Beverage dispense systems and beverage coolers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispense systems face challenges in maintaining consistent beverage temperatures due to unpredictable fluctuations in demand and ambient temperatures, lack of real-time feedback for cooling adjustments, and inadequate monitoring of gas systems, leading to potential safety risks and energy inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A cooler control system with temperature and flow rate sensors that transmit signals to an electronic control unit to adjust cooling accordingly, combined with a gas monitoring system and energy consumption monitoring, enabling real-time adjustments and remote data transmission for improved temperature consistency and system maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the beverage line is cooled continuously to maintain low temperature, then beverage temperature consistency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling actions based on predicted demand patterns (time of day, day of week, day of year) to pre-chill the beverage line before high-demand periods occur. This allows the beverage to be cooled in advance when energy consumption can be distributed more efficiently, rather than requiring intensive continuous cooling during peak demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the beverage temperature in the beverage line and provide feedback to the control system. The controller adjusts the cooling intensity based on actual temperature readings and demand predictions, reducing cooling intensity when temperatures are stable and increasing it when temperatures rise, thereby maintaining temperature consistency while minimizing energy consumption.
2Temperature
If cooling intensity is increased during high demand periods to maintain temperature, then beverage temperature consistency is improved, but the cooling capacity is insufficient during unpredictable demand fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses demand prediction algorithms that analyze historical data patterns (time of day, day of week, day of year) to anticipate high-demand periods before they occur. By pre-cooling the beverage line during these predicted periods, the system builds a thermal buffer that can handle subsequent demand fluctuations without compromising temperature consistency, thereby improving adaptability to unpredictable changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors actual beverage temperature and compares it with target temperature ranges. When temperature deviations are detected or demand patterns suggest upcoming fluctuations, the controller dynamically adjusts cooling intensity in real-time, enabling the system to adapt to unpredictable demand changes while maintaining temperature consistency.
3Temperature
If real-time temperature and flow rate monitoring is implemented, then temperature consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit serves multiple functions: it receives temperature sensor signals, receives flow rate sensor signals, processes demand prediction algorithms, controls the cooling mechanism, and transmits data remotely. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the system achieves real-time monitoring and control capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines temperature monitoring, flow rate monitoring, demand prediction, cooling control, and remote data transmission into an integrated control system. This merging of functions allows the system to maintain temperature consistency through real-time monitoring while avoiding the complexity that would result from having separate independent systems for each function.
4Reliability
If gas monitoring and remote data transmission are added, then system reliability and maintenance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit is designed to perform multiple functions including temperature control, flow rate monitoring, gas monitoring, demand prediction, and remote data transmission. By making the control unit universal and multi-functional, the system achieves improved reliability through comprehensive monitoring and maintenance capabilities without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges gas monitoring, temperature monitoring, flow rate monitoring, and remote data transmission functions into a single integrated control and communication system. This consolidation improves system reliability by enabling comprehensive monitoring while avoiding the complexity multiplication that would occur with separate independent monitoring systems.
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 system ensures consistent beverage temperatures, reduces the risk of temperature-related issues, and allows for proactive maintenance by providing real-time data for remote monitoring and energy efficiency improvements.
Implementation Method 1
The beverage line passes from the cellar/storage room through the water/coolant bath and beverage contained in the beverage line is thus cooled
Implementation Method 2
the water/coolant in the water/coolant bath being cooled by the ice bank
Implementation Method 3
the python also carrying a cooling circuit through which cold water/coolant from the water/coolant bath is circulated
Data Source
AI summary
Cooler control system for a beverage dispense system 1 having a beverage line (2) extending from a beverage source to a dispense site via a cooler (6). The cooler control system comprises: a controller (51) for adjusting the cooling of the beverage line; a flow rate sensor (41) measuring the flow rate in the beverage line, a temperature sensor (40); and an electronic control unit (31) for receiving a signal from the temperature sensor and/or the flow rate sensor and sending a signal to said controller. Cooler monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor (45) for monitoring energy consumption of the cooler (6); and an electronic control unit for receiving a signal from the at least one energy consumption sensor and for sending a signal to a remote location when energy consumption increases above a predetermined maximum value.