Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
  • F25D31/002—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0857—Cooling arrangements
  • B67D1/0858—Cooling arrangements using compression systems
  • B67D1/0859—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator being in direct heat contact with the beverage, e.g. placed inside a beverage container
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
  • F25B2339/02—Details of evaporators
  • F25B2339/024—Evaporators with refrigerant in a vessel in which is situated a heat exchanger
  • F25B2339/0242—Evaporators with refrigerant in a vessel in which is situated a heat exchanger having tubular elements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
  • F25B2400/04—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means
  • F25B2400/0401—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means for the compressor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device and a method for cooling and dispensing beverages.
• the invention relates to a device and a method for cooling and dispensing beer and other beverages in "flying pump”.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• this document describes a method comprising both the method described by FR2684088 and that described by US3712514.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• the present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage comprising:
• a refrigerant circuit comprising:
• 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;
• 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;
• 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.
• 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.
• said at least one conduit is surrounded around said cylinder.
• said duct is a coil, which can be Stainless steel.
• 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.
• this tube is made of copper.
• 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.
• 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
• FIG. 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.
• a pipe 100 eg a coil carrying a beverage is immersed in a water tank containing ice.
• FIG. 1 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 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.
• FIG. 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;
• 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.
• the flow rate is calculated continuously with a differential of approximately 26 ° C.
• the compressor 50 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• an electronic thermostat with which it is possible to adjust the temperature and the differential stop / walk at 0.1 ° C.
• 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].
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 °.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (13)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2007
  • 2007-02-21 BE BE2007/0080A patent/BE1017473A5/fr active
• 2008
  • 2008-02-19 EP EP08716936A patent/EP2129982A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-02-19 CN CN200880005552A patent/CN101617188A/zh active Pending
  • 2008-02-19 BR BRPI0807890-4A2A patent/BRPI0807890A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-02-19 WO PCT/EP2008/051986 patent/WO2008101920A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-02-19 JP JP2009550698A patent/JP2010519495A/ja active Pending
  • 2008-02-19 US US12/449,592 patent/US20100000246A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-02-19 KR KR1020097019482A patent/KR20090122449A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2008-02-19 RU RU2009134957/21A patent/RU2009134957A/ru unknown
  • 2008-02-19 CA CA002679351A patent/CA2679351A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-02-19 MX MX2009009016A patent/MX2009009016A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2008-02-19 AU AU2008219332A patent/AU2008219332A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2009
  • 2009-08-03 ZA ZA200905415A patent/ZA200905415B/xx unknown

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