Device and system for creating infused beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage brewing systems lack independent control over infusion pressure and flow rate, leading to inconsistent flavor and chemical composition, and fail to provide precise temperature control, making it difficult to optimize and reproduce brewed beverages consistently.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a Solvent Flow Management System (SFMS), Solvent Temperature Management System (STMS), and Solution Pressure Management System (SPMS) that includes a piston-driven pump with a heating element and electronic control system, allowing for precise control of solvent flow, temperature, and pressure management, enabling independent modulation of flow rate and pressure during the brewing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If infusion pressure is modified by modulating the resistance of solute media while holding pumping energy constant, then infusion pressure changes, but infusion flow rate also changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates pressure control and flow rate control into independent subsystems: a pump system that controls flow rate independently, and a pressure regulation system that maintains infusion pressure. This segmentation allows each parameter to be controlled without affecting the other, resolving the contradiction where pressure modification previously caused flow rate changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters (pump speed, valve positions, heating element power) to maintain independent control of pressure and flow rate. By changing these parameters in a coordinated manner, the system can modify infusion pressure while keeping flow rate constant, or vice versa, overcoming the limitation of conventional single-parameter control.
2Stress or pressure
If infusion pressure is modified by variation of solvent pumping force while keeping resistance of resistive media constant, then infusion pressure increases, but infusion flow rate also changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control mechanisms with sensors that monitor both infusion pressure and flow rate in real-time. The control system continuously adjusts pump speed and valve positions based on feedback signals to maintain the desired pressure while compensating for any flow rate changes, thereby resolving the contradiction where pressure increase previously caused unintended flow rate variation.
3Device complexity
If constant volume solvent supply system dispenses solution from boiler, then system is simple, but temperature consistency cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the solvent in a dedicated heating chamber before it enters the brewing chamber. A heating element pre-heats the solvent to the target temperature, and thermal insulation maintains this temperature during transfer. This preliminary action ensures temperature consistency is achieved before brewing begins, resolving the contradiction where simple constant volume systems cannot maintain temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary heated transfer chamber between the solvent reservoir and the brewing chamber. This intermediary chamber acts as a thermal buffer, maintaining solvent temperature during transfer through insulation and optional heating. This allows the simple constant volume supply system to achieve temperature consistency by mediating the thermal transition, overcoming the limitation of direct dispensing.
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 precise and consistent brewing by allowing independent control of flow rate, pressure, and temperature, optimizing the chemical composition and flavor of brewed beverages, and facilitating the production of beverages with predetermined infusion duration and volume.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element disposed within the pump body and outside of fluid contact with the solvent, the heating element operably configured to activate and thermally couple with the solvent housed by the pump through conduction within a material of the pump body
Data Source
AI summary
A system for creating infused beverages that includes a solvent flow management system having a pump housed in a pump body and operably coupled to a pump drive system operably configured to drive the pump to induce a flow of solvent, housed by the pump, through a solute housed in a brewing chamber to generate an infused solution. The system also includes a heating element disposed within the pump body, outside of fluid contact with the solvent, and is operably configured to activate and thermally couple with the solvent housed by the pump through conduction within a material of the pump body. An electronic control system is also provided that is operably configured to activate the pump drive system and to activate the heating element.