Diffuser Nozzle Structure for Stable Carbonation Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage dispensing nozzles struggle to accommodate fluids with varying viscosities, flow rates, mixing ratios, and temperatures, leading to inconsistent carbonation levels and breakout in carbonated beverages, limiting the variety of beverages that can be dispensed from a single nozzle design.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispensing nozzle with an inlet section, restriction region, expansion chamber, and mesh insert that minimizes carbonation breakout by providing backpressure and evenly distributing bubbles, allowing for higher carbonation levels and consistent fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If CO2 is injected directly into the liquid through a conventional nozzle, then carbonation is achieved, but excessive foaming occurs and liquid splashing is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into multiple components: a body portion with a discharge hole, a separate cap portion with multiple through-holes, and a diffuser element with multiple diffuser holes. This segmentation allows CO2 to be distributed through multiple pathways rather than a single direct injection point, reducing localized gas accumulation and foaming while maintaining effective carbonation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap portion acts as an intermediary between the CO2 supply and the liquid. It distributes CO2 through multiple small through-holes before the gas reaches the liquid, creating a more controlled and distributed injection pattern that prevents excessive foaming. The diffuser element further mediates the gas-liquid interaction by breaking up CO2 streams into smaller bubbles.
2Productivity
If CO2 injection pressure is increased to improve carbonation efficiency, then CO2 dissolution increases, but liquid splashing and foaming worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle incorporates porous-like structures through the multiple small diffuser holes in the diffuser element and the multiple through-holes in the cap portion. These numerous small openings distribute high-pressure CO2 into many smaller streams, maintaining carbonation efficiency while reducing the formation of large foam bubbles that cause splashing.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single-point CO2 injection (zero-dimensional) to a distributed multi-point injection system (two-dimensional array of holes). This dimensional change allows the CO2 to be introduced across a broader area of the liquid surface, improving carbonation efficiency without concentrating force that would cause splashing.
3Device complexity
If a simple nozzle structure is used, then device complexity is low, but carbonation uniformity and control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into functional segments (body, cap, diffuser) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. Each segment focuses on a specific aspect of CO2 distribution, allowing for optimized manufacturing of each component while achieving overall uniform carbonation when assembled together.
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 nozzle design enables the dispensing of beverages with higher carbonation levels, comparable to canned beverages, by reducing carbonation breakout and maintaining uniform fluid velocity and bubble distribution, thus enhancing the variety of beverages that can be dispensed from a single system.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of diffuser holes extending from the inner surface of the cap portion to the inner surface of the body portion, wherein the diffuser holes are positioned to face a bottom surface of the container in use
Implementation Method 2
wherein the diffuser holes are positioned to face a bottom surface of the container in use
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for fluid dispensing nozzles are described. Various implementations include a fluid dispensing nozzle including an inlet section which defines an inlet channel with a first diameter, and a restriction region which defines a restriction channel fluidically coupled to the inlet channel. The restriction channel extends along a first predetermined length and has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The nozzle includes an expansion chamber which defines an expansion channel fluidically coupled to the restriction channel. The expansion chamber has a trumpet shape with a maximum diameter at an outlet of the expansion chamber. The maximum diameter of the expansion chamber is greater than the first diameter; and nozzle includes a diffuser plate positioned at the outlet of the expansion chamber. The diffuser plate includes a plurality of openings and a mesh insert that is disposed across the plurality of openings.