Bottle Temperature Control Using Heat Pipe and Fan Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tempering bottled beverages, such as champagne and wine, lack precise temperature control and efficient cooling, often relying on inadequate heat transfer mechanisms like ice cubes or direct contact with Peltier elements, which are noisy and inefficient, especially in maintaining low temperatures with low energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A device with a Peltier element and/or heat pipe, combined with active and passive fans, and an additional cooling system using pre-cooled cooling medium, along with a controller and temperature sensors, ensures precise temperature control by maintaining a constant flow of cooling air and utilizing a transmission medium to enhance heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ice cubes are used for cooling, then the beverage can be cooled, but the temperature control is imprecise and heat transfer is inefficient due to point contact
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer medium (water or gel) is introduced as an intermediary between the cooling device and the beverage bottle. This medium fills the gaps and ensures comprehensive thermal contact, replacing the insufficient point-contact cooling with ice cubes. The medium acts as a thermal conductor that distributes cooling evenly across the bottle surface, achieving both effective cooling and precise temperature control.
2Temperature
If a Peltier element is used for active cooling, then the beverage can be cooled, but the system becomes noisy and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses natural convection currents to achieve cooling without active fans or noisy mechanical components. The temperature difference between the cold beverage bottle and the surrounding warm air creates automatic air circulation that removes heat from the bottle. This self-service cooling mechanism eliminates the need for noisy Peltier elements and fans, providing quiet operation while maintaining effective temperature control.
3Ease of operation
If the bottle rests only on raised points of ice cubes, then the bottle is supported, but heat transfer is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system applies different functions to different parts of the bottle. The heat transfer medium makes contact with the lower portion of the bottle where cooling is needed, while the upper portion remains unsupported for easy removal. This localized approach ensures efficient heat transfer at the contact points while maintaining ease of operation for bottle placement and retrieval.
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 quiet, efficient, and precise temperature control, allowing for temperatures between 2°C to 25°C, significantly improving upon existing systems by maintaining temperatures 4°C to 8°C below the setpoint, ensuring optimal cooling and heating capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The invention provides a device for controlling the temperature of a bottled beverage in a storage container, in particular a bottle, ready. The device comprises a Peltier element and/or a cold store and/or a heat pipe
Implementation Method 2
The invention provides a device for controlling the temperature of a bottled beverage in a storage container, in particular a bottle, ready. The device comprises a Peltier element and/or a cold store and/or a heat pipe
Implementation Method 3
The device comprises at least one fan. It is particularly preferred if the Device comprises not only one fan, but several fans, preferably at least two fans, a first fan, which is designed as an active fan and is used to suck in cooling medium, in particular cooling air, from the environment and a second fan, in particular a passive fan, which is designed for Cooling medium, in particular cooling air to be discharged
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for controlling the temperature of a drink packaged in a storage container, particularly a bottle, comprising at least one temperature-control vessel that receives a storage container, particularly a bottle, wherein said device comprises a Peltier element and/or a cold store and/or a heat pipe, preferably a heat pipe and/or a heat diffuser, arranged such that they are thermally coupled to the temperature-control vessel. The invention is characterised in that the device comprises at least one fan.