EP3578505B1 - Dispensing system control module and method for operating same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dispensing system control module with a pump and a line on which a flow meter is arranged, and a method for operating a dispensing system control module.

In particular for tapping beverages, it is known that a constant pressure is set on a reservoir, with which the beverage is conveyed from the reservoir to a tap. If the tap is located significantly higher than the reservoir or there is a longer line, the pressure on the reservoir must be increased to such an extent that the drink can be pumped easily. When using carbonic acid as the conveying gas, this often results in the beverage being carbonated in the reservoir.

It was therefore proposed to use a pump between the reservoir and the tap that promotes the drink. As a result, the carbon dioxide pressure on the container can be reduced.

A pneumatic diaphragm pump has proven itself as a pump, which is connected to a constant pneumatic pressure, and thus maintains a certain pressure in the line between the pump and the tap.

From the WO 2007/001489 a drinks dispenser is known which uses water as the carrier liquid. A concentrate is added to the water. The concentrate is dosed using a pump, whereby the pump control is based on the current flow of the water and its mineral content. the EP 251 793 shows a dispensing system for beer, with a pump conveying the beer from the barrel to the tap. The pump is automatically operated by a control circuit in such a way that the pressure in the beer line is kept almost constant. Manual intervention in the control is not provided.

The object of the invention is to further develop such a dispensing system with a dispensing system control module and to propose a method for operating a dispensing system control module.

This object is achieved with a dispensing system control module having the features of patent claim 1 .

Depending on the flow in the line, this makes it possible to vary the performance of the pump and, when using a pneumatic diaphragm pump, the pump pressure by means of a pressure control valve.

While known dispensing system control modules keep the pressure in the line between the pump and the tap constant, the dispensing system control module according to the invention makes it possible to control the output of the pump or the pressure on the diaphragm pump according to a specification and to vary the output of the pump depending on the flow in the line . The flow rate per unit of time is determined by controlling and preferably by regulating the output of the pump or the pressure of a pneumatic diaphragm pump.

This makes it possible to reduce the pressure in the line at times when there is no tapping and therefore no flow in the line, and to increase the pressure in the line at times when a liquid is flowing through the line. Since the line resistance increases sharply with an increased flow rate in the line (the resistance increases with the square of the rate), the power of the pump should also be increased with an increased flow rate.

It is advantageous if the flow meter measures the volume flowing in the line over time. Alternatively or cumulatively, it can be provided that the flow meter measures the pressure in the line over time.

Any pump can be used for the dispensing system control module. However, it is advantageous if the pump is a pneumatic pump, in particular a pneumatic diaphragm pump.

One aspect of the invention provides that the dispensing system control module has a dispensing and operating panel that is connected to the control unit for the pump in such a way that the output of the pump can be set manually on it. This makes it possible to increase the power of the pump at the tap when the flow rate increases is low. For example, when a compensator on a tap is adjusted, the performance of the pump can also be varied accordingly. In particular, even if no compensator tap is used, you can ensure optimal tapping by changing the pump performance. As a result, the pressure and the flow can be optimally adjusted to the CO ₂ saturation pressure, the height difference, the line length and the line diameter.

It is known to use a gas pressure unit to set a special gas pressure in the container, depending on the temperature in the room in which the container is located, which prevents the release of carbonic acid and/or serves to press liquid out of the container. This gas pressure is varied depending on the measured temperature.

If such a dispensing system control module has a container that is connected to the line, a gas pressure unit that adjusts a gas pressure in the container, and a temperature measuring device that is arranged on the line and is connected to the control unit, the gas pressure can depend on a temperature measured at the temperature measuring device.

If you know the CO ₂ content (grams per liter) of the drink and this is stored in the control unit, the gas pressure can even be regulated. Only those measured values should be used that indicate the temperature during a flow in the line. This means that only the temperature that corresponds to the temperature of the liquid in the container is used as the manipulated variable.

It is advantageous if the gas pressure unit has a carbon dioxide supply that is regulated via the control unit.

For example, during the filling of a glass, to fill the glass first with a low volume flow and then with a higher volume flow and shortly before the end of the filling again with a lower volume flow to fill, it is proposed that the dispensing system control module has a volume input device that is connected to the control unit, so that the pump can be controlled depending on the difference between the volume flow measured with the flow meter and the volume flow indicated on the volume input device.

A reduced diameter beverage line, a coil, an adjustable compensator, or a specific height between the container and the tap can be used as a resistance to reduce the pressure between the container and the tap.

The volume flow at the pump can be controlled by the pump control. The existing consumer characteristics (height, line length and cross-section) remain unchanged. Without a pump, you would have to change the resistance (length of the dam line or length of the coiled tubing or the compensator position).

While known methods for operating dispensing systems are designed to keep the pressure in the line between the pump and tap constant, the method according to the invention for operating a dispensing system control module with a pump that is connected to a tap via a line provides that the power of the pump is regulated in such a way that the pressure in the line is varied. This makes it possible to control the volume flow in the line by varying the pressure in the line and to tap with different volume flows, which are not set based on the circumstances, but are predefined in a controlled manner. This also makes it possible to use a regulation to ensure that only a defined pressure, such as a necessary minimum pressure, is present at the closed tap.

A further aspect of a method according to the invention for operating a dispensing system control module with a container which is connected to a tap via a line, a gas pressure unit which has a gas pressure in the container and a temperature measuring device, which is arranged in the line and is connected to the control unit, provides that the gas pressure unit is controlled as a function of a temperature that is measured during a flow in the line. This makes it possible to measure the temperature in the line, which is required for the control of the gas pressure unit, only when there is a flow in the line. The temperature can also be measured as a function of the flow rate or with a time delay in order to only measure the temperature of the liquid in the container when there is a flow in the line.

There are also configurations where a tank is stored in a warm environment and a flow cooler is installed after the pump. Then the temperature of the pumped liquid decreases in the flow cooler, which means that the saturation pressure after the flow cooler is lower. In this configuration, it makes sense to install a temperature sensor between the flow-through cooler and the tap in order to adjust the pump pressure based on the temperature measured by it according to the CO ₂ saturation pressure present there.

If a beverage containing CO ₂ is warmer in a newly connected container after changing the container, the necessary CO ₂ saturation pressure increases. The control unit, which adjusts the pump pressure depending on the temperature, thus increases the head pressure in the tank. Since nothing changes in the consumer characteristic (same height, line length, line diameter, volume flow), the pneumatic pump pressure can be changed automatically via the dispensing system control unit.

It is therefore proposed as a further development that the saturation pressure of the liquid is stored in the control unit for different temperatures and CO ₂ contents of a liquid in the container or the relationship is stored as a formula, and the gas pressure shortly after the container is connected to the tap for the first time in the container is measured as the current saturation pressure, the tap is opened and the temperature of the CO ₂ -containing liquid is determined during a flow in the line with the temperature measuring device, from which the CO ₂ content of the liquid is calculated according to the values stored in the control unit and if the measured temperature changes according to the stored values according to the calculated CO ₂ saturation of the liquid, the gas pressure corresponding to the temperature is set in the container so that no CO ₂ is released in the line.

The dispensing system control module is particularly suitable for an automatic keg changer such as that in the EP 3 333 122 A1 is described. Reference is made in full to the content of this application.

An embodiment of a dispensing system control module for a manual dispensing system and an embodiment of a dispensing system control module for a computer dispensing system are shown in the drawing and are described in more detail below.

Figur 1

schematisch ein Schankanlagensteuerungsmodul als Teil einer manuellen Schankanlage,

Figur 2

schematisch ein Schankanlagensteuerungsmodul als Teil einer Computer-schankanlage und

Figur 3

schematisch einen Fasswechsler für das Schankanlagensteuerungsmodul.

It shows

figure 1

schematic of a dispensing system control module as part of a manual dispensing system,

figure 2

schematically a dispensing system control module as part of a computer dispensing system and

figure 3

schematic of a keg changer for the dispensing system control module.

That in the figure 1 The dispensing system control module 1 shown has a pump 2 and a line 3 on which a flow meter is arranged as a flow meter 4 . The flow measuring device 4 thus forms a measuring device which is connected to the control unit 6 via the line 5 . The pump 2 serves as an adjusting device, which is connected to a gas pressure unit 8 via line 7 . This gas pressure unit is connected to a compressed air source via the line 9 and a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 6 to the gas pressure unit 8 via the line 10 in order to control the output of the pump 2 . In the present case, the pump 2 is a pneumatic diaphragm pump, the power of which is controlled by the pressure present at the pump 2 by means of the control unit 6 and the gas pressure unit 8 . The signal measured with the flow meter, which corresponds to the volume flowing in the line 3 over time, serves as the input signal for the control unit 6 .

In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, a pressure measuring device is used as the flow measuring device 4 instead of the flow meter, which measures the pressure in the line over time.

In the present case, a container 11 is filled with a carbonated liquid 12 and the container 11 is connected to the pump 2 via a cone valve 13 in order to convey carbonated liquid 12 from the container 11 by means of the pump 2 via the flow meter 4 to the tap 14 . The keg valve 13 is connected via a line 15 to the gas pressure unit 16 which is connected via line 17 to a gas supply, in this case a source of carbon dioxide. A control line 18 connects the gas pressure unit 16 to the control unit 6.

A temperature measuring device 19 is arranged in the line 3 between the pump 2 and the keg valve 13 and transmits a signal corresponding to the measured temperature to the control unit 6 via a signal line 20 .

This makes it possible to set the gas pressure 21 in the container 11 by means of the gas pressure unit 16 in accordance with values specified by the control unit 6 . These values passed on by the control unit 6 via the line 18 are determined by the values measured at the temperature measuring device 19 . This enables a Control via values measured once and also regulation according to further data reported to the control unit 6 .

When this dispensing system control module 1 is operated, the output of the pump 2 can be controlled via the control unit 6 according to the volume flow measured with the flow meter 4 or a pressure measured in the line 3 between the pump 2 and the tap 14 . During the tapping operation, the output of the pump 2 or the pressure present at the pneumatic membrane pump can also be regulated according to the flow measured at the flow meter 4 .

The gas pressure 21 in the container 11 can be adjusted via the gas pressure unit 16 depending on a temperature measured with the temperature measuring device 19 . In this case, it is advantageous if only temperature values that are measured during a flow in the line 3 are used. Values for the flow in line 3 are recorded by the flow meter 4 and forwarded to the control unit via line 5, so that the control unit is only able to evaluate temperatures that were measured during a flow in line 3.

In the figure 2 be for the the in the figure 1 corresponding units used the same reference numbers.

At the in figure 2 shown embodiment, two lines 30, 31 serve to control the tap 14 via an adjusting device 32. Via a control panel 33 with keys 34, 35 and 36 (numbered only as an example), signals can be passed on to the control unit via lines 37 to 39 in order to indicate, for example, which volume of which liquid 12 is desired. In addition, the output of the pump 2 can be varied manually via an adjusting wheel 40 .

However, an operating mode is preferred in which, in accordance with the temperature measured on the temperature measuring device 19, the pressure in the gas pressure unit is Container 11 is set. The output of the pump 2 or the gas pressure applied to the diaphragm pump is set or regulated in accordance with the volume flow measured with the flow meter 4 in the line 3 . The keys 34, 35 and 36 make it possible to provide an increasing and decreasing volumetric flow at the tap 14 according to a predetermined algorithm for certain required volumes, which makes tapping easier.

It is particularly advantageous if a specific volume is specified at the volume input device 33 and the pump 2 is controlled as a function of the difference between the volume flow measured with the volumetric flow meter 4 and the volume entered at the volume input device 33 .

If a new keg is connected as container 11 (the empty keg is recognized beforehand by an automatic keg changer), then the head pressure can be measured as gas pressure 21 of container 11 using gas pressure unit 16 and transmitted to controller 6 . For this purpose, a gas pressure measuring device 22 is integrated into the gas pressure unit 16 on the side of the line 15 . In addition, the gas pressure unit 16 has an electronic gas pressure regulator 23 . The head pressure is the saturation pressure of the carbonated liquid 12 in the container 11. This pressure is dependent on the temperature and the CO ₂ content of the carbonated liquid 12 in the container 11.

If the controller knows the temperature of the carbonated liquid 12 in the container 11, it can calculate the CO ₂ content of the liquid 12 in the container 11. The temperature of the carbonated liquid 12 in the container 11 is determined with the temperature measuring device 19 . It must be ensured that the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device 19 corresponds to the temperature of the carbonated liquid 12 in the container 11 . For this purpose, a defined quantity of the liquid 12 must be tapped from the container 11 and only then is the temperature of the liquid 12 measured with the temperature measuring device 19 .

The Indian figure 3 The keg changer shown for the dispensing system control module shows how the system described so far can be operated with a keg switchover 50 with an ultrasonic sensor 51 .

The keg switch 50 has a sensor 51 at the top with a drain cock 52 for foam. This is opened after acknowledgment of the new container 11 and, a certain time after the bypass lines 53 and 54 have become full, as a result of a position of the three-way valve 60 connecting the bypass lines 53 and 54, the carbonated liquid, such as the beer 58 in the exemplary embodiment, is let in run the gully 55. This ensures that the beer at the temperature measuring device 56 comes from the new container 57 . Now the temperature of the beer 58 is measured at the temperature measuring device 56 and the delivery pressure at the pump 59 can be calculated according to the CO ₂ value. Finally, the three-way valve 60 is switched over so that the beer 58 flows via the lines 61 and 62 to a tap, not shown.

It is also conceivable that the head pressure is stored as the gas pressure 63 of the connected container 64 immediately after the first measurement. The breweries usually indicate the CO ₂ content of the beer 58 . This is usually 4.5 - 5.5 g CO ₂ /l.

The idea behind this invention is that the actual CO ₂ content or one specified by the breweries does not have to be entered into the controller. The head pressure is measured, with the help of a standard CO ₂ content that is stored in the computer, the first head pressure is presented, after the temperature measurement, the actual CO ₂ content is calculated and then the calculated head pressure, which results from the head and the Pipe friction losses as a function of the volume flow, readjusted. If the beer is delivered with a changing CO ₂ content, this has no effect on the dispensing technology. The keg pressure is automatically readjusted.

If the gas pressure 21 in the headspace of the container 11 is determined with the gas pressure measuring device 22 of the gas pressure unit 16 and the temperature of the CO ₂ -containing liquid 12 in the container 11 is determined with the temperature measuring device 19, the CO ₂ content of the Determine liquid 12 in g/l. The invention uses the integrated gas pressure measuring device 22 of the gas pressure unit 16 on the output side of the electronic gas pressure regulator 23 to measure the saturation pressure of a new container 11 that is still full and has never been connected to the dispensing system. This CO ₂ saturation pressure depends on the temperature and the CO ₂ content in g/l of the liquid 12 containing CO ₂ . In this method, the CO ₂ content is automatically determined for each newly connected container 11 . If you now know the CO ₂ content of the liquid 12, the gas pressure unit 16 can automatically adjust the required saturation pressure if the temperature of the liquid in the container 11 changes (the barrel is often even warmer when it is connected than after a long period of storage in the cold room).

With this method, information from the brewery about the CO ₂ content of the drink or the liquid 12 is not required.

In one embodiment, a new keg is connected as container 11 . The gas pressure measuring device 22 measures the gas pressure 21 as head pressure. This is the current saturation pressure. For example, 0.94 bar is measured in the container. The gas pressure unit 16 now increases the head pressure by, for example, 0.20 bar as a safety reserve in order to prevent unintentional CO ₂ release due to pipe friction in the line between the container 11, the temperature measuring device 19, the pump 2 and the tap 14. The gas pressure in the container is now 1.14 bar. Up to now, the temperature of the liquid 12 in the container has not been known. Only after the tap is opened and a defined quantity of carbonated liquid 12 has flowed out, which is measured at the flow measuring device 4, is the line 3 filled with the carbonated liquid 12 in such a way that the temperature measured with the temperature measuring device 19 corresponds to the temperature of the liquid in container 11 indicates. The exact temperature of the liquid 12 in the container 11 is now determined using the temperature measuring device 19 . The carbonated liquid 12 has an actual temperature of 6°C in this example. From the saturation pressure table or formula, which is stored in the control unit 6, a CO ₂ content of the carbonated liquid 12 of 5.0 g/l is calculated from 6° C. and 0.94 bar. The actual CO ₂ content of the liquid 12 is thus now known. If the temperature now changes, the necessary head pressure can be calculated using the relationship between the CO ₂ content and temperature and automatically adjusted using the gas pressure unit 16 .

Claims (10)

1. A dispensing system control module (1) comprising a pump (2) and a line (3), at which a flow measuring device (4) is arranged, wherein the flow measuring device (4) as measuring equipment and the pump (2) as control equipment is connected to a control unit (6), characterized in that the dispensing system control module has a tapping and operating panel, at which the power of the pump can be set manually and which is connected to the control unit for the pump.
2. The dispensing system control module according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow measuring device (4) measures the volume flowing in the line (3) over time.
3. The dispensing system control module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow measuring device (4) measures the pressure in the line (3) over time.
4. The dispensing system control module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (2) is a pneumatic pump.
5. The dispensing system control module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a container (11), which is connected to the line (3), a gas pressure unit (16), which sets a gas pressure (21) in the container (11), and a temperature measuring equipment (19), which is arranged at the line (3) and which is connected to the control unit (6), so that the gas pressure unit (16) can be controlled as a function of a temperature, which is measured at the temperature measuring equipment (19) and which is measured during a flow.
6. The dispensing system control module according to claim 5, characterized in that the gas pressure unit (16) has a carbon dioxide supply, which is regulated via the control unit (6).
7. The dispensing system control module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a volume input equipment (33), which is connected to the control unit (6), so that the pump (2) can be controlled as a function of the difference between the volume flow measured by means of the flow measuring device (4) and the volume input at the volume input equipment (33).
8. A method for operating a dispensing system control module (1) comprising a pump (2), which is connected to a tap (14) via a line (3), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power of the pump (2) is controlled in such a way that the pressure in the line (3) is varied therewith.
9. The method for operating a dispensing system control module (1) according to claim 5, comprising a container (11), which is connected to a tap (14) via a line (3), as gas pressure unit (16), which sets a gas pressure (21) in the container (11), and a temperature measuring equipment (19), which is arranged at the line (3) and which is connected to the control unit (6), characterized in that the gas pressure unit (16) can be controlled as a function of a temperature, which is measured by means of the temperature measuring equipment (19) during a flow in the line (3).
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the saturation pressure of the liquid (12) is stored at the control unit (6) for different temperatures and CO₂ contents of a liquid (12) in the container (11) or the relationship is stored as formula, the gas pressure (21) in the container (11) is measured as current saturation pressure shortly after the first connecting of the container (11) to the tap (14), the tap (14) is opened, and the temperature of the CO₂-containing liquid (12) is determined by means of the temperature measuring equipment (19) during a flow in the line (3), the CO₂ content of the liquid (12) is calculated therefrom according to the values stored at the control unit (6), and the gas pressure (21) corresponding to the temperature is set in the container (11) in response to a change of the measured temperature according to the stored values according to the calculated CO₂ saturation of the liquid (12), so that CO₂ is not released in the line (3).

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