E61 Coffee Machine Temperature Control With Boiler Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coffee machines for domestic use with E61 dispensing groups face challenges in maintaining an optimum temperature for coffee dispensing, often resulting in coffee that is either too cold or too hot.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine equipped with a heating group comprising a boiler device and a heat exchanger, along with a temperature control and regulation device, which uses probes to monitor and manage the temperature of the E61 group body, ensuring it remains within an optimal range by adjusting the heating element and managing water flow through the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional heating system is used in domestic coffee machines with E61 dispensing groups, then the machine structure remains simple and compact, but the E61 group body cannot maintain an optimum temperature for coffee dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into two independent circuits: a first circuit with a first heating element for heating water that flows through the E61 group body, and a second circuit with a second heating element for heating a heat exchange fluid in a separate heat exchange chamber. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently for maintaining the E61 group body temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchange chamber filled with heat exchange fluid (such as sand or ceramic beads) is introduced as an intermediary thermal mass between the second heating element and the E61 group body. This intermediary stores thermal energy and releases it gradually, maintaining stable temperature in the E61 group body even when the heating element is not actively heating.
2Reliability
If the heating element is continuously activated to maintain temperature, then the E61 group body temperature remains stable, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action by activating the second heating element to heat the heat exchange fluid in the thermal mass before coffee dispensing is needed. This pre-heating stores thermal energy in advance, allowing the E61 group body to maintain temperature without continuous active heating, thus reducing energy consumption while ensuring temperature stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the temperature of the E61 group body and provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the heating elements accordingly - activating them only when temperature drops below a threshold and deactivating them when the threshold is reached - thereby maintaining temperature stability while minimizing energy consumption through demand-responsive control.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the machine is designed for infrequent domestic use, then it remains compact and simple, but the E61 group body temperature fluctuates between uses
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange chamber filled with heat exchange fluid serves as a thermal buffer that maintains temperature during idle periods between coffee dispensing operations. This intermediary thermal mass retains heat longer than the E61 group body alone, extending the duration of temperature maintenance without requiring continuous power input, thus addressing the infrequent use scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameters of the E61 group body by introducing a heat exchange fluid with specific thermal properties (high specific heat capacity) into the heat exchange chamber. This parameter change enables the system to maintain temperature for extended periods during idle times, adapting the thermal behavior to suit infrequent domestic use patterns.
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 coffee machine effectively maintains the E61 group body at an optimal temperature, preventing excessively hot or cold coffee, achieving consistent quality even with infrequent use, and reacting to temperature changes for efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element (315) housed in said boiler chamber (310') and suitable for heating said predefined quantity of water until it is transformed into steam
Implementation Method 2
the coffee machine (1) comprises a heating group (3) suitable for heating a predefined quantity of water to heat the group body (21) and/or dispense the beverage through the filter holder
Implementation Method 3
a temperature control and regulation device (4) connected to said heating element (315) and to said heating group (3), by means of which the temperature of water flowing within the group body (21) is controllable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a coffee machine (1) for domestic use comprising a dispensing group (2) of type E61. Furthermore, the coffee machine (1) comprises a heating group (3) comprising a boiler device (31) in which a predefined quantity of water is housed, and a heating element (315), suitable for heating said predefined quantity of water and also comprises a heat exchanger (32), substantially housed in the boiler body (31), in which flows a predefined quantity of water to and from the dispensing group (2). In addition, the coffee machine (1) comprises a - a temperature control and regulation device (4) comprising a first probe (41), which detects the temperature inside the boiler device (31) and a second probe (42), which detects the temperature of the water inside the heat exchanger (32) and a control unit (40) connected to said first probe (41), to said second probe (42) and to the heating element (315) to command the latter during switching on or off according to the temperature values detected by the first probe (41) and by the second probe (42).