Cold Coffee Brewing with Heat Exchanger Cooling to Reduce Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines that dispense cold or cooled beverages are either complex in construction or require significant energy for active cooling methods like Peltier elements or cooling circuits, and they often result in excessive dilution when ice is added.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine and method that utilize a heat exchanger for thermal contact between hot coffee and cold water, with optional additional cooling by admixing cold water, allowing for selective dispensing of hot or cooled coffee in a simple and energy-efficient manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling means (Peltier elements, cooling circuits) are used to cool the brewed beverage, then the beverage can be dispensed in cooled form, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from complex active cooling systems (Peltier elements, cooling circuits) and implements it through a simple heat exchanger that utilizes the temperature difference between hot brewing water and cold water from the cold water supply. This eliminates the need for additional active cooling components while achieving the same cooling effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cold water supply intended for brewing purposes as the cooling medium itself. The cold water absorbs heat from the brewed beverage through the heat exchanger and is then reused as brewing water after being reheated, creating a self-sustaining cooling cycle without external energy input.
2Temperature
If ice is added to cool the beverage, then the beverage temperature decreases, but excessive dilution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directly adding ice to the brewed beverage (which causes dilution), the invention uses a heat exchanger as an intermediary. The cold water absorbs heat from the beverage through the heat exchanger walls, cooling the beverage without direct contact between the cooling medium and the beverage, thus preserving beverage concentration.
3Temperature
If active cooling arrangements are used, then cooled beverage dispensing is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the temperature difference between hot brewing water and cold water supply as a natural heat source/sink for cooling. The cold water absorbs heat from the brewed beverage and is then reheated by the hot brewing water, creating a self-sustaining thermal cycle that requires no external energy input for cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the cold water after it absorbs heat from the beverage, the system recovers it by reheating it with the hot brewing water in the heat exchanger. This recovered water is then reused as brewing water, maximizing energy efficiency and eliminating waste.
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 efficient and energy-saving production of both hot and cooled coffee beverages, maintaining flavor concentration by controlling the amount of cold water added, thus avoiding excessive dilution and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
cooling down said hot coffee beverage by exclusively bringing it in thermal contact with a stream of cold water
Implementation Method 2
thermal contact between hot coffee and cold water
Data Source
AI summary
An energy-saving method for preparing a fresh brewed cold coffee beverage comprises the steps of:a. filling a brewing means with a predetermined quantity of coffee powder;b. brewing a hot coffee beverage by pushing hot water and/or hot steam through said predetermined quantity of coffee powder in said brewing means;c. cooling down said hot coffee beverage by exclusively bringing it in thermal contact with a stream of cold water; andd. dispensing said cooled-down coffee beverage at a coffee outlet.