Beverage Maker Air Supply Sequencing to Prevent Bubble Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage makers face issues with backflow of bubbles during the air supply process, leading to clogging and hygiene problems in the gas discharge channel, which affects the smooth production of beverages.
Innovation Solution
The beverage maker controls the temperature and air supply sequence to reduce viscosity and prevent bubble backflow by completing the cooling operation before introducing additives and supplying air, ensuring bubbles burst smoothly and do not accumulate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air is supplied to the beverage during cooling, then the beverage can be aerated and mixed, but bubbles accumulate and cause backflow in the gas discharge channel
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is completed before air supply begins. This preliminary action of cooling the beverage to a lower temperature prevents bubble accumulation and backflow during subsequent aeration, as the cooler beverage maintains better bubble control
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternates between cooling periods and air supply periods. During cooling, the gas discharge channel remains closed to prevent backflow. During air supply, the channel opens to allow bubble discharge. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction between aeration needs and backflow prevention
2Productivity
If air is supplied at high temperature, then the beverage mixing is effective, but bubbles do not burst smoothly and accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the beverage from high to low before air supply. This parameter change ensures that when air is supplied, the beverage is at an optimal lower temperature that allows bubbles to burst smoothly and prevents accumulation, while still achieving effective mixing
3Loss of time
If cooling is performed simultaneously with air supply, then the process time is reduced, but bubble backflow and clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling is performed as a preliminary action before air supply begins. This sequential approach prevents bubble backflow and channel clogging that would occur if both processes ran simultaneously, while the overall time loss is minimized through efficient process sequencing
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 prevents bubble backflow, maintains channel hygiene, and ensures smooth beverage production by optimizing the air supply timing relative to the cooling process.
Implementation Method 1
controls a temperature and a air supply sequence to a mixture of an ingredient and water, thereby preventing backflow of bubbles generated when air is injected into the mixture
Implementation Method 2
supplying air after the cooling is finished increases DO (dissolved oxygen) in the mixture, thereby assisting fermentation
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage maker may include a fermentation tank having a space formed therein to make a beverage; a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the fermentation tank; an air pump configured to supply air into the fermentation tank; a gas discharge channel connected with the fermentation tank and configured to discharge a portion of the air supplied into the fermentation tank; a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fermentation tank; and a controller configured to control the temperature controller to cool the fermentation tank accommodating a mixture including ingredients of the beverage while making the beverage, sense the temperature of the fermentation tank using the temperature sensor, terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a reference temperature, and control the air pump to supply air into the fermentation tank.