EP4223399A1 - Système et appareil pour la carbonatation d'un liquide - Google Patents

Système et appareil pour la carbonatation d'un liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4223399A1
EP4223399A1 EP22155353.0A EP22155353A EP4223399A1 EP 4223399 A1 EP4223399 A1 EP 4223399A1 EP 22155353 A EP22155353 A EP 22155353A EP 4223399 A1 EP4223399 A1 EP 4223399A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
gas
tube
liquid
nozzle
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP22155353.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hanno Lott
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.)
Brita Se
Original Assignee
Brita Se
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 Brita Se filed Critical Brita Se
Priority to EP22155353.0A priority Critical patent/EP4223399A1/fr
Publication of EP4223399A1 publication Critical patent/EP4223399A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
    • B01F23/2361—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages within small containers, e.g. within bottles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/231—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids by bubbling
    • B01F23/23105—Arrangement or manipulation of the gas bubbling devices
    • B01F23/2312—Diffusers
    • B01F23/23121—Diffusers having injection means, e.g. nozzles with circumferential outlet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/231—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids by bubbling
    • B01F23/23105—Arrangement or manipulation of the gas bubbling devices
    • B01F23/2312—Diffusers
    • B01F23/23126—Diffusers characterised by the shape of the diffuser element
    • B01F23/231262—Diffusers characterised by the shape of the diffuser element having disc shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/71—Feed mechanisms
    • B01F35/717—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer
    • B01F35/71755—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer using means for feeding components in a pulsating or intermittent manner

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a system comprising a removable container and an apparatus for carbonation of a liquid contained in the container such as a home soda machine. Further, the present invention refers to an apparatus, for example the apparatus used with said system, for carbonation of a liquid contained in a removable container.
  • the gas which is used to enrich the respective liquids is typically carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) which is introduced into a beverage container, usually a bottle, via a spout or opening of the container.
  • CO 2 carbon dioxide
  • Such a system for carbonating liquids is known from WO 2016/181279 A1 .
  • This system has a canister with pressurized CO 2 gas, which is introduced into a bottle via a carbonation head and a tube.
  • the bottle In order to carbonate the liquid, the bottle has to be previously filled, for example at a water tap, so that the liquid can be carbonated by the gas flowing into the liquid from the pressure supply unit and via the tube.
  • the user receives a sparkling liquid ready for drinking.
  • the canister filled with pressurized gas has a limited filling volume, i.e., a limited amount of gas, which gas is reduced each time the system is operated to carbonate liquid. Accordingly, the canister has to be replaced at some point, which is time-consuming and cost intensive. Thus, increasing the efficiency of gas enrichment in the liquid allows for a prolonged use of the canister and reduces costs.
  • WO 2016/181279 A1 discloses a supply of carbon dioxide gas to a liquid in a pulsed manner, thereby reducing the gas consumption compared to a continuously supply of gas.
  • WO 2014/197373 A1 discloses a method for carbonating a beverage in which carbonation cycles are applied to a liquid in a pulsed manner, however without teaching any improved efficiency regarding gas consumption.
  • the efficiency of conventional systems for carbonation of liquids is still in need of improvement.
  • the efficiency of the system is determined by the relation between the amount of gas being bound inside the liquid and the amount of gas supplied from a gas supply such as a canister into the liquid, i.e., the ratio between unbound and bound gas for a given amount of gas supplied into the liquid.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus for carbonation of a liquid, which has an increased efficiency in the enrichment of gas in a liquid inside a container compared to the systems known from the prior art.
  • a respective system may comprise a container and an apparatus for carbonation of a liquid inside the container.
  • the container may be removed from the apparatus and may be used in a conventional manner, for example to fill liquid out of the container into a water glass.
  • it may be placed in the apparatus.
  • the container of said system comprises a container height defined between a bottom and an opening, wherein the container height defines the distance between a container standing on its bottom to its opening, i.e., the distance between the surface on which the container is standing and the upper edge of the opening.
  • the apparatus is configured to hold and said container.
  • the apparatus comprises a pressure supply unit for providing pressurized gas, and a tube with an inner diameter connected to said pressure supply unit and at least partially received via the opening within the container when the container is held in the apparatus.
  • tube is at least partially received via the opening within the container.
  • the phrase "tube is at least partially received via the opening within the container” means that at least a part of the tube's length is received via the opening within the container.
  • the tube is received in full, i.e. with it's full length, via the opening within the container.
  • the tube connected to the pressure supply unit may be rigid, flexible, or partially rigid and partially flexible.
  • said tube is rigid.
  • the tube is at least partially received via the opening located at the top of the container, which top is still in top position when held by the apparatus for carbonation.
  • the tube is arranged in a head portion of the apparatus, so that the tube is received via the opening of the container when the container is held by the apparatus. In this regard, the tube extends within the container downwards in direction towards the bottom of the container.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a nozzle head connected to said tube.
  • the length of the tube is, therefore, dimensioned such that the nozzle head connected to said tube is located in a position being within the third of the container height nearer to the bottom of the container.
  • the dimensions of the tube are chosen so that the nozzle head is not touching the bottom of the container when the container is held by the apparatus.
  • a cross-section of the tube is positioned centered relative to a cross-section of the opening, or at least substantially centered. More preferably, when the container is held by the apparatus, the cross-section of the tube is centered in relation to the bottom of the container.
  • the tube may be connected to a gas inlet device such as an inlet valve of the container, e.g. provided in the vicinity of its bottom.
  • the nozzle head comprises at least one nozzle outlet for supplying the gas fed via the tube into the liquid inside said container.
  • a diameter of the at least one nozzle outlet is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube.
  • the nozzle head is located within the quarter of the container height nearer to the bottom of the container. This results in supplying the gas into the liquid filled in the container such that the gas rises in the liquid substantially over the whole height of the liquid in the container which increases efficiency of gas enrichment. The same effect occurs when introducing gas via an inlet valve provided in the bottom region of the container.
  • the system and apparatus according to the present invention is suitable for use with any kind of removable container having an opening and capable of holding a liquid.
  • said removable container will have an upper portion having a smaller diameter than its lower portion, which upper portion may be termed as "neck" of the container.
  • Said opening is typically located on top of said upper portion, i.e. the opening has a smaller diameter than the largest diameter of the container of the lower portion.
  • the container is a bottle or carafe, more preferably a bottle.
  • the container may have additional openings.
  • the container has only one opening, more preferably one opening located at its top.
  • the container is made of glass, plastic or stainless steel.
  • the liquid which is to be carbonated inside the container is water, but any other drinkable liquid is also comprised by the invention.
  • a water bottle having a maximum fill volume of about 1 liter is used as a container.
  • carbonation means enrichment of liquid with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas.
  • the bottom of the container may either be flat or curved.
  • the opening of the container may be sealed or closed by a removable cap or lid when used removed from the system or apparatus.
  • the container or its opening respectively may be provided with an interface for attaching a lid, e.g. via a threaded interface.
  • the pressure supply unit may comprise a gas bottle or canister with a valve, for example a gas bottle with 70 bar CO 2 gas, wherein as soon as the valve is opened, gas flows out of the gas bottle.
  • the pressure supply unit may further comprise a pressure regulator to set or determine the amount of gas being allowed to flow out of the gas bottle.
  • the pressure regulator allows to suitably reduce the pressure of the gas in the gas bottle, which pressure is typically around 70 bar. Thereby, the pressure regulator allows to suitably set the pressure of the gas supplied for the gas bursts.
  • the pressure regulator provides supplied gas for the gas bursts at a maximum pressure of 8 bar, preferably a pressure between 2 bar and 6 bar, more preferably a pressure between 2.5 bar and 4.5 bar, most preferably a pressure between 2.8 bar and 3.2 bar.
  • the valve and the pressure regulator may be opened and closed by an, e.g. electronic, control unit or manually by a user pushing a respective button of the apparatus.
  • the gas may then flow from the gas bottle via respective fluid conduits into the tube that protrudes into the container via the opening, provided that the container is used with the apparatus for carbonation and is held by said apparatus.
  • a head portion of the apparatus may be used to seal the container when being used with the apparatus.
  • the container may, for example and as described before, be attached to the apparatus directly via coupling means at the opening of the container which engage with respective counterparts, for example at the head portion of the apparatus, or the container may be held indirectly, for example via a receptacle, in which the container is inserted, and which is coupled to the apparatus, for example by a bayonet coupling.
  • the nozzle head being connected to the distal end of the tube, i.e., the end closest to the bottom of the container when the container is used with the apparatus, has at least one nozzle outlet, for discharging the gas flowing through the tube, into the container and more precisely into a liquid inside the container which is to be filled into the container, preferably beforehand.
  • the liquid may be filled into the container beforehand, for example by a water tap, or may be filled into the container from a tank inside the apparatus.
  • the liquid is then enriched with gas. This means the liquid is carbonated.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a respective user interface to allow the user to select the amount of gas to be supplied to the liquid, for example medium sparkling. Further, the apparatus may comprise sensor means determining or detecting a degree of carbonation, the end of an enrichment process or the like.
  • the gas flowing through the tube in the direction of the nozzle outlets can be accelerated due to the reduction in the cross-section of the respective gas conduits.
  • This together with the fact that the nozzle head is located within the lower third of the container, improves the distribution of the gas in the liquid, so that enrichment can take place much more efficient.
  • This is due in particular to the fact that the gas rises up through the liquid, thereby increasing the probability of being bound in the liquid. Accordingly, the closer to the bottom of the container the gas supply takes place, the more efficient the enrichment process becomes, as the distance covered by the gas within the liquid can be increased.
  • the reduction in cross-section at the at least one nozzle outlet compared to the inner diameter of the tube increases the surface area of the gas coming out of the nozzle outlets compared to gas coming directly out of the tube having a bigger diameter. Therefore, the enrichment is further improved.
  • the efficiency of this system is, thus, highly increased compared to systems known from the prior art.
  • the apparatus may be sealed by a head portion as already described above. Therefore, the tube may protrude into the liquid through this sealed head portion of the apparatus, when the container is used with the apparatus.
  • a suction pump may be provided in the apparatus, which may be releasably connected, for example via the head portion of the apparatus, to the opening of the container as well as to the tube when the container is held in the apparatus.
  • the suction pump is configured to extract gas from the container via the opening, when operated, e.g. from the space above the liquid level in the container.
  • the suction pump may be configured to reintroduce said gas succeed from the container back into the liquid inside the container via the nozzle head and the tube respectively.
  • the suction pump is configured to suck out, i.e., extract, unbound gas which has been supplied via the nozzle head into the liquid and which is risen inside the liquid towards the opening above the liquid level.
  • the circulation of the unbound gas therefore, additionally increases the efficiency of the system.
  • the apparatus of the system further comprises a control unit configured to operate the pressure supply unit in a pulsed manner with at least two gas bursts.
  • a control unit configured to operate the pressure supply unit in a pulsed manner with at least two gas bursts.
  • the gas does not flow continuously from the pressure supply unit via the tube and the nozzle head into the liquid but is provided by separate shots (bursts), wherein between each burst there is a period without gas flowing from the pressure supply unit into the liquid.
  • a gas supply in such a pulsed manner may be implemented, for example, by closing the valve on the pressure supply unit and only opening it during the gas bursts, wherein the control unit may operate the valve respectively. Supplying the gas into the liquid in a pulsed manner additionally increases the efficiency of enrichment of gas inside the liquid.
  • the object of the present invention is solved by an apparatus.
  • This apparatus may be used with the system described above so that the following features referring to an apparatus may also apply to the apparatus of said system.
  • the apparatus comprises a pressure supply unit for supplying pressurized gas to the liquid inside the container when the container is held in the apparatus and further comprises a suction pump releasably connected to the container when the container is held in the apparatus and a control unit configured to operate the pressure supply unit in a pulsed manner, e.g. with at least two gas bursts. Consequently, the apparatus may for example part of the system described above or may be a different apparatus, e.g. with or without a nozzle head.
  • control unit may be configured to operate the suction pump to extract gas from the container and to reintroduce said extracted gas into the liquid inside the container.
  • the pressure supply unit is configured to supply gas into the liquid within the third of the container height nearer to the bottom of the container; and/or the pressure supply unit is configured to either supply gas into the liquid via an opening of the container via a tube and a nozzle head with at least one nozzle outlet or via a gas inlet device provided at a bottom of the container.
  • the first option is, therefore, basically identical to the aforementioned gas supply via a tube and a nozzle head, wherein the tube and the nozzle head are introduced into the container, when a container is used with the apparatus.
  • the gas may also be supplied via a gas inlet device provided at the bottom of the container.
  • the bottom of the container for example with a corresponding valve mechanism, may be pressed onto said gas inlet device of the apparatus, providing a counterpart to the valve mechanism, thereby introducing gas into the container.
  • the gas may be supplied into the liquid within the lower third of the container, which may lead to the positive effects described above.
  • the nozzle head of the apparatus or the system is releasably attachable to the tube and/or the tube is releasable attachable to said apparatus, for example by respective threaded portions, clipping portions or the like. Consequently, a user may remove the nozzle head and/or the tube by unscrewing the respective component (tube or nozzle head) and, for example, replace it with another component if it is broken or in order to clean it. In particular, cleaning of the respective component can prevent microbiological growth and improve the quality of the liquid by preventing unintentional contamination.
  • the nozzle head as well as the tube may also comprise different means for attachment, for example, the nozzle head may be screwed onto the tube, wherein the tube is clipped to the apparatus.
  • the nozzle head may comprise at least two nozzle outlets, preferably at least six nozzle outlets, more preferably at least twelve nozzle outlets, most preferably twelve to twenty nozzle outlets.
  • Each of the nozzle outlets may then still be smaller than the inner diameter of the tube.
  • the distribution of the gas in the liquid can be further improved.
  • the surface area of the gas can be further increased by dividing the gas flow inside the tube into multiple gas streams, which can further increase the probability of binding the gas into liquid.
  • the nozzle outlets may be directed exactly or substantially in a direction of extension of the tube, i.e. downwards if the container stands upright in a conventional manner, and/or exactly or substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tube, i.e. radially.
  • the nozzle outlets may face the bottom of the container and/or respective sidewalls of the container.
  • the nozzle outlets are not supposed to be directed in the direction of the opening, i.e., in the direction in which the gas rises inside the liquid.
  • each nozzle outlet may be in between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.24 mm and 0.5 mm, more preferably between 0.28 mm and 0.4 mm.
  • the size of the nozzle outlets increases the amount/number of fine bubbles of the gas inside the liquid. Due to the increased amount of fine bubbles, the contact surface between gas and liquid is increased. This in turn improves the distribution and/or dissolution of the gas inside the liquid, e.g. in case of gas in the form of CO 2 , dissolution of CO 2 in a liquid in the form of water can be significantly improved.
  • the nozzle head may comprise a cylindrical shape with a lateral surface, a bottom surface and a top surface, and wherein said nozzle outlets are arranged on the lateral surface and/or the bottom surface of the nozzle head. Accordingly, this shape of a nozzle head allows for the aforementioned distribution of gas towards the bottom as well as the sidewalls of the container.
  • the apparatus may comprise a relief valve operable e.g. with a maximum pressure of 8 to 11 bar, therefore controlling a maximum pressure level inside the removable container.
  • the relief valve opens. This makes it possible to work at low pressures in particular and at the same time prevent the container from breaking.
  • the pressure inside the container rises, for example up to 6 bar.
  • the pressure inside the container decreases. If the gas supply is operated in a pulsed manner, the pressure is increased again with each burst or shot. This means, for example, that the internal pressure of the container is 5 bar at the beginning, i.e., after a first burst, and then drops to 3 bar until the next burst occurs.
  • break time there is a period of 4 to 20 seconds (break time) between two consecutive gas bursts during which no gas burst is provided by the pressure supply unit.
  • the aforementioned period (break time) is between 5 to 15 seconds, more preferably between 5 to 10 seconds.
  • This period thus may define a time interval in which the suction pump is circulating the unbound gas, which rises above the liquid level and reintroduces this gas into the liquid.
  • no new gas is supplied from the pressure supply unit.
  • Increasing the time period in which no new gas is supplied into the container additionally increases the efficiency of the system since there is more time for the supplied gas to be bound into the liquid.
  • the pressure supply unit is operated in a pulsed manner for 30 to 120 seconds, preferably for 30 to 90 seconds, more preferably for 30 to 60 seconds and/or the pressure supply unit is operated so that each gas burst lasts between 0.8 and 5 seconds, preferably between 0.8 and 3 seconds, more preferably between 0.8 and 2 seconds and most preferably between 0.9 and 1.2 seconds.
  • the (gas) enrichment process i.e., the carbonation, does not last more than 120 seconds. Therefore, after 120 seconds at the latest, the liquid inside the container is fully prepared.
  • the aforementioned time periods are all controlled by the control unit, wherein the respective chosen times additionally increase the efficiency of bounding gas into the liquid.
  • control unit is configured to operate the pressure supply unit in a pulsed manner for 30 to 60 seconds, wherein a period of 5 to 10 seconds between two consecutive gas bursts occurs during which no gas burst is provided by the pressure supply unit, and each gas burst lasts between 0.9 and 1.2 seconds.
  • the time during which no gas burst occurs is also waited at after the last gas burst to allow the gas to be accumulated inside the liquid before an optional pressure compensation valve may be operated.
  • this time period at the end may be chosen longer, for example 10 seconds.
  • a gas enrichment process could look as follows: gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas bursts for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas burst for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas burst for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas burst for 5 seconds; gas burst for 1 second; no gas burst
  • the time during which the pressure supply unit is operated in a pulsed manner may also be called cycle time, wherein the time between two gas bursts during which no gas burst is provided may be called break time. Further, the time each gas burst lasts may be called burst time.
  • control unit may operate the suction pump to suck continuously at least directly after the first gas burst.
  • the suction pump starts sucking.
  • the circulation may then stop after the last burst or after a predetermined time period after the last burst. Therefore, the enrichment process of the liquid inside the container can be controlled fully automated.
  • the control unit may comprise a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), e.g. with a micro-controller, and may be connected to a power supply.
  • PCBA printed circuit board assembly
  • One or more operation modes may be stored on the PCBA, e.g. for different degrees of carbonation and/or different fill levels or amounts of liquid to be carbonated.
  • the control unit may be connected with one or more sensors, e.g. for detecting gas pressure, fill level of the container or the like.
  • a display unit, actuation means (user operation interface) and the like may be connected to or part of the control unit.
  • the system as well as the apparatus both provide embodiments increasing efficiency of the enrichment process of a liquid in a container.
  • Figure 1 depicts a first embodiment of a system with an apparatus 1 and a container 100 for carbonation of a liquid inside the container 100.
  • the difference between an apparatus 1 and a system is that the system at least further includes the removable container 100.
  • the apparatus 1 comprises a canister or gas bottle 2 comprising pressurized gas and a pressure regulator 3 coupled to said canister 2, wherein the pressure regulator 3 and the canister 2 together form a pressure supply unit 4. Furthermore, the apparatus 1 comprises a suction pump 5, a head portion 6, which is connected to a spout portion of the container 100, for example via corresponding sealing means, wherein said spout portion comprises an opening. A tube 7 with a nozzle head 8 protrudes into the container 100 via said opening. A detailed view of the nozzle head 8 is shown in Figures 2 and 3 .
  • valve 10 and connection means 11 are arranged in the fluid conduits 9.
  • the fluid conduits 9 are only schematically indicated. However, the fluid conduits 9 may be respective flexible and/or rigid pipes or the like.
  • the valve 10 and connection means 11 may be omitted and are not necessarily required for an implementation of the invention.
  • a control unit is not shown here, however, a respective control unit may comprise a processor, a memory and the like and is configured to control the corresponding components of the apparatus 1. Consequently, the control unit is linked to the respective component parts of the apparatus 1 such as the suction pump 5 and valve 10.
  • the container 100 comprises a height, not shown, wherein the nozzle head 8 depicted in Figure 1 is arranged within the third, actually even within the quarter, of the container (height) nearer to the bottom 101 of the container 100.
  • the gas flows according to arrow 12 shown inside the tube 7, wherein arrow 12 also refers to a direction of extension of the tube 7, i.e., a distal extension towards the bottom 101 of the container 100.
  • Arrow 13 refers to a direction perpendicular to said direction of extension 12. Therefore arrow 12 is pointing towards sidewall 102 of the container 100, wherein arrow 13 is pointing towards the bottom 101 of the container 100.
  • Figures 2 and 3 both show an embodiment of the nozzle head 8 with a cylindrical shape comprising a bottom surface 14, lateral surface 15 and top surface 16.
  • the top surface 16 is directed towards the opening of the container 100, wherein the bottom surface 14 is directed towards the bottom 101 of the container 100, and the lateral surface 15 is directed towards the sidewall 102 of the container 100 as can be seen in Figure 1 .
  • the nozzle head 8 further comprises nozzle outlets 17 arranged on the lateral surface 16. Gas which flows out of the nozzle outlets 17 is therefore directed according to arrow 13 and thus in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the tube 7.
  • the nozzle head 8 comprises a respective threaded portion 18, in which the tube 7 is inserted. Even though not shown, to be connectable to the tube 7, the tube 7 requires a respective threaded portion to be engaged with said threaded portion 18.
  • the threaded portion 18 is connected via fluid channels 19 with the nozzle outlets 17 of the nozzle head 8.
  • Figure 4 shows a similar system as depicted in Figure 1 .
  • the system of Figure 4 does not comprise a tube 7 and a nozzle head 8.
  • the system depicted in Figure 4 comprises a gas inlet device 20 and the container 100 comprises a respective counterpart so that the gas is supplied into the container 100 via said gas inlet device 20 and the counterpart, for example a valve mechanism, at the bottom 101 of the container 100.
  • the gas inlet device 20 is only indicated and not actually depicted. However, the gas inlet device would be located at the location of reference sign 20. Therefore, reference sign 20 refers to the schematically indicated gas inlet device 20 which is only schematically depicted.
  • a relief valve 21 is depicted on the head portion 6 of the apparatus 1.
  • the relief valve 21 is also shown in Figure 1 and is used to ensure that the pressure inside the container 100 does not become too high.
  • the relief valve 21 may be set to open when the pressure rises e.g. above 8 bar inside the container 100.
  • the pressure head has two relief valves 21, wherein the second pressure relief valve 21 is optional. If two pressure relief valves 21 are provided, preferably one opens at a pressure above 8 bar, and the second one opens at a pressure above 11 bar.
  • apparatuses 1 in Figures 1 and 4 optionally comprise a pressure compensation valve 22, which may be opened, for example, at the end of an enrichment process to compensate for the overpressure in the system.
  • the valves 10, 21 and 22 may all be operated by the control unit, not shown.
  • the user may place the container 100 inside the apparatus 1.
  • a specified liquid level value for example up to 0.8 liter for a container with a maximum fill volume of 1 liter
  • the enrichment process may then start. Regardless of whether, for example, a system according to Figure 1 or a system according to Figure 4 is used, the user starts the enrichment process, for example, by pressing a button on an interface of the apparatus 1. For this purpose, the user may select medium sparkling.
  • the apparatus 1 now opens the valve 10 and, may also set the pressure regulator 3 according to the selection of the user.
  • the gas for example CO 2 , starts to flow via the fluid conduits 9 via the head portion 6, the tube 7, the nozzle head 8 and the nozzle outlets 17 into the container 100 or via the gas inlet device 20 located at the bottom 101 of the container 100.
  • the pressurized gas then enters the liquid and rises up towards the head portion 6. By doing so, some of the gas will be bound, whereas there will also be remaining unbound gas rising above the liquid.
  • the suction pump 5 may be started. Therefore, at the time unbound gas rises above the liquid level, the suction pump 5 may be already running. Via respective outlet ports at the head portion 6, the suction pump 5 may then suck out, i.e., extract, the unbound gas out of the container 100 via the opening of the container 100.
  • the extracted gas is then reintroduced to the liquid via the nozzle head 8 or the gas inlet device 20 such as the gas from the pressure supply unit 4 before. This suction process continuous until the enrichment process is completed to the intended degree.
  • the pressure supply unit 4 may supply gas to the liquid in a pulsed manner, wherein, for example, the valve 10 opens only for a predetermined period, for example, 1 second every 5 seconds over the duration of 60 seconds.
  • the gas flow via the pressure supply unit 4 may be operated in a pulsed manner, wherein the unbound gas is always pumped back into the liquid via the suction pump 5.
  • the gas is supplied to the liquid via the nozzle head 8 or the gas inlet device 20 continuously.
  • the enrichment process is stopped by the control unit. Therefore, the pressure supply unit 4 as well as the suction pump 5 are stopped. If necessary, the control unit may then open the optional pressure compensation valve 22 to compensate for the excess pressure in the container 100. The user may then remove the container 100 from the apparatus 1, wherein the liquid in the container 100 is now ready to drink and conditioned according to the selection made by the user.
  • suction pump 4 is not necessarily required and may only be used to further optimize the enrichment process.
  • a container was filled with 0.8 liter of water.
  • the distance between the bottom surface 14 of the nozzle head 8 and the bottom 101 of the container 100 was about4 cm, wherein the nozzle head was located within around the 19/23 of the container height, since the tube 7 with nozzle head 8 protrudes with a length of about 19 cm into the container 100 having a container height of about 23 cm.
  • the nozzle head 8 used for testing had 12 nozzle outlets 17 directed towards the sidewall 102 of the container. Each nozzle outlet 17 had a diameter of 0.3 mm.
  • each pulse experiment was repeated five times with the same parameters to check reproducibility.
  • the “cycle time” corresponds to the time from the first burst until the pressure inside the container is released, for example by means of a pressure compensation valve.
  • the “burst time” is the duration of a CO 2 -gas burst.
  • the selected pressure for each burst is indicated in table 1.
  • the “discharged CO 2 -gas (g)” defines the amount of CO 2 -gas in gram which was discharged from a canister during the enrichment process, wherein the "CO 2 -enrichment in the liquid (g/l)" defines the amount of CO 2 -gas in gram being accumulated per liter inside the liquid.
  • the "efficiency (%)" for each test was calculated by relating the “consumption CO 2 (g)” to the “CO 2 -enrichment in the liquid (g/l)” in order to determine how much percentage of the discharged CO 2 -gas was bound inside the liquid.
  • the water temperature was 18.5 °C and the maximum pressure inside the container was 3 bar.
  • the cycle time was set to 30 seconds, with each burst lasting 1 second. The total number of bursts was thus 5.
  • the break time between a burst and a subsequent burst as well as after the last burst was 5 seconds.
  • 5.71 g of CO 2 -gas were discharged, and 4.07 g of CO 2 -gas were accumulated per liter. The efficiency for this experiment was therefore 71.3 %.
  • Table 2 BRITA sodaONE BRITA sodaONE test series test no. cylce time (s) burst time (s) number of bursts temp. (C°) max. pressure (bar) discharged CO2-gas (g) CO2-enrichment in the liquid (g/l) efficiency (%) mean efficiency value (%) 1 1 3 3 3 17.9 60 8 4.6 57.5 64.0 2 3 3 3 17.9 60 6.3 4.7 74.6 3 3 3 3 17.9 60 8.2 4.9 59.8 2 1 6 3 3+2 17.7 60 12 5.2 43.3 44.2 2 6 3 3+2 17.8 60 12.1 5.4 44.6 3 6 3 3+2 17.7 60 12.1 5.4 44.6 3 1 9 3 3+2+2 17.8 60 15.6 5.6 35.9 35.2 2 9 3 3+2+2 17.7 60 15.8 5.4 34.2 3 9 3 3+2+2 17.8 60 15.2 5.4 35.5 4 1 12 3 3+2+2+2 17.8 60 18.7 5.6 29.9 29.3 2 12 3 3+
  • a first experiment (cf. test series 1) at a temperature of 17.9 °C was conducted with a cycle time of 3 seconds, a burst time of 3 seconds and a total number of 1 bursts, that is CO 2 was not applied in a pulsed manner here.
  • 8 g CO2-gas was discharged from a canister and 4.6 g per liter were bound inside the liquid. Therefore, for this experiment, the efficiency was determined at 57.5 %, which is significantly less than that of the present invention shown in table 1.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
EP22155353.0A 2022-02-07 2022-02-07 Système et appareil pour la carbonatation d'un liquide Pending EP4223399A1 (fr)

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EP22155353.0A EP4223399A1 (fr) 2022-02-07 2022-02-07 Système et appareil pour la carbonatation d'un liquide

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EP22155353.0A EP4223399A1 (fr) 2022-02-07 2022-02-07 Système et appareil pour la carbonatation d'un liquide

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Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB399352A (en) * 1932-12-24 1933-10-05 Nikolaus Meurer New or improved method of aerating beverages, and apparatus therefor
US4082123A (en) * 1976-10-26 1978-04-04 Sodaflo Drinks Limited Carbonating apparatus
GB2117657A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-10-19 Jack Anthony Ewen Equipment for carbonating water
JPS61185322A (ja) * 1985-02-12 1986-08-19 Nippon Tansan Gas Kk 炭酸液体製造器
WO1997025130A1 (fr) * 1996-01-04 1997-07-17 International Home Beverage Supply Co., Inc. Appareil et procede de fabrication de boissons gazeuses
WO2014197373A1 (fr) 2013-06-03 2014-12-11 Cornelius, Inc. Procédé et appareil de gazéification d'un liquide
WO2016181279A1 (fr) 2015-05-14 2016-11-17 Sodastream Industries Ltd. Machine à soda domestique fonctionnant à basse pression

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB399352A (en) * 1932-12-24 1933-10-05 Nikolaus Meurer New or improved method of aerating beverages, and apparatus therefor
US4082123A (en) * 1976-10-26 1978-04-04 Sodaflo Drinks Limited Carbonating apparatus
GB2117657A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-10-19 Jack Anthony Ewen Equipment for carbonating water
JPS61185322A (ja) * 1985-02-12 1986-08-19 Nippon Tansan Gas Kk 炭酸液体製造器
WO1997025130A1 (fr) * 1996-01-04 1997-07-17 International Home Beverage Supply Co., Inc. Appareil et procede de fabrication de boissons gazeuses
WO2014197373A1 (fr) 2013-06-03 2014-12-11 Cornelius, Inc. Procédé et appareil de gazéification d'un liquide
WO2016181279A1 (fr) 2015-05-14 2016-11-17 Sodastream Industries Ltd. Machine à soda domestique fonctionnant à basse pression

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