Cold Beverage System with Loop-Back Cooling for On-Demand Freshness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage machines are bulky and require pre-cooling of beverages, leading to freshness loss and inefficiency in providing cold beverages at varied temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A compact beverage system with a water supply unit, cooling means downstream of the supply unit, dispensing means, valve means for loop-back cooling, and a control module to direct water for optimal temperature and flowrate control, using a mini-compressor and micro-channel heat exchanger with adjustable refrigerant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beverage machines pre-cool and store water in a cold tank, then cold beverages can be provided, but the machine becomes bulky and the stored water loses freshness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of water on-demand before beverage preparation rather than pre-cooling and storing large quantities. The control module activates cooling means only when a cold beverage is requested, cooling water in a controlled manner just before dispensing, thus eliminating the need for large cold storage tanks while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the cooling function from a permanent bulk storage system and implements it as a temporary on-demand process. Instead of having a permanent cold tank, the system extracts only the necessary amount of water and cools it temporarily, then dispenses it immediately, removing the need for bulky storage infrastructure
2Productivity
If water is pre-cooled in a tank, then cold beverages can be provided, but the water loses freshness over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the beverage preparation process itself to trigger the cooling action. When a cold beverage is ordered, the control module automatically activates the cooling means to cool the required water amount, ensuring water is cooled only when needed and immediately used, maintaining freshness while providing cold beverages
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains water freshness by ensuring continuous circulation and immediate usage of cooled water. The cooling process is continuously available on-demand, and cooled water is immediately dispensed without prolonged storage, eliminating the freshness loss that occurs with static tank storage
3Adaptability or versatility
If a beverage machine provides varied temperatures, then different beverage types can be served, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic control of the cooling means through the control module, which can adjust cooling intensity and duration based on the desired beverage temperature. The same cooling infrastructure serves multiple temperature requirements by varying operational parameters rather than requiring separate systems for each temperature level
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling means and associated control systems serve multiple functions: they can provide different cooling levels for various beverage types (cold coffee, iced tea, water), and the same infrastructure supports both cold and ambient temperature beverages by controlling whether cooling is activated and to what extent
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 rapid and continuous preparation of fresh cold beverages at varied temperatures within seconds to minutes, ensuring freshness and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
cooling means for cooling the water provided by the water supply unit, wherein the cooling means are arranged downstream of the water supply unit
Implementation Method 2
a cooling circuit comprising a condenser, a heat exchanger (e.g. a evaporator), a compressor, and a throttle device
Implementation Method 3
valve means arranged downstream of the cooling means and upstream of the dispensing means, wherein the valve means are operable to direct water from the cooling means either in a loop back to the cooling means
Implementation Method 4
a compressor with adjustable compressor power for cooling the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
a cooling circuit comprising a condenser, a heat exchanger (e.g. a evaporator), a compressor
Implementation Method 6
a cooling circuit comprising a condenser, a heat exchanger (e.g. a evaporator)
Implementation Method 7
a cooling circuit comprising a condenser, a heat exchanger (e.g. a evaporator), a compressor
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage system for a cold beverage is provided, the beverage system comprises: a water supply unit (100) for providing water; cooling means (140,180,190,230) for cooling the water provided by the water supply unit (100), wherein the cooling means (140,180,190,230) are arranged downstream of the water supply unit (100); dispensing means (170) for dispensing a beverage, wherein the dispensing means (170) are arranged downstream of the cooling means (140,180,190,230); valve means (160) arranged downstream of the cooling means (140,180,190,230) and upstream of the dispensing means (170), wherein the valve means (160) are operable to direct the water from the cooling means (140,180,190,230) either in a loop back to the cooling means (140,180,190,230) for a further cooling of the water or to the dispensing means (170) for dispensing a cold beverage; and a control module (220) adapted to operate the valve means (160).