Method and system for dispensing chilled beverages

Abstract

A beverage cooling and dispensing system and method are disclosed that enables the consistent dispensing of a beverage at a desired low temperature. The beverage flows through a primary heat exchanger, and a cooling fluid flows through the primary heat exchanger at a certain cooling temperature, and the flow of the cooling fluid is operable to lower the temperature of the beverage so that the beverage can be dispensed from a dispensing unit at a desired temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications None applicable

[0002] Description of research and development funded by the federal government None applicable

[0003] This application relates to a refrigerated beverage dispensing system. More particularly, this application relates to an improved method for dispensing beverages at a consistent low temperature for consumption.

Background Art

[0004] Beverage dispensing systems for dispensing beverages from a reservoir into some form of cup or container where a person can consume the beverage have been developed over the years. In some cases, the beverage reservoir can be pressurized so that when an outlet or valve, such as a tap, through which a person can place a cup or container to receive the dispensed beverage is opened, the beverage can be dispensed. Examples of beverages commonly used in these types of systems are beer, in which case the beverage reservoir can be a keg connected to a tap through which a user can dispense the desired amount of beer.

[0005] In many applications, it is desirable to provide beverages at a low temperature, typically in the range of - 5 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. Humans have evolved to prefer cooler beverages, and it is known that by giving a cold stimulus to the mouth, a person responds favorably because the stimulus gives the body a perception of dryness and refreshment, resulting in a more pleasant and relaxing beverage consumption experience. In the example of beer, although there are subjective preferences, many people agree that cold beer is more delicious than warm beer.

[0006] Therefore, cooling systems are incorporated into beverage dispensing systems to enable rapid dispensing of beverages at the desired temperature. Nevertheless, beverage dispensing / cooling systems currently in use have several drawbacks that make them less than ideal for sustained use. One exemplary system is known as a "jockey box," in which the beverage flows through a long coil surrounded by ice. Such a system requires a long residence time (which can be around 15 minutes) to cool the beer within the coil, resulting in only the first or second beverage being dispensed at the desired temperature. The user then has to wait for further beer to cool before dispensing, or has no choice but to settle for warm beer without waiting. This particular system also requires the use of large quantities of ice or refrigerant over its use. Another system is called a "flash cooler," in which the beverage reservoir itself is cooled directly by a refrigerant. The drawback associated with this system is that the refrigerant tends to be pure water, which cools the beverage and forms an ice bank around the line carrying the beverage to keep it cold (this is intentional). However, once the beverage in the coil is depleted and replaced with a warmer beverage, the system can only supply cold beverage at a very slow rate, resulting in discontinuous beer delivery. Users attempt to compensate for this by adjusting the system temperature, which typically drops below the beverage's freezing point, causing the beverage in the line to freeze and form solid blocks surrounded by solid blocks of ice. It can take hours for these blocks to melt so that the beverage can be dispensed. Furthermore, unmonitored cooling, faulty control systems, etc., can cause the refrigerant flow to become clogged or pulsating. This makes the system very vulnerable and prone to runaway cooling, thus unreliable and far from ideal.

[0007] Glycol power packs are also very common products sold on the market in attempts to serve chilled beverages from beverage reservoirs. The beverage reservoir, and consequently the beverage contained within it, is cooled directly via a coolant to bring the beverage to the desired temperature, in a similar manner to the previously discussed "flash cooler." A large volume of water / glycol mixture is also cooled by the coolant. The beverage flows through a beverage line to a tap, from which it is dispensed, and this beverage line flows along another line carrying the water / glycol mixture to ensure that the beverage maintains the desired temperature when dispensed from the tap. The problem with this system is that a large volume of water / glycol is required to achieve effective heat exchange (some products use about 7.57 liters (about 2 gallons), while others can go up to about 68.13 liters (18 gallons) of water / glycol). Refrigeration units consume a significant amount of energy, requiring considerable time (approximately 15 minutes) to cool large quantities of water / glycol mixture from room temperature to the required low temperature, while heat exchange between the water / glycol mixture and the beverage is rather low and inefficient (a small amount of water / glycol gives approximately 1213 kJ / hour (1150 BTU / hour), while a large amount of water / glycol gives approximately 3060 kJ / hour (2900 BTU / hour)). Even when operated with precise operation and monitoring, there is still a risk that the beverage will warm above the desired low temperature before being dispensed from the tap, and furthermore, the system can be difficult to scale because the distance the beverage may travel to reach the tap can vary considerably, thereby potentially causing the beverage's temperature to change along its path to the tap. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Therefore, it is desirable to use improved chilled beverage dispensing systems and methods that enable the rapid dispensing of beverages at consistently low temperatures in a reliable system or method, using relatively low volume / quantity sources required for operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve these and other problems, methods and systems for consistently dispensing chilled beverages are disclosed and intended. According to certain embodiments of this disclosure, it can be seen that these beverage cooling and dispensing methods and systems enable dispensing small and large quantities of beverages as desired, with each beverage being dispensed at a consistently desired chilled temperature. Furthermore, it can be seen that this disclosure provides beverage cooling and dispensing systems and methods that operate efficiently with minimal operational problems and require minimal resource sources during use, setting them apart from prior art beverage cooling and dispensing systems and methods.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment, a beverage dispensing system method includes the steps of: providing a primary heat exchanger defining a first inlet with a fluid connected to a first outlet and a second inlet with a fluid connected to a second outlet; flowing the beverage through the primary heat exchanger via the first inlet and the first outlet of the primary heat exchanger; flowing a cooling fluid at a certain cooling temperature through the primary heat exchanger via the second inlet and the second outlet of the primary heat exchanger; and dispensing the beverage at the desired temperature through a dispensing unit, wherein the step of flowing the cooling fluid at the cooling temperature through the primary heat exchanger is operable to lower the temperature of the beverage so that the beverage can be dispensed by the dispensing unit at the desired temperature.

[0011] In some embodiments, the desired temperature can be in the range of -3 to 6 degrees Celsius, -2 to 5 degrees Celsius, or -1 to 4 degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, the cooling temperature can be in the range of -3 to 6 degrees Celsius, -2 to 5 degrees Celsius, or -1 to 4 degrees Celsius.

[0012] In some embodiments, the beverage may be an alcoholic beverage selected from the group consisting of ale, cider, lager, porter, stout, blonde ale, brown ale, pale ale, India pale ale, wheat, pilsner, sour ale, or a combination thereof. The beverage may also include non-alcoholic beverages such as water, milk, carbonated drinks, juices, and plant-based drinks. In certain embodiments, the cooling fluid may be selected from the group consisting of water, deionized water, air, glycol / aqueous solutions, dielectric fluids, silicones, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, brine, or a combination thereof. Additives may be added to the cooling fluid to improve its properties, and these additives may include surfactants that can be made operable to enhance heat transfer to or from the cooling fluid, and metals that can be made operable to enhance the cooling fluid's ability to retain and carry absorbed heat.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the flow of cooling fluid and beverage through the primary heat exchanger may be in a configuration selected from parallel, reverse, cross, or cross / reverse flow. The first heat exchanger may be a tube-in-tube heat exchanger.

[0014] Such embodiments may also include the cooling fluid being cooled to a chilling temperature via a refrigerant, which is operable to allow the cooling fluid to reach that temperature before being introduced into the first heat exchanger. The refrigerant may be selected from the group consisting of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCFs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), fluorocarbons (FCs), hydrocarbons (HCs), ammonia, carbon dioxide, propane, or combinations thereof. The chilling temperature may be 0.01 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than the chilling temperature. In certain configurations, the refrigerant may be recycled via a refrigeration unit, which is selected from the group consisting of evaporative refrigerators, mechanical compression refrigerators, absorption refrigerators, and thermoelectric refrigerators. The refrigerant may cool the cooling fluid to the chill temperature by flowing the cooling fluid through a third inlet fluid-connected to the third outlet of the secondary heat exchanger, and by flowing the refrigerant through a fourth inlet fluid-connected to the fourth outlet of the secondary heat exchanger, and the flow of the refrigerant through the secondary heat exchanger is operable to cool the cooling fluid to the chill temperature. Similar to the primary heat exchanger, the flow of the cooling fluid and the flow of the refrigerant through the secondary heat exchanger may flow in a configuration selected from one of parallel, reverse, cross, or cross / reverse flow. In some embodiments, the secondary heat exchanger may be a coaxial heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the second outlet of the primary heat exchanger may be fluid-connected to the third inlet of the secondary heat exchanger to define a fluid-connected continuous loop of the cooling fluid.

[0015] Such embodiments may also include a further step of flowing the cooling fluid through a beverage reservoir wrap defining a reservoir fluid inlet fluid-connected to a reservoir fluid outlet, wherein the beverage reservoir wrap surrounds a beverage reservoir and the beverage reservoir contains the beverage before the step of flowing the beverage through the primary heat exchanger, and the step of flowing the cooling fluid through the beverage reservoir wrap is operable to cool the beverage contained in the beverage reservoir. This step can be performed at any time, for example, before or after the cooling fluid flows through the primary heat exchanger. The reservoir fluid inlet and reservoir fluid outlet may be fluid-connected to other units to allow this step to be part of a fluid-connected passage for the cooling fluid, or, if present, a fluid-connected continuous loop for the cooling fluid.

[0016] In certain embodiments, a further step may be provided in which the beverage is flowed through a cooling fluid bath, and this step of flowing the beverage through the cooling fluid bath is operable to cool the beverage. This step can be performed at any time, for example, before or after the beverage flows through the primary heat exchanger. The inlet and outlet used by the beverage in this type of embodiment may be fluid-connected to other units, allowing this step to be part of a fluid-connected passage for the beverage.

[0017] In any of the examples, the flow of the beverage, the flow of the cooling fluid, and, if present, the flow of the refrigerant, occur within a pipe or tube made of a first material, the first material including steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, duriron, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, polytetrafluoroethylene compositions (including Teflon®), or combinations thereof. The tube may also have one or more additional layers wrapped around the tube, either entirely or partially, each layer being made of the same material as the initial tube or a different material, the materials being steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, dullon, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, polytetrafluoroethylene-based compositions (including Teflon®), or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the tube further comprises an antimicrobial component. In additional embodiments, the tube further comprises a hydrophilic component.

[0018] A controller may be optionally provided to control the flow of the cooling fluid, and the flow of the refrigerant, if present, and the operation of the refrigeration unit, so that the desired temperature can be selectively changed. Such a controller may receive information from one or more sensors which measure one or more of the following: the temperature of the beverage before / after / during its passage through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the cooling fluid before / after / during its passage through the primary heat exchanger, the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the primary heat exchanger, the flow rate of the beverage through the primary heat exchanger, and, if present, the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the secondary heat exchanger, the flow rate of the refrigerant through the secondary heat exchanger, and the temperature of the refrigerant before / after / during its passage through the secondary heat exchanger. The controller may control the flow rates of the cooling fluid, refrigerant, and beverage by operating pumps.

[0019] Furthermore, the method described above may also be configured within a beverage cooling and delivery system, the system comprising: a primary heat exchanger defining a first inlet with a fluid connection to a first outlet and a second inlet with a fluid connection to a second outlet; a beverage reservoir containing a beverage; a cooling fluid bath containing a cooling fluid; a refrigeration unit; and a dispensing unit, wherein the primary heat exchanger is operable to receive the beverage through the first inlet, and is further operable to receive the cooling fluid at a certain cooling temperature through the second inlet; the primary heat exchanger is further operable to allow the cooling fluid to cool the beverage by absorbing heat from the beverage; the dispensing unit is operable to receive the beverage and is further operable to deliver the beverage at the desired temperature; and the refrigeration unit is operable to supply a refrigerant to cool the cooling fluid to a chilled temperature operable to provide the cooling fluid at the cooling temperature before the cooling fluid is received from the second inlet of the primary heat exchanger.

[0020] All of these embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of the invention disclosed herein. These and other embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the invention is not limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed herein.

[0021] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with reference to the following description and figures. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0022] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a beverage cooling and dispensing method / system. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a more preferred beverage cooling and dispensing method / system 20. [Figure 3] This is a diagram of an alternative embodiment and configuration for a cooling bath unit.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] A method and system for delivering a beverage at a desired temperature are disclosed herein. According to a preferred embodiment, the method and system flow a beverage and a cooling fluid through a primary heat exchanger with the cooling fluid at a certain cooling temperature and deliver the beverage from a dispensing unit, thereby enabling the beverage to be selectively and consistently delivered at a low temperature. The flow of the cooling fluid at that cooling temperature through the primary heat exchanger is operable to cool the beverage such that the beverage can be dispensed from the dispensing unit at the desired temperature.

[0024] The disclosed method and system also further enable the beverage to be quickly delivered at the desired low temperature with few operational problems while allowing for efficient cooling of the beverage, and thus enabling small and large quantities of the beverage to be delivered and then consumed by a person at the same consistent low temperature. Thus, it can be seen that this provides an improvement over the prior art of beverage cooling and delivery currently in use.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid may be at or below the desired temperature of the beverage when dispensed. The selection of the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid can be seen to affect the desired temperature of the beverage when the beverage is dispensed from the dispensing unit. Based on different modes of operation and the system, different cooling temperature ranges of the cooling fluid are selected to result in different desired temperature ranges of the beverage. Depending on the embodiment, the temperature range of the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably close to or the same as the temperature range of the desired temperature of the beverage. When operating ideally, the beverage when exiting the primary heat exchanger is slightly above or at the cooling fluid temperature. After exiting the primary heat exchanger, the beverage cannot be cooled below the cooling fluid temperature, and thus, the beverage has no risk of freezing if the cooling temperature range is above the freezing temperature of the beverage (as in the preferred embodiment). In this case, even if the beverage stays within the heat exchanger or any of the units used in the disclosed system and method for a long period (which can be the case in pulsating operation), the beverage cannot freeze. In one preferred embodiment, the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid can be in the range of -3°C to 6°C. In a more preferred embodiment, the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid can be in the range of -2°C to 5°C. In the most preferred embodiment, the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid can be in the range of -1°C to 4°C. In one preferred embodiment, the desired temperature of the beverage can be in the range of -3°C to 6°C. In a more preferred embodiment, the desired temperature of the beverage can be in the range of -2°C to 5°C. In the most preferred embodiment, the desired temperature of the beverage can be in the range of -1°C to 4°C.

[0026] The beverage being dispensed can be any beverage suitable for consumption. The beverage may include water, milk, carbonated beverages, juices, plant-based beverages, alcoholic beverages, or combinations thereof. The disclosed method and system are particularly well-suited for dispensing alcoholic beverages at a desired temperature. Examples of alcoholic beverage types include ale, cider, lager, porter, stout, blonde ale, brown ale, pale ale, India pale ale, wheat, pilsner, sour ale, or combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, beer, such as ale, is used as the beverage. It should be understood that the types of beverages that may be used in the disclosed system and method are not practically limited and may include beverages not expressly mentioned in this disclosure.

[0027] The cooling fluid can be a fluid that transfers heat efficiently enough to enable the delivery of a beverage at a desired temperature. Typical desired properties of the cooling fluid used in the disclosed systems and methods include ease of flow, high thermal conductivity and specific heat, low toxicity, relatively low cost, and reduced viscosity at lower temperatures to enable other beneficial properties recognized in the art. The cooling fluid may include, but is not limited to, water, deionized water, air, glycol / water combinations, silicone, ethylene glycol-based fluids, propylene glycol, brine, or combinations thereof. In particular, glycol / water combinations have been found to be the most effective as cooling fluids for the disclosed methods and systems. Glycol / water combinations consist of solutions of glycol and water, to name a few examples, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof. Preferred embodiments have glycol / water mixtures with 10-50% glycol component and 50-90% water component. Depending on the selected system and cooling fluid, the cooling fluid may be regenerated by flowing through a primary heat exchanger, absorbing heat from the beverage, and then being cooled back to its cooling temperature, thereby allowing the cooling fluid to be reused and reintroduced into the primary heat exchanger to cool further beverages. In some embodiments, the cooling fluid itself may be replaced and recycled during use of the cooling system or method, but in other more preferred embodiments, it can be found that the cooling fluid can be circulated multiple times within the system by cooling it back to its cooling temperature as previously described, without the need to replace the cooling fluid. A preferred cooling fluid of a water / glycol mixture allows for continuous use in the disclosed methods and systems without the need for recycling or replacement, for example, over decades. Additives may be added to improve the properties of the cooling fluid. For example, surfactants can be incorporated into the cooling fluid, which may play a role in increasing heat transfer to or from the cooling fluid by allowing the cooling fluid to come closer to the surface of the tube / pipe / wall / structure through which the cooling fluid is exchanging heat.Additionally, a metal may be added to the cooling fluid to better retain and transport the absorbed heat.

[0028] In some embodiments, a beverage reservoir may be provided for containing the beverage before introducing it into one of the units of the disclosed method and system, and the beverage reservoir may take the form of any conventional reservoir, such as a barrel. The beverage reservoir can be any type of container or reservoir capable of operating to store the beverage before the beverage is introduced or flowed through another unit, such as the inlet of a primary heat exchanger. The beverage reservoir may be fluidly connected to the primary heat exchanger to create a passage for the beverage to travel from the beverage reservoir to the primary heat exchanger. The reservoir may be pressurized to allow the beverage to flow easily through the primary heat exchanger and out of the dispensing unit. In practical embodiments, a CO2-powered Flojet® diaphragm beer pump may be used, but virtually any gas, including air, can be used to power the pump. A pressure regulator may be connected to a CO2 canister to regulate the gas pressure, and therefore the flow of the beverage being dispensed. The system and method may be designed to allow the transport of beverage in a pressurized beverage reservoir by creating an opening through the operation of a dispensing unit, such as opening a faucet or tap to dispense and collect the beverage. In this example, the faucet or tap may then be closed to stop dispensing the beverage once the desired amount has been dispensed. The faucet may then be reopened later if further dispensing of the beverage is desired. In other embodiments, the beer pump may be operated by several switches or activation mechanisms found in the dispensing unit, which allow the beverage to be pressurized and dispensed within the unit on command.

[0029] As discussed above, the beverage reservoir can be a barrel in which alcoholic beverages such as beer can be stored. An advantage of the beverage reservoir used in the disclosed system and method is that the beverage in this reservoir does not need to be cooled in large quantities before flowing through the system.

[0030] In this regard, the beverage may be at or around room temperature within the beverage reservoir, or at some ambient temperature where the beverage reservoir may be stored, but the beverage is still dispensed at the desired temperature. This is advantageous because it eliminates the need for robust and / or energy-intensive means that directly cool the beverage in the beverage reservoir, and gives the disclosed methods and systems flexibility in application while retaining the ability to consistently deliver the beverage at a desired low temperature. The beverage reservoir itself may still be cooled in certain embodiments, which will be discussed later in this disclosure.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the cooling fluid may be stored in a cooling fluid bath, which acts as a reservoir or some other suitable container to hold the cooling fluid before introducing it into the heat exchanger. The cooling fluid bath may be configured to have different shapes, sizes, and volumes, the advantages of which will be discussed later in this disclosure. The cooling fluid bath may be fluidly connected to the heat exchanger to create a passage for the cooling fluid to travel from the cooling fluid bath to the heat exchanger. The cooling fluid may be introduced into the heat exchanger, for example, by the operation of a circulation pump. Commercially available pumps that can be used include those from YOUNTREE®, Flojet®, and Aquatec®. As will be described later in this disclosure, the cooling fluid bath can be used as a container for cooling the cooling fluid to a cooling temperature, or a chilled temperature lower than the cooling temperature, so that the cooling fluid is ready for use in cooling beverages when introduced into the heat exchanger. The cooling fluid bath may be fluid-connected to the inlet of the primary heat exchanger so that the cooling fluid can flow easily and efficiently from the cooling fluid bath to the primary heat exchanger. In some embodiments, it may be sufficient to cool the cooling fluid in the cooling fluid bath to the cooling temperature, because the cooling fluid can be introduced into the heat exchanger immediately or shortly thereafter. In other embodiments, it may be necessary to cool the cooling fluid in the cooling fluid bath to a chill temperature, because the cooling fluid may flow through a series of tubes or other units (as will be described in detail later in this disclosure), and as a result, the cooling fluid may have risen in temperature before being introduced into the heat exchanger. It may be necessary to cool the cooling fluid in the cooling fluid bath (or somewhere as will be described later in this specification) to this chill temperature, which is below the cooling temperature, so that the heat absorbed by the cooling fluid brings the cooling fluid to the proper cooling temperature when it reaches the heat exchanger. The chill temperature is directly dependent on the cooling temperature and is within a range of 0.01 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than the cooling temperature.

[0032] The primary heat exchanger is operable to have an inlet and an outlet to allow the cooling fluid and beverage to exchange heat with each other by thermal contact. Therefore, the cooling fluid and beverage do not come into direct contact with each other and are not mixed together. They only come into contact with each other through the piping, walls, or other structures of the heat exchanger so that heat can be transferred between the cooling fluid and the beverage. The inlet of this heat exchanger may be fluidly connected to a beverage reservoir and a cooling fluid bath, if these units are included, as previously described. The primary heat exchanger and the tubes found inside it through which the cooling fluid and beverage flow may be made from a variety of materials, but are not limited to, steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, durlon, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, polytetrafluoroethylene-based compositions (including Teflon®), or combinations thereof. This may also include other materials not expressly disclosed, which may be adapted to the disclosed methods and systems, and it should be understood that this may include materials not yet discovered that would support the function of this heat exchanger. The tube may also have one or more additional layers wrapped around the tube, either entirely or in part therein, each layer being made of the same material as the initial tube or of a different material. One example of this used in one preferred embodiment is a PEX-AL-PEX tube, in which the inner and outer layers are made of PEX and the intermediate layer sandwiched between them is made of aluminum. The purpose of this aluminum intermediate layer in this embodiment is to help maintain the shape of the tube when wound up. Depending on the operation of the heat exchanger and pumps that drive the flow of the cooling fluid and beverage, the cooling fluid and beverage may flow continuously through the primary heat exchanger, pulsate within the system, or a combination thereof.

[0033] The primary heat exchangers intended herein allow cooling fluids and beverages to flow through the primary heat exchanger in several configurations, including parallel, reverse, cross, or cross / reverse flow. In preferred embodiments, tube-in-tube heat exchangers are used as primary heat exchangers, while in other preferred embodiments, plate heat exchangers and coaxial heat exchangers are used as primary heat exchangers. Tube-in-tube heat exchangers have been found to allow for maximum heat transfer between cooling fluids and beverages as they flow through the primary heat exchanger, thereby enabling embodiments that use higher flow rates of beverages and cooling fluids and require fewer tubes within the primary heat exchanger. A preferred embodiment of this heat exchanger comprises a tube-in-tube heat exchanger with an inner tube made of SS316 (stainless steel grade 316) for carrying the beverage and an outer tube made of the same PEX-A tube (PEX type A) for carrying the cooling fluid.

[0034] The residual time of the cooling fluid and beverage in the heat exchanger, as well as the flow configuration used, determine how much heat is transferred between the cooling fluid and the beverage, and consequently, what their temperatures will be when they exit the heat exchanger. Therefore, it is necessary to select different cooling temperatures for the cooling fluid, as well as differently sized heat exchangers, different flow rates of the beverage and cooling fluid, and different beverages and cooling fluids, in order to dispense the beverage at the desired temperature. However, it has been shown that this system is extremely effective in cooling the beverage by flowing it through this heat exchanger, thereby enabling the beverage to be effectively dispensed at the desired temperature.

[0035] The dispensing unit can be any suitable outlet for delivering the beverage at the desired temperature. The dispensing unit can be a faucet or tap, but is not limited to this. The dispensing unit may be fluidly connected to the outlet of a heat exchanger corresponding to the beverage to allow for quick and convenient delivery of the beverage immediately after it has cooled to the desired temperature. The beverage can be dispensed into cups, glasses, or any other small containers from which it is consumed directly by people or placed into larger containers, barrels, or reservoirs.

[0036] In one embodiment, the cooling fluid may be cooled by a refrigerant to its cooling temperature or chill temperature. The refrigerant may be any suitable or commercially available refrigerant, which may include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCFs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), fluorocarbons (FCs), hydrocarbons (HCs), ammonia, carbon dioxide, propane, or combinations thereof. It should be understood that the types of refrigerants used in these systems and methods are not limited to those expressly disclosed herein and therefore may include refrigerants not listed or not yet discovered in other forms that are suitable for use in the disclosed methods and systems. In practical embodiments, refrigerant R134a is used, but in some preferred embodiments, R290 or R744 may be used as refrigerants.

[0037] In another embodiment, the refrigerant may be transported to a refrigeration unit to be reactivated, thereby allowing it to be reused to cool the cooling fluid to a cooling or chilling temperature. The refrigeration unit may include, but is not limited to, any of the types of refrigeration systems typically used, such as evaporative refrigerators, mechanical compression refrigerators, absorption refrigerators, and thermoelectric refrigerators. In a preferred embodiment, after absorbing heat from the cooling fluid, the refrigerant is introduced to a compressor, where it is recompressed to restore its ability to absorb heat from the cooling fluid. One practical embodiment has been developed using a 0.37 kW (1 / 2 horsepower) Emerson R134a compressor and condenser that can be connected to a standard household circuit.

[0038] In another embodiment, the refrigerant may cool the cooling fluid to the cooling temperature or chilling temperature by directly cooling the cooling fluid bath described above, which holds the cooling fluid.

[0039] In other embodiments, a secondary heat exchanger similar in operation and configuration to the primary heat exchanger described earlier may be provided, where the refrigerant and cooling fluid flow through the secondary heat exchanger so that the refrigerant can operate to cool the cooling fluid to a cooling temperature or chill temperature. In some embodiments including a cooling fluid bath, the cooling fluid bath may be found before this secondary heat exchanger (the cooling fluid flows from the cooling bath, then through this secondary heat exchanger, and finally through the primary heat exchanger), or, as in the preferred embodiment, the cooling fluid bath may be found after this secondary heat exchanger (where the cooling fluid first flows through the secondary heat exchanger, then is introduced into the cooling fluid bath, and then flows through the primary heat exchanger). The secondary heat exchanger, like the primary heat exchanger, can operate in parallel, reverse, cross-flow, or cross / reverse flow. In the preferred embodiment, this secondary heat exchanger is a flat-plate heat exchanger, but other types of heat exchangers, such as coaxial heat exchangers and tube-in-tube heat exchangers, have been shown to be equally effective. The residual time of the refrigerant and cooling fluid in the secondary heat exchanger, as well as the flow configuration used, determine how much heat is transferred between the cooling fluid and the refrigerant, and consequently, what temperature they will be when they exit the secondary heat exchanger. Therefore, differently sized heat exchangers, different flow rates, and different selections of cooling fluids and refrigerants will ultimately result in beverages being dispensed at different desired temperatures. Thus, these parameters must be carefully selected to dispense beverages at the desired temperature.

[0040] In other embodiments, the cooling fluid exiting from the second outlet of the primary heat exchanger may be fluid-connected to the inlet of the cooling fluid bath or the inlet of the secondary heat exchanger in order to enable continuous circulation of the cooling fluid by the disclosed system and method. For the disclosed system and method to continue delivering the beverage at the desired temperature, the cooling fluid needs to be cooled back to its cooling temperature before being flowed again through the original heat exchanger. This can be done by techniques discussed previously, such as directly cooling the cooling fluid bath using a refrigerant, or, in a preferred embodiment, flowing the refrigerant and cooling fluid through the secondary heat exchanger. This fluid-connected continuous loop can enable the cooling fluid to flow continuously and at a constant rate through the loop, resulting in numerous significant benefits. The volume of cooling fluid contained within the loop may be relatively small compared to conventional methods, and furthermore, the cooling fluid is enabled to exchange heat quickly and efficiently within both heat exchangers.

[0041] In another embodiment, the cooling fluid may flow around the beverage reservoir so that the cooling fluid can absorb some heat from the beverage reservoir before the beverage flows out of the beverage reservoir due to thermal contact between the cooling fluid and the beverage. In one embodiment, this can be done using a beverage reservoir wrap surrounding a beverage reservoir, such as an approximately 18.9-liter (5-gallon) pail manufactured by North Slope Chiller® in Salt Lake City, Utah. This serves as a practical and efficient method for bringing the beverage to a desired temperature because the locations of the primary heat exchanger and the beverage reservoir are very close to each other, thereby allowing the cooling fluid to wrap around the beverage reservoir in this manner after leaving the primary heat exchanger. This also reduces the operating and energy requirements of the compressor because the temperature difference between the cooling temperature of the cooling fluid and the beverage, which has become colder, is smaller, and allows for higher flow rates of the beverage and cooling fluid through the disclosed methods and systems. Here, the beverage cannot be cooled below the temperature of the cooling fluid; in this case, the temperature of the cooling fluid is either at or above the cooling temperature at this stage. Therefore, the problem of complete freezing of the beverage reservoir, as discussed in the prior art of "flash coolers," can be avoided if the cooling temperatures and / or flows of the beverage and cooling fluid are carefully selected. In preferred embodiments, the cooling temperature range is above the freezing point of the beverage, thereby preventing the risk of freezing of the beverage in the beverage reservoir and allowing the cooling fluid and beverage to flow and pulsate at any flow rate through the disclosed system and method without the risk of freezing of the beverage in the beverage reservoir. An additional beverage reservoir to hold a further amount of beverage can be set up next to the original beverage reservoir, allowing the cooling fluid to wrap around both beverage reservoirs in a beaded configuration. This makes it possible to cool the secondary "standby" beverage reservoir and better prepare it to replace the original beverage reservoir when the beverage runs low. This beverage reservoir wrap may also function as an insulating wrap for beverage reservoirs, capable of keeping beverages cold.A bypass route may be added to provide an alternative path for the cooling fluid to travel, thus avoiding this step of passing through the beverage reservoir wrap. In this embodiment, a bypass valve may be added to change the route through which the cooling fluid flows. This allows the cooling fluid to be rerouted and remain contained while one beverage reservoir is being swapped with another.

[0042] In another embodiment, the beverage may flow through or around a cooling fluid bath so that the cooling fluid and the beverage can exchange heat with each other by thermal contact. This can be done by directing the beverage piping to flow through the cooling fluid in the cooling fluid bath, directing the beverage piping along the wall of the cooling fluid bath or along the cooling fluid piping, or by cooling fluid bath wraps and methods similar to those described above, in a manner that can be understood by those skilled in the art. The size, shape, volume, and configuration of the beverage piping, as well as the cooling fluid bath and / or cooling fluid piping, may be modified to create multiple locations where the cooling fluid and the beverage can exchange heat with each other (for example, by flowing the cooling fluid piping along the beverage piping and then returning it around the beverage piping to wrap the cooling fluid piping around it). Thus, the cooling fluid bath does not have to be in the shape or form of a typical bath or tab unit, as in the preferred embodiment. In this regard, the cooling fluid can take the form of, for example, one or more sections of piping that carries the cooling fluid. The beverage can thus flow through or around the cooling fluid bath before it flows through the primary heat exchanger, or in a preferred embodiment, after it has passed through the primary heat exchanger, but before it is delivered by the dispensing unit. As with the above, this can reduce the amount of work that the compressor needs to do and allow the beverage to flow through the system at a faster rate without losing the desired temperature when dispensed. In this type of embodiment, it may be necessary to cool the cooling fluid to a chilled temperature so that the heat absorbed by the cooling fluid in this step brings it to the appropriate cooling temperature when the cooling fluid is introduced into the first heat exchanger. If a cooling fluid bath wrap is used, it may also serve as an insulating wrap for the cooling fluid bath, which is operable to keep the cooling fluid cold.

[0043] In certain embodiments, a controller can be implemented to control a desired temperature of the beverage when dispensing it. The controller can be used to configure the flow of the cooling fluid, the flow of the beverage, and, if present, the flow of the refrigerant and the operation of the refrigeration unit. The function of the controller may also be to allow the beverage to reach a desired temperature, which may be configured, set or changed by a person operating the controller. The controller can be connected to sensors, which may track beverage temperature, beverage flow rate, cooling fluid temperature, cooling fluid flow rate, and, if present, the flow of the refrigerant, the temperature of the refrigerant, and the energy input of the compressor, and the flow and temperature sensors may be operable to be placed anywhere in the system or method (e.g., in the units or in the piping connecting them). Multiple temperature and flow sensors may be placed in the disclosed systems and methods to track the same variables at different points (e.g., measuring the temperature of the cooling fluid both before it enters the primary heat exchanger and after it exits the primary heat exchanger). The sensors may also track other variables such as spills, leaks, volume levels of the beverage reservoir, the volume of beverage being dispensed, and the need for maintenance or cleaning. The controller may be linked to a device such as a telephone or computer to enable a person to operate the controller in response to this information. The controller can be any suitable controller known in the art, such as a PID controller (proportional, integral, and derivative controllers as known in the art).

[0044] In certain embodiments, beverages, cooling fluids, and refrigerants may flow through piping or tubes in the aforementioned methods and systems and units found therein, the piping or tubes being operable to allow heat exchange between fluids by thermal contact when needed, while preventing the fluids from directly contacting each other and mixing together. The piping may be made of any suitable material, but is not limited to, steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, dulllon, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, polytetrafluoroethylene compositions (including Teflon®), or combinations thereof. It should be understood that the piping material for the disclosed methods and systems is not limited to the disclosed material and therefore may include other materials not expressly disclosed herein that would be suitable for the disclosed systems and methods, including undisclosed materials that may prove useful for the piping disclosed herein. The tube may also have one or more additional layers wrapped around the tube, either entirely or in part therein, each layer being made of the same material as the initial tube or of a different material. A preferred embodiment may include a PVC flexible tube surrounded by stainless steel. The piping or tube may have antimicrobial properties, for example, by antimicrobial components or coatings, which can help keep drinking lines clean and prevent bacterial growth. The piping or tube may also have hydrophilic properties, for example, by hydrophilic components or coatings. This has been shown to help draw water toward the inner surface of the piping, thereby increasing heat transfer and helping to remove bacterial deposits that may accumulate on the inner surface of the piping. Water, when flowing through these types of pipes, tends to approach the inner surface of the piping but not to completely touch it at a microscopic level, and hydrophilic coatings on the piping may be used to draw water toward these surfaces to enhance the aforementioned heat transfer effect and removal of foreign matter.

[0045] The systems and methods disclosed herein are scalable and can therefore be used in several applications. For example, a relatively small beverage reservoir with a small amount of beverage can be used in conjunction with a small heat exchanger, compressor, etc., thereby defining a smaller, portable system suitable for small events such as backyard gatherings, while a larger beverage reservoir with a larger amount of beverage requires larger accompanying units, thereby defining a system suitable for large dispensaries such as bars serving large numbers of people. The system can be configured to be portable, and the tubing connecting the disclosed units may be manually attached and detached from each other as desired, thereby allowing for relatively easy modification and exchange of units, and also allowing for changes in the fluid interconnections of the units, thereby allowing for changes in the order in which the cooling fluid and beverage flow through the units. The heat exchanger may also be configured to have multiple beverage inlets and outlets to allow for the fluid connection of multiple beverage reservoirs to its single heat exchanger. In this embodiment, multiple dispensing units can be used to accommodate different beverages being dispensed from a specific dispensing unit, such as in the case of a beer tap in a bar.

[0046] The systems and methods disclosed herein also allow for cleaning and maintenance as needed. Beverage, cooling fluid, and refrigerant may be purged from the system and fluid interconnections between these units may be disconnected in order to allow for the replacement or repair of components or to allow for the flushing of cleaning solutions into the units and tubing. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be pumped through the units under pressure using the same piping or tubing used by the beverage, cooling fluid, and refrigerant to facilitate cleaning.

[0047] The methods and systems described are best understood by the accompanying diagrams. The diagrams illustrate specific embodiments of the aforementioned methods and systems and are intended to better illustrate the specific aspects described in detail above; therefore, they are not intended to limit the scope of the methods and systems.

[0048] Next, referring to the figures, first with Figure 1, an exemplary embodiment of the beverage cooling and delivery method / system 10 is shown. The beverage 102 stored in the beverage reservoir 100 is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 112 via the outlet 104 of the beverage reservoir 100, which is fluidly connected to the first inlet 108 of the heat exchanger 112. A cooling fluid bath 150 for storing cooling fluid 122 is also provided. The cooling fluid bath 150 is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 112 via the first outlet 138 of the cooling fluid bath 150, which is fluidly connected to the second inlet 118 of the heat exchanger 112. When operated, the beverage 102 flows in the flow direction 106 through the outlet 104 of the beverage reservoir 100 into the first inlet 108 of the heat exchanger 112, and the cooling fluid 122 flows in the flow direction 116 from the first outlet 138 of the cooling fluid bath 150 into the second inlet 118 of the heat exchanger 112. In this embodiment, the flow direction 106 of the beverage and the flow direction 116 of the cooling fluid are opposite directions, but in other embodiments, the flow directions can be the same direction, perpendicular, or any other orientation / configuration that is operable to allow the cooling fluid 122 to cool the beverage 102 through the heat exchanger 152.

[0049] After the beverage 102 has flowed through the heat exchanger 112, it exits through a first outlet 110, which is fluid-connected to both the first inlet 108 and the dispensing unit 114 of the heat exchanger 112, where the beverage 102 can be dispensed at the desired temperature. After the cooling fluid 122 has flowed through the heat exchanger 112, it exits through a second outlet 120, which is fluid-connected to both the second inlet 118 and the first inlet 140 of the cooling fluid bath 150.

[0050] The cooling fluid 122, reintroduced into the cooling fluid bath 150 through this first inlet 140, may then be recycled and flowed again throughout this cycle. In this particular embodiment, to reuse the cooling fluid 122, the refrigeration unit 130 is provided with a refrigerant 132. The refrigerant 132 enters the cooling fluid bath 150 from the outlet 134 of the refrigeration unit 130 through the second inlet 126, at which point the outlet 134 of the refrigeration unit 130 and the second inlet 126 of the cooling fluid bath 150 are fluidly connected to each other. The refrigerant 132 flows in the direction of flow 124 into the cooling fluid bath. In this embodiment, the piping having the refrigerant 132 is immersed in a cooling fluid bath 150 containing a cooling fluid 122, thereby allowing the refrigerant 132 and the cooling fluid 122 to come into thermal contact with each other, enabling the cooling fluid 122 to reach a cooling temperature or chilling temperature, which can operate to cool the beverage 102 so that the beverage can be dispensed at a desired temperature.

[0051] After flowing through the cooling fluid bath 150, the refrigerant 132 flows out of the cooling fluid bath 150 and returns to the refrigeration unit 130 via a second outlet 128 of the cooling fluid bath 150, which is fluid-connected to both a second inlet 126 of the cooling fluid bath 150 and an inlet 136 of the refrigeration unit 130. The refrigeration unit 130 may then reactivate the refrigerant 132 before reintroducing it into the cooling fluid bath 150 so that the refrigerant 132 can operate to cool the cooling fluid 124 back to the desired cooling or chilling temperature.

[0052] Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an alternative beverage cooling and dispensing method / system 20. A beverage reservoir 200 containing beverage 202 is provided with a beverage reservoir wrap 206. In addition, a first heat exchanger 210, a second heat exchanger 224, a refrigeration unit 244, and a cooling fluid bath 250 are provided. The first outlet 204 of the beverage reservoir 202, the first inlet 212 of the first heat exchanger 210, the second inlet 214 of the first heat exchanger 210, the second inlet 260 of the cooling fluid bath 250, the second outlet 262 of the cooling fluid bath 250, and the dispensing unit 216 are all fluid-connected in this embodiment in this order to provide a passage through which the beverage 202 travels. For the cooling fluid 252, a passage is provided by the fluid connection of the first outlet 254 of the cooling fluid bath 250, the second inlet 226 of the first heat exchanger 210, the second outlet 228 of the first heat exchanger 210, the inlet 272 of the beverage reservoir wrap 206, the second outlet 274 of the beverage reservoir wrap 206, the first inlet 230 of the second heat exchanger 224, the first outlet 232 of the second heat exchanger 224, and the first inlet 256 of the cooling fluid bath 250 to each other in this particular embodiment. The cooling fluid may flow through a bypass route 280 instead of through the beverage reservoir wrap 206 via the inlet 272 and outlet 274. The route through which the cooling fluid flows may be changed from one route to the other by the operation of a bypass valve 282. This allows the beverage reservoir 200 to be removed and replaced with another without leaking the cooling fluid 252 from the continuously fluid-connected loop. In this particular embodiment, the outlet 240 of the refrigeration unit 244, the second inlet 236 of the second heat exchanger 224, the second outlet 238 of the second heat exchanger 224, and the inlet 242 of the refrigeration unit 244 are fluid-connected to each other in this order, thereby providing a final path for the refrigerant 246.

[0053] In this embodiment, the beverage 202 flows in the flow direction 208 through the aforementioned beverage passage, entering and leaving the first heat exchanger 210. The cooling fluid 252 flows in the flow direction 220 through the aforementioned cooling fluid passage, passing through the first heat exchanger 210. The beverage 202 and the cooling fluid 252 are able to exchange heat 272 between them while flowing through the first heat exchanger 210. In this embodiment, the beverage flow direction 208 and the cooling fluid flow direction 220 are opposite directions, but these flow directions can be changed in a similar manner to that described in the discussion of Figure 1. Subsequently, the cooling fluid 252 flows through the beverage reservoir wrap 206 so that the cooling fluid 252 and the beverage 202 come into thermal contact with each other via the piping 248. In actual embodiments, tube 248 wraps around the beverage reservoir 200, but for the sake of simplicity in the diagram, tube 248 is depicted to highlight the heat transfer between the beverage 202 and the cooling fluid 252 occurring within the piping 248. In a similar embodiment, the beverage 202 flows around the cooling fluid bath 250 after exiting the first heat exchanger 210, thereby bringing the beverage 202 and the cooling fluid 252 into thermal contact with each other via the piping 258 before the beverage is dispensed from the dispensing unit 216 into the container 218.

[0054] In this embodiment, these units and their operation are operable to allow the beverage 202 to be cooled so that it can be dispensed from the dispensing unit 216 at a desired temperature by cooling the beverage 202 by the cooling fluid 252 in the beverage reservoir 200, the first heat exchanger 210, and the cooling fluid bath 250. After exiting the beverage reservoir 202, the cooling fluid 252 is introduced into the second heat exchanger 224 in the direction of flow 222. The cooling fluid 252 is then introduced into the cooling fluid bath 250 and then reintroduced into the first heat exchanger 210, enabling a continuous loop for the cooling fluid 252 to proceed through this embodiment. In this embodiment, the cooling fluid 252 may need to be cooled to a chilled temperature as it flows through the second heat exchanger 224, because the flow of beverage 202 through the cooling fluid bath 250 causes the cooling fluid 252 to absorb some heat. Therefore, it may be necessary to set the chill temperature so that the cooling fluid 252 is heated to an appropriate cooling temperature when it enters the first heat exchanger 210.

[0055] The flow of refrigerant 246 from the refrigeration unit 244 to the second heat exchanger 224 via the aforementioned passage and back to the refrigeration unit 244, as well as the operation of the refrigeration unit 244, can be operated to cool the cooling fluid 252 to the cooling temperature or chilling temperature required to dispense the beverage 202 at the desired temperature. The refrigerant 246 flows in the flow direction 234 opposite to the flow of the cooling fluid 222, although these flow directions may also be changed to several different configurations, as discussed in Figure 1.

[0056] Figure 3 shows alternative embodiments and configurations of the cooling bath unit 30 that may be implemented in the disclosed system and method. This can be used, for example, instead of the cooling bath 250 in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the cooling fluid bath 300 is molded and configured to create two locations for heat transfer 306 and 308 between the cooling fluid 302 and the beverage 304. As can be seen in the figure, the cooling fluid bath 30 is not molded like a conventional bath or tub unit, and therefore the cooling fluid bath may be molded and configured to be several different shapes, volumes, and sizes. The cooling fluid 302 and beverage 304 have a first location where they exchange heat 308 between sections of piping 320 and 322. The beverage 304 flows in the flow direction 314 and the cooling fluid 302 flows in the flow direction 316, which is a parallel flow configuration in this embodiment. The cooling fluid 302 and beverage 304 then have a second location where they exchange heat 306 between sections of piping 318 and 322. The beverage 304 flows in the flow direction 312, and the cooling fluid 302 flows in the flow direction 310, which in this embodiment is a reverse flow configuration. Ideally, both heat transfer locations 306 and 308 play a role in cooling the beverage 302, thereby allowing the beverage to be dispensed from the dispensing unit at the desired temperature. The space between the pipes in this figure is used for convenience to better illustrate heat transfer and the flow directions of the beverage and cooling fluids, and in actual embodiments, the pipes may be closer to each other, ideally so that they touch, thereby promoting a higher heat transfer rate. Those skilled in the art will understand that more than three locations of the heat exchanger can be assumed by configuring the beverage 322 piping and the cooling fluid piping 318 and 320.

[0057] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 may be modified and reconfigured into several different embodiments by changing the order of the units through which the cooling fluid and beverage flow. For example, the cooling fluid may flow from the cooling fluid bath to the beverage reservoir, then to the first heat exchanger after the two heat exchangers, or the cooling fluid may flow multiple times, for example, once after exiting the first heat exchanger and then again after exiting the second heat exchanger, through separate inlets and outlets provided by the beverage reservoir. Thus, it will be found that the systems and methods disclosed allow for several configurations beyond those expressly described herein. As discussed earlier, the fluid interconnects of these systems can be configured to allow them to be moved and reconnected in different units, thereby allowing users to easily and efficiently change the order and configuration of these units.

[0058] Exemplary practical examples of embodiments similar to those disclosed in Figure 2 are described herein for illustrative purposes. A tube-in-tube heat exchanger was used as the primary heat exchanger, with approximately 9.53 mm (3 / 8") SS316 (stainless steel grade 316) tubing having approximately 0.889 mm (0.035") wall tubing acting as the inner tubing for carrying the beverage, and approximately 18.288 m (60 feet) of PEX-A coiled outer tubing of approximately 19.05 mm (3 / 4"). A cooling fluid pump pressurized the cooling fluid to approximately 345 kPa (50 psi), causing it to flow through the circulation path at a flow rate of approximately 378.54 liters (100 gallons) per hour. Approximately 1.89 liters (1 / 2 gallon) of water / glycol flowed through a continuous loop in this system, and it took 30 seconds for the water / glycol mixture to cool to the cooling temperature. As a result, the dispensing unit delivered beer in the desired temperature range from -1 to 4 degrees Celsius.

[0059] The above description is given as an example, not as an limitation. Based on the above disclosure, those skilled in the art can devise variations that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Furthermore, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used individually or in variable combinations with respect to each other, and are not intended to be limited to any specific combination of each other, nor are they intended to be limited to any specific combination disclosed herein. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the examples illustrated. Additional modifications and improvements of the invention may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the specific combinations of components and steps described and shown herein are intended to represent only specific embodiments of the invention and are not intended to serve as limitations on alternative systems and methods within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a beverage at a desired temperature, a) Providing a primary heat exchanger that defines a first inlet connected to a first outlet and a second inlet connected to a second outlet, b) The step of flowing the beverage through the primary heat exchanger via the first inlet and first outlet of the primary heat exchanger, and during that time, c) A step of flowing a cooling fluid at a certain cooling temperature through the primary heat exchanger via the second inlet and second outlet of the primary heat exchanger, The steps include: dispensing the beverage at the desired temperature via a dispensing unit; Includes, d) A method wherein, during step (c), the step of flowing the cooling fluid through the primary heat exchanger at the cooling temperature is operable to lower the temperature of the beverage so that the beverage can be delivered in step (d) at the desired temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the desired temperature is in the range of -3 to 6 degrees Celsius.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling temperature is in the range of -3 to 6 degrees Celsius.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage is an alcoholic beverage selected from the group consisting of ale, cider, lager, porter, stout, blonde ale, brown ale, pale ale, India pale ale, wheat, pilsner, sour ale, or a combination thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, deionized water, air, glycol / aqueous solution, dielectric fluid, silicone, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, brine, or a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primary heat exchanger is a tube-in-tube heat exchanger.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the cooling fluid to a chilling temperature with a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCFs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), fluorocarbons (FCs), hydrocarbons (HCs), ammonia, carbon dioxide, propane, or combinations thereof.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the chilling temperature is 0.01 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than the cooling temperature.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant may be recycled and reused in the step of cooling the cooling fluid to the chilled temperature via a refrigeration unit, and the refrigeration unit is selected from the group consisting of evaporative cooling refrigerators, mechanical compression refrigerators, absorption refrigerators, and thermoelectric refrigerators.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant cools the cooling fluid to the chill temperature by flowing the cooling fluid through a third inlet fluid-connected to a third outlet of the secondary heat exchanger, and by flowing the refrigerant through a fourth inlet fluid-connected to a fourth outlet of the secondary heat exchanger, and the flow of the refrigerant through the secondary heat exchanger is operable to cool the cooling fluid to the chill temperature.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the secondary heat exchanger is a coaxial heat exchanger.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second outlet of the primary heat exchanger is fluid-connected to the third inlet of the secondary heat exchanger, thereby defining a fluid-connected continuous loop of cooling fluid.

13. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of flowing the cooling fluid through a beverage reservoir wrap defining a reservoir fluid inlet fluid connected to a reservoir fluid outlet, further comprising the step of flowing the cooling fluid through the beverage reservoir wrap surrounding a beverage reservoir, the beverage reservoir containing the beverage prior to the step of flowing the beverage through a primary heat exchanger, and the step of flowing the cooling fluid through the beverage reservoir wrap being operable to cool the beverage contained in the beverage reservoir.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of flowing the beverage through a cooling fluid bath, wherein the cooling fluid bath contains the cooling fluid, and the step of flowing the beverage through the cooling fluid bath is operable to cool the beverage.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow of the beverage and the flow of the cooling fluid occur within a tube made of a first material, the first material comprising steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, duriron, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, polytetrafluoroethylene-based compositions, or combinations thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the pipe is wrapped with one or more layers of additional material, the additional material including steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile cast iron, duriron, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium, carbon, brass, copper, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), borosilicate glass, or a combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the tube further comprises an antibacterial material.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a controller is provided, and the controller controls the flow of the cooling fluid such that the desired temperature can be selectively changed.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the controller receives information from one or more sensors, and the one or more sensors measure one or more of the following: the temperature of the beverage before it is flowed through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the beverage after it has been flowed through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the beverage while it is flowing through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the cooling fluid before it is flowed through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the cooling fluid after it has been flowed through the primary heat exchanger, the temperature of the cooling fluid while it is flowing through the primary heat exchanger, and the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the primary heat exchanger.

20. A system for dispensing a beverage at a desired temperature, comprising: a primary heat exchanger defining a first inlet with a fluid connection to a first outlet and a second inlet with a fluid connection to a second outlet; a beverage reservoir containing a beverage; a cooling fluid bath containing a cooling fluid; a refrigeration unit; and a dispensing unit, wherein the primary heat exchanger is operable to receive the beverage through the first inlet, and further operable to receive the cooling fluid at a certain cooling temperature through the second inlet; the primary heat exchanger is further operable to allow the cooling fluid to cool the beverage by absorbing heat from the beverage; the dispensing unit is operable to receive the beverage and further operable to dispensing the beverage at the desired temperature; and the refrigeration unit is operable to supply a refrigerant to cool the cooling fluid to a chilled temperature operable to provide the cooling fluid at the cooling temperature before the cooling fluid is received from the second inlet of the primary heat exchanger.

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