WO2012098545A2 - Appareil et procédé de refroidissement de liquide - Google Patents

Appareil et procédé de refroidissement de liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012098545A2
WO2012098545A2 PCT/IL2012/000031 IL2012000031W WO2012098545A2 WO 2012098545 A2 WO2012098545 A2 WO 2012098545A2 IL 2012000031 W IL2012000031 W IL 2012000031W WO 2012098545 A2 WO2012098545 A2 WO 2012098545A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
cooled
tank
cooling
coolant
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2012/000031
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2012098545A3 (fr
Inventor
Eli Shafir
Nadav Rafael ABRAMOV
Original Assignee
Eli Shafir
Abramov Nadav Rafael
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eli Shafir, Abramov Nadav Rafael filed Critical Eli Shafir
Publication of WO2012098545A2 publication Critical patent/WO2012098545A2/fr
Publication of WO2012098545A3 publication Critical patent/WO2012098545A3/fr

Links

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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid cooling apparatus, in general and, in particular, to an apparatus for cooling and dispensing a drinkable liquid.
  • thermoelectric coolers that operate using the Peltier effect (thermoelectric effect). While these coolers are less expensive, as they do not require a compressor and its supplements, thermoelectric units have a low rate of heat exchange, so these coolers cool their contents slowly and their water cooling recovery response is poor. This means they are unsatisfactory and impractical for use in water dispensers, where water is frequently removed and replaced and, thus, requires rapid cooling following removal of cold water by a user. In particular, they are problematic for dispensers of carbonated beverages, which require the water to be cooled to a lower temperature than regular drinking water in order to engage the water with the carbon dioxide and maintain the carbonation.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of a liquid cooler and dispenser constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the liquid cooler and dispenser of Figure 1;
  • Figures 3a and 3b are schematic cross-sectional and cut-away perspective views, respectively, of a liquid cooler and dispenser constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 4a is a schematic perspective view of a liquid cooler and dispenser constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention having several cooling elements;
  • Figure 4b is an exploded view of the liquid cooler and dispenser of Figure
  • FIGS 5 a and 5b are schematic cross-sectional and cut-away perspective views, respectively, of a liquid cooler and dispenser constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention with a cooling unit mounted horizontally.
  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for rapidly re- cooling a liquid, preferably for use in a home or office liquid dispenser.
  • the method includes providing a reservoir of cold coolant material, formed and maintained by one or more thermoelectric (Peltier) units, surrounding (or inside) a tank holding a liquid to be cooled. This can be accomplished by surrounding the tank with, or immersing in a separate chamber in the tank, a coolant material for cooling the liquid to be cooled in the tank.
  • the coolant material is brought in contact with the cold side of a thermoelectric cooler for cooling the coolant material.
  • the coolant material cools the liquid in the tank by absorbing its heat and ejecting the heat from the liquid to be cooled outside of the apparatus.
  • the quantities of the inlet liquid which replenish the dispensed liquid per serving in the tank can be cooled relatively rapidly by the coolant material.
  • the cooled liquid can be water or another liquid having a different freezing point from water, and it can be the liquid into which a carbonator introduces carbon dioxide for creating carbonated or effervescent flavored drinks. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the coolant material that is cooled by the thermoelectric unit does not contact directly the liquid that it is cooling.
  • the coolant material can be any material that heats slowly, and is preferably a eutectic liquid. Particularly suitable materials include materials that have a higher heat capacity than simple frozen water. These materials preferably are used as liquids or gels.
  • the liquid tank has an outer wall. At least one additional wall is provided in the tank defining an inner chamber inside the tank. An outer chamber is formed between the additional wall and the outer wall. According to some embodiments, the tank is a double walled tank, having an outer wall and an inner wall. According to other embodiments, the inner wall is actually the outer wall of a container to be submerged in a material in the tank.
  • the coolant material can be disposed in the outer chamber, surrounding the inner chamber in the tank.
  • the coolant material can be disposed in the inner chamber of the tank which, in turn, is disposed in the liquid to be cooled in the outer chamber. According to other embodiments, the coolant material can be disposed in heat transfer contact with the liquid to be cooled in any other fashion. Alternatively, several additional walls can be provided defining one or more additional chambers in the tank.
  • the apparatus can be used to cool and dispense drinking water or other drinkable liquid. According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include means such as a carbonator for introducing carbon dioxide under pressure into the cooled liquid in the tank so as to dispense a carbonated liquid.
  • Liquid dispenser 10 includes a tank 12 having an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 18 defining therebetween an outer chamber 19.
  • Inner wall 14 is formed of a thermally conductive material.
  • inner wall 14 defines an inner chamber 16 designed for holding a liquid to be cooled.
  • the outer chamber 19 is designed as a reservoir for holding coolant material for cooling the liquid in the internal chamber 16.
  • the external wall 18 of the tank may be formed of an insulating material or may have an outer insulating layer surrounding it.
  • Liquid dispenser 10 further includes a thermoelectric cooler 20 coupled to tank 12 for cooling the coolant material in outer chamber 19.
  • the cold side of thermoelectric cooler 20 is coupled to cooling fins 22, which may be sealingly mounted in an aperture in outer wall 18 and brought into contact with the coolant material, while the hot side of thermoelectric cooler 20 is coupled to a heat sink 24, preferably disposed at close proximity to a fan 26, for ejecting the heat from the coolant to the atmosphere outside the dispenser.
  • a top closure member 30 is provided to close tank 10.
  • a liquid inlet 32 for liquid to be cooled and a cooled liquid outlet 34 are provided in top closure member 30. Cooled liquid outlet 34 can be coupled to any conventional liquid dispensing element, as known.
  • the apparatus further includes a carbonator (not shown) for introducing carbon dioxide under pressure into a cooled liquid in the tank.
  • the carbonator is arranged to introduce carbon dioxide into the liquid in the chamber holding the liquid to be cooled.
  • the chamber holding the liquid to be cooled may be split to more than one internal chambers, for example, by means of a partition having a few flow passages. In this way, the inlet liquid to be cooled will enter on one side of the partition while already cooled liquid will remain on the other (outlet) side of the partition.
  • a retrofit water dispenser by removing the conventional condenser and cooling elements and replacing them with the reservoir of coolant material built and maintained by Peltier units according to the present invention.
  • the internal wall 14 forms a plurality of ribs or protrusions to increase the surface area of heat transfer between the liquid to be cooled in the inner chamber 16 and the coolant material in the outer chamber 19.
  • a propeller (not shown) or other means of stirring the coolant may be provided in outer chamber 19 for causing flow of the coolant along the surface of inner wall 14, so as to increase heat exchange across the wall. It will be appreciated that other designs of the dispenser or the tank 12 are possible, as long as a relatively large surface area of heat exchange between the liquid to be cooled and the coolant material is provided.
  • Liquid dispenser 40 includes a tank 42 having an outer wall 48 and an additional wall 44 defining two separate chambers. Additional wall 44 is formed of a thermally conductive material.
  • the outer wall 48 may be formed of an insulating material.
  • an outer chamber 46 is designed for holding a liquid to be cooled.
  • the inner chamber 50 is designed as a reservoir for coolant material for cooling the liquid in the outer chamber.
  • An inlet 52 for liquid to be cooled is provided in outer wall 48 and an outlet 54 for cooled liquid is also provided in outer wall 48. Any conventional liquid dispensing element (not shown) can be coupled to cooled liquid outlet 54, as known.
  • a cover element 56 is provided to cover and seal the tank 42.
  • An aperture 57 may be provided in cover element 56 for receiving and supporting inner chamber 50.
  • Liquid dispenser 40 further includes a thermoelectric cooler 60 which is coupled to tank 42 for cooling the coolant material in inner chamber 50.
  • Thermoelectric unit 60 is sealingly coupled to tank 42, as by mounting in an aperture through cover element 56, with cooling fins 63, coupled to the cold side 62, extending into the coolant material.
  • the hot side 64 of thermoelectric unit 60 is coupled to a heat sink 66, preferably disposed adjacent to a fan 68, for ejecting the heat from the coolant to the atmosphere outside the dispenser.
  • FIGS 4a and 4b are schematic perspective and exploded views of a liquid dispenser 70 constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Liquid dispenser 70 is substantially identical to liquid dispenser 40 and like elements have like reference numerals. The difference is that liquid dispenser 70 includes a plurality of thermoelectric units 60, here illustrated as two, by way of non-limiting example, each extending through a different aperture 77 in cover element 78. In this way, it may be possible to increase the surface area of heat exchange between the coolant material and the liquid to be cooled.
  • liquid dispenser 70 includes a tank 72 having an outer wall 48 and a pair of additional walls 74, each defining an inner chamber 76, which serve as reservoirs for coolant material. Additionally walls 74 are formed of a thermally conductive material.
  • the outer wall 48 may be formed of stainless steel or plastic or any other suitable material.
  • an insulation layer 49 for example, of closed- cell extruded polystyrene foam, is provided around tank 72.
  • Outer chamber 46 is designed for holding a liquid to be cooled.
  • An inlet 52 for liquid to be cooled is provided in outer wall 48 and an outlet 54 for cooled liquid is also provided in outer wall 48. Any conventional liquid dispensing element (not shown) can be coupled to cooled liquid outlet 54, as known.
  • Cover element 76 covers and seals the tank 72.
  • each thermoelectric unit 60 is sealingly mounted in an aperture 79 through cover element 76 with cooling fins 63 extending into the coolant material, while the hot side 64 of each thermoelectric unit 60 is coupled to a heat sink 66, which may be disposed adjacent a fan 68, for ejecting the heat from the coolant to the atmosphere outside the dispenser.
  • arranging the outer chamber for holding the liquid to be cooled and the coolant material inside at least one inner chamber permits more flexible coupling of the inlet and outlet of the liquid to be cooled to the dispenser.
  • a partition can be provided to separate already cooled liquid from inlet liquid and liquid that has only begun to be cooled, the partition having small flow passages therethrough for the cooled liquid.
  • FIGS 5a and 5b are sectional and cut-away schematic perspective views, respectively, of a liquid cooler and dispenser 80 constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Liquid dispenser 80 includes a tank 82 having an outer wall 88 and an additional wall 84 defining two separate chambers. Liquid dispenser 80 is substantially similar to liquid dispenser 40 except for the location of the inner chamber.
  • An outer chamber 86 is provided for holding a liquid to be cooled.
  • An inner chamber 90 is designed as a reservoir for holding coolant material for cooling the liquid in the outer chamber and is disposed horizontally, typically in the side or rear of tank 82.
  • An inlet 92 for liquid to be cooled outer wall 88 and an outlet 94 for cooled liquid for dispensing are provided in outer wall 88.
  • a cover element 96 is provided to cover and seal the tank 82. This embodiment provides for low form factor which is particularly useful for under the counter installation and other locations in which a tall form factor is not desirable.
  • Liquid dispenser 80 further includes a thermoelectric cooler 100 which is coupled to tank 82 for cooling the coolant material in inner chamber 90.
  • the cold side 102 of thermoelectric unit 100 is sealingly mounted in an aperture through cover element 96 with cooling fins 103 extending into the coolant material, while the hot side 104 of thermoelectric unit 100 is coupled to a heat sink 106, optionally cooled by a fan 108 for ejecting the heat from the coolant to the atmosphere outside the dispenser.
  • heat sink in any of the embodiments of the invention may include cooling fins or heat pipes or any other design of heat sink.
  • liquid cooling system of the present invention has been illustrated above with regard to liquid coolers and dispensers, it will be appreciated that it can also be implemented in a refrigeration or other home appliance requiring cooling, and possibly dispensing, of liquid.
  • the apparatus of the invention can be utilized for cooling a gas, fluid or other object to be cooled from which a portion is removed from time to time and which is replenished with material at a higher temperature which requires cooling down to the original temperature.
  • liquid as used in the specification, includes gases and other fluids.

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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 That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention se rapporte à un appareil et à un procédé permettant de refroidir un liquide, l'appareil comprenant un réservoir qui présente une paroi externe, au moins une paroi supplémentaire constituée d'un matériau thermoconducteur dans le réservoir qui définit une chambre interne et qui définit, conjointement avec la paroi externe, une chambre externe, un liquide à refroidir qui est disposé dans une première chambre parmi les chambres interne et externe, un matériau réfrigérant, qui présente une capacité thermique plus élevée que celle du liquide qui doit être refroidi, disposé dans la seconde chambre parmi les chambres interne et externe, en contact de transfert thermique avec le liquide qui doit être refroidi, et une unité de refroidissement thermoélectrique couplée au réservoir en contact de transfert thermique avec le matériau réfrigérant pour refroidir le matériau réfrigérant et éjecter la chaleur provenant du matériau réfrigérant à l'extérieur du réservoir.
PCT/IL2012/000031 2011-01-17 2012-01-17 Appareil et procédé de refroidissement de liquide WO2012098545A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161433271P 2011-01-17 2011-01-17
US61/433,271 2011-01-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012098545A2 true WO2012098545A2 (fr) 2012-07-26
WO2012098545A3 WO2012098545A3 (fr) 2015-06-18

Family

ID=46516178

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2012/000031 WO2012098545A2 (fr) 2011-01-17 2012-01-17 Appareil et procédé de refroidissement de liquide

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Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3399539A (en) * 1967-03-13 1968-09-03 Herman Harvey Cooling unit
US5699669A (en) * 1996-07-15 1997-12-23 Gebhard; Albert W. Air-circulating base for bottled water cooling and dispensing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2012098545A3 (fr) 2015-06-18

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