being cooled and the reactants together are held in one mixture, thereby performing direct cooling in the mixture. 15. A method according to embodiment 13, wherein the system comprises more than one container and the content being cooled and the reactants are held separately in different containers, thereby performing cooling via the wall of the container containing the content being cooled. 16. A method according to embodiment 13 or 15, wherein the system comprises two containers, wherein a first container is positioned inside a second container (keg-in-keg, bag-in-box) and the content being cooled is positioned inside one of the two containers and the reactants are positioned in the other one of the two containers, thereby performing cooling via the wall of the container containing the content being cooled.
17. A method according to embodiments 13 and 14-16, wherein at least one of the reactants is a viscous gel.
18. A method according to embodiments 13-17, wherein the containers are vessels, kegs aerosol cans or bottles.
19. A method according to embodiments 13-18, which method is applied on a system for dispensing beverages.
20. A method according to embodiments 13-19, wherein the content being are chosen from the group consisting of beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks and lemonade.
21. A method according to embodiments 13-20, wherein at least one of the reactants is an acid.
22. A method according to embodiment 21 , wherein the acid is citric acid.
23. A method according to embodiment 22, wherein the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
24. A method according to embodiments 13-23, wherein at least one of the reactants is ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride or calcium chloride.
25. A method according to embodiments 13-24, wherein the at least two reactants and the products obtained by the reaction are non-toxic.
26. A method according to embodiments 13-19 wherein the reaction is
2 NH4SCN + Ba(OH)2 — > Ba(SCN)2 + 2NH3 + H2O.
27. A method according to any of the preceding embodiment, wherein the reactants are supplied or feed continuously to said cooling system.

Claims

Claims:
1. A system for cooling beverages, comprising
• a first container of beverage, • a second container with two chemical components separated from each other but which upon contact with each other give rise to an endothermal reaction and,
• a mechanism for controlled mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain a stable predetermined target temperature.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism for controlled mixing is activated manually and subsequently automatically controls the mixing of the chemical components in order to obtain the stable predetermined target temperature.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism is activated when opening the beverage container.
4. A system according to any of claims 1 -3, wherein mechanism comprises a switch which opens when the temperature of the beverage is higher than a predetermined level and closes when the temperature of the beverage is at or below the predetermined temperature.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the switch is a bimetal switch.
6. A system according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein one of the containers is positioned inside the second container.
7. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are vessels, kegs, cans or bottles.
8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the beverages being cooled are chosen from the group consisting of beer, juice, sodas, mineral water, soft drinks and lemonade.
9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the reactants is an acid.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the acid is citric acid.
11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the acid is chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, fatty acids, cinnamic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ricinoleic acid and tartaric acid.
12. A system according to claims 1 -8, wherein at least one of the reactants is ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride or calcium chloride
13. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two reactants and the products obtained by the reaction are non-toxic.
14. A beverage container comprising a cooling system according to any one of the preceding claims.
EP07764459A 2006-06-30 2007-07-02 Chemical cooling Withdrawn EP2038593A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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DKPA200600884 2006-06-30
PCT/DK2007/000329 WO2008000274A1 (en) 2006-06-30 2007-07-02 Chemical cooling

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WO2011157735A2 (en) * 2010-06-15 2011-12-22 Carlsberg Breweries A/S A self cooling container and a cooling device
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CN101479541A (en) 2009-07-08
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