Hot Milk Dispensing With Flat Plate Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of commercial apparatus suitable for dispensing hot chocolate milk at high volumes without temperature loss, and existing solutions, such as coil heaters, often result in scorching and inconsistent temperatures, making them unsuitable for portable use or commercial viability.
Innovation Solution
A portable dispensing device with a refrigerated section and a heating section using a flat plate heat exchanger to maintain uniform temperature, allowing for consistent and scorch-free heating of beverages, capable of delivering at least six 14 oz. servings of hot chocolate milk per minute.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a coil heater is used to heat chocolate milk, then the milk can be heated to the required temperature, but the milk scorching and temperature uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device between the heat source and the chocolate milk. Instead of direct contact heating that causes scorching, the heat exchanger transfers thermal energy through a medium, ensuring uniform and controlled heating without scorching the milk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical coil heater system with a heat exchanger system that uses fluid dynamics and thermal conduction through plates. This substitution eliminates the scorching problem inherent in direct contact heating while maintaining effective temperature control.
2Temperature
If a coil heater is used to heat chocolate milk, then the milk can be heated, but the device portability and ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves as an intermediary that separates the heating mechanism from the milk container. This separation allows the milk container to be easily removed and cleaned without dealing with complex heating elements, significantly improving ease of operation and maintenance.
3Temperature
If a large volume of heated liquid is used in a heating coil, then the chocolate milk can be heated to proper temperature, but the device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulky coil heater requiring large volumes of heated liquid with a compact heat exchanger system. This substitution dramatically reduces the device weight and size while maintaining effective heating capability, enabling portability for mobile applications.
4Manufacturing precision
If a flat plate heat exchanger is used, then temperature uniformity and portability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed with segmented plates that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation simplifies the overall device structure, making it less complex while maintaining the temperature uniformity benefits of the heat exchanger design.
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 device effectively heats and dispenses hot chocolate milk at a consistent temperature, preventing scorching and ensuring a uniform product, making it suitable for high-volume use in portable settings like sporting events.
Implementation Method 1
Within the container is a flat plate heat exchanger for maintaining a uniform, consistent temperature of the milk, or other beverages, without scorching
Implementation Method 2
a heating section using a flat plate heat exchanger to maintain uniform temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A heated beverage, such as hot chocolate milk is dispensed by providing a refrigerated insulated cabinet having a plurality of beverage storage bags therein for storing refrigerated chocolate milk. Compressed CO2 draws the milk through a pump and pushes it through a flat plate heat exchanger and out to a spigot. The CO2 regulates the flow rate of the milk being dispensed. A heat exchange fluid, e.g., glycol is heated by a heating element and circulated through the flat plate heat exchanger to heat the milk as it passes through the flat plate heat exchanger. A thermostat maintains the heat exchange fluid and heated beverage at a desired temperature.