Beverage Machine Descaling Reservoir With Saturated Solution Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decalcification devices for fluids in machines, such as vending machines, suffer from incomplete dissolution of descaling agents due to temperature fluctuations and require manual dosing, leading to partial automation and inefficiencies in limescale removal.
Innovation Solution
A decalcification device with a storage container that forms a saturated solution of a water-soluble descaling agent, allowing for precise dosing and continuous operation, where the mixture outlet is arranged above the water inlet to create a turbulent flow for enhanced dissolution, eliminating the need for complex dosing systems and ensuring consistent chemical equilibrium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a continuous flow system is used to dissolve descaling agent in water, then the descaling process can be automated, but the dissolution is incomplete due to temperature fluctuations and the system requires complex dosing controls
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic dosing cycles where water is intermittently supplied to the reservoir containing descaling agent tablets. This periodic action allows complete dissolution during each cycle while maintaining automation, resolving the contradiction between automation and dissolution completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by using solid tablets instead of liquid descaling agents and implementing intermittent water supply cycles. This parameter change ensures complete dissolution regardless of temperature fluctuations, while maintaining automated operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual dosing of descaling agent is required, then the dissolution can be controlled, but the operation becomes complex and requires user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically doses the descaling agent by placing tablets in the reservoir and supplying water through automated cycles. The machine performs the dosing operation itself without requiring precise manual measurement or user intervention, achieving both precision and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical dosing with an automated mechanism that places tablets in the reservoir and controls water supply timing. This substitution eliminates the need for user intervention while maintaining precise dosing control.
3Productivity
If liquid descaling agents are used in continuous flow systems, then the system can operate continuously, but the agents are not fully dissolved and the dosing becomes imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state parameter of the descaling agent from liquid to solid tablets. This parameter change enables complete dissolution during intermittent water cycles while maintaining continuous operational capability through automated replenishment, achieving both productivity and dosing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic water supply cycles to dissolve tablets completely during each cycle, then allows the dissolved solution to be used for descaling. This periodic action ensures precise dosing while maintaining continuous operation through automated tablet replenishment.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the water inlet is positioned below the mixture outlet, then turbulent flow is created for better dissolution, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses asymmetric positioning of the water inlet below the mixture outlet in the reservoir. This asymmetric arrangement naturally creates turbulent flow and complete mixing without requiring additional mixing devices or complex mechanical structures, achieving homogeneity while minimizing structural complexity.
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 solution enables efficient, long-term decalcification with precise dosing of descaling agents, reducing resource usage, saving space and costs, and maintaining chemical equilibrium, while ensuring effective limescale removal regardless of temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
A water-filled storage container forms saturated solution of the originally powdery or pasty decalcifying agent
Implementation Method 2
the mixture outlet is arranged above the water inlet to create a turbulent flow for enhanced dissolution
Implementation Method 3
Descaling agents are known and already in use for this purpose, which are able to dissolve the limescale due to a chemical reaction
Data Source
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AI summary
Decalcifying device comprises a reservoir (3) loadable with fresh water (2) via a water inlet (1) in which water-soluble decalcifying agent (4) is present and the solution (5) is discharged from a mixture outlet of the reservoir, where the powdery or pasty decalcifying agent is provided in the reservoir filled with water, which forms a saturated solution. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a beverage dispenser comprising a decalcifying device, a flow line system for fluids with at least one water reservoir containing water or water connection, at least one pump, at least one valve and at least one extraction device, where the decalcifying device is arranged for decalcifying the flow line system between water reservoir and extraction device; and (2) applying the decalcifying device in a beverage machine, comprising opening the metering valves, so that fresh water is fed through the water inlet, and an equal amount of solution is discharged into the flow line system through the mixture outlet, passing the solution to the flow line system, discharging the solution through the extraction device, and rinsing the flow line system with water.