Beverage Dispenser Recirculation Loop for Foam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage dispensing systems with bar guns face issues of fluid warming up between dispensing operations, leading to CO2 gas release and unwanted foam, as the cooled fluid in the valve and manifold assembly tends to reach room temperature, especially when not in continuous use.
Innovation Solution
A recirculation loop that continuously circulates coolant fluid from the cool trunk line through the valve and manifold assembly, python, and back into the trunk line, even when the bar gun is not in use, combined with insulation to prevent heat loss and foam formation, and a bypass line to control coolant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the bar gun is not in continuous use, then the fluid in the valve and manifold assembly has time to warm up to room temperature, but this causes CO2 gas release and unwanted foam formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recirculation loop that continuously circulates coolant fluid through the valve and manifold assembly even when the bar gun is not in use. This continuous circulation prevents the fluid from warming up, thereby eliminating CO2 gas release and foam formation during idle periods while maintaining ready-to-dispense beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a recirculation loop as an intermediary system between the coolant source and the valve/manifold assembly. This loop acts as a mediator to continuously transfer cooling effect to the fluid in the dispensing system, preventing temperature rise and associated harmful effects during non-dispensing periods.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a recirculation loop is implemented to maintain cool temperature, then CO2 gas release and foam are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation loop is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools the fluid in the valve and manifold assembly during idle periods, maintains cooling during dispensing operations, and can be integrated with existing coolant infrastructure. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive temperature control across different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation loop is designed to operate automatically using the existing coolant flow from the trunk line. The system self-regulates by continuously circulating coolant through the valve and manifold assembly without requiring external control mechanisms, thereby minimizing the operational complexity despite the added structural components.
3Temperature
If insulation is added to prevent heat loss, then temperature stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies insulation specifically to the python and manifold assembly where heat transfer most critically affects fluid temperature. Rather than insulating the entire system uniformly, the insulation is localized to the most thermally vulnerable components, providing effective temperature stability while minimizing added complexity and cost.
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
Maintains a cooler temperature for liquids in the valve and manifold assembly, reducing CO2 gas release and foam formation, while preventing heat loss and sweating of the bar gun body, ensuring consistent dispensing quality.
Implementation Method 1
A recirculation loop for substantially continuous recirculation of cool liquids
Implementation Method 2
combined with insulation to prevent heat loss and foam formation
Implementation Method 3
fluid in the valve and manifold assembly and downstream thereof, may begin to warm up. That is to say, if a bar gun is in almost continuous use, fluid from the cooled trunk lines and remote sources is not stagnate or stationary for any period of time sufficient to warm up to or near room temperature. This is especially deleterious with carbonated water (soda) wherein the CO2 gas entrained in the soda under pressure will release greater amounts if the dispensing temperature is warmer than if it were cooler. Greater amounts of released gas generates greater amounts of unwanted foam.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
A beverage dispensing apparatus is adapted to mix together a concentrate fluid with a base fluid. The apparatus comprises a cool fluid trunk line carrying the base fluid, a manifold, an in line and an out line extending between the cool fluid trunk and the manifold, a python and a bar gun assembly fluidly connected to the downstream side of the manifold by means of a plurality of conduits contained in the python, wherein the apparatus includes a recirculation channel having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the inlet and outlet ports of the recirculation channel are fluidly connected to respective in and out conduits in the python, the said in and out conduits being fluidly connected respectively to the in line and the out line of the cool fluid trunk line via the manifold, the beverage dispensing apparatus further including a plurality of product lines, a mixing means and a dispensing outlet, wherein the insulation material extends beyond the end of the outer sheath via the manifold, at least one of the product lines is fluidly connected to a source of concentrate and at least one of the product lines is fluidly connected to a source of base fluid.