Electrolytic Beverage Line Sanitization Without Chemical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sanitization methods for beverage dispensing systems require handling dangerous chemicals, involve costly energy consumption, and necessitate storage of mineral salts, making them inefficient and unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an electrolytic cell to generate hypochlorous acid from an aqueous solution within a vessel, controlled by a unit that manages electrolysis time, solution introduction, and cycling to sanitize ducts without requiring dangerous chemicals or mineral salts, optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sanitizing solutions (chemical compounds) are used to sanitize beverage dispensing systems, then biological agent concentration is reduced effectively, but human safety is compromised and storage/handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the chemical composition parameters of the sanitizing solution by using electrolytic generation of hypochlorous acid from saline water, changing from traditional strong chemical compounds to a milder, safer chemical composition that maintains sanitization effectiveness while improving human safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates its own sanitizing solution on-demand through an electrolytic cell, eliminating the need for external storage and handling of dangerous chemicals. The device prepares the sanitizing solution from ordinary saline water at the point of use, making the system self-sufficient and safer
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrolytic cells are used to generate hypochlorous acid, then human safety is improved and chemical storage is eliminated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolytic cell operates periodically rather than continuously, generating sanitizing solution only when needed for sanitization cycles. This intermittent operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation, while still maintaining safety benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ordinary saline water (readily available from water supply) as the base material instead of requiring specialized chemicals or mineral salts. This substitution of common materials for specialized ones reduces both cost and energy requirements
3Reliability
If mineral salts are added to aqueous solution to enhance electrolysis, then hypochlorous acid generation is improved, but system complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes naturally occurring chlorides in ordinary water supply to generate hypochlorous acid through electrolysis, eliminating the need for external addition of mineral salts. The water supply itself provides the necessary chemical components, simplifying the system
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolytic cell serves multiple functions: it generates hypochlorous acid for sanitization, and the same process can be applied to different beverage dispensing systems regardless of their specific requirements. The system is universally applicable without needing customization for different mineral salt compositions
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 safe, economical, and efficient sanitization of beverage dispensing systems by generating hypochlorous acid in situ, reducing biological agent concentration without human hazard and minimizing energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
By means of a suitable electrolytic cell, in fact, it is possible to create hypochlorous acid starting from an aqueous solution, in particular an aqueous solution containing chlorides. The water is made to flow inside the vessel of the electrolytic cell. By feeding the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell with a suitable voltage, a current passage is generated between the two electrodes through the water.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for the sanitization of a beverage dispensing system comprising the following steps: feeding a vessel of an electrolytic cell with an aqueous solution; interrupting said feeding step, so that a predetermined quantity of said aqueous solution is inside said vessel; activating an electrolysis process inside said vessel, so as to transform said predetermined quantity of said aqueous solution into a quantity of sanitizing solution; and introducing said quantity of sanitizing solution into at least one duct of said beverage dispensing system.