Coffee Machine Heat Exchanger for PLA Cup Compatibility Below 50°C
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines cannot produce coffee-based beverages at temperatures below 50°C for use in biodegradable PLA cups, and they often require drinking water quality, which may not be available in all areas, making it difficult to produce safe and suitable coffee beverages with non-potable water.
Innovation Solution
A beverage machine with a heat exchanger system that allows for the cooling of heated water to any desired temperature between 85°C and room temperature, enabling the production of coffee beverages at 50°C or lower, using non-potable water by sterilizing it at high temperatures and incorporating a temperature control system to prevent overheating when filling PLA cups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water is heated to high temperatures (85-110°C) for brewing coffee, then coffee extraction quality is improved, but the temperature is too high for PLA cups which melt above 50°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water supply system into two separate channels: one channel heats water to high temperatures (85-110°C) for brewing coffee in the brewing chamber, while another channel supplies cold water to the PLA cup. This segmentation allows the brewing process to occur at optimal high temperatures while the final beverage in the cup remains at safe temperatures below 50°C, resolving the contradiction between extraction quality and cup compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cold water as an intermediary substance that is mixed with the hot brewed coffee. The cold water acts as a mediator to reduce the temperature of the final beverage from brewing temperatures (85-110°C) to safe serving temperatures (below 50°C) for PLA cups, while still allowing high-temperature brewing for quality extraction
2Reliability
If drinking water quality is required for safe coffee production, then health safety is improved, but availability deteriorates in areas with non-potable water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating action to non-potable water before it contacts the coffee grounds. By heating the water to high temperatures (85-110°C) during the brewing process, the system sterilizes the water, eliminating pathogens and making it safe for consumption. This preliminary thermal treatment allows the use of non-potable water sources while ensuring health safety in the final beverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of using non-potable water (contaminants, pathogens) into a benefit by utilizing the high-temperature brewing process to sterilize the water. The heating process that is necessary for good coffee extraction also serves to purify the water, transforming a harmful factor into a beneficial sterilization effect
3Temperature
If a heat exchanger system is added to cool water for PLA cups, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the brewing water serve multiple functions: it first heats up in the heating element, then cools down in the brewing chamber while brewing coffee, and the cooled water is subsequently used to rinse and cool the PLA cup. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate cooling system, achieving precise temperature control for PLA cups without adding complex heat exchanger equipment
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 the production of coffee beverages at various temperatures, ensuring safety and compatibility with biodegradable cups by sterilizing water and controlling temperatures to prevent cup damage, while utilizing non-potable water without health risks.
Implementation Method 1
A beverage machine with a heat exchanger system that allows for the cooling of heated water to any desired temperature between 85°C and room temperature
Implementation Method 2
hot water is passed through a layer of ground coffee... The water passing through the layer of ground coffee generally is heated to temperatures between 85°C to 110°C
Implementation Method 3
hot water is passed through a layer of ground coffee contained in a brewing chamber... to brew the ground coffee
Implementation Method 4
The water passing through the layer of ground coffee... is conducted under a certain pressure into the brewing chamber... in order to brew the ground coffee
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A beverage machine for producing coffee-based beverages is comprising - a pump (5) to supply pressurized water, - a heater (4) for heating the water supplied by the pump (5), - a brewing chamber (1), which is fillable with coffee powder, - a piping (15) being in fluid connection with the pump (5), the heater (4) and the brewing chamber (1) for conducting pressurized water into the brewing chamber (1), the piping (15) is comprising a first feed pipe (16) between the pump (5) and the heater (4) and a second feed pipe (17) between the heater (4) and the brewing chamber (1), wherein the second feed pipe (17) is comprising at least a first valve (6), - a dispensing device (20) for dispensing the coffee-based beverage produced in the brewing chamber (1) by brewing the coffee powder with water supplied by the pump (5). A cooler (2, 3) is arranged in the second feed pipe (17) downstream of the first valve (6) for cooling the water heated by the heater (4), in order to enable the production of coffee-based beverages having different product temperatures, in particular temperatures below 50°C, which allows to pour the produced beverage into a bio-degradable cup made of polylactit acid (PLA).