On-Demand Beverage Cooler Using PCM to Prevent Zero-Flow Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage coolers with phase-change materials (PCMs) face issues with rapid freezing of water-based beverages under zero flow conditions due to the use of PCMs with transition temperatures near zero Celsius, leading to ineffective cooling and potential freezing of beverages within the conduit.
Innovation Solution
A beverage cooler design featuring a heat pump thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator with a phase-change material having a temperature above zero Celsius, utilizing a heat-energy dispersion arrangement of thermally conductive material and a conduit with a circuitous path to prioritize cooling of the PCM over the beverage, ensuring efficient cooling without freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a heat pump is thermally coupled primarily to a conduit through which liquid flows with PCM providing thermal inertia, then cooling uniformity is improved, but under zero flow conditions the beverage freezes rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different thermal resistance zones: low thermal resistance between the cooling element and PCM (through direct thermal coupling), and high thermal resistance between the cooling element and the beverage (through insulation and indirect coupling via conduit walls). This localized differentiation allows the PCM to be cooled rapidly while protecting the beverage from freezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal resistance parameter of the system by introducing insulating materials between the cooling element and the beverage conduit, and by selecting PCM with transition temperature above zero Celsius. This parameter modification enables selective cooling: the PCM experiences low thermal resistance and cools rapidly, while the beverage experiences high thermal resistance and is protected from freezing.
2Power
If PCM with transition temperature near zero Celsius is used, then cooling capacity is improved, but the beverage freezes under zero flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the PCM by selecting materials with transition temperatures above zero Celsius (e.g., 2-10°C). This parameter change maintains the phase-change cooling mechanism while preventing the beverage from freezing, as the PCM operates at temperatures that do not cause ice formation in the beverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the PCM below its transition temperature before beverage flow begins. This creates a thermal buffer that absorbs heat from the beverage during flow conditions, providing cooling capacity without requiring the PCM to reach freezing temperatures that would harm the beverage.
3Speed
If the heat pump cools the beverage directly through the conduit, then cooling speed is improved, but the beverage freezes under zero flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the PCM as an intermediary between the heat pump and the beverage. The heat pump cools the PCM directly (high cooling speed for the intermediary), and the PCM then cools the beverage indirectly through thermal coupling with the conduit. This intermediary mechanism enables rapid cooling capability while protecting the beverage from direct exposure to freezing temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different thermal coupling qualities: strong thermal coupling between the heat pump and PCM (for rapid cooling), and weak thermal coupling between the heat pump and beverage (through insulation and indirect pathways). This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve high cooling speed for the PCM while preventing beverage freezing.
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 design effectively cools the phase-change material more rapidly than the beverage, preventing freezing and allowing for on-demand cooling of a large quantity of beverages without the need for pre-cooled storage, while maintaining a compact implementation.
Implementation Method 1
a quantity of phase-change material having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius
Implementation Method 2
negative-heat-energy accumulator comprising: (i) a heat-energy dispersion arrangement formed from thermally conductive material, and (ii) a quantity of phase-change material
Implementation Method 3
a heat-energy dispersion arrangement formed from thermally conductive material
Implementation Method 4
a heat pump having a cooling element
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).