Deformable Tube Cooling Member for Fast Beverage Chilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic beer dispensing devices face challenges in rapidly cooling beer from environmental temperature to drinking temperature without requiring a large electric current or a large cooling device, and also struggle with hygiene due to the need for frequent cleaning or replacement of parts that contact the beverage.
Innovation Solution
A domestic beverage dispensing device with a cooling member made of heat conductive material and a disposable tube of deformable material that extends through the passage, where the tube's deformability allows it to abut the inner surface of the cooling member under pressure, enhancing heat conduction and allowing for efficient cooling without a large electric current supply, and is easily replaced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a Peltier cooling device is used to cool the beer in the keg, then the device has limited dimensions and can operate where electric power is available, but it takes more than 10 hours to cool down 6 liters of beer from 23°C to 3°C
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two parts: a small Peltier cooling device that cools a heat conductive member (aluminum block), and the heat conductive member that rapidly transfers heat to the beer through direct contact via a deformable tube. This segmentation allows the electric cooling component to remain small while achieving fast overall cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat conductive member (aluminum block) acts as an intermediary between the Peltier cooling device and the beer. The Peltier device cools the aluminum block, which then rapidly conducts heat away from the beer through direct contact, enabling fast cooling without requiring a large electric cooling device.
Solution Approach 3:
The system changes the physical state of the tube from rigid to deformable, allowing it to change shape under pressure and maximize contact surface area with the heat conductive member. This parameter change enables efficient heat transfer without requiring a large cooling device.
2Loss of time
If a compression cooling device is used to cool the beer in a much shorter time, then the cooling time is reduced, but a large supply of electric current and a large volume for accommodating the cooling device are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented between a small Peltier device (low power consumption) and a passive heat conductive aluminum block. The Peltier device only needs to cool the small aluminum block, not the entire 6 liters of beer directly, dramatically reducing power requirements while achieving fast cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat conductive aluminum block serves as a thermal intermediary that stores cooling capacity and rapidly transfers it to the beer. This allows a small low-power Peltier device to achieve the cooling effect of a much larger compression cooling device.
3Device complexity
If a rigid tube is used as conduit means, then the structure is simple, but air inclusions may form and heat transfer efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is made deformable rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically change shape in response to internal beer pressure. Under pressure, the tube deforms to maximize contact with the heat conductive member, ensuring efficient heat transfer and eliminating air gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube's physical parameters (shape, contact surface area) change in response to pressure conditions. At operating pressure, the tube deforms to achieve optimal contact with the heat conductive member, ensuring reliable heat transfer without complex structural modifications.
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 device efficiently cools beer to drinking temperature in a short time without a large cooling device or high electric current, and the disposable tube's design improves hygiene by being easily replaced and reducing air inclusions for better heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling member (12) made of heat conductive material
Implementation Method 2
a so called Peltier cooling device, being known in the art, which absorbs heat at one junction of paired metals or semiconductors and releases it at another junction thereof when electric current passes through these junctions
Data Source
AI summary
A domestic beverage dispensing device includes a conduit for supplying the beverage from keg to a tap and a cooling member. The cooling member has a passage surrounded by heat conductive material. A disposable tube of deformable material forms at least a part of the conduit and extends through the passage. The deformability of the material of the disposable tube is such that the outer surface of the wall of the tube abuts against the inner surface of the passage when the beverage is pressurized.