An energy saving coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Espresso coffee machines have low energy efficiency, with only a small fraction of the absorbed power used for coffee production, leading to significant energy waste and limitations in areas with limited electric power availability.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a lightweight, thermally inert heater regulated by a sophisticated electronic system, allowing for immediate heating and efficient energy use, and the option to operate on a battery for off-grid power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional heater with large thermal mass is used, then temperature stability is improved, but heating time and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal mass (metal block) from the heating system, retaining only the essential heating function through a lightweight resistive element. This eliminates the energy-wasting thermal inertia while maintaining temperature control through electronic regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the heater by replacing a high thermal mass metal block with a lightweight resistive element. This parameter change reduces heating time and energy consumption while electronic control compensates for the reduced thermal stability.
2Speed
If the heater is kept on continuously to maintain temperature, then coffee preparation speed is improved, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic heating action through electronic control, activating the heater only when coffee preparation is detected or anticipated. This replaces continuous operation with on-demand periodic heating, eliminating standby energy loss while maintaining readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the coffee machine's operational state (pump activation, user interaction) to automatically trigger heating, making the heater self-regulating based on actual demand without requiring continuous power consumption.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a lightweight heater is used, then heating time is reduced, but temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electronic temperature sensing and control feedback to compensate for the lightweight heater's thermal instability. The system continuously monitors temperature and adjusts heater activation to maintain stability, replacing passive thermal mass with active electronic regulation.
4Power
If high power heating is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but adaptability to battery power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the heating system dynamic by enabling power level adaptation. The heater can operate at high power when mains electricity is available and automatically adapt to lower power levels when battery operation is required, optimizing performance for each power source condition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The machine achieves over 90% energy yield by minimizing heating time and standby consumption, enabling coffee production even without a traditional electric power supply.
Implementation Method 1
the electrical heating resistor (22), in a metal block (20)... The current is applied to the electrical resistor (22) to heat the heater
Implementation Method 2
the tube that transports the water (21) is incorporated, together with the electrical heating resistor (22), in a metal block (20)... The cold water (33) enters from one end of the tube (21) and comes out heated at the opposite end (34)
Implementation Method 3
The temperature sensor (12) is used in order to stabilise the temperature of the heater at the required temperature... There are two thermostats, one for regulating (12) set at 85-90 °C
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
Automatic coffee machines have very low thermal efficiency because they have to heat a considerable thermal mass, constituted by the heater 3) appearing in Figure 1, which has a weight generally ranging between 0.5 and 1 Kg of metal, typically consisting of aluminium. Said mass is used to stabilise the temperature of the water to be injected in the blend of coffee. In this configuration, 90% or more of the thermal energy is wasted. The energy saving coffee machine, the subject matter of the present invention, is instead constructed with a heater 3), appearing in Figure 4, that has a thermal mass much lower than the mass of the liquid to be heated, and is typically constructed with metal tube 30), as shown in Figure 4, weighing a few grams. The heating current 41) in Figure 4 flows directly on said tube, heating it together with the water contained therein, while a very rapid temperature control circuit makes it possible to maintain a constant temperature of the water flowing through the heater 3) shown in Figure 4. Temperature measurement is carried out by monitoring the resistance of the tube 30) shown in Figure 4, at the times in which the heating current 41) is not passing through the latter. In this manner, high energy efficiency is obtained, in that the dispensing of the coffee begins immediately upon pressing the start push button 48) and the machine is kept completely switched off between the dispensing of one cup of coffee and the next.