Beverage Fluid Circuit With Bypass Dilution for Large Cups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines using pre-portioned flavoring ingredient cartridges face issues with over-extraction when preparing large beverages, leading to undesirable compounds being extracted and affecting the quality of the beverage, particularly in coffee preparation.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine with a fluid circuit that circulates a portion of the liquid through the flavoring ingredient and bypasses another portion to mix with the flavoured liquid, preventing over-extraction by adjusting the liquid volume in contact with the flavoring ingredient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large volume of liquid is circulated through the flavoring ingredient to prepare large beverages, then the beverage volume is sufficient, but over-extraction occurs and undesirable compounds are extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid flow is segmented into two separate paths: a first path (extraction circuit) that circulates liquid through the flavoring ingredient for a controlled duration to extract desirable compounds, and a second path (bypass circuit) that allows additional liquid to bypass the flavoring ingredient. This segmentation enables the system to achieve large beverage volumes without subjecting the flavoring ingredient to excessive liquid contact that would cause over-extraction of undesirable compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
A mixing chamber serves as an intermediary element where the extracted liquid from the first path and the bypass liquid from the second path are combined. This intermediary allows the system to merge two different liquid streams with different characteristics (one flavor-rich, one flavor-free) to create the final large-volume beverage with appropriate concentration, preventing the direct contact between large volumes of liquid and the flavoring ingredient that would cause over-extraction.
2Quantity of substance
If the liquid circulation time through the flavoring ingredient is extended to increase beverage volume, then more beverage is produced, but extraction quality deteriorates due to over-extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is segmented into a controlled first phase where liquid circulates through the flavoring ingredient for a precise duration to achieve optimal extraction, followed by a second phase where additional liquid bypasses the flavoring ingredient. This temporal and spatial segmentation allows the system to produce large beverage volumes while maintaining extraction quality by limiting the contact time between liquid and flavoring ingredient to the optimal extraction window.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the liquid flow distribution between the extraction circuit and bypass circuit based on the desired beverage volume. For large beverages, a greater proportion of liquid is directed through the bypass circuit after the extraction phase, allowing volume increase without extending the extraction contact time. This dynamic flow control maintains extraction quality while achieving variable beverage volumes.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple cartridges are used to prepare large beverages by multiplying small beverage preparations, then large volume is achieved, but the beverage becomes significantly stronger than expected
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple cartridges each providing full-strength extraction, the system uses a single cartridge with partial action: the liquid flows through the flavoring ingredient for a controlled extraction phase, then additional liquid bypasses the cartridge to provide the remaining volume. This partial extraction approach combined with bypass flow achieves large beverage volumes with appropriate strength, avoiding the over-concentration that would result from multiplying multiple full-strength cartridge preparations.
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
Enables the preparation of large-size beverages without over-extracting the flavoring ingredient, maintaining the quality of the beverage by controlling the liquid volume in contact with the flavoring ingredient, thus preventing the extraction of undesirable compounds.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid circuit for circulating a liquid through a flavouring ingredient contained in a brewing chamber of the machine to flavour the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a dilution arrangement for mixing this liquid unflavoured with the flavoured liquid upon flavouring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
A beverage preparation machine (1) has a fluid circuit (3-10c) that comprises a liquid flavouring arrangement (9a, 3, 4, 5) for circulating a liquid, such as water, through a flavouring ingredient (2, 2') to flavour this liquid and for dispensing this flavoured liquid to a user-receptacle (100). The fluid circuit further comprises a dilution arrangement (9b, 9', 9'') for mixing the liquid unflavoured with the flavoured liquid upon flavouring.