Apparatus and method for mineralizing a fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Demineralized water from sources like reverse osmosis filters lacks essential minerals, and adding high concentrations of minerals or flavorings can lead to undesirable chemical reactions, resulting in inappropriate mineral mixtures in beverages.
Innovation Solution
A beverage supplementation device that splits the water flow into multiple conduits, allowing different supplementation fluids to be diluted before mixing, preventing chemical reactions by controlling the sequential addition of non-reacting and reacting fluids through dosing devices and strategically positioning outlets to avoid diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high concentration minerals or flavorings are added to demineralized water, then the beverage supplementation is effective, but chemical reactions occur between the supplementation fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the supplementation process into multiple separate conduits, each carrying different supplementation fluids. By segmenting the fluid paths, the system prevents direct contact between potentially reactive minerals and flavorings at high concentrations, while still delivering all necessary supplements to the final beverage output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces demineralized water as an intermediary medium that dilutes the supplementation fluids. The water acts as a carrier that reduces the concentration of minerals and flavorings before they mix, preventing chemical reactions while maintaining supplementation effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple supplementation fluids are mixed in high concentration, then comprehensive mineral supplementation is achieved, but fallout and chemical reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary dilution of supplementation fluids in separate conduits using demineralized water before the fluids are combined. This preliminary action reduces concentrations to safe levels, preventing fallout and chemical reactions while maintaining the ability to provide comprehensive mineral supplementation.
3Quantity of substance
If supplementation fluids are added in high concentration, then the mineral content is sufficient, but the mixture becomes unsafe and reacts chemically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of supplementation fluids by diluting them with demineralized water in separate conduits. This parameter change reduces the mineral content concentration to safe levels, eliminating chemical reactivity while maintaining sufficient total mineral content in the final beverage.
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
Ensures a safe and appropriate mixture of minerals and flavorings in beverages by diluting supplementation fluids before combination, preventing chemical reactions and fallout, thus providing a consistent and safe mineral water supplementation.
Implementation Method 1
the beverage supplement is diluted in each of the beverage conduits. As soon as the fluids of the plurality of beverage conduits are joined in an outlet of the beverage supplementation device, the supplementation fluids are diluted such that the beverage supplements do not react chemically
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage supplementation device for a beverage dispenser, adapted to supplement a beverage flowing from a beverage source to a beverage sink with a plurality of supplementation fluids includes a plurality of beverage conduits, wherein each beverage conduit includes a beverage inlet that is adapted to be coupled to the same beverage source supplying beverage to be supplemented, and wherein each beverage conduit includes an outlet; and at least two supplementation conduits, wherein each supplementation conduit has a supplementation inlet adapted to be coupled to a supplementation source providing at least one supplementation fluid, wherein each supplementation conduit is coupled with a different supplementation source and wherein each supplementation conduit includes an outlet; wherein the outlet of each supplementation conduit is connected to a different beverage conduit; and wherein the outlets of the beverage conduits are coupled with the same beverage sink.