GB2446792A

GB2446792A - Beverage dispense system

Info

Publication number: GB2446792A
Application number: GB0703416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Robert Mooney
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2007-02-22
Filing date: 2007-02-22
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: GB0703416D0

Abstract

A beverage dispense system having first and second coolers 1 and 17. The second cooler 17 is provided with at least one product coil 23 for cooling a product by heat exchange with a coolant supplied to the cooler 17 from the first cooler 1. The product cooler 17 may be located on top of the first cooler 1 which may be an ice bank cooler and coolant may be pumped from the ice bank cooler 1 to the product cooler 17 and return to the ice bank cooler 1 under gravity.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSE SYSTEM

This invention relates to a beverage system for dispensing a chilled beverage. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively applicable to dispense of alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager and cider. It could, however, also have application for the dispense of non-alcoholic beverages.

In conventional systems for dispensing beer, lager and cider, a beverage source such as a barrel or keg is stored in a cellar or other location remote from the serving area and is delivered to a counter top fitting such as a font provided with a dispense tap. Typically, a beverage supply line from the beverage source is connected to a product coil in an icebank cooler in the cellar to chill the beverage to the required temperature for dispense and is then contained in an insulated trunk line referred to as a python between the cellar and the serving area to reduce heat exchange with the environment. The trunk line may include a re-circulation loop for coolant such as chilled water from the cooler in the cellar to prevent the beverage warming up in the python. The chilled water in the re-circulation loop may also be used to provide additional cooling of the product in the serving area prior to dispense.

Icebank coolers typically employ a refrigeration unit including an evaporator coil located within a water bath to cool the water and cause ice to form on the coil which provides a thermal reserve to meet cooling demand during peak serving periods. Often the cooler will contain several product coils which restrict the size of the icebank that can be formed with the result that there is a risk the icebank will be eroded by a high demand for cooling leading to inadequate cooling and dispense of beverages at temperatures higher than desired.

The invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing.

It is a preferred object of the invention to provide a beverage dispense system which can provide an improved throughput of product without compromising product cooling to a desired temperature for dispense.

It is another preferred object of the invention to provide a beverage dispense system that can be employed to enhance the cooling performance of an existing beverage dispense system.

It is another preferred object of the invention to provide a beverage dispense system in which product cooling employs a cooling medium produced in a cooler separate from the cooler in which the product is cooled.

It is another preferred object of the invention to provide a method of cooling a product for dispense.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a beverage dispense system including a beverage source, a first cooler, and a second cooler, the second cooler having at least one product coil through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense, wherein a cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through the second cooler.

In one embodiment, the at least one product coil is submerged in the cooling medium circulating through the second cooler. In this embodiment, both coolers contain the same cooling medium, typically chilled water, and beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium in the second cooler.

Preferably, the cooling medium forms an ice bank in the first cooler that provides a thermal reserve for periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler.

Preferably, the second cooler is located above the first cooler and cooling medium is pumped from the first cooler to the second cooler and returns from the second cooler to the first cooler under gravity.

Preferably, the coolers are located remotely from a serving area for dispense of beverage and the at least one product coil is connected to a beverage supply line for delivery of chilled beverage to the serving area.

The beverage supply line may be connected to one or more dispense taps at the serving area.

Preferably, the beverage supply line is contained in an insulated trunk line (python) between the remote location and the serving area.

Preferably, the trunk line contains a re-circulation loop for cooling medium from one of the first and second coolers.

Preferably, cooling medium in the re-circulation loop is used for cooling in the serving area.

Preferably, the beverage and cooling medium are passed through a heat exchange device to cool further the beverage in the serving area prior to dispense.

In another embodiment, the cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through a heat exchange device such as a cooling coil submerged in a cooling medium within the second cooler. In this embodiment, the first and second coolers may contain different cooling mediums, for example glycol in the first cooler and water in the second cooler, whereby beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium in the second cooler that has been cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium from the first cooler.

Preferably, the cooling medium in the second cooler forms an ice bank on the cooling coil that provides a thermal reserve for periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler.

Preferably, the trunk line contains a re-circulation loop for cooling medium from the second cooler.

Preferably, cooling medium in the re-circulation loop is used for cooling in the serving area. For example, the beverage and cooling medium may be passed through a heat exchange device in the serving area to cool further the beverage in the serving area prior to dispense.

Preferably, cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through a further re-circulation loop providing a source of the cooling medium in the serving area. Preferably, the further re-circulation loop is contained in a further insulated trunk line between the remote location and the serving area.

Preferably, the cooling medium in the first cooler is at a lower temperature than the cooling medium in the second cooler. For example, the cooling medium in the first cooler may comprise an aqueous water/glycol mixture whereby the freezing point is depressed below 0 degrees centigrade.

In one arrangement, the cooling coil and further re-circulation loop are connected in series. In this arrangement, the cooling coil may be located before or after the serving area. Preferably, the cooling coil is located before the serving area to receive cooling medium from the first cooler before it passes to the serving area.

In another arrangement, the cooling coil and further re-circulation loop are connected in parallel. In this arrangement, cooling medium from the first cooler may be directed selectively to the second cooler or serving area according to cooling demand. Preferably, the cooling demand in the serving area takes precedence over the cooling demand in the second cooler. In this arrangement, the thermal reserve provided by the ice bank that forms on the cooling coil during periods of low demand is gradually eroded during periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler when cooling medium from the first cooler is directed to the serving area.

From another aspect, the invention provides a beverage dispense system including a beverage source, a first cooler, and a second cooler, the second cooler having at least one product coil through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense, wherein a cooling medium in the first cooler is employed for cooling in the second cooler.

The at least one product coil may be submerged in cooling medium received in the second cooler from the first cooler. In this way, beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium. In this arrangement, the cooling medium in the second cooler is circulated between the first and second coolers to maintain the desired temperature of the cooling medium in the second cooler.

Alternatively, the at least one product coil may be submerged in a cooling medium in the second cooler and the cooling medium in the first cooler is passed through a cooling coil submerged in the cooling medium in the second cooler. In this way beverage in the at least one product coil is cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with cooling medium in the cooling coil. In this arrangement, the cooling medium in the second cooler is maintained at the desired temperature by the cooling medium from the first cooler.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a beverage dispense system in which a first cooler contains a cooling medium that is cooled by a refrigeration unit including an evaporator coil located in the first cooler, and a second cooler is supplied with cooling medium from the first cooler for cooling beverage in at least one product coil contained in the second cooler.

The beverage may be cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium from the first cooler (direct cooling) or with a cooling medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium from the first cooler (indirect cooling).

According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage employing any of the systems according to the preceding aspects of the invention.

According to a still further aspect, the invention provides a method of cooling a beverage in a dispense system comprising providing a first cooler for cooling a cooling medium, providing a second cooler for at least one product coil, and using cooling medium from the first cooler for cooling beverage in the at least one product coil.

In one method, the at least one product coil is submerged in the cooling medium in the second cooler. In another method, the at least one product coil is submerged in a cooling medium in heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium from the first cooler.

According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of cooling a beverage by connecting a source of beverage to a product coil in a cooler and connecting the cooler to a source of cooling medium and circulating the cooling medium through the cooler to cool beverage in the product coil.

The source of the cooling medium may be a separate cooler. The separate cooler may include a refrigeration unit for cooling the cooling medium. The cooling medium may be water or an aqueous water/glycol mixture.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first embodiment of a beverage dispense system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second embodiment of a beverage dispense system according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment of a beverage dispense system according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment of a beverage dispense system is shown having a first cooler 1, which is an ice bank cooler, located in a cellar or other location remote from a bar or other serving area. The first cooler 1 has a tank 3 containing water up to a level 5 and a refrigeration unit for cooling the water. The refrigeration unit includes a compressor 7 and a condenser 8 located under the tank 3 and evaporator coils 9 positioned in the tank 3 adjacent its walls. A submerged agitator 11 driven by a motor 13 circulates the water over the evaporator coils 9 whereby the water is cooled and an ice bank 15 formed on the coils 9.

Means (not shown) is provided to control the thickness of the ice bank 15 that can form over the coils 9. Any suitable ice bank control may be employed, for example a sensor or probe. In use, the ice bank 15 is built up to a maximum thickness during periods of low cooling demand and provides a thermal reserve for period of high cooling demand in which the ice bank 15 is eroded by water washing over the ice bank 15.

A second cooler 17 also located in the cellar is positioned on top of the first cooler 1. The second cooler 17 has a tank 19 containing water up to a level 21 and a plurality of product coils indicated generally by reference numeral 23. The tank 19 has an inlet 23 for water delivered from the first cooler 1 by a submerged pump 25 in the tank 3 driven by the motor 13 and an overflow outlet 27 for returning water to the tank 3. A submerged agitator 29 driven by a motor 31 circulates the water over the product coils 23.

The product coils 23 are connected to beverage sources (not shown) located in the cellar, for example kegs or barrels of beer, lager or cider.

Beverage is cooled to a desired temperature suitable for dispense by passage through the product coils 23. The product coils 23 are connected to beverage supply lines indicated generally by reference number 24 that pass from the cellar to dispense taps indicated generally by reference numeral 33 in the bar for dispense of chilled beverage into glasses indicated generally by reference numeral 35. It will be understood that any number of product coils 23, supply lines 24 and dispense taps 33 may be provided as required.

Between the cellar and the bar, the supply lines 24 are contained in an insulated trunk line 37 commonly referred to as a python to reduce heat exchange with the environment. The trunk line 37 also contains a water re-circulation loop 39 for circulating water from the tank 19 by means of a submerged pump 41 driven by the motor 31. The chilled water circulating in the ioop 39 helps to prevent beverage in the supply lines 24 warming up between the cellar and the bar and may be used to provide additional cooling of the beverage in the bar prior to dispense. Such additional cooling may be provided by connecting the loop 39 and supply line 24 of the beverage to be cooled to a heat exchange device 43 before the dispense tap 33. A suitable heat exchange device is described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0610810.4 filed 1 June 2006 although it will be understood that any other suitable device could be employed.

As will be understood, by forming the ice bank 15 in the first cooler 1 and placing the product coils 23 in the second cooler 17 while circulating chilled water from the first cooler 1 to the second cooler 17 has a number of benefits. For example, the size of the ice bank 15 that forms on the coils 9 in the first cooler can be increased providing a significantly greater thermal reserve for cooling beverage passing through the product coils 23 in the second cooler 17 during periods of high cooling demand.

Furthermore, a larger number of product coils 23 can be accommodated in the second cooler 17 allowing the range and/or throughput of beverage to be increased. Typically, for a given size of the first cooler 1, the size of the ice bank 15 may be increased by up to 60% and the number of product coils 23 may be increased by 30% or more.

Other benefits of providing the ice bank 15 and product coils 23 in separate coolers 1,17 placed one on top of the other are that an existing dispense system employing an ice bank cooler containing both the ice bank and product coils can be converted by moving the product coils into a second (add-on) cooler placed on top of the first (existing) cooler. Such conversion does requiring any additional floor space as the footprint of the first cooler is not increased by placing the second cooler on top of the first cooler and does not require any additional refrigeration unit for the second cooler as the chilled water from the first cooler is used to cool the product coils in the second cooler. In the above embodiment, the coolers are placed one on top of the other. This is not essential, however, and other arrangements of the coolers are possible. For example, the coolers could be placed side-by-side where space is available.

Referring now to Figure 2, a second embodiment of a beverage dispense system is shown in which parts corresponding to the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals in the series 100.

In this embodiment, the first cooler 101 contains an aqueous water/glycol mixture 151 cooled by the evaporator coil 109 of the refrigeration unit to provide a source of sub-zero cooling medium suitable for the cooling requirements of the system. The second cooler 117 contains the product coils 123 and a cooling coil 153 adjacent its walls. The cooling coil 153 forms part of a re-circulation loop 155 through which cooling medium 151 from the first cooler 101 is circulated by means of submerged pump 125 driven by motor 113 whereby water in the tank 119 is cooled and an ice bank 154 formed on the coil 153. As a result, an additional refrigeration unit for the second cooler 117 is not required.

Furthermore, the water/glycol temperature in the first cooler can be controlled and used to control the size of the ice bank 154 avoiding the need for electrical or mechanical control of the ice bank 154.

The chilled water in the second cooler 117 cools beverage passing through the product coils 123 in the second cooler 117 before passing in beverage supply lines 124 to dispense taps 133 in the bar for dispense of chilled beverage into glasses 135. Between the cellar and the bar, the beverage supply lines 124 are again contained in insulated trunk line 137 together with water re-circulation loop 139 for circulating water from the tank 119 by means of submerged pump 141 driven by motor 131. As in the first embodiment, beverage may be dispensed with or without additional cooling in a heat exchange device 143 connected to the water re-circulation ioop 139.

In this embodiment, the water/glycol re-circulation ioop 155 also passes from the second cooler 117 to the bar before returning to the first cooler 101. Between the cellar and the bar, the water/glycol re-circulation loop 155 is contained in an insulated trunk line 157 separate from the trunk line 137 containing the beverage supply lines 124 and water re-circulation loop 139. The sub-zero water/glycol circulating in the re-circulation loop 155 may be used in the bar for a variety of purposes. For example, the water/glycol may be circulated through a heat exchange device 159 to cool beverage prior to dispense to a temperature lower than can be achieved by heat exchange with chilled water from the water re-circulation loop 139 in heat exchange device 143.

The heat exchange device 159 may be of the type described in our co-pending UK patent application No.0610810.4 filed 1 June 2006 or any other suitable device. Alternatively or additionally, the glycol may be employed to generate ice and/or condensation on the outer surface of a font as described in our co-pending UK patent application Nos. 2400597-A and 2401423-A. Alternatively or additionally, the glycol may be employed for any other cooling application in the bar such as a wine cooler or cold shelf or cabinet. Other possible uses of the water/glycol cooling medium will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The above-described dispense system has many of the advantages of the first system as well as additional benefits. In particular, beverage throughput capacity can be increased compared to a water/glycol only system and any number of product coils can be accommodated by changing the size of the second cooler. The water/glycol re-circulation loop enables the range of beverage dispense temperatures that can be achieved to be increased and provides for additional cooling applications in the bar. The thermal reserve provided by the icebank in the second cooler reduces the cooling load on the first (water/glycol) cooler during periods of high demand. The second cooler can be located semi-remotely from the first cooler. Alternatively, the coolers can be located side-by side or the second cooler can be located on top of the first cooler. An existing dispense system employing an ice bank cooler or a waterlglycol cooler can be converted by removing the product coils and placing them in a second cooler and using the first cooler to produce sub-zero water/glycol for producing an ice bank in the second cooler.

Referring now to Figure 3, a third embodiment of a beverage dispense system is shown which is a modification of the second embodiment and in which parts corresponding to the previous embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals in the series 200.

In this embodiment, the water/glycol re-circulation ioop 255 is provided with solenoid valves 261,263 in supply and return lines 255a, 255b controlled by a water/glycol temperature sensor such as a thermistor 265 in the return line 255b in response to cooling requirements. The cooling coil 253 is connected across the supply and return lines 255a,255b via solenoid valves 267,269 controlled by an ice bank sensor such as a thermostat 271 in response to the size of the ice bank 254 formed on the cooling coil 253 in the second cooler 217.

In this arrangement, when there is a demand for water/glycol cooling in the bar as detected by the thermistor 265 in response to the temperature of the water/glycol in the return line 255b, the solenoid valves 261,263 open and the solenoid valves 267,269 close to isolate the cooling coil 253 from the re-circulation ioop 255. As a result, the pump 225 is operable to deliver water/glycol from the first cooler 201 to the bar through the re-circulation loop 255 to meet the cooling demand. During off-duty periods when the demand for water/glycol cooling in the bar is low, such as overnight or between serving periods, the solenoid valves 261,263 close and the solenoid valves 267,269 open. As a result, the pump 225 is operable to deliver water/glycol from the first cooler 201 through the cooling coil 253 until the thermostat 271 detects the maximum thickness of the icebank 254 has been formed on the cooling coil 253 causing the solenoid valves 267,269 to close and the pump 225 to operate on no-load (dead-ended) until there is a cooling demand in the bar or the second cooler 217. When the valves 261,263 are closed, by-pass lines 273,275 allow a reduced flow of water/glycol around the re-circulation loop 255 to prevent excessive warming up of the water/glycol in the ioop 255 and prevent the valves 261,263 cycling between open and closed conditions in response to small changes in temperature of the water/glycol detected by the thermistor 265. In a modification (not shown), three-way solenoid valves may be employed in place of valves 261,267 and 263,269. In another modification (not shown), one pair of solenoid valves 261,267 or 263,269 or an equivalent three-way valve may be omitted.

This system has all the advantages of the second system described above with the added advantage that water/glycol circulation to the bar takes precedence over water/glycol circulation to the second cooler when there is a cooling demand in the bar. Normally this will occur during a serving period when the second cooler will be able to accommodate cooling demand by eroding the icebank formed on the evaporator coil during periods when the cooling demand in the bar is low.

The concept of two coolers where cooling for one cooler is provided by the other cooler can be used both when installing new beverage dispense systems and when converting existing beverage dispense systems.

Claims

1. A beverage dispense system including a beverage source, a first cooler, and a second cooler, the second cooler having at least one product coil through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense, wherein a cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through the second cooler.

2. A beverage dispense system according to claim 1 wherein, the at least one product coil is submerged in the cooling medium circulating through the second cooler.

3. A beverage dispense system according to claim 2 wherein, the cooling medium forms an ice bank in the first cooler that provides a thermal reserve for periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler.

4. A beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim wherein, the second cooler is located above the first cooler and cooling medium is pumped from the first cooler to the second cooler and returns from the second cooler to the first cooler under gravity.

5. A beverage dispense system according to any preceding claims wherein, the coolers are located remotely from a serving area for dispense of beverage and the at least one product coil is connected to a beverage supply line for delivery of chilled beverage to the serving area.

6. A beverage dispense system according to claim 5 wherein, the beverage supply line is connected to one or more dispense taps at the serving area.

7. A beverage dispense system according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, the beverage supply line is contained in an insulated trunk line (python) between the remote location and the serving area.

8. A beverage dispense system according to claim 7 wherein, the trunk line contains a re-circulation loop for cooling medium from one of the first and second coolers.

9. A beverage dispense system according to claim 8 wherein, cooling medium in the re-circulation loop is used for cooling in the serving area.

10. A beverage dispense system according to claim 9 wherein, the beverage and cooling medium are passed through a heat exchange device to cool further the beverage in the serving area prior to dispense.

11. A beverage dispense system according to claim 1 wherein, the cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through a heat exchange device submerged in a cooling medium within the second cooler.

12. A beverage dispense system according to claim 11 wherein, the cooling medium in the second cooler forms an ice bank on the cooling coil that provides a thermal reserve for periods of high cooling demand in the second cooler.

13. A beverage dispense system according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein, the coolers are located remotely from a serving area for dispense of beverage and the at least one product coil is connected to a beverage supply line for delivery of chilled beverage to the serving area.

14. A beverage dispense system according to claim 13 wherein, the beverage supply line is connected to one or more dispense taps at the serving area.

15. A beverage dispense system according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein, the beverage supply line is contained in an insulated trunk line (python) between the remote location and the serving area.

16. A beverage dispense system according to claim 15 wherein, the trunk line contains a re-circulation loop for cooling medium from the second cooler.

17. A beverage dispense system according to claim 16 wherein, cooling medium in the re-circulation loop is used for cooling in the serving area.

18. A beverage dispense system according to claim 17 wherein, the beverage and cooling medium are passed through a heat exchange device in the serving area to cool further the beverage in the serving area prior to dispense.

19. A beverage dispense system according to any of claims 16 to 18 wherein, cooling medium in the first cooler is circulated through a further re-circulation loop providing a source of the cooling medium in the serving area.

20. A beverage dispense system according to claim 19 wherein, the further re-circulation loop is contained in a further insulated trunk line between the remote location and the serving area.

21. A beverage dispense system according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein, the cooling medium in the first cooler is at a lower temperature than the cooling medium in the second cooler.

22. A beverage dispense system according to any of claims 19 to 21 wherein, the cooling coil and further re-circulation loop are connected in series.

23. A beverage dispense system according to claim 22 wherein, the cooling coil is located before or after the serving area.

24. A beverage dispense system according to any of claims 19 to 21 wherein, the cooling coil and further re-circulation ioop are connected in parallel.

25. A beverage dispense system according to claim 24 wherein, cooling medium from the first cooler is directed selectively to the second cooler or serving area according to cooling demand.

26. A beverage dispense system according to claim 25 wherein, the cooling demand in the serving area takes precedence over the cooling demand in the second cooler.

27. A beverage dispense system according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein, valve means is provided for controlling the flow of cooling medium from the first cooler in response to cooling demand.

28. A beverage dispense system including a beverage source, a first cooler, and a second cooler, the second cooler having at least one product coil through which beverage from the beverage source passes prior to dispense, wherein a cooling medium in the first cooler is employed for cooling in the second cooler.

29. A beverage dispense system according to claim 28 wherein the at least one product coil is submerged in cooling medium received in the second cooler from the first cooler, and the cooling medium in the second cooler is circulated between the first and second coolers.

30. A beverage dispense system according to claim 28 wherein, the at least one product coil is submerged in a cooling medium in the second cooler and the cooling medium in the first cooler is passed through a cooling coil submerged in the cooling medium in the second cooler.