Parallel Beverage Cooling Tubes for Compact Beer Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the drinks industry, particularly for lagers and beers, existing cooling methods using large diameter heat exchange tubes require long lengths to achieve the desired temperature drop, which is inconvenient in space-limited areas like bars, and using very low temperature fluids can be hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that split the beverage flow into multiple heat exchange tubes, with a heat exchange fluid temperature set below the gas solution temperature in the liquid, improving heat exchange efficiency and reducing the length of the cooling apparatus, while using a heat exchange pump to manage fluid flow and temperature based on dispensing needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large diameter heat exchange tube is used to maintain high flow rate, then the beverage can be served at high flow rate, but the heat exchange efficiency deteriorates and the required tube length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single large diameter heat exchange tube is divided into multiple smaller diameter tubes. This segmentation increases the total surface area for heat exchange while maintaining the same flow capacity, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency and reducing the required length of the heat exchange apparatus.
2Temperature
If the heat exchange tube length is increased to achieve required temperature drop, then the cooling efficiency improves, but the apparatus becomes too long for space-limited bar environments
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchange path into multiple smaller tubes, the total surface area is increased within a compact volume. This allows achieving the required temperature drop in a shorter overall apparatus length, making it suitable for bar environments with limited space.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange tubes are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration (e.g., stacked or bundled) rather than a single linear path. This spatial arrangement increases the heat exchange surface area within a compact footprint, reducing the required length while maintaining effective cooling.
3Length of stationary object
If very low temperature heat exchange fluid is used to reduce apparatus length, then the cooling efficiency improves, but workplace safety deteriorates due to hazardous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using extremely low temperatures to achieve compact apparatus size, the invention changes the parameter of tube configuration (multiple small tubes) to achieve the same cooling effect at higher, safer temperatures. This eliminates the need for hazardous cryogenic fluids while maintaining apparatus compactness.
4Device complexity
If a single heat exchange tube is used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but the heat exchange efficiency is poor requiring longer tube length
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange function is segmented into multiple parallel tubes instead of a single tube. While this increases structural complexity slightly, it dramatically improves heat exchange efficiency by increasing surface area, thereby reducing the required length of the apparatus to fit in bar spaces.
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
This approach enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces the length of the cooling apparatus, and ensures safe operating temperatures, allowing for faster and safer serving of extremely cold beverages by maintaining the mixture temperature below the gas solution temperature, thus minimizing serving time and preventing hazardous conditions.
Implementation Method 1
flowing a heat exchange fluid over the outside of the heat exchange tubes to cool the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cooling a mixture, the mixture comprising a liquid having a gas dissolved therein, the method comprising the steps of providing the mixture along an input mixture line (3); splitting the mixture from the input mixture line into a plurality of heat exchange tubes (6); flowing a heat exchange fluid over the outside of the heat exchange tubes to cool the mixture; re-combining the mixture into an output mixture line (5); characterized in that the temperature of the heat exchange fluid is arranged such that the temperature of the mixture at the point of recombination in the output mixture line is at or below the solution temperature of the gas in the liquid.