Liquid quality control device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated beer orders lead to inadequate cooling due to mismatched beer consumption rates and the coolability of beer dispensers, resulting in suboptimally cooled beer being served.
Innovation Solution
A liquid quality management device that includes a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, and a determination unit to assess the coolability of the dispensing device by measuring actual flow rates and temperatures, allowing for the selection of dispensing devices with suitable coolability matching consumption patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the refrigeration machine operates continuously to maintain cooling, then the beer temperature can be maintained, but energy consumption increases and cannot handle concentrated orders efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools the beer in the storage container before concentrated orders arrive by detecting the storage container temperature. When the temperature is within the target range, the system activates the refrigeration machine in advance to chill the beer barrel, ensuring ready-to-serve cold beer when demand spikes occur, thus avoiding continuous operation during peak times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor both the storage container and cooling tank temperatures, feeding this information back to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit intelligently adjusts the refrigeration machine operation - activating it when the storage container temperature rises above the target range and deactivating it when the temperature is sufficient, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining beer quality.
2Productivity
If the refrigeration machine operates based on cooling water temperature, then cooling efficiency is improved, but it cannot respond in time to sudden increases in beer consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors the storage container temperature continuously and activates the refrigeration machine in advance when the temperature approaches the target range, rather than waiting for the cooling water temperature to indicate the need for cooling. This preliminary detection and activation ensures the beer is chilled and ready before concentrated orders arrive, eliminating the time lag in responding to consumption demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces the storage container temperature as an intermediary parameter between the beer consumption demand and the refrigeration machine operation. Instead of directly responding to cooling water temperature (which lags behind actual beer temperature changes), the system uses storage container temperature as an early indicator to trigger refrigeration activation, improving response time to consumption patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a larger refrigeration machine is used to handle peak demand, then coolability is improved, but energy consumption increases during low-demand periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the refrigeration machine operation based on real-time temperature conditions. The control unit activates the refrigeration machine only when the storage container temperature exceeds the target range, and deactivates it when the temperature is sufficient. This dynamic on-off control allows the system to adapt its cooling capacity to actual demand, maintaining high coolability when needed while minimizing energy consumption during low-demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the refrigeration machine based on temperature conditions. Instead of continuous operation at full capacity, the system adjusts the refrigeration machine state between on and off based on the storage container temperature relative to the target range, optimizing the balance between coolability and energy consumption across varying demand conditions.
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
Ensures optimal beer temperature and energy efficiency by determining suitable coolability, reducing power consumption and costs in restaurants.
Implementation Method 1
The beer dispenser freezes a part of a cooling water within the cooling tank by the refrigeration machine
Implementation Method 2
the beer is cooled and dispensed with heat exchange between the beer passing through the beer cooling pipe immersed in the cooling water of which a part is frozen and the cooling water
Implementation Method 3
an actual flow rate preparation unit including a flow rate sensor which detects the amount of liquid dispensed into the drinking container
Implementation Method 4
a dispensing liquid temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system which can supply a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid, and can dispense the liquid to a drinking container. The liquid quality management device includes an actual flow rate preparation unit including a flow rate sensor for determining an actual measured flow rate of the liquid; a dispensing liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container; and a determination unit electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor, for determining an integrated flow rate of the liquid when the liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a set temperature, and for determining whether or not coolability of the dispensing device is suitable by comparing the integrated flow rate with a determination value.