Arrayed Heat-Exchange Tubes for No-Dilution Beverage Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consumer devices fail to efficiently chill freshly brewed hot coffee to iced coffee temperature without dilution or flavor loss, posing challenges in design, materials, and thermal performance for personal use.
Innovation Solution
A personal beverage chiller with a housing and vertically extending heat-exchange tubes pre-chilled with water or other materials, optimized in number, dimensions, and spacing to rapidly cool beverages to desired serving temperatures, suitable for both single servings and larger volumes, including wine and cocktails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If crushed ice is used in cooler chests to quickly cool beverages, then cooling speed is improved, but dilution and flavor loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from ice and separates it from the beverage. Instead of using ice that contacts and dilutes the beverage, the patent uses a removable cooling element with heat exchange tubes that extract heat through conduction without adding water to the beverage, thus maintaining beverage concentration while achieving rapid cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling element with heat exchange tubes as an intermediary between the cold source and the beverage. This intermediary transfers heat away from the beverage through its walls and internal tubes without the cold source (water/ice) directly contacting the beverage, preventing dilution while enabling efficient heat transfer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a thermally-insulated cup is used to maintain beverage temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but cooling effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cup structure into distinct functional layers: an outer insulating wall for temperature stability and an inner cooling element with heat exchange tubes for active cooling. This segmentation allows the insulating properties to be preserved while adding a separate active cooling mechanism that doesn't compromise the thermal stability provided by the insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two previously separate functions into a single integrated system: the passive thermal insulation of the cup and the active cooling capability. By combining the insulating cup structure with an insertable cooling element containing heat exchange tubes, the system achieves both temperature stability during storage/transport and rapid cooling when needed.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If ice-equivalent phase-change bags are used in coolers, then cooling duration is extended, but cooling speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thermal contact parameters by using a cooling element with extensive heat exchange tube surfaces that directly contact the beverage through the cup bottom and sides. This increases the heat transfer coefficient and surface area for heat exchange, enabling rapid cooling speed while the phase-change material provides extended duration as it melts slowly over time.
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 device effectively cools hot coffee to iced coffee temperature in minutes and wine to serving temperature, offering flexible design, efficient cooling, and aesthetic appeal, while being practical for various beverage sizes and types without dilution or flavor loss.
Implementation Method 1
A personal beverage chiller with a housing and vertically extending heat-exchange tubes pre-chilled with water or other materials, optimized in number, dimensions, and spacing to rapidly cool beverages to desired serving temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a beverage chiller having a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion includes a perimeter wall defining a receiving vessel for receiving a beverage to be chilled. The top portion includes at least first and second cooling tubes. The bottom and top portions interfit such that the cooling tubes extend vertically down into the beverage and chill the beverage to a desired temperature by thermal contact with said cooling tubes when the top portion is positioned on the bottom portion. The first and second cooling tubes have first and second perimeters, respectively, within a horizontal cross-section of the top portion, and the first and second perimeters have substantially a same size and shape.