KR20090122449A - Device and method for cooling beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage dispenser (1000) for dispensing beverages, that comprises : a refrigeration circuit (41); a tank (10) for containing said coolant at a liquid state coming from a first duct (20) in the lower portion thereof and evaporating said coolant into a gaseous state, and for containing said coolant in a gaseous state in the upper portion thereof; a second duct (30) for collecting the coolant at the gaseous state from said tank (10); at least one duct (40) for circulating said beverage to be dispensed inside said tank (10) and according to a thermal exchange relation with the coolant at the liquid and/or gaseous state.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COOLING BEVERAGES}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cooling and feeding a beverage. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cooling and feeding beer and other beverages in a " flying pump " mode.

Systems designed to supply a variety of beverages, including beer, sparkling wine, soda, and the like, while maintaining the beverage at a constant temperature have been known for a long time. Taking beer as an example, it is known that it freezes below -1.5 ° C, foams above 4 ° C, and the tasting temperature depends on the type of beer (thus, depending on the type of beer, the tasting Beer at temperature gives taste, flavor and aroma). In general, two methods are known for cooling beverages.

The first method is to immerse the coil or tank containing the beverage in an ice bath or water bath cooled by conventional cooling equipment. For this method, reference may be made to the apparatus described in patent FR2684088. Dipping a coil or tank into an ice bucket presents the major disadvantages of low efficiency, high cost, and difficulty in obtaining and transporting ice blocks with a limited lifetime in transferring heat to ice. When immersing a coil or tank in a bucket cooled by a conventional cooling device, a large tank that can hold the cooled water is required, and it takes a long time to fill the tank with water (supply in "flying pump" mode) , It takes a long time to cool a large amount of water, so the main drawback is that there is a significant delay between running the apparatus and supplying the first cooled beverage.

The second method is to surround the tank containing the beverage with the evaporator of the existing cooling circuit (and thus directly contact the latter). The tank is combined into a lagged compartment and cooled through heat exchange with the evaporator. Reference is made to patent US3712514 for this method, the time taken to cool the tank which must be completely cooled before feeding the beverage, the large volume of the coated chamber containing the tank and the evaporator, the air between the tank and the evaporator ( The main disadvantage is that the heat exchange coefficient is very small).

A cold beverage dispenser is also disclosed in FR2815024, where the beverage is cooled by two methods. However, the dispenser is suitable for low flow rates. In addition, the invention discloses a combination of the method described in FR2684088 and the method described in US3712514.

A beverage cooling system is also disclosed in US5970732, in which the beverage is cooled using a heat exchanger. Heat exchange in the system is by direct thermal contact between the beverage and the coolant circulating in the heat exchanger. These two liquids are distinguished by the metal surface. However, this system has the following disadvantages. The construction of such a system is complicated, high cost of positioning all plates exactly at a distance δ, and difficult to manufacture. As a result, it is practically impossible to clean the heat exchanger because there are inaccessible areas. In addition, in such a system, a high risk of contamination of the beverage by the cooling gas may occur due to a sealing defect (a defect of welding or perforation in the area separating the beverage and gas). In addition, liquid separator 3 is required to operate the heat exchanger correctly. Due to the form of separator 3, it is difficult to easily coat the heat exchanger. In addition, the system can only cool one beverage duct at a time. Therefore, if a large quantity of output is required and the first barrel is empty, a second heat exchanger is required to wait until the empty barrel is replaced with a filled barrel or to be able to continue to supply the beverage.

Three types of compressor units are known for use in this type of application.

-Open unit: the compressor and the motor are separated but connected to each other by belts or mechanical transmissions. Such compressors are available in single or three phase form. However, this compressor is very heavy, bulky and expensive.

Semi-sealed unit: The motor and compressor are opposed to each other and are assembled directly. Thus, the combination of the motor and the compressor is difficult to access (unless the two parts are separated by disconnecting). The compressor is therefore repairable. However, this compressor is very expensive and can be used in three phase form or more than 1.5 hp. This type of compressor therefore requires a three-phase connection and is therefore not suitable for dispensers in flying pump mode.

Sealed unit: The motor and the compressor are confined in a hermetically sealed bell 0 that is not deformable, and thus has this name. The compressor is available in single phase form (low power level, for example 1.5 hp or less). This compressor has a relay and a starting capacitor, sometimes with a permanent capacitor. However, there is a risk that the relays and moving capacitors of the compressor may overheat when the compressor is often started or stopped.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a cold beverage dispenser that does not have all these disadvantages.

In particular, another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser capable of continuously and instantaneously cooling a beverage source without any mediator between the coolant and the beverage duct when the vessel containing the beverage is hot. It is another object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser capable of cooling a beverage without equipment such as a bucket, ice bucket or a stirrer for storage and heat exchange. The final object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser that can be used in the "flying pump" mode, so that the easily movable dispenser is easy to install and can supply a cooled beverage immediately after installation.

1 shows a schematic view of a beverage cooling apparatus of the prior art.

2 shows a schematic of a beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 shows a schematic of a general mode of operation of the beverage dispenser of FIG. 2.

4 shows a preferred embodiment of the dispenser of FIG.

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for supplying a beverage, the beverage dispenser

A compressor that compresses the gaseous coolant while the temperature is rising, and corresponds to a single phase compressor; A condenser for lowering the temperature and condensing the cooling gas; A refrigeration circuit comprising; means for passing the first line designed to circulate the coolant in a liquid state and designed to lower the pressure of the coolant;

A tank designed to contain the coolant in the liquid state flowing from the first line at the bottom, to cause the coolant to evaporate in the gaseous state, and to contain the gaseous coolant at the top;

A second line designed to extract gaseous coolant from the tank; And

At least one duct designed to circulate the beverage to be supplied in the tank and in the heat exchange relationship of the coolant in liquid and / or gaseous state.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the beverage dispenser

An auxiliary circuit connected to the cooling circuit with two connections each comprising a first connection between the outlet of the compressor and the condenser and a second connection between the inlet of the compressor and the tank;

Two counterflows, respectively located between the first connection and the condenser and between the tank and the second connection, and designed to close automatically when the coolant flows back from the condenser to the auxiliary circuit or from the auxiliary circuit to the tank. Non-return valves;

A balancing valve, which is generally open when the compressor is not running, is located in the auxiliary circuit to balance the pressure in the auxiliary circuit, and is closed when the compressor is running; And

It is generally closed when the compressor is not running, and is located between the condenser and the tank to prevent the flow of coolant from the condenser to the tank, and further includes a magnetic valve that opens when the compressor is running. Characterized in that.

Preferably, the beverage dispenser includes a thermostat designed to measure the temperature in the tank and to shut down and restart the compressor. This restart is preferably performed after a delay of at least 4 seconds.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tank is welded to the bottom of the tank, the top is open and collects a gaseous coolant at the top of the tank and discharges the coolant to the second line towards the compressor. It includes a cylinder designed to. This cylinder makes it possible to raise the latter level in the tank to improve the heat exchange between the fluid and the beverage for a certain volume of coolant.

Preferably, the at least one tube is wound around the cylinder.

Preferably, the tube corresponds to a coil made of stainless steel.

In another variant of the invention, the at least one tube is inserted into the tube to form a double-walled tube to avoid the risk of food contamination in case of coil leakage.

Preferably, the tube is made of copper.

Preferably, the beverage dispenser includes a pressure safety switch designed to start or stop the compressor.

Finally, the present invention relates to the use of the beverage dispenser in flying pump mode.

1 corresponds to a schematic diagram of a beverage cooling apparatus in which a line 100 (eg, a coil) carrying a beverage according to the prior art is immersed in a bucket containing ice.

2 is a diagram showing the general principle of one mode of operation of a beverage dispenser according to the invention. The dispenser 1000

A source of refrigerant (eg, conventional cooling circuits using R22, R404 or R407 or a liquefied gas cylinder containing eg CO ₂ );

A cylindrical shape having a diameter of 28 cm and a height of 40 cm, made of sheet metal having a thickness of 4 mm, containing the coolant in a liquid state flowing from the first line at the bottom, allowing the coolant to evaporate in a gaseous state, A coated tank (10) designed to contain the gaseous coolant at the top;

A first line 20 carrying liquid coolant in a lower portion of the tank 10;

A second line 30 designed to extract gaseous coolant from the top of the tank;

And a tube 40 designed to circulate the beverage to be supplied in the tank and to cool the beverage through heat exchange between a liquid and a gaseous coolant.

3 diagrammatically shows a preferred beverage dispenser when the coolant source is a conventional cooling circuit. The dispenser 1000

 A single phase compressor 50 for compressing the gaseous coolant (hereinafter referred to as the 'compressor 50'); A condenser 60 cooled by water or outside air to lower the temperature and condense the cooling gas; A dehydrator 70 and a pressure relief valve 80 for lowering the pressure of the coolant flowing into the tank 10 in line 20; And a cooling circuit (41) comprising a thermostat (90) designed to measure the temperature in the tank (10);

Two connections 42a and 42b each comprising a first connection located between the outlet of the compressor 50 and the condenser 60 and a second connection located between the compressor 50 and the inlet of the tank 10. Auxiliary circuits 42 connected to the cooling circuits 41 through them;

Two non-return valves 43 and 43 'positioned between the connecting portion 42a and the condenser 60 and at the tank 10 and the connecting portion 42b, respectively;

A normally open balance valve 44 located in the auxiliary circuit 42; And

It includes a normally closed magnetic valve 45 located between the condenser 60 and the tank 10.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compressor 50 is selected from hermetically sealed single phase air-conditioning units. This choice carries higher power levels and is preferred over refrigeration compressors without relays or start-up capacitors. This choice therefore has the advantage of being less expensive for the same power. In addition, compressors do not have faults due to overheating of relays and moving capacitors. These compressors run seven to eight times per hour and are designed to have a minimum stop of 2 to 3 minutes in each run. Compressors exist in single phase form and use fluids of R22, R404A, R507, R407C and R410A.

The power of the compressor 50 is calculated according to the required beverage flow rate. In the case of a flying pump, the flow rate is continuously calculated with a difference of about 26 ° C. For example, in order to cool 150 liters of beer from 27 ° C. to 1 ° C. per hour, the compressor 50 must have a power of 4000 W (at an evaporation temperature of 0 ° C.).

A preferred beverage dispenser 1000 is used by the following method. The dispenser 1000 is powered on and the thermostat 90 controls the starting of the compressor 50, and the compressor 50 compresses the gaseous coolant. During operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 44, which is powered in parallel with the compressor 50, closes, consequently inhibiting the circulation of the coolant in the auxiliary circuit 42 and entering the compressor 50. Suppresses the balancing of the pressure with the pressure of the coolant from the compressor. Likewise, during operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 45 opens and allows free circulation of the cooling circuit 41. The gaseous coolant compressed by the compressor 50 passes through the condenser 60 and is cooled by water or external air, and the condenser 60 lowers the temperature of the coolant and condenses the coolant in a liquid state. The coolant in the liquid state passes through the dehydrator 70 and the pressure relief valve 80 to ensure that the tank 10 is properly filled in a state of precisely controlling the evaporation of the coolant. The first part of this cooling circuit is characterized by the high pressure of the coolant exiting the compressor 50 and entering the pressure relief valve 80. As the liquid coolant enters the tank 10 via the pressure relief valve 80 and line 20, the coolant is placed underneath the tank 10, evaporated and absorbs heat from the environment. The beverage circulating in the tank 10, the tube 40 corresponding to a stainless steel coil of generally 21 mm length, is consequently cooled through heat exchange between the tube 40 and the coolant in liquid and gaseous form. In order to avoid the risk of spillage or contamination of the beverage, the tube 40 is inserted into a copper tube as one embodiment of the invention, for example forming a double walled tube with atmospheric pressure between the two walls. The gaseous coolant is discharged through line 30 which carries the coolant to compressor 50. The second part of the cooling circuit is characterized by the low pressure of the coolant exiting the pressure relief valve 80 and entering the compressor 50.

When the compressor 10 is stopped, when the temperature inside the tank 10 measured by the temperature regulating device 90 reaches a required value, or when the dispenser is powered off, in the auxiliary circuit 42 The magnetic valve 44 opens, while the magnetic valve 45 closes and the two non-return valves 43 and 43 'automatically shut off all backflow of the coolant. In this way, it is possible to balance the pressure of the coolant in the auxiliary circuit 42 without having to balance the pressure (and thus the temperature) in the tank 10 and the condenser 60. Balancing the high pressure of the coolant exiting the compressor 50 and the low pressure of the coolant entering the compressor 50 allows the latter to be easily restarted after shutdown, and inside the tank 10 and condenser 60 Keep the temperature constant. This mechanism makes it possible to use the compressor 50 described in paragraph 48 as a compressor and consequently the use of a three phase compressor which requires a three phase connection that limits the dispenser to be used in the flying pump mode. Can be avoided. The single phase compressor 50 has a power of 0.5 and 4 horsepower (hp).

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in another embodiment of the present invention, the second line 30 is welded to the bottom of the tank 10, the top is open, and the gaseous coolant comes out of the top of the tank 10. Can be replaced with a cylinder (31). This cylinder 31 is located inside the tank and is surrounded by a tube 40 containing a beverage. The presence of this cylinder 31 increases the level of liquid coolant contained in the tank 10 and improves heat exchange between the beverage and the actual coolant, thereby cooling the beverage in the tank 10. Can reduce the time required to

In another embodiment of the present invention, the tank 10 may have several beverage tubes 40 wound around the cylinder 11 without the need for other heat exchangers. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it allows for the supply of beverages in large quantities and continuously, and because no time is spent when emptying bins or allowing other beverages to be selected.

When the interior of the tank 10 is at a certain temperature, it is no longer necessary to cool the beverage, otherwise the beverage may be too cold to be frozen or processed.

According to the present invention, when the temperature of the tank 10 reaches a minimum threshold that can be adjusted, the compressor 50 can be stopped using the thermostat 90.

With mechanical thermostats, the stop / start difference is generally 2 ° C and the reaction time is very long. The temperature change is large, the compressor will restart very late and the compressor power will not compensate for this delay during momentary flow.

In the present invention, therefore, it is preferable to use an electronic temperature control device capable of setting the difference between temperature and stop / operation to about 0.1 ° C. For example, if the liquid exiting the evaporator is 0.1 ° C., the compressor is stopped. If the difference is set to 0.4 ° C, the compressor is restarted when the temperature in the evaporator is 0.5 ° C. As a result, the stop time will be very short, especially at the very beginning of the flow. The stop time should be designed as short as possible, adjusted by the stop / run difference of the thermostat, the latter having a specific read rate (minimum / maximum rate). Regardless of the read rate or the minimum difference, at least 4 seconds should be provided to stop the compressor, and any standard hermetically sealed single phase compressor will generally have a high pressure / low pressure balancing mechanism described in paragraphs <42> to <47>. Without this mechanism, it cannot be restarted after such a short time.

When there is a large temperature difference (eg, when the dispenser is switched on), the actual temperature in the evaporation will drop faster than the display of the electronic thermostat 90. In order not to drop below the threshold (generally 0 ° C.), in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dispenser 1000 may operate the compressor 50 when the pressure inside the tank 10 reaches a value corresponding to the required temperature. And a pressure safety switch (not shown) that can be stopped.

With the beverage dispenser according to the invention, a small and simple device can be manufactured. In addition, the dispenser of the present invention does not require cold preserves (ice, cooling water). In addition, the dispenser of the present invention can easily meet safety standards by providing a double wall and inserting a stainless steel tube 40 into a tube such as a copper tube. In addition, by the experiment, the dispenser according to the present invention can supply a beverage corresponding to 2 ℃ while the container containing the beverage is 27 ℃ after a few minutes.

Claims (11)

In the beverage dispenser 1000 for supplying a beverage, A compressor 50 for compressing the gaseous coolant while the temperature is rising, and corresponding to the single phase compressor; A condenser 60 for lowering the temperature and condensing the cooling gas; And means (80) designed to lower the pressure of the coolant passing through the first line (20) designed to circulate the coolant in a liquid state. A tank (10) configured to contain the coolant in a liquid state flowing from the first line (20) at the bottom, to allow the coolant to evaporate in a gaseous state, and to contain the gaseous coolant at the top; A second line (30) designed to extract gaseous coolant from the tank; And Beverage dispenser comprising at least one tube (40) designed to circulate the beverage to be supplied in a heat exchange relationship of liquid and / or gaseous coolant in the tank (10). The method of claim 1, Two connections each comprising a first connection 42a located between the outlet of the compressor 50 and the condenser 60 and a second connection 42b located between the inlet of the compressor 50 and the tank 10. A circuit 42 connected to the cooling circuit 41 with a furnace; Respectively located between the first connector 42a and the condenser 60 and between the tank 10 and the second connector 42b, from the condenser 60 to the circuit 42 or to the circuit 42 Two non-return valves 43 and 43 'designed to automatically block the back flow of coolant from the tank to the tank 10; The balance is normally open when the compressor 50 is not running, and is located in the circuit 42 to balance the pressure in the circuit 42 and closes when the compressor 50 is running. Valve 44; And Normally closed when the compressor 50 is not running and between the condenser 60 and the tank 10 to block the flow of coolant from the condenser 60 to the tank 10. And a magnetic valve (45) which opens when the compressor (50) is operating. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a temperature control device (90) designed to measure the temperature in the tank (10) and to start or stop the compressor (50). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The tank 10 is Welded to the bottom of the tank 10, the top is open, collects a gaseous coolant at the top of the tank 10, the coolant to the second line 30 facing the compressor (50). Beverage dispenser, characterized in that it comprises a cylinder (31) designed to discharge. The method of claim 4, wherein The at least one tube (40) is a beverage dispenser, characterized in that wound around the cylinder (31). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The tube 40 is a beverage dispenser, characterized in that corresponding to the coil. The method of claim 6, And the coil is made of stainless steel. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Wherein the at least one tube (40) is inserted into the tube to form a double-walled tube to avoid the risk of food contamination in case of coil leakage. The method of claim 8, And the tube is made of copper. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, And a pressure safety switch designed to start or stop the compressor (50). Use of the beverage dispenser of claim 1, wherein the use of the beverage dispenser corresponds to the use for feeding beverages in a “flying pump” mode.