Beverage Dispenser Valve Modulation for Variable Carbonation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage dispensers for carbonated beverages are large, expensive, and not portable, primarily designed for high-volume commercial use, lacking a compact and cost-effective solution for producing high-quality carbonated drinks.

Innovation Solution

A compact beverage dispenser that integrates a carbonator with a water input, gas input, chilling reservoir, and dispensing nozzle, using a potable water/ice slurry refrigeration system and thermoelectric cooling to produce and dispense carbonated beverages, allowing for selection of multiple flavors and indicating low stock levels, with a user interface and sensor system for efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional beverage dispensers are designed for high-volume commercial use, then cooling and dispensing speeds are maximized, but device size and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling and dispensing speedVSAvoiddispenser size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage dispensing function is segmented into two separate components: a portable dispenser unit for on-demand dispensing and a remote carbonation system for bulk water storage. This segmentation allows the dispenser to be compact while the carbonation capacity is distributed separately, resolving the contradiction between dispensing speed and device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carbonation function is extracted from the portable dispenser and placed in a separate remote system. The dispenser only needs to store pre-carbonated water and concentrate, significantly reducing its volume while maintaining the ability to dispense high-quality carbonated beverages on demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If conventional beverage dispensers are designed for high-volume commercial use, then dispensing capacity is maximized, but portability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing capacityVSAvoiddispenser weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a lightweight portable dispenser containing only essential components (water tank, concentrate container, carbonation cartridge, and dispensing mechanism) and a separate heavy carbonation system. This allows the dispenser to be easily portable while the overall system maintains high dispensing capacity through the remote carbonation unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conventional beverage dispensers use large carbonators, then carbonated water quality is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbonated water qualityVSAvoidcarbonator system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex carbonation system is extracted from the portable dispenser and placed in a separate remote unit. The portable dispenser uses simple pre-carbonated water containers and carbonation cartridges, dramatically reducing device complexity while maintaining carbonated water quality through the dedicated remote carbonation system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses disposable or replaceable carbonation cartridges and pre-carbonated water containers in the portable dispenser, eliminating the need for complex built-in carbonation mechanisms. This approach maintains beverage quality while significantly simplifying the device and reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 provides high-quality carbonated beverages in a compact, cost-effective, and portable format, reducing size and cost while maintaining efficient cooling and operation, enabling easy maintenance and flavor switching.

Implementation Method 1

circulating a first flow of water about a carbonator to chill the carbonator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

filling a water/ice reservoir with water and ice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

using a potable water/ice slurry refrigeration system and thermoelectric cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeltier effect: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 4

flowing a flow of gas into the carbonator to produce a flow of carbonated water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4116257A1Method and device for dispensing a pulsing mixture of still water and carbonated water

Publication Date: 2023.01.11 THE COCA COLA CO

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AI summary

A dispenser system 1500 for providing variable carbonation can include a carbonated water source 1502 in communication with a carbonated water valve 1506 for controlling flow of carbonated water through the dispenser system; a still water source 1504 in communication with a still water valve 1508 for controlling flow of still water through the dispenser system; a nozzle 580 in fluid communication with the carbonated water source 1502 and still water source 1504; a processing device adapted to modulate the carbonated water and still water valves within a modulate cycle to achieve a ratio of carbonated to non-carbonated water; and a pour mechanism 1514 adapted to provide an input to the processing device to dispense the beverage.