Carbonated Beverage Dispensing with Two-Stage Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage dispensing systems face limitations in dispensing carbonated beverages at higher speeds due to excessive foam and bubble formation, leading to waste and customer dissatisfaction with cold beverage temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispense device with two parallel fluid paths and a microcontroller-controlled valve arrangement that switches from a slow to a high flow rate after the dispense spout is immersed, minimizing air entrainment and bubble formation, while operating in conjunction with an electronic FOB to prevent gas ingress and ensure efficient dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the dispensing speed is increased to improve productivity, then the dispensing time is reduced, but excessive foam and bubble formation occurs leading to beverage waste
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing process is segmented into multiple phases: an initial slow dispensing phase to prime the spout and minimize air entrainment, followed by a fast dispensing phase for the majority of the beverage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall productivity while preventing excessive foam formation during the critical initial phase when the spout is not yet submerged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the dispensing flow rate based on real-time conditions. The microcontroller monitors the dispensing process and automatically transitions between slow and fast flow rates, optimizing the balance between productivity and beverage quality. This dynamic control prevents the static limitations of conventional single-speed dispensing systems.
2Loss of time
If the dispensing speed is increased to reduce dispensing time, then customer waiting time is reduced, but bubble formation increases causing beverage quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary slow dispensing action to prime the spout and establish liquid flow before transitioning to high-speed dispensing. This preliminary action ensures that the spout is properly submerged and air entrainment is minimized, preventing bubble formation during the subsequent fast dispensing phase while maintaining quick overall service times.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing process uses periodic action by alternating between slow and fast flow rates in a controlled sequence. The microcontroller manages this periodic transition, applying slow flow initially to prevent bubbles, then switching to fast flow for the remainder of the dispensing cycle, thereby achieving both speed and quality objectives.
3Productivity
If a single high flow rate path is used to maximize dispensing speed, then productivity is improved, but air entrainment and foam formation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into two separate parallel paths: a slow flow rate path and a fast flow rate path. This segmentation allows the system to selectively use the slow path for priming and the fast path for high-volume dispensing, thereby achieving high productivity while minimizing air entrainment through proper sequence control managed by the microcontroller.
Solution Approach 2:
The slow flow rate path acts as an intermediary that prepares the system for high-speed dispensing. By first establishing liquid flow and submerging the spout through the slow path, the system creates optimal conditions for the subsequent fast dispensing phase, preventing air entrainment that would occur if high flow rate were applied directly from the start.
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
Enables faster and more efficient dispensing of carbonated beverages with reduced foam and bubble formation, maintaining beverage quality and customer satisfaction, and allowing for adjustable dispense volumes and calibration for precise portion control.
Implementation Method 1
A buoyant float in the chamber rises to the top when the chamber is filled with liquid and lowers as the liquid level drops when gas is introduced
Implementation Method 2
Beverages are typically dispensed from the storage container by means of gas pressure which pushes the beverage out of the container and into the beverage dispense lines
Implementation Method 3
The beverage may then be additionally cooled in proximity to the storage area before being transported to the dispense location
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dispensing beverages into a receptacle controls both the dispense flow rate of a carbonated beverage and also uses bottom filling of the receptacle to limit entrainment and bubble formation during the dispense process. More particularly, the present application provides for using two separate flow paths for dispensing beverage with a first path employed initially for a low flow rate and a second path employed thereafter to fill the receptacle.