Electronic Beverage Container Pressurization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for pressurizing beverage containers, such as kegs, lack the ability to electronically adjust pressure during regular use and rely on separate pressurized gas supplies or significant power consumption, leading to unreliable pressure maintenance and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An electronic pressurization system that includes a gas pump, pressure sensor, controller, and user interface, allowing real-time electronic regulation of pressure within the container without a separate pressurized gas supply, using a low-power gas pump and sensor to maintain set-point pressure and display internal pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pressurized gas supplies are used to pressurize beverage containers, then sufficient pressure can be maintained, but the system becomes complex and requires separate gas supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the beverage storage function and pressurization function into a single integrated container system. The container itself generates pressure through its structure and contents rather than requiring separate external gas supplies, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliable pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage container system is designed to self-pressurize using its own contents and structure. The container generates the necessary pressure internally through the arrangement of beverage and gas phases, eliminating the need for external service or separate pressurization equipment
2Ease of operation
If mechanical pressure regulators are used to control pressure, then pressure can be regulated, but the regulation is crude and cannot respond to temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a pressure sensor that continuously monitors the internal pressure of the container and provides feedback to a control system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect pressure changes caused by temperature variations and automatically adjust to maintain stable pressure, overcoming the limitations of crude mechanical regulators
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure control system transitions from static mechanical regulation to dynamic electronic control. The system can adapt in real-time to changing conditions such as temperature fluctuations, continuously adjusting pressure maintenance based on current state rather than being fixed at a single setting
3Stress or pressure
If high-pressure CO2 cartridges are used for pressurization, then sufficient pressure can be achieved, but the cartridges are heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the pressure parameter approach from using pre-charged high-pressure cartridges to generating pressure on-demand through the container's own structure and contents. This eliminates the need for heavy, pre-pressurized gas cartridges while maintaining the necessary pressure levels for beverage dispensing
4Use of energy by stationary object
If manual air pumps are used to pressurize kegs, then no external power is needed, but the pressure cannot be reliably maintained during regular use
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is designed to self-maintain pressure through its internal structure and contents rather than requiring external manual pumping. The system automatically responds to pressure changes and maintains stable pressure throughout use without needing periodic manual intervention
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 efficient, reliable, and user-controlled pressure adjustment within beverage containers, reducing power consumption and eliminating the need for heavy, expensive pressurized gas cartridges, while maintaining consistent pressure and preventing over-pressurization.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container for outputting a pressure signal corresponding to an internal pressure within the beverage container
Implementation Method 2
a gas pump operably connected to the connector for supplying pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector
Implementation Method 3
a controller adapted to control the gas pump based on the internal pressure and a set point pressure to maintain the internal pressure at the set point pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for electronically adjusting the pressure in a beverage container during regular use. The system includes a connector attachable to a tapping connector of the beverage container; a gas pump operably connected to the connector for supplying pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector; a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container for outputting a pressure signal corresponding to an internal pressure within the beverage container; a power supply; and a controller adapted to control the gas pump based on the internal pressure and a set point pressure to maintain the internal pressure at the set point pressure.