WO2008101920A1

WO2008101920A1 - Device and method for cooling beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2008101920A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/051986
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Thiry
Original assignee: Thiry Jose
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-19
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Also published as: AU2008219332A1; EP2129982A1; JP2010519495A; RU2009134957A; MX2009009016A; CA2679351A1; BE1017473A5; ZA200905415B; CN101617188A; KR20090122449A; BRPI0807890A2; US20100000246A1

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

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and a method for cooling and dispensing beverages. In particular, the invention relates to a device and a method for cooling and dispensing beer and other beverages in "flying pump".

BACKGROUND

[0002] Systems have long been known that are capable of dispensing beverages such as beer, sparkling wines, sodas, etc., while maintaining the drinks at a given temperature which may vary from one drink to another. other. In the case of beer, for example, it is known that below a temperature of -1.5 ° C it freezes and above 4 ° C it foams and that the tasting temperature depends on the type of beer (so depending on the type of beer, the temperature allows the drink to reveal its tastes, aromas and scents). Typically, two methods are known for cooling beverages.

The first method is that where a coil or a tank containing a drink, bathes either in an ice bath or in a chilled water bath by a conventional refrigeration unit. In this respect reference can be made to the apparatus described by the patent FR2684088. In the case where the coil or the tank is bathed in an ice bath, we can observe as main disadvantages: the low efficiency of heat transfer of the ice and its price, as well as the difficulty to obtain and transport blocks of ice whose longevity is limited. In the case where the coil or the tank is immersed in a refrigerated water bath by a conventional refrigeration unit, one can observe as main disadvantages of such a device: the need for a tank of large dimensions to contain the chilled water, the long filling time of the water tank (which is not easy for a distribution "flying pump"), as well as the time of cooling of the volume of water and therefore the important delay between the commissioning of the apparatus and the distribution of a first cooled beverage.

The second method is where a reservoir containing a beverage is surrounded by an evaporator (so in direct contact with the latter) of a conventional cooling circuit. The tank is integrated in a heat insulated compartment and is cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator. In this regard, reference may be made to US Pat. No. 3,712,514, the main drawbacks of which are: the cooling time of the reservoir which must be completely cooled before dispensing, the large dimensions of the insulated chamber containing the reservoir and the evaporator, and the presence air (with a very low heat exchange coefficient) between the tank and the evaporator.

[0005] FR 2815024 also discloses a refrigerated beverage dispenser in which the beverage is cooled by two cooling means. However this dispenser is suitable for a small flow of drinks. In addition, this document describes a method comprising both the method described by FR2684088 and that described by US3712514.

Also known by US5970732 a beverage cooling system in which a beverage is cooled by means of a heat exchanger. In this system, the heat exchange is carried out by direct thermal contact between the beverage and the coolant circulating inside this exchanger, these two liquids being separated by a metal surface. However, this system has the following drawbacks. The construction of such a system is complex and expensive, due to the presence of the set of plates arranged at a precise distance δ and difficult to achieve. Therefore, the cleaning inside the exchanger is practically unachievable due to the presence of inaccessible areas. In addition, this system involves high risks of contamination of the beverage by the refrigerant gas, due to a lack of sealing (thus a defect of a weld or perforation in the separation zone between the drink and the gas). In addition, the heat exchanger requires, for its own operation, a liquid separator 3. Due to the shape of the latter, the heat exchanger can not be easily heat-insulated. In addition, this system can cool only one drink line at a time. So, in the case where a large draft is requested and a first barrel is empty, before being able to continue the distribution it is necessary to wait to replace the empty barrel with a full barrel, or to have a second exchanger waiting for use.

Three types of compressor group used in this type of application are known: open group: in which the compressor and the motor are separated and are interconnected by belts or a mechanical transmission. This compressor unit is available in mono or three phase. However, this compressor unit is very heavy, bulky and expensive; - semi hermetic group: in which the motor and the compressor are directly assembled against each other. The coupling between the motor and the compressor is therefore not accessible (unless the two parts are separated by disassembly). This compressor unit is repairable. However, this compressor unit is very expensive and only exists in three-phase and above 1.5 Ch. This type of compressor unit is not therefore suitable for a pump dispenser because it requires a three-phase outlet;

- hermetic group: in which the engine and the compressor are confined in a hermetic bell not dismountable hence their name. This compressor unit is available in single phase (for small powers, ie below 1, 5 Ch). This group is provided with a relay and a starting capacitor and sometimes also with a permanent capacitor. However, this compressor unit has a risk of overheating said relay and the start-up capacitor during frequent stops and starts.

The invention aims to provide a cooled drink dispenser does not have all these disadvantages.

In particular, the invention aims to provide a drinks dispenser for continuously cooling and instantly a source of drink, including when the barrel containing a beverage is at high temperature, without having an intermediate between the refrigerant and the drink pipe. In addition, the object of the invention is to provide a beverage dispenser for cooling beverages without the need for water, ice, mass or stirring to create a reserve and heat exchange. The invention aims, finally, to provide a beverage dispenser for use in "flying pump", so a dispenser easily movable, easy to install and allowing the distribution of cooled drinks shortly after installation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage comprising:

a refrigerant circuit comprising:

• a compressor that compresses the refrigerant in the gas phase, increasing its temperature; said compressor being a single phase compressor;

• a condenser that lowers the temperature and condenses the refrigerant gas;

Means capable of reducing the pressure of said refrigerant passing through a first pipe, said first pipe being able to circulate said refrigerant in liquid form;

a reservoir adapted to contain said refrigerant in liquid form coming from this first pipe in its lower part and to allow evaporation of said refrigerant in gaseous form, and adapted to contain said gaseous refrigerant in its upper part;

a second pipe capable of withdrawing the gaseous refrigerant from said tank; at least one duct capable of circulating said beverage to be dispensed inside said tank and in heat exchange relation with the refrigerant in liquid and / or gaseous form. In a preferred variant of the invention, the distributor of drinks also includes:

An auxiliary circuit connected to the cooling circuit by two connections, the first of which is respectively between the compressor output and the condenser, and the second located between the compressor inlet and the tank;

• two check valves placed, respectively, between the first connection and the condenser, and between the reservoir and the second connection, able to close automatically if the refrigerant flows back from the condenser to said auxiliary circuit or auxiliary circuit to the tank;

• a balancing valve, normally open when the compressor is off, placed inside the auxiliary circuit to balance the pressure inside said auxiliary circuit and closed when starting said compressor; • a magnetic valve, normally closed when the compressor is off, placed between the condenser and the tank, to stop the flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the tank and open when starting said compressor. Advantageously, the beverage dispenser comprises a thermostat adapted to measure the temperature inside said tank and to stop or restart said compressor. This restart is preferably performed after a delay of at least 4 seconds. In a preferred variant of the invention, said tank comprises inside a cylinder welded to the bottom of said tank and open on top capable of allowing the collection of the refrigerant in gaseous form in the upper part of said tank and its evacuation through the second pipe to said compressor. This cylinder also increases, for a given refrigerant volume, the level of the latter inside the tank to improve the heat exchange between the fluid and the drink.

Advantageously, said at least one conduit is surrounded around said cylinder.

Advantageously, said duct is a coil, which can be Stainless steel.

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

[0017] Advantageously, this tube is made of copper.

Preferably, the beverage dispenser comprises a safety pressure switch capable of starting or stopping said compressor 50. The present invention finally relates to the use of a beverage dispenser in a flying pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a simplified view of a beverage cooling device of the prior art.

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

FIG. 3 represents a schematic view of a general mode of operation of the beverage dispenser of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates an advantageous embodiment of the dispenser of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A FIG. PREFERRED FORM OF EXECUTION OF

THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a simplified view of a beverage cooling device of the prior art in which a pipe 100 (eg a coil) carrying a beverage is immersed in a water tank containing ice.

Figure 2 shows a general block diagram of a mode of operation of a beverage dispenser according to the invention. The dispenser 1000 comprises:

A source of refrigerant (such as a conventional refrigerant circuit with, for example, R22, R404 or R407, or a liquefied gas cylinder containing, for example, CO2, etc.); A heat-insulating tank, in the form of a cylinder 28 cm in diameter and 40 cm high in sheet metal 4 mm thick, adapted to contain said refrigerant in liquid form in its lower part and to allow the evaporation thereof, and to contain the gaseous refrigerant in its upper part;

A first pipe 20 for transporting the refrigerant in liquid form in the lower part of the tank 10;

A second pipe 30 capable of withdrawing the gaseous refrigerant from the upper part of the tank; A conduit 40 adapted to circulate the drink to be dispensed inside said reservoir and to cool it by heat exchange with the refrigerant in liquid and gaseous form.

Figure 3 schematically shows a preferred beverage dispenser in which the source of refrigerant is a conventional refrigerant circuit according to the invention. The dispenser 1000 comprises:

A refrigerant circuit 41 comprising:

A single phase compressor unit 50 (hereinafter referred to simply as compressor 50) which compresses a gas phase refrigerant; a condenser 60 which, cooled by water or by outside air, reduces the temperature and condenses the refrigerant gas;

• a dehydrator 70 and a pressure reducer 80 which reduce the pressure of said refrigerant passing through the pipe 20 and going to the reservoir 10; a thermostat 90 able to measure the temperature inside said tank 10;

• an auxiliary circuit 42 connected to the refrigerant circuit 41 by two connections 42a and 42b, the first between the output of the compressor 50 and the condenser 60, and the second between the inlet of the compressor 50 and the tank 10;

Two check valves 43 and 43 'placed, respectively, between the connection 42a and the condenser 60, and between the reservoir 10 and the connection 42b; • a balancing valve 44, normally open, placed in the auxiliary circuit 42;

A normally closed magnetic valve 45 placed between the condenser 60 and the tank 10. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compressor 50 is chosen from hermetic air-conditioning units in single-phase mode. This choice is preferred to refrigeration compressors because they are supplied in higher powers, and have neither relays nor ... X starting capacitor. This choice therefore has the advantage of being cheaper at equal power. In addition, they do not have the disadvantage related to the heating of the relay and the starting capacitor. These compressor units are designed originally to start 7 to 8 times per hour, with each time a minimum stop of 2 to 3 minutes. They are single-phase and use R22, R404A, R507, R407C and R410A fluids. The power of said compressor 50 is calculated according to the desired flow of beverage. In the case of a flying pump, the flow rate is calculated continuously with a differential of approximately 26 ° C. For example, in order to cool 150 liters of beer from 27 ° C. to 1 ° C. in one hour, the compressor 50 must have a power of about 4000 W (at an evaporation temperature at 0 ⁰ C). The preferred beverage dispenser 1000 is used in the following manner. When the distributor 1000 is energized, and when the thermostat 90 controls the compressor 50 to start, it compresses the refrigerant gas phase. During the operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 44, which is supplied in parallel with said compressor 50, is closed and therefore prevents the circulation of the refrigerant in the auxiliary circuit 42 and thus prevents the pressure equalization refrigerant entering and leaving the compressor 50. In the same way, during the operation of the compressor 50, the magnetic valve 45 is open, allowing free circulation of the fluid in the refrigerant circuit 41. The refrigerant gas phase, compressed by the compressor 50 passes through the condenser 60 which, cooled by water or by outside air, reduces its temperature and condenses it in liquid form. The refrigerant in liquid form passes by a dehydrator 70 and an expander 80 which ensure the correct filling of the reservoir 10 while controlling the good evaporation of the refrigerant. This first part of the cooling circuit is characterized by a high pressure of the fluid leaving the compressor 50 and entering the expander 80. When the fluid in liquid form enters the reservoir 10, passing through the expander 80 and the pipe 20, it will be deposited in the lower part of the tank 10 and boil by taking heat from its environment. The beverage circulating in the duct 40, typically a 21 m long stainless steel coil, inside the tank 10, is therefore cooled by the heat exchange between this duct 40 and the refrigerant in liquid and gaseous form. . In order to avoid any risk of leakage and contamination of the beverage, the duct 40 is, in one variant of the invention, inserted into a copper tube, that is to say forming a double wall duct having intermediate between the two walls at atmospheric pressure. The gaseous refrigerant is discharged through the pipe 30 which leads the latter to the compressor 50. The second part of the cooling circuit is characterized by a low pressure of the fluid exiting the expander 80 and entering the compressor 50. [0030] When the compressor 50 is stopped, either when the temperature measured inside the tank 10 by the thermostat 90 reaches the required value, or when the distributor is de-energized, the magnetic valve 44 inside the auxiliary circuit 42 is open, while the magnetic valve 45 is closed and the two check valves 43, 43 'automatically close any reflux of the refrigerant. In this way, it is possible to balance the pressure of the refrigerant inside the auxiliary circuit 42 without balancing the pressure (and therefore the temperature) inside the tank 10 and the condenser 60. The balancing between the high pressure of the fluid leaving the compressor 50 and the low pressure of the fluid entering the compressor 50 allows it to be able to restart easily after a stop and keep unchanged the temperature inside the tank 10 and the condenser 60. this mechanism can be used as compressor compressor group 50 described in paragraph [0027] and therefore avoid the use of a three-phase compressor group requiring a take three-phase, which would limit the possibility of using the distributor as a pump. The single-phase compressor 50 has a power of between 0.5 and 4 CH. As shown in Figure 4, in another embodiment of the invention the second pipe 30 may be replaced by a cylinder 31 welded into the bottom of the tank 10, open on the top allowing the output of the refrigerant form This cylinder 31 is placed inside the reservoir and is surrounded by the conduit 40 containing the beverage. The presence of this cylinder 31 makes it possible to increase the level of refrigerant in liquid form contained in the tank 10, and thus to improve the heat exchange between the beverage and the refrigerant itself, and thus to reduce the cooling time of said drink inside the tank 10.

In another variant of the invention, the tank 10 may also provide several drink pipes 40, surrounded around the cylinder 11, without the need for other heat exchangers. This variant is particularly advantageous since it allows a large and continuous distribution of drinks and thus avoids the loss of time when changing empty barrels or allows different choices of drinks. It is obvious that when the interior of the tank 10 is at temperature, it is no longer necessary to cool the beverage that might otherwise freeze or be too cold to be distributed. According to the invention, it is possible, when the temperature of said tank 10 reaches a minimum adjustable threshold, to stop the compressor 50 by means of a thermostat 90. [0035] With a mechanical thermostat, the differential stop / The operation is generally 2 ° C and the reaction time is very long. The temperature variations would be great, the compressor would recover too late en route and the power of it could not compensate for the delay taken during an instantaneous flow. In the invention is therefore preferably used an electronic thermostat, with which it is possible to adjust the temperature and the differential stop / walk at 0.1 ° C. For example: the liquid leaving the evaporator is at 0.1 ° C, the compressor stops, if the differential is set to 0.4 ° C the compressor will restart when the temperature in the evaporator will be 0.5 ° c. The downtime, therefore, can be very short especially if precisely at that moment one began to debit. The stopping time must be calculated as short as possible and must be set by the differential stop / start of the thermostat, at a certain reading speed (minimum and maximum speed). Regardless of the reading speed or the minimum differential, at least 4 seconds must be allowed to stop the compressor. No original single phase hermetic compressor can restart normally after such a short time without the high and low pressure balancing mechanism previously described in paragraph [0026].

During large temperature differences (for example during start-up), the actual temperature at evaporation will fall faster than the display at the electronic thermostat 90. Not to fall below a threshold ( typically 0 ⁰ C), the dispenser 1000 comprises, in an advantageous variant of the invention, a safety pressure switch (not shown) able to stop the compressor 50 when the pressure inside the tank 10 reaches the value corresponding to the value of the required temperature. By means of the beverage dispenser according to the invention, it is possible to build a compact and simple device. In addition, the dispenser of the invention requires no reserve of cold (ice or chilled water).

In addition, the dispenser of the invention makes it easy to meet safety standards imposing a double wall by inserting the conduit 40 stainless steel inside a tube, for example a copper tube. In addition, it has been experimented that the dispenser according to the invention can dispense after a few minutes a drink at a temperature of 2 °, while the barrel containing this drink is at 27 °.

Claims

Beverage dispenser (1000) for dispensing a beverage comprising:

a refrigerant circuit (41) comprising:

A compressor (50) which compresses the refrigerant in the gas phase, increasing its temperature; said compressor being a single phase compressor; • a condenser (60) which lowers the temperature and condenses the refrigerant gas;

• means (80) capable of reducing the pressure of said refrigerant passing through a first pipe (20), said first pipe (20) adapted to circulate said refrigerant in liquid form;

a reservoir (10) able to contain said refrigerant in liquid form coming from this first pipe (20) in its lower part and to allow the evaporation of said refrigerant in gaseous form, and suitable for containing said refrigerant in gaseous form in its upper part;

a second pipe (30) capable of withdrawing the gaseous refrigerant from said tank (10);

- At least one conduit (40) adapted to circulate said beverage to be dispensed inside said reservoir (10) and in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant in liquid and / or gaseous form.

2. Drink dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises:

a circuit (42) connected to said refrigerant circuit (41) by two connections (42a) and (42b), the first of which is respectively between the output of the compressor (50) and the condenser (60), and the second between the compressor inlet (50) and the reservoir (10); two check valves (43) and (43 ') placed, respectively, between the connection (42a) and the condenser (60), and between the reservoir (10) and the connection (42b), able to automatically close the refluxing said refrigerant from the condenser (60) to said circuit (42) or said circuit (42) to the reservoir (10);

- a balancing valve (44), normally open when the compressor (50) is stopped, placed inside the circuit (42) to balance the pressure inside said circuit (42) and closed during starting said compressor (50); - a magnetic valve (45), normally closed when the compressor (50) is stopped, placed between the condenser (60) and the tank (10), to stop the flow of refrigerant from the condenser (60) to the tank (10) and open when starting said compressor (50).

3. Beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises a thermostat (90) adapted to measure the temperature inside said tank (10) and to start or stop said compressor 50.

4. Beverage dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reservoir (10) comprises inside a cylinder (31) welded to the bottom of said reservoir (10) and open on top, able to allow collecting the gaseous refrigerant in the upper part of said tank (10) and its evacuation through the second pipe (30) to said compressor (50).

Beverage dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one duct (40) is surrounded around said cylinder (31).

Beverage dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said duct (40) is a coil.

7. Beverage dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that this coil is made of stainless steel.

Beverage dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one conduit (40) is inserted into a tube to form a double-walled conduit to avoid any risk of food contamination in case of leakage coil.

Beverage dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that said tube is made of copper.

10. Beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a safety pressure switch adapted to start or stop said compressor 50.

11. Use of the beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 10 for dispensing drinks in a pump.