Disposable Heat Transfer Path for Gentle Milk Foam Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current milk foam heating technologies either require frequent and cumbersome cleaning due to milk deterioration or destroy the foam texture during heating, failing to provide superior quality milk foam on demand.
Innovation Solution
A disposable heat transfer device with a labyrinth-shaped path and thermally conductive layers, integrated into a pack or machine, uses steam to heat the milk without direct contact, combined with a pumping and foaming device for gentle and efficient foaming via Couette Flow, eliminating the need for cleaning and maintaining foam quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat transfer device (thermobloc) is used to heat milk foam, then the milk foam can be heated, but the device requires frequent and cumbersome cleaning due to milk deterioration and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable heat transfer device that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and maintenance. This disposable approach resolves the contradiction by sacrificing the reusability of the heating device to achieve complete elimination of cleaning operations, while still providing effective milk foam heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the heat transfer function from a permanent, cleanable device and transfers it to a disposable component that is discarded after use. This separation allows the main machine to remain clean and maintenance-free, while the disposable part absorbs the contamination and is simply discarded.
2Temperature
If direct steam flow is used to heat milk foam, then heating is achieved, but the texture of the milk foam is destroyed providing very low quality foam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat transfer device that indirectly heats the milk foam through thermal conduction rather than direct steam contact. This intermediary layer transfers heat efficiently while protecting the delicate foam structure from direct steam exposure, thus maintaining texture quality while achieving effective heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of steam to water within the heat transfer device to generate heat, which is then transferred indirectly to the milk foam. This phase change provides efficient heating while the indirect transfer mechanism preserves the foam's textural integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If a heat exchanger is used that works with higher quantities of fluid (5-10 liters), then heating capacity is sufficient, but part of the fluid remains inside the system and can be contaminated requiring cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable heat transfer device that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and maintenance. This disposable approach resolves the contradiction by sacrificing the reusability of the heating device to achieve complete elimination of cleaning operations, while still providing effective milk foam heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the system into a permanent main unit and a disposable heat transfer component. This segmentation allows the fluid processing capacity to be sufficient while the disposable component absorbs all contamination risk, eliminating the need to clean the main system.
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 system provides high-quality, gentle heating of milk foam without degrading its texture and eliminates cleaning requirements, ensuring a compact, contamination-free, and efficient heating process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one layer made of a thermally conductive material, the path being in contact with the layer in such a way that when the layer is heated it transmits heat to the fluid or fluid foam as it circulates through the path
Implementation Method 2
the layer is heated by the change of phase of steam into liquid when circulating through the first path
Implementation Method 3
the pumping and foaming device comprises two parts, one moveable relative to the other (both parts can be movable or one part can be static and the other part can be movable: in both configurations, there will be a relative movement between the two parts) such that a mixture of air and fluid circulates through the two parts and is subjected to shear stress allowing the foaming of the mixture of fluid and air. This foaming principle is known as Couette Flow
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a disposable heat transfer device (10) for heating a fluid or a fluid foam on demand comprising a path (30) through which the fluid or the fluid foam circulates and at least one layer (11) made of a thermally conductive material, the path (30) being in contact with the layer (11) in such a way that when the layer (11) is heated it transmits heat to the fluid or fluid foam as it circulates through the path (30).