Cooling Beverage Concentrate in a Beverage Dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensers struggle to control the temperature of post-mixed beverages accurately, as they cannot regulate the temperature of the beverage concentrate, which often has a higher heat capacity than the base liquid, leading to dispensed beverages exceeding desired drinking temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispenser with a cooling unit that controls the temperature of the beverage concentrate before mixing it with the base liquid, using thermoelectric coolers or vapour compression refrigeration to achieve the desired drinking temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the beverage concentrate is not cooled before mixing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature of the post-mixed beverage becomes uncontrolled and exceeds desired drinking temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage concentrate is cooled in advance before mixing with the base liquid. The cooling unit lowers the temperature of the concentrate to a predetermined level (e.g., below 10°C or below 5°C) before it enters the mixing chamber, ensuring that the final mixed beverage reaches the desired drinking temperature without requiring the base liquid to be excessively cold.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling unit acts as an intermediary component between the beverage concentrate storage and the mixing chamber. This intermediary device actively controls the temperature of the concentrate, mediating the thermal interaction between the concentrate and base liquid to achieve precise temperature control of the final beverage.
2Temperature
If the base liquid is cooled to a lower temperature to compensate for hot concentrate, then the temperature of the post-mixed beverage can be controlled, but the base liquid may freeze
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cooling the base liquid to extreme temperatures to compensate for hot concentrate, the system preliminarily cools the beverage concentrate to a controlled temperature before mixing. This preliminary action on the concentrate side allows the base liquid to be stored at safer, higher temperatures while still achieving the desired final beverage temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the beverage concentrate independently from the base liquid temperature. By controlling the concentrate temperature to a specific range (e.g., below 10°C or below 5°C) through the cooling unit, the system achieves flexible temperature control of the final beverage without pushing the base liquid temperature into the freezing range.
3Quantity of substance
If the beverage concentrate has high heat capacity due to high concentration of dissolved components, then the flavour and consistency are improved, but the temperature control of the post-mixed beverage becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit performs preliminary cooling on the beverage concentrate, which has high heat capacity due to its concentrated dissolved components (sugars, proteins, aromatics, alcohol). By pre-cooling this high heat capacity fluid to a low temperature (below 10°C or below 5°C), the system compensates for its thermal inertia and ensures it doesn't excessively raise the temperature of the final mixed beverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors and a controller that monitor the temperature of the beverage concentrate and/or the mixed beverage. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the operation of the cooling unit to maintain the concentrate at the optimal low temperature, ensuring precise control of the final beverage temperature despite the high heat capacity of the concentrate.
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 method and dispenser enable precise temperature control of post-mixed beverages, making them independent of the cartridge's initial temperature, ensuring they are dispensed at desired temperatures, such as below 10 degrees C., and maintaining quality over extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
using thermoelectric coolers or vapour compression refrigeration to achieve the desired drinking temperature
Implementation Method 2
using thermoelectric coolers or vapour compression refrigeration to achieve the desired drinking temperature
Implementation Method 3
mixing at least part of the cooled beverage concentrate with a volume of base liquid to form a volume of post-mixed beverage
Data Source
AI summary
A method of dispensing a post-mixed beverage from a beverage concentrate is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving a cartridge comprising a volume of beverage concentrate in a receptacle of a beverage dispenser, using a cooling unit of the beverage dispenser, cooling the beverage concentrate to a temperature below a beverage concentrate temperature threshold, mixing at least part of the cooled beverage concentrate with one or more volumes of base liquid to form a volume of post-mixed beverage, and dispensing at least part of the volume of post-mixed beverage.