MXPA06008992A - Method and apparatus for an oval carbonator - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and corresponding apparatus for an oval carbonator employ an oblong housing to provide an improved gas/water interaction area within the confines of the carbonator. The increased cross sectional area provides a larger water surface area, whereby an increased amount of the pressurized gas is exposed to the increased surface area. Further advantages of the oval carbonator include a simplification of the tubing bundles that are cast into the cold plate. The oval carbonator consolidates the volumes previously used by the carbonator, thereby allowing the tubing bundles to be consolidated. Consolidation of this type translates into reduced manufacturing time and increased savings due to the simplified design.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN OVAL CARBONATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the supply of beverages and, more particularly, but without being a limitation, to methods and apparatus for serving beverages with cold carbonation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the post-mixed beverage supply industry, carbonated beverages are considered to be one of the largest segments of the different types of beverages.

Unfortunately, the carbonation of a beverage can dramatically affect the quality of a finished beverage. Appropriate carbonation must be achieved in order to consistently produce quality beverages, including minimal foaming. In recent decades, it has been determined that colder temperatures in the carbonation process produce better carbonation yields and can be obtained with lower carbon dioxide pressures. Thus, the carbonation methods used to carbonate finished beverages have shifted from carbonating at ambient conditions to various forms of cooled carbonators. An additional derivation of this trend includes the use in water carbonatators? O. Ref .: 174330 pre-cooled to further reduce temperatures in the carbonation process. Current trends include molding the carbonators directly into a cooling plate of a beverage dispenser. Molded-in-place carbonators operate at reduced temperatures due to the lowered temperature of the cooling plate, thereby increasing the absorption of the gas in the carbonator. While cast-in-place carbonators provide an increase in performance, the struggle to increase the size of the carbonator is frequent, without increasing the size of the cooling plate. Additional complications arise when the multitude of preformed supply tubes located on the cooling plate must be adjusted to provide a clearance to access the integrated carbonator. Efforts have been made to reduce the height of the carbonator, but have resulted in complicated designs that are difficult to manufacture. Therefore, an improved design of a molded-on-site carbonator that could increase the efficiency of the carbonator, conditioning for simplified designs of supply piping, and a decrease in the thickness of the cooling plate would be beneficial for the manufacturers of dispensers. drinks . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,. an oval carbonator provides a decreased height and an increased outer surface area for carbonators. The decreased height reduces the amount of material required in a cooling plate, while the increased outer surface area provides an additional capacity to remove heat. The oval shape further provides an increased area of liquid / gas interaction. The oval carbonator also consolidates the carbonator components into a single "location, hence a simplified pipeline is installed in the cooling plate, and reduces manufacturing costs." Efilicle to increase the surface area of a liquid stream to interact with a A corresponding method increases the amount of liquid surface area present in the carbonator.The film generating assembly further isolates the incoming liquid and the turbulence associated with the incoming liquid to provide an improved level sensing capability. object of the present invention is to provide a carbonator with an oblong cover for a decreased carbonator height.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an increased outer surface area for an additional heat removal capacity. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an increased area of liquid / gas interaction in the carbonator for increased carbonator performance. furtherIt is still an object of the present invention to provide a film generating assembly for increasing the surface area of an incoming liquid stream in the carbonator. Furthermore, it is still an object of the present invention to provide a method for increasing the surface area of a liquid. Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art in the light of the following. Also, it should be understood that the scope of this invention is intended to be broad, and any combination of any subset of features, elements, or steps described herein is part of the intended scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 provides a perspective view of an oval carbonator in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 2 illustrates a beverage dispenser including a cooling plate and an integrated oval carbonator in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 3 provides an exploded view of the oval carbonator in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 3a provides. an exploded view of the hole that houses the components in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 4 illustrates an end view of the oval carbonator in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 5 provides a cross-sectional view of a film generating assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 5a is a flow chart of the method for increasing the surface area of a fluid in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing the operation of filling the carbonator in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the request, the detailed embodiments of the present invention are described herein; however, it should be understood that the described modalities are simply an example of the invention, which can be modified in various modalities. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features can be magnified to show details of particular steps or components. An oval carbonator minimizes the height required in a cooling plate and increases the gas / water interaction area in the carbonator compared to the commonly used circular carbonator designs. The oval carbonator also includes a film generating assembly that diffuses the incoming water more efficiently, thereby promoting increased surface area of exposure for gas interaction in the carbonator. The oval carbonator includes a probe that can be used with a controller to assess if the carbonator requires refilling. The oval carbonator is designed to be used in a cooling plate of a beverage dispenser to carbonate water for beverages. The use of the oval carbonator further simplifies the path arrangement of the beverage pipe and the diluent that runs in the cooling plate due to its compact design. As shown in Figures 1-6, an oval carbonator 100 can be integrally molded into a cooling plate 310, wherein the cooling plate 310 is used to provide cooling to elements in contact with the cooling plate 310. , including beloidal supply lines, diluent lines and oval carbonator 100. Once cooled, beverages can be served through a beverage supply nozzle 305 when an activator 306 is operated. Oval carbonator 100 includes a housing 110, a probe assembly 250, and a film generator assembly 260. The housing 110 includes a cover 120, a front plate 130 and a back plate 140. The cover 120, which has a first end 121 and a second end 122, has an oblong hollowed-out cross-section as shown in Figure 4. The first end 121 and the second end 122 are cut perpendicularly to the axis of the cover 120 to simplify, but otherwise, it could be presented at any pre-selected angle. The second end 122 of the cover 120 includes an outlet port 123 to allow a carbonated water collection tube 142 to pass through the cover 120 during assembly. The faceplate 130 and the back plate 140 have a complementary shape for the openings in the cover 120, and are appropriately mounted to the cover 120 to contain an interior volume of the cover 120. In most cases, the front plate 130 and the rear plate 140 are welded with the cover 120 when they are integrated into the device. The faceplate 130 includes a first side 135, a second side 136, a gas inlet port 138, and a probe opening 131. The probe port 131 is of an appropriate size to accept an outside diameter of a probe attachment 132. A faceplate assembly 230 includes the front plate 130, the probe attachment 132, and a gas inlet tube 148. A first end 133 of the probe attachment 132 is inserted into the probe opening 131 of the front plate 130 at a predetermined distance, substantially such that half of the probe attachment 132 is disposed within the opening 131. The probe attachment 132 must be properly connected to the front plate 130, preferably by means of a process of welding. The second end 134 of the probe attachment 132 further includes a slot 137 for aligning the probe assembly 250. The first end 133 is aligned with the first side 135 of the faceplate 130. The gas inlet port 138 is a sufficient size to accept the gas line 148. The gas line 148, in communication with a gas source (not shown), passes through the faceplate 130 to enter the housing 110 to supply gas to the carbonator 100. This connection must also be properly sealed to allow the carbonator 100 to contain liquids and gases. A back plate assembly 240 includes the back plate 140, the film generator assembly 260, a probe guide 144, a housing hole 170, and a water inlet tube 146. The back plate 140 includes a first side 167, a second side 168, a liquid inlet port .171, and a depression 179. The liquid inlet port 171 is of sufficient size to prevent water from entering the housing 110 from a water inlet pipe 146 and the accommodating hole 170. The accommodating hole 170 is in the same manner as that described in US Patent Application 10 / 677,854, filed on October 2, 2003, such a description is incorporated herein by reference. The accommodating hole 170 includes a first opening 172, a second opening 173 that leads to the first opening 172, and a removable fastener 174 for cleaning or tuning issues of the carbonator 100. The first opening 172 of the housing orifice 170 is aligned with the liquid inlet port 171 of the back plate 140. The second opening 173 is coupled to the water inlet pipe 146, whereby the water to be carbonated passes from the water inlet pipe 146 through of the second opening 173, within the first opening 172, through a hole 175 in the fastener 174 and through the liquid inlet port 171 to enter the housing 110. The accommodating hole 170 requires a plug 176 and a gasket -orórica 177 at the exposed end of the first opening 172 to seal the inner chamber of the carbonator 100. The film generating assembly 260 includes a hemispherical redirector 163, and a cylindrical film generator 164. The film generator 164 includes a first end 161 and a second end 162. The first end 161 is coupled to the second side 168 of the rear plate 140, whereby the cylindrical shape of the film generator 164 is It is concentric to the liquid inlet port 171. According to what has been discussed above, the redirector 163 is of hemispherical shape, and of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the film generator 164, so that the exposed diameter can be coupled to the second. end 162 of the film generator 164. The coupling of the film generator 164 and the hemispherical redirector 163 can be achieved by means of welding. The film generator 164 further includes multiple openings 165 used to assist in the film generation process.

The depression 179 is of a size sufficient to receive a first end 151 of the probe guide 144, thereby providing a support location during assembly. As such, the probe guide 144 can be repeatedly located on the back plate 140 and attached to the back plate 140 using any appropriate process,. for example, welding. The probe guide 144 further includes evacuation ports 145 near the first end 151 to prevent gas from being trapped in the probe guide 144. The probe assembly 250 includes a probe housing 251, a main probe 252, a secondary probe 253, a first insulator 254, a second insulator 255, O-rings 256 and a protrusion 257. The probe housing 251 includes a central opening 280 which passes through the probe housing 251 from a first end 281 to a second end 282. The first insulator 254 is disposed in the central opening 280 of the probe housing 251. The first insulator 254 includes a main opening 283 and a secondary opening 284. The main probe 252 has the necessary shape to be housed in the main opening 283 in the first insulator 254. The secondary probe 253 is also of a diameter necessary to be housed in the secondary opening 284 of the first insulator 254. The second insulator 255 also It also includes a main opening 285 and a secondary opening 286, wherein the main probe 252 and the secondary probe 253 similarly pass through the main opening 285 and the secondary opening 286 of the second insulator 255, respectively. The insulators 254 and 255 provide a mechanism for separating and containing the probes. The second insulator 255 includes an outer diameter mirror-formed of the inner diameter of the probe guide 144. whereby the second insulator 255 slides within the probe guide 144 to center the probes 252 and 253. E? Probe housing 251 includes features to accommodate the O-rings 256 and provide an appropriate seal. The protrusion 257 is of a size suitable for sliding within slot 137 of the probe attachment .132 when the probe assembly 250 is located in the probe attachment 132, further provides a mechanical stop for the probe assembly 250. A probe nut 258 includes thread cords 259 to secure the probe nut 258 in the fastener assembly. probe 132, thereby containing the probe assembly 250 within the limits of the probe attachment 132. During assembly, the first end 133 of the probe attachment 132 is inserted into the first end 121 of the cover 120 and the faceplate 130 is welded with the cover 120 to create a portion of a reservoir. A first end 183 of the carbonated water collection tube 142 is then placed inside the inner portion of the cover 120, whereby a second end 184 projects from the exit port 123 located on the second end 122 of the cover 120. rear plate assembly 240 can now be aligned with the cover 120 to insert a second end 152 of the guide tube 144 into the second end 122 of the cover 120. The rear plate assembly 240 should be inserted so that the guide tube 144 is aligned with the probe attachment 132 mounted on the first end 121 of the cover 120. Once inserted, the back plate assembly 240 can be welded with the cover 120 for enclose even -more housing 110. Welding operations include sealing all coupling seams, thereby creating a reservoir that will withstand pressure. At this point, the openings remaining in the reservoir include an inner conduit 201 of the probe attachment 132, a conduit 202 through the gas inlet pipe 148, a water inlet conduit 203 in the inlet pipe of water 146, and a carbonated water conduit 204 through the carbonated water collection tube 142. Once the welding process of the housing 110 has been completed, the probe assembly 250 is installed inside the inner conduit 201 of the probe attachment 132. An exposed end of the main probe 252 is inserted into the guide tube 144, and the probe assembly 250 is pushed further into the inner conduit 201 of the probe attachment 132. As the probe housing 251 enters the probe attachment 132, the O-ring 256 engages an inner diameter of the probe attachment 132 to create a seal. The protrusion 257 of the probe housing 251 then enters the slot 137 in the probe attachment 132, thereby locating the probe assembly 250 in the conduit 251. The probe nut 258 is then installed in the interior conduit 201 of the fixation of probe 132 to secure the probe assembly 250. During use, the carbonator 100 is disposed in a cooling plate 310. In this preferred embodiment, the cooling plate 310 is disposed within a beverage dispenser 300 in a An angle of substantially ten degrees. The carbonator 100 is substantially parallel with the cooling plate 310, similarly it is inclined to substantially ten degrees, with the front plate 130 of the housing 110 closest to a lower end of the cooling plate 310. cross section of the oval carbonator 100, in combination with an oblique inclination of 10 degrees provides an increased fluid / gas interface area. The oblong cover 120 of the carbonator 100 also increases the outer surface area of the carbonator 100, thereby increasing the heat removal capacity with respect to the commonly used round cross section covers. The oblong cover 120 further maintains a reduced vertical profile in the cooling plate 310. The reduced vertical height of the oval carbonator 100 reduces the height requirement for the cooling plate 310, thereby minimizing the thickness of the cooling plate 310 and the amount of aluminum required in a cooling plate 310. While this preferred embodiment has been shown with an oblong cover 120, it should be. evident to a person skilled in the art that the shape of the cover does not have to be a perfect ellipse. An oval or oblong shape may be appropriate to provide a decreased vertical height in the cooling plate 310. In most cases, the dispenser 300 includes a controller 301 for conducting the supply operations, including assembly operations. of probe 250 in the carbonator 100. The controller 301 can be connected to the main probe 252 and to the secondary probe 253 to take resistive measurements between the probes and a common ground. Each resistive measure is representative of a liquid or a gas. The controller 301 then uses the information to determine if the carbonator requires refilling, as well as when the carbonator 100 is full. During operation, the gas inlet tube 148 is coupled to a gas regulator (not shown) and finally, to a gas source (not shown). The water inlet pipe 146 is coupled to a propulsion pump (not shown) and finally, to a water source (not shown). The carbonated water collection tube 142 is coupled to the supply tubes that are directed towards the beverage supply nozzle 305 to be mixed with beverage syrup. The gas source and gas regulator provide gas to housing 110 at a pressure of seventy to eighty pounds per square inch. The gas enters the housing 110 through the gas inlet pipe 148 and occupies the existing area above any level, of water in the housing 110. The water source supplies the water to be carbonated to the inlet pipe of the gas. water 146. The water to be carbonated is displaced from the inner conduit 203 of the water inlet pipe 146 within the first opening 170 of the housing orifice 170., and through the hole 175 in the removable attachment 174 to enter the liquid inlet port 171 of the back plate 140. The water entering from the water inlet tube 146 is pressurized from one hundred twenty-five to one hundred fifty pounds per square inch by means of a propulsion pump (not shown). The pressurized water that passes through the hole 175 in the removable fixture 174 creates a jet of water as it enters the housing 110.

As shown in Figure 5, the jet stream is not obstructed until it comes into contact with an inner surface 178 of the hemispherical film generator assembly 260. The jet stream comes into contact with "the inner surface 178 of the hemispherical redirector 163 and is forced to flow along the inner surface 178 of the hemispherical redirector 163 toward the film generator 164. The film generator 164 includes a plurality of openings 165 for forcing fluid within a-film, thereby Increase the exposed surface area of the fluid The increased surface allows gas to be absorbed into the liquid The additional benefits of this type of film generator assembly 260 include the isolation of the jet stream, as well as any fluid blockage to the high-pressure jet stream, of the carbonator probes 252 and 253. The isolation of this ipo minimizes the possibility of erratic readings due to the turbulence of fluids in the carbonator 100 and with it a better level of sensing. As shown in Figure 5, carbonator 100 includes a Low Level line 181 and a High Level line 182. When the carbonator 100 is initially ignited, the carbonator 100 is pressurized from seventy to eighty pounds per square inch to through the gas inlet pipe 148. Water at about one hundred twenty-five to one hundred fifty pounds per square inch is admitted into the carbonator 100 through the water inlet pipe 146, into the housing hole 170 and through the orifice 175 in the removable attachment 174 to enter the carbonator 100. As discussed previously, the water enters a jet stream and comes in contact with the film generator assembly 260, in which a film is created according to the forces of the momentum of the fluid forces the water to follow the inner surface 178 of the hemispherical redirector 163 and the cylindrical film generator 164. When the momentum of the fluid has been extinguished, the fluid is displaced downwardly on the cylindrical film generator 164, and becomes part of the source of the carbonated water reservoir. Figure 5a provides a flow chart of the method for increasing the surface area of a liquid. The increased surface area in a liquid maintains an increased gas / liquid interaction area. The process begins with step 60 / where a liquid is sprayed into a chamber containing a pressurized gas. Once the liquid is sprayed into the chamber, it is redirected through the use of a hemispherical redirector 163 according to that shown in step 65. The hemispherical redirector 163 forces the liquid to flow along the inner surface 178 towards the cylindrical film generator 164. As the fluid flows along the surface of the cylindrical film generator 164, this becomes a film as it passes over the openings 165 in the cylindrical film generator 164 according to that shown in step 70. The pressurized gas is absorbed by the liquid in the total of exposed surface areas of the liquid, step 75. The amount of gas absorbed by the fluid is directly related to the ease of availability of the liquid / gas interface, the decreased temperature of the fluid, as well as to all the exposed surface areas due to the film and spray process. The liquid / gas mixture is then stored for use. As water enters the pressurized carbonator 100, gas is absorbed into the water, thereby creating carbonated water. After passing through the film generating assembly 260, the carbonated water meets in the lower portion of the carbonator 100, from the carbonator 100, to wait for extraction by means of the carbonated water collection tube 142 and to supply it to a nozzle. supply 305. The carbonator 100 is continued to fill until the water level in the carbonator 100 reaches the high level line 182. Once the high level line has been reached 182, the controller 301 stops providing power to the carbonator pump motor. In this state, the carbonator 100 will remain pressurized, however, as carbonated beverages are served, the carbonated water level decreases. When the carbonated water level falls below the low level line 181, the controller 301 starts supplying power to the carbonator pump motor to fill the carbonator 100 to the high level line 182. X. - Figure 6 provides a flowchart for carbonator probe operations. The process begins with step 10, the starting position. Once the process has started, controller 301 moves to step 20, where controller 301 begins to monitor main and secondary probes 252 and 253 in a predetermined interval, each one in one tenth of a second in this mode preferred The process is then directed to step 30, wherein the controller 301 determines whether the reading of the main probe 252 is representative of a liquid. If the reading is not representative of a liquid, the process is directed to step 40, where the controller 301 determines whether the reading of the secondary probe 253 is representative of a liquid. If the reading in step 40 is representative of a liquid, the controller returns to step 20 to continue sampling. If the reading in step 40 is not representative of a liquid, the controller 301 provides power to the carbonator pump motor to fill the carbonator 100. If the reading in step 30 is' representative of a liquid, the process is directed to step 35, wherein the controller 301 determines whether the carbonator pump motor is on. If the carbonator pump motor is not turned on in step 35, the controller 301 returns to step 20 to continue sampling the probes. If the carbonator pump motor is turned on in step 35, the process is directed to step 45, where the controller 301 shuts off the carbonator pump motor. Then controller 301 returns to step 20 to continue sampling. After turning on the carbonator pump motor in step 50, the process is directed to step 55, where the controller 301 determines whether a shutdown signal has been received. If a turn-off signal has been received in step 55, the controller 301 is directed to step 58, the end. If a shutdown signal has not been received in step 55, the process returns to step 20, where the controller continues to sample the probes. In summary, oblong cover 120 provides an improved gas / water interaction area within the boundaries of carbonator 100. The increased cross-sectional area provides a greater surface area of water, whereby an increased amount of pressurized gas is exposed to water. increased surface area. Additional advantages of the oval carbonator 100 include a simplification of the arrangement of the pipe that is molded into the cooling plate 310. The oval carbonator 100 consolidates the volumes previously used by the carbonator, thereby allowing the arrangement of the pipeline is consolidated. The consolidation of this type translates into a reduced time of manufacture and in which the savings increase due to the simplified design. Although the present invention has been described in terms of the above preferred embodiment, such a description only "has been intended to be an example and, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various alternatives, equivalences, and variations of the Degrees of variation fall within the scope of the present invention Therefore, the scope is not limited in some aspect by the detailed description above; rather, it is defined solely by the following claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (32)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property. A carbonator, characterized in that it comprises: a housing with an oblong shape; a liquid inlet port disposed on the housing for a liquid to enter from a liquid source; a gas inlet port disposed on the housing for gas to enter from a gas source; and an exit port disposed on the accommodation. The carbonator according to claim 1, characterized in that the oblong-shaped housing creates an increased gas / liquid interaction area for absorption by the liquid. 3. The carbonator according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas is carbon dioxide. 4. The carbonator in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the liquid is water. 5. The carbonator in accordance with the claim 2, characterized in that the mixture leaving the carbonator is carbonated water. 6. The carbonator according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises an oblong cover and two ends. 7. The carbonator according to claim 6, characterized in that the oblong cover provides an area. increased exterior surface, thereby increasing the capacity for temperature removal. The carbonator according to claim 6, characterized in that the oblong cover provides components of reduced vertical height, thereby decreasing the required thickness of the surrounding cooling plate. 9. The carbonator according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixture of gas and liquid is extracted through the outlet port. 10. The carbonator is characterized in that it comprises: a housing; a film generator assembly arranged in the housing; a gas inlet port disposed on the housing, the gas inlet port coupled with a gas source to communicate gas within the housing; a liquid inlet port disposed on the housing, the liquid inlet port coupled with a liquid source to communicate liquid to the film generator assembly, wherein the film generator assembly forces the liquid into a film to maximize the liquid / gas interaction area; and an outlet port disposed on the housing for the supply of a liquid / gas mixture exterior to the housing. 11. The carbonator according to claim 10, characterized in that the gas is carbon dioxide. 12. The carbonator according to claim 10, characterized in that the liquid is water. The carbonator according to claim 10, characterized in that the mixture leaving the carbonator is carbonated water. 14. The carbonator according to claim 10, characterized in that the film generator assembly includes a cylindrical film generator. 15. The carbonator according to claim 14, characterized in that the cylindrical film generator includes a plurality of openings to help the liquid take the form of a film. 16. The carbonator according to claim 10, characterized in that the film generator assembly includes a hemispherical redirector to change the direction of the water inlet within the film generating assembly. The carbonator according to claim 16, characterized in that the hemispherical redirector is disposed on one end of the cylindrical film generator for redirecting the incoming liquid stream towards the cylindrical film generator. 18. A method for increasing the surface area of a liquid to be mixed with a gas, the method is characterized in that it comprises: a. spraying the liquid inside a film generator assembly arranged in a chamber filled with a pressurized gas; b. generate a film as the liquid moves on a film generator. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that it also comprises: c. absorb the higher pressure gas within an increased exposed surface area of the liquid. 20. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the spray is redirected to the film generator. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the film generator includes openings to promote the generation of a liquid film. 22. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the liquid is redirected with the use of a hemispherical redirector. 23. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the film generator is cylindrical. 24. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the liquid is water. 25. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the gas is carbon dioxide. 26. A method for increasing the surface area of a liquid to be mixed with a gas, the method is characterized in that it comprises: a. spraying a liquid on a film generator; b. increasing the exposed surface area of the liquid by forcing the liquid to travel down the film generator; and c. absorb environmental gas within the liquid through the exposed surface area. 27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the spray is redirected to the film generator. 28. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the film generator includes openings to promote the generation of a liquid film. 29. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the liquid is redirected with the use of a hemispherical redirector. 30. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the film generator is cylindrical. 31. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the liquid is water. 32. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the gas is carbon dioxide.