Refrigeration machine for cooling beverages

Abstract

A refrigeration machine for cooling beverages includes: a reservoir configured to hold a heat exchange fluid; and an evaporator coil disposed within the reservoir. The evaporator coil includes a plurality of windings configured to circulate a coolant and a protrusion extending from the outer surface of one or more of the windings. The refrigeration machine further includes a refrigeration coil disposed in the reservoir, wherein the beverage is configured to flow through the refrigeration coil. As the coolant circulates through the plurality of windings of the evaporator coil, frozen clumps of the heat exchange fluid form on the windings and on the protrusion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described herein generally relate to a compact refrigeration unit for cooling beverages. Specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to a refrigeration unit comprising one or more refrigeration coils through which the beverage flows and an evaporator coil for circulating a coolant, the evaporator coil including protrusions to facilitate heat transfer from the refrigeration coils to the evaporator coils. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigeration machines are used to cool and dispense beverages. Some refrigeration machines operate by cooling a certain amount of beverage in a reservoir before dispensing it. When a consumer requests a beverage, a portion of the pre-cooled beverage is simply dispensed from the reservoir.

[0003] Refrigeration units that require a reservoir to store pre-cooled beverages have several disadvantages. The reservoir takes up considerable space, increasing the size of the refrigeration unit. This may be undesirable when providing refrigeration units for home or office settings. Furthermore, cooling a certain amount of beverage in the reservoir can take a prolonged period. Once the stored pre-cooled beverage has been dispensed, consumers must wait for a period of time until a new batch is cooled.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a refrigeration machine that has a small form factor and can rapidly cool beverages within seconds and continuously dispense the cooled beverages. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Some embodiments described herein relate to a refrigeration machine for cooling beverages, wherein the refrigeration machine includes a reservoir configured to hold a heat exchange fluid and an evaporator coil disposed within the reservoir. The evaporator coil of the refrigeration machine includes a plurality of windings configured to circulate a coolant and a protrusion extending from the outer surface of one or more of the windings. The refrigeration machine further includes a refrigeration coil disposed in the reservoir, wherein a beverage is configured to flow through the refrigeration coil, and wherein, as the coolant circulates through the plurality of windings of the evaporator coil, frozen clumps of the heat exchange fluid form on the plurality of windings and on the protrusion.

[0006] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusion may include one or more fins.

[0007] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusion may include one or more rods.

[0008] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusion may include a grille structure.

[0009] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the evaporator coil may be formed of a first material, and the protrusion may be formed of a second material, and the first material may be the same as the second material.

[0010] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the evaporator coil may define a central volume, and the chiller coil may be arranged within the central volume of the evaporator coil.

[0011] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the refrigerator may further include a second refrigerator coil disposed in a reservoir, through which the beverage is configured to flow. In some embodiments, the refrigerator may further include a distributor configured to distribute the flow of beverage to both the first and second refrigerator coils, wherein the distributor distributes the flow of beverage such that a larger portion of the beverage flows to the first refrigerator coil than to the second refrigerator coil.

[0012] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the wall thickness of the chiller coil may be in the range of about 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0013] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the refrigerator's storage container may have a total volume of about 3L to about 10L.

[0014] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the refrigerator further includes an agitator arranged in a reservoir, wherein the agitator may include an impeller having one or more blades. In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the refrigerator coil, wherein the agitator is configured to operate when the temperature of the refrigerator coil detected by the temperature sensor is within a predetermined temperature range.

[0015] Some embodiments described herein relate to a beverage dispenser comprising: a user interface configured to receive a beverage selection; and a refrigerator configured to cool the beverage. The refrigerator of the beverage dispenser includes: a reservoir configured to store a heat exchange fluid; and an evaporator coil disposed within the reservoir and configured to circulate coolant, wherein the evaporator coil includes a plurality of windings and a protrusion extending from the outer surface of one or more of the windings. The refrigerator of the beverage dispenser further includes a refrigerator coil disposed within the reservoir, wherein the beverage flows through the refrigerator coil such that the beverage is cooled as it flows through the refrigerator coil, and wherein, as the coolant circulates through the evaporator coil, frozen clumps of the heat exchange fluid form on the evaporator coil and on the protrusion. The beverage dispenser further includes a dispensing nozzle communicating with the refrigerator coil to dispense the beverage.

[0016] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the beverage dispenser may further include a cooling system configured to circulate a coolant, and the cooling system may include an evaporator coil.

[0017] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the beverage dispenser may further include a carbonator configured to carbonate the beverage, wherein the carbonator is in communication with a refrigeration coil.

[0018] Some embodiments described herein relate to a refrigeration machine for cooling beverages, the refrigeration machine including a reservoir and a heat exchange fluid stored within the reservoir, wherein the heat exchange fluid is an ionic liquid having a freezing point of about 0°C. The refrigeration machine further includes an evaporator coil disposed within the reservoir, the evaporator coil including a plurality of windings configured to circulate a coolant and protrusions extending from the outer surfaces of one or more of the plurality of windings. The refrigeration machine further includes a refrigeration coil disposed within the reservoir, through which the beverage flows, and wherein at least a portion of the heat exchange fluid freezes into a solid phase as the coolant circulates through the windings of the evaporator coil.

[0019] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the heat exchange fluid may have a freezing point between about 0.01°C and about 5°C.

[0020] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the ionic liquid may be selected from the group consisting of: ionic liquids based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, ionic liquids based on imidazolium, ionic liquids based on pyridinium, and ionic liquids based on morpholine.

[0021] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the ionic liquid may have a latent heat of fusion in the range of about 200 kJ / kg to about 300 kJ / kg.

[0022] In any of the various embodiments of the ionic liquid described herein, all heat exchange fluids can be frozen into a solid phase as the coolant circulates through the windings of the evaporator coil. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present disclosure is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, and together with the specification are used to explain the principles of the disclosure, enabling those skilled in the art to implement and use the disclosure.

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a refrigeration unit according to an embodiment is shown, wherein the upper end of the refrigeration unit's storage tank has been removed.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the components of the refrigeration unit and cooling system according to the embodiment is shown.

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a refrigeration unit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0027] Figure 4 It shows that according to Figure 3 A top view of the refrigeration unit.

[0028] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an evaporator coil for a refrigeration unit, including a protrusion, is shown according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 6 A top view of an evaporator coil for a refrigeration unit, including protrusions, is shown according to an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of an evaporator coil for a refrigeration unit, including a protrusion, is shown according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 8 A top view of an evaporator coil for a refrigeration unit, including protrusions, is shown according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 9 A close-up view of the protrusion of an evaporator coil with a mesh structure according to an embodiment is shown.

[0033] Figure 10 A perspective view of a refrigeration coil with a protrusion according to an embodiment is shown.

[0034] Figure 11A schematic cross-sectional view of a refrigeration unit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0035] Figure 12 A perspective view of an evaporator coil with protrusions having a mesh structure, according to an embodiment, is shown. Figure 11 They are used together with refrigeration units.

[0036] Figure 13 A top view of a refrigeration unit with a stirrer pump and a cyclone tube according to an embodiment is shown.

[0037] Figure 14 As shown along Figure 13 The line 14-14 was cut Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of the refrigeration unit.

[0038] Figure 15 A cross-sectional view of a refrigeration unit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0039] Figure 16 It shows Figure 15 A top view of the refrigeration unit.

[0040] Figure 17 It shows Figure 15 A perspective view of the evaporator coil of a refrigeration unit.

[0041] Figure 18 It shows Figure 17 A side view of the grid structure.

[0042] Figure 19 A top view of an evaporator coil with a grid structure according to an embodiment is shown.

[0043] Figure 20 It shows that according to Figure 19 A side sectional view of an evaporator coil with a grid structure.

[0044] Figure 21 It shows Figure 15 A perspective view of the refrigeration coil of a refrigeration unit.

[0045] Figure 22 A cross-sectional view of the chiller coil according to the embodiment is shown.

[0046] Figure 23 The graph shows the temperature of the heat exchange fluid in the refrigeration unit over time.

[0047] Figure 24 A cross-sectional view of a refrigerator containing an ionic liquid heat exchange fluid according to an embodiment is shown.

[0048] Figure 25A diagram of a beverage dispenser including a refrigeration unit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0049] Figure 26 A schematic diagram of the components of a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment is shown.

[0050] Figure 27 A schematic block diagram of an exemplary computer system in which an implementation scheme can be carried out is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0051] Reference will now be made in detail to the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a single preferred embodiment. Rather, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the claims as defined in the embodiments.

[0052] The demand for beverage refrigeration units for home or office use is increasing. To provide refrigeration units for home or office use, the units must have a small form factor, allowing them to be installed on work surfaces such as kitchen countertops. Refrigeration units with reservoirs for pre-cooled beverages such as carbonated or non-carbonated water are typically large and impractical for home or office settings.

[0053] If the pre-cooling beverage reservoir is eliminated, and instead the beverage is cooled on demand (i.e., as it is dispensed), the footprint of the refrigeration unit can be significantly reduced. Beverages can be cooled extremely quickly and on demand by passing them through coils arranged in a reservoir containing a heat exchange fluid such as water, thus removing heat from the beverage as it passes through the coils. Some refrigeration units can use a heat exchange fluid to cool beverages, but may rely on large reservoirs of 20L or more of this fluid. Therefore, beverage dispensers using such refrigeration units are impractical for home or office settings and are instead used in commercial kitchens such as restaurants or bars. Thus, to maintain a small footprint, beverage dispenser refrigeration units must use small refrigeration reservoirs to store the heat exchange fluid.

[0054] However, cooling a given volume of liquid to a desired temperature, such as 5°C or lower, on demand with a relatively small amount of heat exchange fluid presents numerous design and engineering challenges, especially when it is desirable to dispense larger volumes of beverages or higher beverage flow rates. Furthermore, since the dissolution of carbon dioxide decreases significantly with increasing temperature, carbonated beverages must be cooled to 5°C or lower to maintain adequate carbonation and avoid over-foaming.

[0055] When a beverage flows through a refrigeration unit, the heat exchange within the unit must be sufficient to cool the beverage within seconds, and the unit must be capable of cooling large volumes of beverage. A refrigeration unit can be rated by its compactness factor, which refers to the ratio of the maximum volume of cold water that can be dispensed at 5°C or below within one hour to the volume of the refrigeration unit. Therefore, it is desirable to produce a refrigeration unit with a high compactness factor, indicating that the volume of liquid that can be dispensed at 5°C or below within one hour is large relative to the volume of the refrigeration unit.

[0056] The inventors of this application have discovered that the compactness ratio can be increased by maximizing heat exchange within the refrigerator. By increasing heat exchange efficiency, the refrigerator can be designed to produce the same volume of chilled beverage while having a smaller footprint, or alternatively, the volume of chilled beverage that can be dispensed can be increased without increasing the size of the refrigerator.

[0057] Some embodiments described herein relate to a refrigerator including an evaporator coil having protrusions that allow for the formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on the evaporator coil and additionally on the protrusions. In this way, the surface area of ​​the frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid can be increased relative to frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid formed solely on the evaporator coil. The increased surface area of ​​the frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid increases heat transfer between the evaporator coil and the refrigerator coil, thereby promoting the cooling of beverages in the refrigerator coil. Some embodiments described herein relate to a refrigerator including an evaporator coil having protrusions with a mesh structure that facilitates the formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on the protrusions. The mesh structure of the protrusions increases the thermal conductivity of the frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid, thereby allowing the frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid to form more quickly.

[0058] As used herein, the term "beverage" can refer to any of the various types of consumable liquids, including but not limited to carbonated water, non-carbonated water (e.g., still water), flavored or fortified water, fruit juice, coffee or tea-based beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks, soda water, dairy or dairy-based beverages (e.g., milk), etc.

[0059] As used herein, the term "coolant" can refer to any fluid configured to reduce the temperature of a heat exchange fluid, such as a refrigerant, particularly refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) and / or ozone depletion potential (ODP), including in particular R600a, R134a, R290, R744, R32 and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of R290 / R744.

[0060] As used herein, the term "heat exchange fluid" can refer to a substance configured to drive the exchange of heat from a liquid (such as a beverage) within a refrigeration unit coil. For example, heat exchange fluids may include water, water-alcohol mixtures, or ionic liquids, which can vary in terms of total dissolved solids and / or pH to affect melting conditions and ice structure.

[0061] In some embodiments, the refrigeration unit as described herein can be configured to reduce the temperature of a beverage by 20°C or more. The refrigeration unit can be configured to reduce the temperature of the beverage from an ambient temperature of, for example, about 25°C to 5°C or lower within 10 seconds, 8 seconds, or 4 seconds. In some embodiments, when the refrigeration unit is initially turned on, frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid can form in the refrigeration unit's reservoir within 80 minutes, 60 minutes, or 40 minutes. In this way, the refrigeration unit has a rapid start-up time and can begin cooling the beverage shortly after startup. Furthermore, when depleted, the refrigeration unit can rapidly regenerate frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid.

[0062] Some embodiments of this document relate to a refrigerator 100, which includes a storage tank 110 configured to hold a heat exchange fluid, such as... Figure 1 As shown in the diagram. Evaporator coil 160 is arranged within reservoir 110 and is part of a cooling system for circulating the coolant. Refrigeration coil 130, connected to a beverage source, is arranged within reservoir 110 and within the central volume 164 of evaporator coil 160. Refrigeration coil 130 is configured to cool the beverage and deliver it to dispenser 105. Dispenser 105 may be arranged on or off reservoir 110 and connected to it via conduit. A stirrer or pump 180 may be arranged within reservoir 110 and configured to circulate the heat exchange fluid within reservoir 110. In operation, frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid (e.g., ice blocks when the heat exchange fluid is water) form around evaporator coil 160 to absorb heat from the beverage in refrigeration coil 130. To increase heat exchange, the evaporator coil 160 may include one or more protrusions 170 around which frozen blocks are formed, as discussed in more detail herein.

[0063] The reservoir 110 is configured to hold a heat exchange fluid that facilitates heat transfer between the beverage flowing through the refrigerator coil 130 and the evaporator coil 160 of the refrigerator 100. In some embodiments, the heat exchange fluid may be water. Using water as the heat exchange fluid can be beneficial for the maintenance of the refrigerator 100 because water is non-toxic and can be easily drained and replaced by the end user.

[0064] In some embodiments, the reservoir 110 of the refrigerator 100 may have a total internal volume of about 3L to about 10L. The reservoir 110 may be configured to hold about 2L to about 9L of heat exchange fluid, about 2.5L to about 8L of heat exchange fluid, or about 3L to about 7L of heat exchange fluid. Since the overall size of the refrigerator 100 depends largely on the size of the reservoir 110, using a small reservoir 110 and a small amount of heat exchange fluid allows the refrigerator 100 to have a compact form factor, suitable for home or office settings, such as on a kitchen countertop, under a kitchen sink, or built into a kitchen cabinet.

[0065] The reservoir 110 of the refrigerator 100 can have any of a variety of shapes and can be formed as a rectangular prism, cube, or cylinder, etc. The reservoir 110 can be insulated to suppress or minimize heat transfer from the outside of the refrigerator 100 into the refrigerator 100. The reservoir 110 may include a cover that provides access to the internal volume of the reservoir 110, such as for filling or replacing heat exchange fluid or performing maintenance or servicing of components within the reservoir 110. However, in some embodiments, the reservoir 110 may be sealed so that the internal volume of the reservoir 110 is inaccessible to the end user.

[0066] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates components of a refrigerator 100 according to some embodiments. The refrigerator 100 may include a reservoir 110, a refrigerator coil 130, and an evaporator coil 160 arranged within the reservoir. The refrigerator coil 130 and evaporator coil 160 may be arranged in a nested configuration and may be at least partially immersed in a heat exchange fluid within the reservoir 110. A beverage source 700, located away from the refrigerator 100, may be connected to the refrigerator coil 130, such as via a conduit, to supply beverage to the refrigerator coil 130. The beverage source 700 may be, for example, a municipal water supply, a well, or a beverage reservoir. The refrigerator 100 may include a dispenser 105, such as a dispensing nozzle, connected to the refrigerator coil 130 to dispense the cooled beverage flowing through the refrigerator coil 130. When the dispenser 105 is activated, the beverage flows from the beverage source 700 through the refrigeration coil 130, and the beverage is cooled as it flows through the refrigeration coil 130, so that the beverage is cooled (e.g., to 5°C or lower) as it is dispensed via the dispenser 105. Therefore, the beverage is cooled on demand, which can also be referred to as continuous refrigeration.

[0067] The evaporator coil 160 of the refrigerator 100, as part of the cooling system 800, is configured to circulate coolant. The cooling system 800 may be a vapor compression cooling system and may include, in addition to the evaporator coil 160, a compressor 810, a condenser 820, and an expansion valve 830, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. When the coolant flows through the evaporator coil 160 and changes from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, the heat exchange fluid surrounding the evaporator coil 160 freezes, thereby forming a frozen mass of the heat exchange fluid (see, for example...). Figure 3 Heat from the beverage flowing through the refrigeration coil 130 is transferred and absorbed by the frozen blocks of the frozen heat exchange fluid, thus cooling the beverage. The frozen blocks of the frozen heat exchange fluid have a high latent heat of fusion, allowing a considerable amount of heat to be absorbed without a corresponding change in the temperature of the heat exchange fluid.

[0068] In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 160 may be a tube having a plurality of windings 162 arranged in a stacked configuration, such as, for example... Figure 3 As shown in the figure. When viewed from top to bottom, each winding 162 may have a rectangular configuration (see example). Figure 4 However, in some embodiments, each winding 162 may have a square, circular, or elliptical configuration when viewed from top to bottom. The windings 162 may extend about the central axis Z of the evaporator coil 160. The windings 162 may be in contact with each other or may be separated by space 168. The evaporator coil 160 may follow the inner perimeter 112 of the reservoir 110. In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 160 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the reservoir 110. For example, if the reservoir 110 has a generally rectangular configuration, the evaporator coil 160 may have a rectangular configuration to follow the shape of the perimeter 112 of the reservoir 110. In another example, if the reservoir 110 has a generally cylindrical shape (with a circular cross-section), the evaporator coil 160 may similarly have a circular shape. The evaporator coil 160 defines a central volume 164 on the outside of the evaporator coil 160. The evaporator coil 160 may be formed of a material with high thermal conductivity. In some implementations, the evaporator coil 160 may be formed of a metal such as copper.

[0069] The refrigeration coil 130 can be arranged within the storage tank 110 of the refrigeration unit 100. The refrigeration coil 130 can also be arranged in a nested configuration together with the evaporator coil 160. For example... Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the refrigeration coil 130 may be arranged within a central volume 164 defined by the evaporator coil 160. Therefore, the evaporator coil 160 may at least partially surround the refrigeration coil 130. The refrigeration coil 130 may be a tube having a plurality of windings 132 arranged in a stacked configuration. The windings 132 may be in contact with each other or may be separated by a space 138. The windings 132 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the reservoir 110 or the shape corresponding to the shape of the evaporator coil 160. Thus, if the reservoir 110 has a rectangular configuration, then each winding 132 may have a rectangular configuration when viewed from top to bottom (see, for example...). Figure 4 However, in some embodiments, when viewed from top to bottom, the winding 132 may have a square, circular, or elliptical configuration, etc. In some embodiments, the winding 132 may not all have the same shape. The winding 132 of the refrigerator coil 130 may extend about a central axis. In some embodiments, the central axis of the refrigerator coil 130 may be the same as the central axis (e.g., axis Z) of the evaporator coil 160, such that the evaporator coil 160 is arranged concentrically with the refrigerator coil 130. The refrigerator coil 130 may be formed of a metal such as stainless steel to inhibit corrosion, reduce scale buildup, and prevent or minimize contamination of the beverage in the refrigerator coil 130.

[0070] In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 160 includes one or more protrusions 170 extending from the outer surface 161 of the evaporator coil 160. The protrusions 170 may extend from the evaporator coil 160 in a direction toward the refrigerator coil 130, such as... Figure 4 As shown in the diagram. In some embodiments, the protrusion 170 may extend inwardly into the central volume 164 of the evaporator coil 160. The refrigerant within the evaporator coil 160 does not flow into or through the protrusion 170. A frozen block 720 of the frozen heat exchange fluid (referred to herein simply as a "frozen block") is formed on the winding 152 of the evaporator coil 160 and also on the protrusion 170. Therefore, the protrusion 170 helps to increase the total surface area of ​​the frozen block 720 to facilitate heat exchange with the refrigeration coil 130 (and the beverage flowing through the refrigeration coil 130).

[0071] During the operation of the refrigeration unit 100, the refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil 160 and evaporates, causing the heat exchange fluid 710 surrounding the evaporator coil 160 to freeze and form a frozen or solid phase heat exchange fluid block 720 (see example). Figure 3 The frozen block 720 may have a thickness t surrounding the evaporator coil 160 and the protrusion 170. b The evaporator coil 160 and protrusion 170 are spaced apart from the refrigeration coil 130 by a distance L, preventing the frozen block 720 from reaching the refrigeration coil 130. Therefore, L is greater than t. bIf the refrigeration coil 130 is too close to the evaporator coil 160, the beverage flowing through the refrigeration coil 130 may freeze, thus preventing the beverage from flowing through the refrigeration coil 130. Furthermore, to maximize the interface between the heat exchange fluid and its solid-liquid state, space is provided between adjacent protrusions 170. The protrusions 170 may be spaced apart by a distance d, wherein the distance between the protrusions 170 may be greater than 2t. b .

[0072] In some embodiments, the protrusion may be formed as a fin 172, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in the diagram. Fin 172 may be generally planar. Fin 172 may have a generally rectangular shape. Fin 172 may extend along at least a portion of the evaporator coil 160. Figure 5 As shown, fins 172 extend along a portion of one or more windings 162 of the evaporator coil 160. Fins 172 may follow the contour of the windings 162 to extend around corners or bends in the evaporator coil 160. Fins 172 may not be present on all windings 162 to allow space between fins 172. Fins 172 are spaced apart such that the frozen block 720 does not completely fill the space between fins 172. In some embodiments, fins 172 may be arranged on alternating windings 162. For example, a first winding 162A of the evaporator coil 160 may have fins 172, and a second winding 162B adjacent to the first winding 162A may not have fins. In another example, one fin 172 may be included for every three windings. In some embodiments, each fin 172 may have a thickness of about 1 mm to about 12 mm, or about 2 mm to about 8 mm, or about 3 mm to about 5 mm.

[0073] In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 160 may include a protrusion 170 formed as a rod 178, such as, for example Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown in the diagram. Rod 178 may extend substantially perpendicular to the flow direction through evaporator coil 160, and may extend substantially perpendicular to the axis X of evaporator coil 160, as... Figure 8As best shown in the diagram. A first end 177 of rod 178 may be connected to the outer surface 161 of evaporator coil 160, and rod 178 may terminate at a second end 179 opposite to the first end 177. Rod 178 may have a length r as measured from the first end 177 to the second end 179. Rod 178 has a thickness t, measured transversely to its length, as the widest dimension of rod 178. Rods 178 may be spaced apart from each other by a. Rods 178 are spaced apart such that when frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid form on evaporator coil 160 and rods 178, the space between rods 178 is not completely filled with frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid. Rods 178 may each be of the same size and dimensions. In some embodiments, rods 178 may be generally straight along their length. In some embodiments, rods 178 may be generally parallel to each other. In some embodiments, rods 178 may have a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, or a rectangular prism shape, etc. As those skilled in the art will understand, the number and spacing of the rods 178 depend in part on the dimensions of the rods (e.g., length and diameter). Whether formed as fins 172, rods 178, or other forms, the protrusions 170 can be secured to the outer surface 161 of the evaporator coil 160 by various fastening methods. In some embodiments, the protrusions 170 can be permanently secured to the evaporator coil 160, and the protrusions 170 can be welded or bonded to the evaporator coil 160, or can be secured by brazing. However, the protrusions 170 can be secured to the evaporator coil 160 by brackets, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and other fastening methods.

[0074] The protrusion 170 may be formed of a material with high thermal conductivity. The protrusion 170 may be formed of the same material as the evaporator coil 160. For example, in an embodiment where the evaporator coil 160 is formed of copper, the protrusion 170 may also be formed of copper. When the heat exchange fluid freezes around the winding 162 of the evaporator coil 160, the heat exchange fluid may also freeze around the protrusion 170. Therefore, the surface area of ​​the frozen mass of the heat exchange fluid increases due to the freezing of the heat exchange fluid around the protrusion 170.

[0075] In some embodiments, the protrusion 170 may be formed of a heat pipe. The heat pipe can be used to facilitate the rapid formation of a frozen heat exchange fluid on the protrusion 170 and rapid heat transfer near the refrigerator coil. The heat pipe may include a hollow tube defining a closed internal volume and a working fluid disposed within that internal volume, the working fluid being configured to be vapor or liquid within an operating temperature range. The working fluid within the heat pipe may be selected based on the operating temperature range and may be, for example, ammonia, alcohol, or water, as well as other suitable fluids. The heat pipe may be arranged in the same manner as rod 178 and thus may extend radially from the outer surface of evaporator coil 160 toward the refrigerator coil into the central volume 164.

[0076] In some embodiments, the protrusion 170 may be solid, such that the protrusion 170 does not have openings that allow heat exchange fluid to flow into or through the protrusion 170. In some embodiments, the protrusion 170 may have a mesh structure, such that the body 171 of the protrusion 170 has a plurality of openings or holes 173, such as, for example Figure 9 As shown in the diagram. In this manner, the heat exchange fluid 710 can flow through the orifice 173 into the body 171 of the protrusion 170. The orifice 173 can be large enough that the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid does not completely fill the orifice 173. The mesh structure can facilitate the freezing of the heat exchange fluid 710 to promote the extension of the frozen block 720 on and around the protrusion 170. The mesh structure can also delay the melting of the frozen block 720. The mesh structure can increase the thermal conductivity of the frozen block 720 and allow the frozen block 720 to form more quickly. The body 171 has high thermal conductivity, thereby driving heat exchange within the frozen block 720. As discussed, the protrusion 170 can be formed of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as copper. In some embodiments, to provide a protrusion 170 with a mesh structure, the protrusion 170 can be formed of a metal foam, such as copper foam, and other materials. The mesh structure can have internal cells or holes, and the cells or holes can have various sizes.

[0077] In some embodiments, the refrigeration coil 130' instead of the evaporator coil may include a protrusion 170', such as, for example Figure 10 As shown in the diagram. In such embodiments, as described with respect to the protrusion 170 of the evaporator coil 160, the refrigerator coil 130' may include one or more protrusions having the same construction and features. In such embodiments, the evaporator coil 160 may not have the protrusion 170 to prevent frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid from growing onto the protrusion of the refrigerator coil 130'. The protrusion 170' of the refrigerator coil 130' may extend outward from the outer surface of one or more windings 132' of the refrigerator coil 130' and may extend in a direction toward the evaporator coil. The protrusion 170' on the refrigerator coil 130' is used to facilitate heat conduction. Although the heat exchange fluid may circulate to transfer heat from the refrigerator coil 130' to the frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid, heat conduction through the protrusion 170' can transfer heat more quickly than convective heat transfer through the heat exchange fluid. Furthermore, the protrusion 170' may increase the surface area available for heat transfer.

[0078] In some implementation schemes, such as Figure 10As shown, the protrusion 170' on the refrigeration coil 130' may include fins 172'. The fins 172' may have the same construction and features as described with respect to fins 172. Thus, the fins 172' may extend from one or more windings 132' of the refrigeration coil 130'. The fins 172' may be spaced apart from each other, and the fins 172' may not be present on each winding 132'. The fins 172' may extend in the plane of the windings 132' of the refrigeration coil 130'. In some embodiments, the protrusion 170' may alternatively include a rod as described with respect to rod 178 of the evaporator coil 160, and may have a mesh structure or foam. Furthermore, the protrusion 170' of the refrigeration coil 130' may form a grid structure as described in more detail herein.

[0079] In some implementations, the chiller 200 can be as follows Figure 11 The arrangement shown is similar to that of the refrigerator 200. Figure 1 A refrigerator 100 includes: a reservoir 210 configured to hold a heat exchange fluid 710; an evaporator coil 260 for circulating a coolant disposed within the reservoir 210; and a refrigerator coil 230 through which a beverage flows and which is also disposed within the reservoir 210. However, refrigerator 200 differs from refrigerator 100 in that refrigerator coil 230 defines a central volume 234, and evaporator coil 260 is disposed within the central volume 234 of refrigerator coil 230. Therefore, the positions of refrigerator coil 230 and evaporator coil 260 are switched relative to refrigerator 100. Refrigerator coil 230 at least partially surrounds evaporator coil 260. Evaporator coil 260 may be wound around refrigerator coil 230 about the same axis Y. Evaporator coil 260 and refrigerator coil 230 may be arranged concentrically.

[0080] The refrigeration coil 230 of the refrigerator 200 can follow the periphery of the reservoir 210. Therefore, the length of the refrigeration coil 230 within the reservoir 210 can be longer than that of the refrigeration coil 130 of the refrigerator 100. Thus, the refrigerator 200 can have the same footprint as the refrigerator 100 while allowing a larger volume of beverage to be cooled by the refrigerator 200 in a given time. Furthermore, the frozen block 720 formed on the evaporator coil 260 can be more compact within the refrigerator 200. The frozen block 720 formed on the evaporator coil 260 can maintain an open central region within the evaporator coil 260 to allow heat exchange fluid to circulate within the central region of the evaporator coil 260 and to provide space for the agitator.

[0081] The evaporator coil 260 of the refrigerator 200 may include a protrusion 270. The protrusion 270 may have the same arrangement, construction, and features as described above with respect to the evaporator coil 160 and the protrusion 170. However, when the protrusion 270 extends from the outer surface of the evaporator coil 260 in a direction toward the refrigerator coil 230, the protrusion 270 extends outward toward the refrigerator coil 230 from the evaporator coil 260, while the protrusion 170 of the evaporator coil 160 of the refrigerator 100 extends inward toward the central volume 164 of the evaporator coil 160.

[0082] In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 260 of the refrigeration unit 200 may include a protrusion 270, which includes foam 278, such as, for example Figure 12 As shown in the diagram, foam 278 may extend from evaporator coil 260 toward the center volume 264 of evaporator coil 260, away from the center volume of evaporator coil 260, or both. Therefore, foam 278 may be arranged on opposite sides of evaporator coil 260. Foam 278 may be porous and may have a mesh structure. Foam 278 may facilitate the rapid formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on evaporator coil 260 and foam 278. In some embodiments, foam 278 may extend the entire length of evaporator coil 260. However, in some embodiments, foam 278 may be arranged only on a portion of evaporator coil 260. In some embodiments, foam 278 may be made of the same material as evaporator coil 260, and in some embodiments, foam 278 may be a metallic foam, such as copper foam. However, in other embodiments, foam 278 may be made of a non-metallic material, such as paraffin wax.

[0083] While exemplary refrigerators 100 and 200 are described herein for illustrative purposes, it should be understood that other arrangements of the evaporator coil and one or more refrigerator coils within the refrigerator's reservoir are possible. Furthermore, it should be understood that the heat exchange efficiency of any refrigerator with an evaporator coil can be improved by incorporating protrusions as described herein. In some embodiments, the heat exchange efficiency of a refrigerator with a reservoir, evaporator coil, and refrigerator coil can be improved by attaching one or more protrusions as described herein to the outer surface of the evaporator coil. In this way, frozen blocks of heat exchange material (such as ice) can rapidly form along the evaporator coil as the coolant circulates through it, and can also rapidly form along the protrusions to increase the surface area of ​​the frozen blocks, and thus increase the solid-liquid interface of the heat exchange fluid. In some embodiments, the heat transfer efficiency of a refrigerator with a reservoir, evaporator coil, and refrigerator coil can be improved by attaching protrusions as described herein to the outer surface of the refrigerator coil. In this way, the protrusions provide heat conduction and increase the surface area for heat transfer with the refrigerator coil.

[0084] Some embodiments described herein relate to a refrigerator 300 having a swirl tube 390 configured to facilitate the circulation of heat exchange fluid 710 within a reservoir 310, such as... Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown in the diagram. The refrigerator 300 may have the same construction and features as described above with respect to the refrigerator 100. Therefore, the refrigerator 300 may include a reservoir 310, an evaporator coil 360, and a refrigerator coil 330. The evaporator coil 360 may define a central volume 364 within which the refrigerator coil 330 is disposed. The evaporator coil 360 may include a protrusion 370 as discussed above with respect to the protrusion 170 of the evaporator coil 160.

[0085] The refrigerator 300 may further include a pump 380 configured to circulate heat exchange fluid within a reservoir 310. The pump 380 may be immersed in the heat exchange fluid 710 within the reservoir 310. In some embodiments, the pump 380 may be located at a lower end 311 of the reservoir 310. The pump 380 may include an inlet 382 configured to draw heat exchange fluid 710 from the reservoir 310 into the pump 380. The pump 380 and its inlet 382 may be arranged to draw heat exchange fluid 710 from a central volume 334 defined by the refrigerator coil 330. Thus, the pump 380 or its inlet 382 may be located within the central volume 334 of the refrigerator coil 330. The pump 380 may include one or more outlets for discharging heat exchange fluid 710 to circulate the heat exchange fluid 710. The outlet can be arranged to guide the heat exchange fluid 710 in the lateral direction.

[0086] In some embodiments, the swirl tube 390 may be in communication with the pump 380 and may extend from the pump 380 into the space between the chiller coil 330 and the evaporator coil 360. The chiller coil 330 may be tightly wound, resulting in limited space between the windings 332 of the chiller coil 330. Therefore, the heat exchange fluid 710 in the central volume 334 of the chiller coil 330 may not easily circulate within the reservoir 310. This can inhibit heat transfer from the heat exchange fluid 710 in the central volume 334 to frozen blocks of heat exchange material formed on the evaporator coil 360 and the protrusion 370.

[0087] In some embodiments, pump 380 may be configured to draw heat exchange fluid 710 from central volume 334 and disperse heat exchange fluid 710 toward frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid via swirl tube 390. Swirl tube 390 may include one or more windings. Swirl tube 390 may be made of a flexible material. The windings of swirl tube 390 are spaced apart more than the windings of refrigeration coil 330 or evaporator coil 360, such that swirl tube 390 does not interfere with the circulation of heat exchange fluid 710 within reservoir 310. Swirl tube 390 may include one or more outlets 392. Swirl tube 390 may include an outlet 392 at the end 394 of swirl tube 390. Additional outlets 392 may be arranged along the length of swirl tube 390. Each outlet 392 may be arranged such that heat exchange fluid escaping from outlet 392 is directed toward a protrusion 370 of evaporator coil 360. In this way, the relatively warm heat exchange fluid from the central volume 334 of the refrigeration coil 330 is guided to the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid 710. This helps to induce turbulence and promotes heat transfer and circulation of the heat exchange fluid 710 within the reservoir 310. This can help to cool beverages more quickly when the container is opened and dispensing.

[0088] In some implementation schemes, such as Figure 14 As shown, a pump 380 may be positioned at the lower end 311 of the reservoir 310, and a vortex tube 390 may extend from the pump 380 toward the upper end 313 of the reservoir 310. This can cause the formation of vortices within the reservoir 310, as the cooler heat exchange fluid is located at the upper end 313 of the reservoir 310, and the relatively warmer heat exchange fluid is located at the lower end 311, resulting in the heat exchange fluid 710 circulating in a top-down manner. The beverage may enter the refrigerator coil 330 at the lower end 311 and may flow out of the refrigerator coil 330 at the upper end 313, thereby creating a countercurrent heat exchange with the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir 310. The countercurrent heat exchange maximizes the temperature change of the beverage within the refrigerator coil by maximizing the temperature difference between the beverage in the refrigerator coil 330 and the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 310.

[0089] In some implementations, for example in Figures 15 to 16A refrigerator 400 is shown. In addition to those described herein, refrigerator 400 may also include the same construction and features as described with respect to refrigerator 100. Similar to refrigerator 100, refrigerator 400 includes a reservoir 410 configured to contain a heat exchange fluid and an evaporator coil 460 disposed within the reservoir 410, which is part of a cooling system for circulating coolant. Furthermore, refrigerator 400 includes a refrigerator coil 430 connected to a beverage source and disposed within the central volume 464 of the evaporator coil 460 within the reservoir 410. Refrigerator coil 430 is configured to cool the beverage and deliver the cooled beverage to a dispenser. In some embodiments, refrigerator 400 further includes a stirrer 490 configured to circulate the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir 410 and optimize heat convection.

[0090] In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 460 of the refrigerator 400 may be a tube having a plurality of windings 462 through which coolant can flow. The windings 462 may be stacked and arranged from the lower end of the reservoir 410 toward the upper end of the reservoir 410. The windings 462 may extend about a central axis X. During operation of the refrigerator 400, the windings 462 are immersed in a heat exchange fluid. The evaporator coil 460 may be arranged along the periphery of the reservoir 410. Therefore, the evaporator coil 460 may be arranged adjacent to and follow the inner wall of the reservoir 410. The evaporator coil 460 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the reservoir 410. For example, if the reservoir 410 has a rectangular shape, the evaporator coil 460 may similarly have a rectangular shape, such as... Figure 16 As best shown in the diagram. In an embodiment where the evaporator coil 460 has a rectangular shape, the winding 462 of the evaporator coil 460 may include a straight portion 461 and a bent portion 463 (see, for example...). Figure 17 ).

[0091] The evaporator coil 460 may further include a protrusion 470 extending from the outer surface of the winding 462 of the evaporator coil 460. In some embodiments, the protrusion 470 may extend into the central volume 464 defined by the evaporator coil 460 and toward the refrigerator coil 430. Figures 17 to 18As shown, the protrusion 470 may form a grid structure 472. The grid structure 472 may be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional grid structure. In some embodiments, the grid structure 472 may include a plurality of fins 474. The fins 474 may be generally planar and may have a generally rectangular shape. The fins 474 may extend along at least a portion of one or more windings 462 of the evaporator coil 460 (such as along a straight portion 461 of the evaporator coil 460). However, in some embodiments, the fins 474 may be arranged along a curved portion 463 of the evaporator coil 460. The fins 474 may be arranged in the plane of the windings 462. The fins 474 may be connected to each other by rods 476. The rods 476 may be arranged generally parallel to the central axis of the evaporator coil 460. Furthermore, the rods 476 may be arranged generally perpendicular to the fins 474 and parallel to each other. Therefore, the fins 474 and rods 476 can form a grid structure 472 with a mesh-like configuration, which defines a channel 478 or passage through which liquid heat exchange fluid can flow to contact the frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid formed on the evaporator 460.

[0092] The fins 474 may be spaced apart by a distance greater than the thickness of the frozen block of heat exchange fluid to be formed on the fins 474, such that the frozen block does not completely fill the space between the fins 474, and the liquid heat exchange fluid can flow in the space between adjacent fins 474. Similarly, the rods 476 may be spaced apart by a distance greater than the thickness of the frozen block of heat exchange fluid to be formed on the rods 476, such that the frozen block does not completely fill the space between the rods 476, and the liquid heat exchange fluid can be present between the rods 476. If the fins 474 or rods 476 are too close together, the frozen block of heat exchange fluid may leave very little space for the heat exchange fluid to flow through or no space at all. In some embodiments, the fins 474 may be spaced apart by about 10 mm to about 30 mm, about 12 mm to about 28 mm, or about 15 mm to about 25 mm. In some embodiments, the rods 476 may be spaced apart from each other by about 8 mm to about 24 mm, about 10 mm to about 22 mm, or about 12 mm to about 20 mm.

[0093] In some embodiments, the grid structure 472, including fins 474 and rods 476, may be formed as a single integral structure. The grid structure 472 may be joined to the windings 462 of the evaporator coil 460 by welding, brazing, or other fastening methods. In some embodiments, the grid structure 472 may be formed of the same material as the evaporator coil 460. In this way, heat transfer is identical in the materials of the evaporator coil 460 and the grid structure 472. In some embodiments, the evaporator coil 460 and the grid structure 472 may contain copper.

[0094] Without expecting to be bound by theory, the formation of frozen blocks (i.e., ice) of the heat exchange fluid on the evaporator coil 460 will now be described. When the refrigeration unit 400 is in use, the coolant flows through the windings 462 of the evaporator coil 460 and evaporates at a predetermined temperature. The evaporation process of the coolant absorbs a significant amount of heat from the heat exchange fluid, and thus frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid first begin to form around the outer side of the windings 462 of the evaporator coil 460. As the material of the grid structure 472 is cooled, the frozen blocks continue to form rapidly along the fins 474 of the grid structure 472. The frozen blocks may continue to form along the outer surface of the rods 476 of the grid structure 472 that extend between adjacent fins 474.

[0095] The resulting frozen block of heat exchange fluid defines a channel 478 through which the liquid heat exchange fluid can flow. A grid structure 472 is used to increase the surface area of ​​the frozen block of heat exchange fluid (relative to a frozen block of heat exchange fluid separately formed on the windings of the evaporator coil) to facilitate heat transfer from the beverage in the refrigeration coil 430 to the frozen block of heat exchange fluid via the heat exchange fluid. Furthermore, the grid structure 472 provides sufficient space to allow the liquid heat exchange fluid to flow through the grid structure 472 to contact the frozen block of heat exchange fluid.

[0096] In some implementations, the grid structure 480 may define cell 488, such as, for example Figures 19 to 20 As shown in the diagram. The grid structure 480 may include a first rod 482 extending outward from the outer surface of one or more windings 462 of the evaporator coil 460. The first rod 482 may extend radially from the evaporator coil 460 and may extend toward the central volume of the evaporator coil 460. A second rod 484 may be arranged perpendicular to the first rod 482 and may be arranged parallel to or in the plane of the windings 462. Figure 19 As shown, the second rod 484 may form one or more loops concentric with the winding 462. The grid structure 480 may further include a third rod 486 parallel to the central axis of the evaporator coil 460. Thus, the cell 488 may be defined by the first rod 482, the second rod 484, and the third rod 486, and may be shaped as a cube or rectangular prism with generally open faces. Compared to the grid structure 472 with fins 474 and rods 476, the grid structure 480 with cells 488 provides additional space for the flow of liquid heat exchange fluid. However, due to the use of the first and second rods instead of fins 474, the grid structure 480 may have a slightly smaller surface area than the grid structure 472.

[0097] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 400 may include a plurality of refrigerator coils 430, 440, each refrigerator coil having a plurality of windings 434, 444 arranged in a reservoir 410. For example... Figures 15 to 16 As shown, the refrigerator 400 may include a first refrigerator coil 430 and additionally a second refrigerator coil 440. However, it should be understood that the refrigerator 400 may include fewer or additional refrigerator coils. Multiple refrigerator coils are used to increase the total volume of beverage that can be cooled by the refrigerator 400 within a given time. However, the number of refrigerator coils is constrained by the available space within the reservoir.

[0098] Refrigeration coils 430, 440 may be arranged within a central volume 464 defined by evaporator coil 460. In this manner, evaporator coil 460 at least partially surrounds refrigeration coils 430, 440. Each refrigeration coil 430 may include a plurality of windings 434 arranged in a stacked configuration (see, for example...). Figure 21 The windings 434 may extend around a central axis, such as the central axis of the evaporator coil 460. In some embodiments, the windings 434 of the refrigeration coil 430 may be spaced apart from each other to allow heat exchange fluid to flow in the space between adjacent windings 434. In some embodiments, the windings 434 may be spaced apart from each other by about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm in the direction of the central axis. In some embodiments, the windings 434 may be spaced apart by about 0.5 mm. If the space between the windings 434 is too small, the refrigeration coil 430 may form an obstacle that inhibits the circulation of heat exchange fluid within the reservoir 410. If the space between the windings 434 is increased, the number of windings 434 of the refrigeration coil 430 that can be fitted within the reservoir 410 is reduced, which is undesirable.

[0099] In some implementations, the chiller coils 430 and 440 can be arranged in a nested configuration, such as... Figure 21 As shown in the diagram. In some embodiments, the second chiller coil 440 may be arranged within the central volume defined by the first chiller coil 430. Therefore, the first chiller coil 430 may have a first diameter D1 and the second chiller coil 440 may have a second diameter D2, which is smaller than the first diameter D1. The second chiller coil 440 may be separated from the first chiller coil 430 by a gap 438. In some embodiments, the gap 438 may provide space for a liquid heat exchange fluid to flow between the chiller coils 430, 440 to facilitate heat transfer.

[0100] In some embodiments, the total length of the refrigeration coils 430 and 440 in the refrigeration unit 400 can be about 8 meters to about 18 meters, about 10 meters to about 16 meters, or about 12 meters to about 14 meters. Increasing the total length of the refrigeration coil 430 in the reservoir 410 increases the amount of beverage that can be cooled within a given time. The second refrigeration coil 440 may have a shorter length than the first refrigeration coil 430 because the second refrigeration coil 440 may have a smaller diameter than the first refrigeration coil 430, for example... Figure 21 As shown in the figure. Since the total length of the refrigeration coil 430 can increase with the increase of the volume of the storage tank 410, in some embodiments, the ratio of the total length of all refrigeration coils (in meters) to the total volume of the storage tank 410 (in liters) can be in the range of about 2 meters / liter to about 6 meters / liter.

[0101] In some embodiments, the first refrigeration coil 430 may include a first inlet 431 and a first outlet 432, and the second refrigeration coil 440 may include a second inlet 441 and a second outlet 442. Thus, the first and second refrigeration coils 430 and 440 may define two separate flow paths through which beverages may flow for cooling by the refrigeration unit 400. In such embodiments, the refrigeration unit 400 may further include a distributor 408 configured to distribute the incoming beverage supply between the refrigeration coils 430 and 440. The first refrigeration coil 430 may have a greater heat transfer capacity due to its closer proximity to the evaporator coil 460 and its longer overall length relative to the second refrigeration coil 440. Therefore, the distributor 408 may provide a larger portion of the incoming beverage to the first refrigeration coil 430 than to the second refrigeration coil 440. For example, the distributor 408 can supply 60% or more, 65% or more, or 70% or more of the beverage flow to the first refrigeration coil 430, and supply the remainder to the second refrigeration coil 440. The distributor 408 can distribute the beverage flow between the two refrigeration coils 430 and 440 such that the beverage temperatures at outlets 432 and 442 are substantially the same.

[0102] In some embodiments, the first outlet 432 of the first refrigeration coil 430 may be connected to the second inlet 441 of the second refrigeration coil 440, or vice versa, such that the refrigeration coils 430 and 440 form a continuous flow path through which the beverage can flow. In such embodiments, the same amount of beverage can be cooled in a given time as in embodiments with defined separate flow paths in the first refrigeration coil 430 and the second refrigeration coil 440. However, the pressure drop on a long continuous flow path can be relatively high compared to the pressure drop on two separate flow paths of the same length, which may require a more powerful pump to circulate the beverage.

[0103] In some embodiments, the refrigerator coils 430, 440 may include one or more connectors 450 configured to facilitate heat transfer and maintain the spacing between the windings of the refrigerator coils 430, 440. In some embodiments, the connector 450 may include a first connector 452 that connects the first refrigerator coil 430 and the second refrigerator coil 440 to each other. The first connector 452 extends through the gap 438 and may help to equalize heat transfer between the first refrigerator coil 430 and the second refrigerator coil 440. Because the first refrigerator coil 430 is closer to the evaporator coil 460, the first refrigerator coil 430 may tend to have a lower temperature, and the first connector 452 provides heat conduction between the first refrigerator coil 430 and the second refrigerator coil 440. The first connector 452 may include a rod or plate having a first end connected to the first refrigerator coil 430 and a second end connected to the second refrigerator coil 440. In some embodiments, a plurality of first connectors 452 may be arranged at the upper ends of the chiller coils 430, 440, and an additional plurality of first connectors 452 may be arranged at the lower ends of the chiller coils 430, 440. The first connectors 452 may be arranged in a plane generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chiller 400. In some embodiments, the first connectors 452 may be made of the same material as the chiller coils 430, 440, such as stainless steel. However, in some embodiments, the first connectors 452 may be copper or another metal with high thermal conductivity.

[0104] Furthermore, in some embodiments, each refrigeration coil 430, 440 may include a second connector 454 extending along the outer surface of the refrigeration coil 430, 440 in a direction parallel to the central axis of the evaporator coil 460. The second connector 454 can help equalize heat transfer among the different windings of the same refrigeration coil 430, 440. Additionally, the second connector 454 can help maintain the spacing between adjacent windings 434, 444.

[0105] The refrigeration coil can be configured to maximize heat transfer between the beverage within the refrigeration coil and the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 410. The rate at which heat is removed from the beverage flowing through the refrigeration coil 430 depends on several factors, including the material of the refrigeration coil 430, the inner diameter of the coil 430, and the wall thickness of the refrigeration coil 430. While it should be understood that the refrigeration unit 400 may have multiple refrigeration coils, for simplicity, the following discussion will refer to a single refrigeration coil 430.

[0106] In some implementations, the refrigeration coil 430 may be made of stainless steel, such as 300 or 400 series stainless steel. Stainless steel offers high corrosion resistance and ensures that beverages in contact with the refrigeration coil 430 are virtually uncontaminated. Furthermore, stainless steel has relatively high thermal conductivity, which facilitates heat transfer through the refrigeration coil.

[0107] Figure 22 The diagram shows the cross-sectional area of ​​a refrigerator coil 430 according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the refrigerator coil 430 may have a generally circular cross-sectional area. However, in some embodiments, the refrigerator coil 430 may have an elliptical cross-sectional area. A refrigerator coil 430 with an elliptical cross-sectional area can have the highest heat transfer of any cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, since the height of the elliptical cross-sectional area is reduced compared to the circular cross-sectional area, the elliptical cross-sectional shape allows for a greater number of windings of the refrigerator coil 430 to be assembled within the reservoir 410 of the refrigerator 400.

[0108] Each refrigeration coil has a wall thickness of 430 t. w The fluid can be selected to facilitate heat transfer from the beverage within the refrigeration coil 430 to the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 410. Wall thickness t w It can be defined as the shortest distance in the radial direction from the inner surface 436 of the refrigeration coil 430 to the outer surface 439 of the refrigeration coil 430, such as... Figure 22 As shown in the diagram. Typically, the conduit used to circulate beverages in a beverage dispenser has a wall thickness of about 1 mm. In some embodiments, the wall thickness of the chiller coil 430 may range from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, and may be about 0.5 mm. As the wall thickness increases, the heat transfer rate decreases due to the additional material in the wall of the chiller coil 430. Further reducing the wall thickness of the chiller coil 430 to below 0.2 mm could further increase the heat transfer rate, but manufacturing a chiller coil 430 with an extremely thin wall thickness may become impractical, and a chiller coil 430 with an extremely thin wall thickness may be less robust and prone to breakage when the chiller coil 430 is shaped into the desired configuration (e.g., multiple rectangular windings or circular windings). In some embodiments, the chiller coil 430 with a circular cross-sectional area may have a small inner diameter D of about 4.5 mm to about 6.5 mm. i When the inner diameter of the refrigeration coil 430 decreases, the heat transfer rate increases.

[0109] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 400 can provide countercurrent heat exchange of the beverage through the refrigerator coil 430 in the reservoir 410 to maximize the temperature reduction of the beverage in the refrigerator coil. In such embodiments, the beverage can flow through the refrigerator coil 430 from the lower end to the upper end. Thus, the beverage flows through the refrigerator coil 430 in a generally upward direction. The temperature of the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 410 can be relatively low at the upper end and relatively high at the lower end. Therefore, the flow of the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir can be from the upper end to the lower end, resulting in countercurrent heat exchange with the beverage flowing through the refrigerator coil 430.

[0110] In some embodiments, the chiller 400 may include an agitator 490 configured to circulate the liquid heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 410, such as... Figures 15 to 16 As best shown in the diagram. Since the liquid heat exchange fluid adjacent to the frozen block is relatively cooled, and the liquid heat exchange fluid adjacent to the refrigerator coil 430 is relatively warm, the agitator 490 helps circulate the heat exchange fluid to enhance thermal convection. The agitator 490 may be arranged along the central axis X of the refrigerator 400. The agitator 490 may be arranged in a central volume defined by the refrigerator coils (such as the innermost refrigerator coil of a plurality of refrigerator coils 440). In some embodiments, the agitator 490 may be arranged to extend from the upper end 401 of the refrigerator 400 toward the lower end 403 of the refrigerator 400. However, in some embodiments, the agitator 490 may be arranged from the lower end 403 of the refrigerator 400 toward the upper end 401. In some embodiments, the agitator 490 may be submersible.

[0111] In some embodiments, the agitator 490 may include an impeller 492 having one or more blades 494. The impeller 492 may be arranged to extend from the upper end 401 of the refrigerator 400 toward the lower end 403. In some embodiments, the impeller 492 may extend the entire height of the reservoir 410. In some embodiments, the blades 494 may be arranged at an angle A relative to the central axis X. Angle A determines the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir and the torque of the motor. In some embodiments, angle A is about 15 degrees to about 45 degrees, about 17 degrees to about 35 degrees, or about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees relative to the central axis X to maximize the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir 410.

[0112] Agitator 490 may include a motor 496 configured to cause rotation of impeller 492. During operation of the refrigerator 400, motor 496 may be immersed in the liquid heat exchange fluid within reservoir 410. In some embodiments, agitator 490 may include a motor disposed outside reservoir 410, with impeller 492 disposed within reservoir 410 such that motor 496 is not immersed in the heat exchange fluid. Motor 496 may be a direct current (DC) motor. In some embodiments, motor 496 may be configured to rotate impeller 492 at a rate of 8,000 rpm or greater, 9,000 rpm or greater, or 10,000 rpm or greater, and the rotational speed of impeller 492 may be in the range of 9,000 rpm to 12,000 rpm. Increasing the rotational speed allows the heat exchange fluid to reach a uniform temperature within a shorter time period of approximately a few seconds to facilitate heat transfer. Lower rotational speeds may require a longer time to achieve a uniform heat exchange fluid temperature, which may slow down or delay heat transfer.

[0113] In some embodiments, the operation of the refrigerator, as described herein, may be controlled based on one or more temperature sensors. The refrigerator may include a control unit that controls the operation of the refrigerator based on inputs from the temperature sensors, and controls the operation of the cooling system, agitator, and other components. The operation of the cooling system and the refrigerator's agitator based on readings from the temperature sensors is described in U.S. Application No. 16 / 875,975 (U.S. Publication No. 2020 / 0361758A1), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0114] In some embodiments, temperature sensor 404 may include a thermistor, such as a negative temperature type thermistor (NTC). In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor (or sensor) 404A may be used to control the operation of the compressor of the cooling system, and a second temperature sensor (or sensor) 404B may be used to control the operation of the agitator 490, such as... Figure 15 As shown in the diagram. However, in some embodiments, the refrigerator 400 may include only the first temperature sensor or only the second temperature sensor. For example, in an embodiment without a stirrer, the refrigerator may not include a second temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the stirrer.

[0115] In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor 404A is used to control the thickness of the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid. The frozen block can continue to grow outward from the evaporator and toward the refrigerator coil. The cooling system is operated to prevent the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid from growing too close to the refrigerator coil. When the first temperature sensor 404A detects a temperature indicating that the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid has grown to a predetermined temperature range of a certain thickness, the compressor can be shut down to prevent further growth of the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid. As discussed, if the frozen block continues to grow, the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid can approach the refrigerator coil, thereby causing the beverage inside the refrigerator coil to freeze. The first temperature sensor 404A can be positioned at a predetermined distance from the evaporator coil 460, and when the frozen block approaches the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor 404A can detect a low temperature and shut down the cooling system and stop circulating the coolant. The temperature sensor 404A can be arranged such that its outward-facing surface facing the evaporator coil 460 is at the desired wall thickness of the frozen block. When the frozen block comes into contact with the temperature sensor 404A, the temperature sensor 404A can detect a temperature of 0°C or below and can communicate with the control unit of the deactivated cooling system 800.

[0116] In some implementations, the cooling system has an upper limit threshold temperature T UT and lower threshold temperature T LT Operating within a predetermined temperature zone, such as, for example Figure 23 As shown in the image. It should be understood that providing... Figure 23 This is to illustrate the operation of the cooling system, and the temperature change of the heat exchange fluid may not be linear or constant over time. When the refrigeration unit is first turned on and the heat exchange fluid is at ambient temperature (point a), the cooling system can be activated to allow the formation of frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid. As the temperature decreases, it may exceed an upper threshold temperature and enter a predetermined temperature zone (point b). The cooling system will continue to operate to facilitate ice formation. When the temperature reaches a lower threshold temperature (point c) that may be below 0°C, the cooling system can be deactivated to stop further growth of the frozen blocks. When the temperature increases due to the consumption or reduction of frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid, the cooling system will remain inactive as the temperature increases within the predetermined temperature zone. When the temperature reaches an upper threshold temperature (point d) that may be approximately 0°C, the cooling system can be reactivated to begin restoring the frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid. Furthermore, the cooling system can be configured to remain activated or deactivated for a predetermined minimum time to prevent frequent activation and deactivation of the cooling system. In some embodiments, the predetermined minimum time is 1 minute to 5 minutes.

[0117] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 400 may further include a second temperature sensor 404B configured to detect the temperature of the beverage within the refrigerator coil. The second temperature sensor may be arranged adjacent to or in contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator coil. The second temperature sensor 404B can detect the temperature of the refrigerator coil and can therefore be used to calculate the temperature of the beverage within the refrigerator coil 430. In embodiments with more than one refrigerator coil, the second temperature sensor may be arranged adjacent to the outermost refrigerator coil (the one positioned closest to the evaporator coil). However, in some embodiments, the sensor may be arranged within the refrigerator coil 430 and in contact with the beverage to determine its temperature. For example, the sensor may include a fiber optic temperature sensor or temperature probe that directly determines the temperature of the beverage at a specific location within the refrigerator coil 430.

[0118] The chiller's agitator (such as agitator 490) can be configured to operate within a predetermined temperature band, including an upper temperature threshold and a lower temperature threshold. After the chiller is installed, it is filled with heat exchange fluid at ambient temperature. Agitator 490 is inactive when the evaporator coil 460 cools the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir 410 and frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid begin to form around the evaporator coil 460. When the cooling system is operating and the temperature of the heat exchange fluid drops from ambient temperature, it is not desirable to activate agitator 490 because operating agitator 490 to circulate the heat exchange fluid could disrupt or slow down the formation of frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid around the evaporator coil 460. However, when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 404B drops below the upper threshold temperature and frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid form, operating agitator 490 helps circulate the liquid heat exchange fluid to facilitate heat transfer from the chiller coil 430 to the frozen blocks, thereby rapidly cooling the beverage flowing through the chiller coil 430. When the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 404B continues to decrease (i.e., when the temperature of the chiller coil 430 decreases), the stirrer 490 may be deactivated when the second temperature sensor 404B detects a temperature at or below the lower threshold temperature. When the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 404B reaches the lower threshold temperature, which may be in the range of about 0°C to about 2°C, the stirrer 490 is deactivated (i.e., turned off) to prevent unnecessary loss of frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid. Furthermore, lowering the temperature below the lower threshold temperature may be inefficient and impractical, and therefore the stirrer 490 can be deactivated to save energy and eliminate heat transfer from the stirrer to the heat exchange fluid. As the temperature increases from the lower threshold temperature within a predetermined temperature band, the stirrer 490 remains inactive until the upper threshold temperature is reached (e.g., about 1°C to about 5°C), at which point the stirrer 490 can be reactivated.

[0119] In some implementations, the stirrer 490 may further initiate operation based on the detection of a user's presence. In such implementations, the refrigeration unit 400 (or a beverage dispenser including a refrigeration unit) may include a proximity sensor 498 configured to detect the presence of a user or object within a predetermined distance of the refrigeration unit or beverage dispenser (see, for example...). Figure 25 In some implementations, the predetermined distance can be within 50 cm, 30 cm, or 10 cm of the refrigerator. The predetermined distance is selected to enable when a user who wishes to use the refrigerator is present, and to avoid activation when someone who does not wish to use the refrigerator passes by or is in the regular area of ​​the refrigerator 400. In some implementations, proximity sensor 498 is activated only if movement is detected within a minimum time period.

[0120] When proximity sensor 498 detects a user or object within a predetermined distance indicating the user's presence, the stirrer 490 of refrigerator 400 may be activated for a first predetermined time. This first predetermined time may be within the range of 5 to 60 seconds, 10 to 40 seconds, or 20 to 30 seconds. In this way, refrigerator 400 may begin circulating the heat exchange fluid within reservoir 410 in preparation for the user to dispense a beverage from the refrigerator. Temperature sensor 404B may have a delay or postponement in detecting the temperature of refrigerator coil 430, and activating refrigerator 400 based on the user's proximity helps ensure that the stirrer is activated during refrigerator 400 use to facilitate heat transfer. If the user does not dispense a beverage, the stirrer 490 is deactivated after the first predetermined time.

[0121] In some implementations, if a user uses the refrigerator 400 to dispense a beverage, the stirrer 490 may be activated for a second predetermined time, such as approximately 30 seconds to approximately 150 seconds, approximately 50 seconds to approximately 130 seconds, or approximately 70 seconds to approximately 110 seconds. Once the predetermined second time has elapsed, the stirrer 490 operates based on the temperature sensor 404B as discussed above. The refrigerator 400 may activate the stirrer 490 for the second predetermined time whenever the refrigerator is used to dispense a beverage. While the operating logic has been discussed with respect to the stirrer 490, it should be understood that the same operating logic can be applied to other types of stirrers.

[0122] In some embodiments, the refrigeration unit as described herein may include a heat exchange fluid that is an ionic liquid. While it is desirable to have the largest possible frozen block of the heat exchange fluid to facilitate heat transfer, the size of the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid may be limited by the size of the reservoir and other components within the reservoir. As discussed, if the frozen block is too close to the refrigeration unit coils, the frozen block of the heat exchange fluid may cause the beverage within the refrigeration unit coils to freeze.

[0123] Ionic liquids can be used as heat exchange fluids in refrigerators because they can have a freezing point higher than that of water. Therefore, ionic liquids in a reservoir can freeze into a solid phase without freezing the beverage flowing through the refrigerator coils. Thus, virtually all the heat exchange fluid in the reservoir can freeze and be in a solid phase. The entire volume of the reservoir can become a frozen block of the frozen heat exchange fluid, and heat can be absorbed during the phase change of the frozen block at a constant temperature. As those skilled in the art will understand, heat conduction is more efficient in the solid phase than in convective heat transfer via liquid heat exchange fluids. Furthermore, since the freezing point of ionic liquids is higher than that of water, the frozen block can form more rapidly relative to water as the heat exchange fluid.

[0124] In some embodiments, the ionic liquid may have a freezing point between about 0.01°C and about 5°C at atmospheric pressure, such that this freezing point is higher than that of water to prevent the beverage from freezing in the refrigeration coil. The ionic liquid used as a heat exchange fluid may have a high latent heat of fusion, and in some embodiments may have a latent heat of fusion in the range of 50 kJ / kg to 400 kJ / kg, 150 kJ / kg to 350 kJ / kg, or 200 kJ / kg to 300 kJ / kg. Furthermore, the ionic liquid used as a heat exchange fluid may have low vapor tension, may be inert (non-flammable and non-corrosive), may be recyclable or reusable, and may exhibit consistent physical and chemical properties over extended periods (such as one year or many years) so that the performance of the heat exchange fluid does not degrade over time. In some embodiments, the ionic liquid suitable for use as the heat exchange fluid in a refrigerator as described herein may be selected from the following: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids (such as BMIM-NTF2 or BMIM-PF6), imidazolium-based ionic liquids, pyridinium-based ionic liquids, and morpholine-based ionic liquids, as well as their salts and combinations.

[0125] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 500 includes a reservoir 510 for containing a heat exchange fluid, which is an ionic liquid 730, such as... Figure 24As shown in the diagram. In addition to what is described herein, the refrigerator 500 may be constructed as described above with respect to any of the refrigerators 100, 200, 300, and 400. Thus, the refrigerator 500 may include an evaporator coil 560 through which the coolant flows and one or more refrigerator coils 530, 540 through which the beverage flows. The main difference in the refrigerator 500 is the use of an ionic liquid 730 as the heat exchange fluid. Furthermore, the use of the ionic liquid 730 allows the refrigerator 500 to be manufactured without a stirrer, as described in more detail below. Additionally, the refrigerator 500 may have a single temperature sensor 504 positioned along the central axis of the refrigerator 500, which is configured to stop the cooling system from operating when all heat exchange fluids have frozen.

[0126] The reservoir 510 of the refrigerator 500 can be sealed so that the ionic liquid 730 is enclosed within the reservoir 510 and inaccessible to the end user. Therefore, the refrigerator 500 can be assembled, filled with the ionic liquid 730, and sealed. This helps prevent the ionic liquid 730 from escaping during the storage or transport of the refrigerator 500.

[0127] The evaporator coil 560 of the refrigerator 500 may include a protrusion 570 as described herein, for example, with respect to protrusions 170 and 470. Compared to embodiments without protrusions 570, protrusions 570 may facilitate the more rapid freezing of ionic liquids into a solid phase.

[0128] Furthermore, the refrigerator 500 does not include a stirrer for circulating the heat exchange fluid. Since the ionic liquid 730 can be in a solid phase during operation of the refrigerator 500, a stirrer is not needed to circulate the liquid-phase heat exchange fluid to promote thermal convection in the liquid phase, allowing the ionic liquid to change phase as quickly as possible. Therefore, the construction of the refrigerator 500 is simplified by eliminating the stirrer (e.g., stirrer 490) and the second temperature sensor (e.g., 404B). Moreover, eliminating the stirrer allows a larger amount of heat exchange fluid to be included in the storage tank, compared to embodiments of refrigerators with stirrers, when the stirrer occupies space within the tank.

[0129] Furthermore, the operating logic of the refrigerator 500 is simplified when ionic liquids are used as the heat exchange fluid. The refrigerator 500 does not require temperature sensors to monitor the growth of frozen blocks of the heat exchange fluid because virtually all ionic liquids freeze into a solid phase, while the beverage continues to flow within the refrigerator coils 530 and 540 without the risk of freezing. The mixture of ionic liquids used as the heat exchange fluid can be carefully selected such that its latent heat of fusion throughout the entire volume of the refrigerator 500 is greater than the latent heat of ice, such as frozen block 720. Moreover, no temperature sensor (e.g., temperature sensor 404B) is needed to control the operation of the stirrer because there is no stirrer in the refrigerator 500.

[0130] In some embodiments, the beverage dispenser 600 may include refrigeration units 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 as described herein. Figure 25 As shown, the beverage dispenser 600 may include a housing 610 that encloses a refrigeration unit, such as the refrigeration unit 100. The beverage dispenser 600 may have a compact configuration, allowing the refrigeration unit 600 to be placed on a countertop, tabletop, or similar surface in a home kitchen or office break room. The beverage dispenser 600 may be configured to dispense a base liquid such as hot water, cold water, alkaline water, or sparkling water, and may be configured to dispense flavorings in addition to the base liquid to provide flavored beverages or carbonated soft drinks. The source of the base liquid 750 may be located remotely from the beverage dispenser 600 (see example...). Figure 26 Similarly, the source of flavoring 740 may be located at a distal end and supplied to the beverage dispenser 600 via a conduit, or one or more flavorings may be enclosed within the housing 610 of the beverage dispenser 600. The beverage dispenser 600 may further include a cooling system 800 for circulating refrigerant through the evaporator coil 160 of the refrigeration unit 100.

[0131] The housing 610 of the beverage dispenser 600 may define a beverage container receiving area 615. The beverage dispenser 600 may include a nozzle 620 disposed on the housing 610 at the beverage container receiving area 615 for dispensing beverages, such as base liquids or mixtures of base liquids and flavorings. The nozzle 620 may be disposed at the upper end 614 of the housing 610, within the beverage container receiving area 615. A container 880, such as a cup or bottle, may be placed in the beverage container receiving area 615 to be filled with beverage via the nozzle 620. The container 880 may be placed on the lower end 612 of the housing 610, within the beverage container receiving area 615, which may include a drip tray 619 for collecting excess liquid from the dispenser 105.

[0132] The housing 610 of the beverage dispenser 600 may further include a user interface 640 for receiving user input, such as... Figure 26 As shown in the diagram. The user interface 640 may include one or more actuators 642, such as buttons, switches, levers, knobs, dials, touch panels, touch screens, etc., for receiving user input. User input may include beverage selection. In some embodiments, each beverage may have a separate actuator. In some embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the user interface 640 may also include a display 644 for providing the user with information such as instructions for operating the beverage dispenser 600, a list of available beverages, or maintenance information. In some embodiments, the display 644 may be a touch screen display for receiving user input.

[0133] The beverage dispenser 600 may include a control unit 650 for controlling the operation of the beverage dispenser 600. The control unit 650 may communicate with a user interface 640, such that user input received through the user interface 640 is transmitted to the control unit 650, and the control unit 650 may dispense beverages based on user input, such as by actuating one or more pumps and valves 660 to drive and control the flow of base liquids and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the control unit 650 may further communicate with a cooling system 800 to circulate coolant. The control unit 650 may also communicate with a refrigerator to implement operating logic for the refrigerator, such as by receiving input from a temperature sensor and enabling or disabling the cooling system and stirrer based on the input from the temperature sensor, as discussed herein.

[0134] In some embodiments, the beverage dispenser 600 may include additional processing units for handling the base liquid, such as a carbonator 670, an alkaline cartridge, a water filter, or a mixer for combining the base liquid with a flavoring agent. The processing units may be arranged upstream or downstream of the refrigerator 100. In some embodiments, the water filter may filter the water before it is cooled by the refrigerator 100. In some embodiments, the carbonator 670 may be arranged downstream of the refrigerator, such that the water is cooled before carbonation. In some embodiments, the carbonator 670 may be located within the refrigerator 100. In some embodiments, the cooled and carbonated water may then be mixed with a flavoring agent to form a flavored beverage or carbonated soft drink in or before reaching the dispensing nozzle. However, in some embodiments, the water may be mixed with a flavoring agent and then cooled by the refrigerator 100 and subsequently carbonated.

[0135] Figure 27 An exemplary computer system 900 is illustrated, wherein an embodiment or a portion thereof may be implemented as computer-readable code. The control unit 650 discussed herein may be a computer system having all or some of the components for implementing the processes discussed herein.

[0136] If programmable logic is used, such logic can be executed on commercially available processing platforms or dedicated devices. Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be practiced using a wide variety of computer system configurations, including multi-core multiprocessor systems, minicomputers and mainframes, computers linked or clustered with distributed functions, and general-purpose or microcomputers that can be embedded in virtually any device.

[0137] For example, memory and at least one processor device can be used to implement the above embodiments. The processor device can be a single processor, multiple processors, or a combination thereof. The processor device may have one or more processor "cores".

[0138] Various embodiments can be implemented based on this exemplary computer system 900. After reading this specification, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art how to implement one or more of the invention using other computer systems and / or computer architectures. Although operations may be described as sequential processes, some operations may actually be performed in parallel, simultaneously, and / or in a distributed environment, and the program code may be stored locally or remotely for access by a single-processor or multi-processor machine. Additionally, in some embodiments, the order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter.

[0139] Processor device 904 can be a dedicated processor device or a general-purpose processor device. As those skilled in the art will understand, processor device 904 can also be a single processor in a multi-core / multi-processor system that operates independently, or in a cluster of computing devices operating in a cluster or group of servers. Processor device 904 is connected to communication infrastructure 906, such as a bus, message queue, network, or multi-core messaging scheme.

[0140] The computer system 900 also includes main memory 908, such as random access memory (RAM), and may also include secondary memory 910. Secondary memory 910 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 912 or a removable storage drive 914. Removable storage drive 914 may include floppy disk drives, magnetic tape drives, optical disk drives, flash memory, etc. Removable storage drive 914 reads from and / or writes to removable storage unit 918 in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit 918 may include floppy disks, magnetic tapes, optical disks, Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives, etc., read from and written to by removable storage drive 914. As those skilled in the art will understand, removable storage unit 918 includes computer-usable storage media in which computer software and / or data are stored.

[0141] Computer system 900 (optionally) includes a display interface 902 (which may include input and output devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.) that forwards graphics, text and other data from communication infrastructure 906 (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on display 940.

[0142] In an alternative embodiment, auxiliary storage 910 may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system 900. Such means may include, for example, removable storage unit 922 and interface 920. Examples of such means may include a program box and box interface (such as those present in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as EPROM or PROM) and associated sockets, and other removable storage units 922 and interfaces 920 that allow software and data to be transferred from removable storage unit 922 to computer system 900.

[0143] Computer system 900 may also include a communication interface 924. Communication interface 924 allows the transfer of software and data between computer system 900 and external devices. Communication interface 924 may include a modem, network interface (such as an Ethernet card), communication port, PCMCIA slot, and cards. Software and data transferred via communication interface 924 may be in the form of signals, which may be electrical signals, electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or other signals that can be received by communication interface 924. These signals may be provided to communication interface 924 via communication path 926. Communication path 926 carries signals and may be implemented using wires or cables, optical fibers, telephone lines, cellular telephone links, RF links, or other communication channels.

[0144] In this document, the terms "computer program medium" and "computer-usable medium" are generally used to refer to media such as removable storage unit 918, removable storage unit 922, and hard disk installed in hard disk drive 912. Computer program medium and computer-usable medium may also refer to memory, such as main memory 908 and auxiliary memory 910, which may be memory semiconductor (e.g., DRAM, etc.).

[0145] The computer program (also referred to as computer control logic) is stored in main memory 908 and / or auxiliary memory 910. The computer program can also be received via communication interface 924. When executed, this computer program enables the computer system 900 to implement the embodiments discussed herein. In particular, when executed, the computer program enables the processor device 904 to implement the processes of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, this computer program represents the controller of the computer system 900. When implementing the embodiments using software, the software can be stored in a computer program product and loaded into the computer system 900 using a removable storage drive 914, interface 920 and hard disk drive 912 or communication interface 924.

[0146] Embodiments of the present invention may also relate to computer program products comprising software stored on any computer-usable medium. When executed in one or more data processing devices, such software causes the data processing devices to operate as described herein. Embodiments of the present invention may employ any computer-usable or readable medium. Examples of computer-usable media include, but are not limited to, primary storage devices (e.g., any type of random access memory), secondary storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, ZIP disks, magnetic tapes, magnetic storage devices, and optical storage devices, MEMS, nanotechnology storage devices, etc.).

[0147] It should be understood that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary of the Invention section and the Abstract of the Specification section, is intended to interpret the claims. The Detailed Description section and the Abstract of the Specification section may provide one or more, but not all, exemplary embodiments of the invention as conceived by the inventors, and are therefore not intended to limit the invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0148] The invention has been described above using functional building blocks that illustrate the implementation of specific functions and their relationships. For ease of description, the boundaries of these functional building blocks are arbitrarily defined herein. Alternative boundaries may be defined as long as the specific functions and their relationships are properly executed.

[0149] The above description of specific embodiments will fully reveal the general nature of the invention, enabling others to easily modify and / or adjust such specific embodiments for various applications without departing from the overall concept of the invention, by applying knowledge of the art, without excessive experimentation. Therefore, based on the teachings and guidance given herein, such modifications and adjustments are intended to be within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the wording or terminology herein is for descriptive and not limiting purposes, and that the terminology or terminology of this specification should be interpreted by those skilled in the art in accordance with the teachings and guidance herein.

[0150] The breadth and scope of this invention should not be limited by any of the above exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator for cooling beverages, the refrigerator comprising: A reservoir configured to hold a heat exchange fluid; An evaporator coil, disposed within the storage container, comprising: Multiple windings, the multiple windings being configured to circulate coolant, and A protrusion extending from the outer surface of one or more of the plurality of windings, each protrusion including a body defining a plurality of orifices configured to allow heat exchange fluid to flow through the orifices in order to promote the formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on the windings and the protrusions when the coolant circulates through the plurality of windings; and A refrigeration coil is arranged in the reservoir, wherein the beverage is configured to flow through the refrigeration coil.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises one or more fins.

3. The refrigeration machine according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises one or more rods.

4. The refrigeration machine according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion includes a grille structure.

5. The refrigeration machine according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator coil is formed of a first material, and wherein the protrusion is formed of a second material, and wherein the first material is the same as the second material.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the evaporator coil defines a central volume, and wherein the refrigerator coil is arranged within the central volume of the evaporator coil.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a second refrigerator coil disposed in the reservoir, wherein the beverage is configured to flow through the refrigerator coil and the second refrigerator coil.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising a distributor configured to distribute the flow of the beverage to the refrigerator coil and the second refrigerator coil, wherein the distributor distributes the flow of the beverage such that a portion of the beverage flowing to the refrigerator coil is larger than a portion of the beverage flowing to the second refrigerator coil.

9. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the refrigeration unit coil is in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm.

10. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a total volume of about 3L to about 10L.

11. The refrigeration machine of claim 1, further comprising an agitator arranged in the reservoir, wherein the agitator comprises an impeller having one or more blades.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the refrigerator coil, wherein the stirrer is configured to operate when the temperature of the refrigerator coil detected by the temperature sensor is within a predetermined temperature range.

13. A beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising: A user interface configured to receive beverage selection; A refrigeration unit configured to cool beverages, wherein the refrigeration unit includes: A reservoir configured to store heat exchange fluid; An evaporator coil, disposed within the reservoir and configured to circulate coolant, wherein the evaporator coil includes a plurality of windings and protrusions extending from the outer surface of one or more of the plurality of windings of the evaporator coil, each of the protrusions including a body defining a plurality of orifices configured to allow heat exchange fluid to flow through the orifices, thereby promoting the formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on the windings and the protrusions as the coolant circulates through the windings; and A refrigeration coil is arranged within the reservoir, through which the beverage flows, such that the beverage is cooled as it flows through the refrigeration coil; and A dispensing nozzle, which is connected to the refrigeration coil for dispensing the beverage.

14. The beverage dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a cooling system configured to circulate the coolant, wherein the cooling system includes the evaporator coil.

15. The beverage dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a carbonator configured to carbonate the beverage, wherein the carbonator is in communication with the refrigeration coil.

16. A refrigerator for cooling beverages, the refrigerator comprising: Storage container; A heat exchange fluid, which is stored in the reservoir, wherein the heat exchange fluid is an ionic liquid having a freezing point of about 0°C; An evaporator coil, disposed within the storage container, comprising: Multiple windings, the multiple windings being configured to circulate coolant, and A protrusion extending from the outer surface of one or more of the plurality of windings, each protrusion including a body defining a plurality of orifices configured to allow heat exchange fluid to flow through the orifices in order to promote the formation of frozen blocks of heat exchange fluid on the windings and the protrusions when the coolant circulates through the plurality of windings; and A refrigeration coil is arranged in the storage container, through which the beverage flows.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the heat exchange fluid has a freezing point between about 0.01°C and about 5°C.

18. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of ionic liquids based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, imidazolium-based ionic liquids, pyridinium-based ionic liquids, and morpholine-based ionic liquids.

19. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the ionic liquid has a latent heat of fusion in the range of about 200 kJ / kg to about 300 kJ / kg.

20. The refrigeration machine of claim 16, wherein all of the heat exchange fluid freezes into a solid phase as the coolant circulates through the windings of the evaporator coil.

Images