Milk Foam Heater Unit With Separate Steam Injection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for preparing milk or milk froth in vending machines, such as coffee machines, suffer from low heating capacity and poor controllability, leading to inconsistent product quality due to coupled conveyance and heating processes using steam, which results in thermal inertia and potential encrustation issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that decouple heating and conveyance processes, using separate steam supply for precise temperature control and incorporating a heater unit with radial steam injection and adjustable components like throttles and temperature sensors to regulate milk froth quality independently of heating, minimizing thermal inertia and encrustation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If steam is used to heat and propel milk through the same coupled system, then the heating process is simplified, but the heating capacity is low and product quality consistency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a heating unit with steam injection for temperature control, a frothing unit with air injection for foam quality, and a pumping system for conveyance. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, achieving high heating capacity while maintaining consistent product quality through dedicated control of each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is extracted from the coupled steam-propelled system and implemented as a separate steam injection heating unit. This extraction enables precise temperature control through dedicated steam dosing, independent of the conveyance process, thereby improving heating capacity and product quality consistency.
2Power
If steam injection heating is used, then heating capacity increases, but thermal inertia increases causing encrustation risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of steam injection rate and timing based on real-time temperature feedback from sensors. The heating power is continuously adjusted to match the actual thermal needs of the milk flow, preventing excessive heat accumulation that would cause thermal inertia and encrustation, while still achieving high heating capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors positioned at strategic locations provide continuous feedback to the control system, which adjusts steam injection rates accordingly. This closed-loop control prevents overheating and minimizes thermal inertia by stopping steam supply as soon as the target temperature is reached, eliminating the conditions that lead to encrustation.
3Device complexity
If heating and frothing are coupled in one process, then the system structure is simplified, but control of milk froth quality is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the frothing function (air injection through static mixers) from the heating function (steam injection), allowing independent optimization of each process. The frothing unit can be precisely controlled for foam texture and volume while the heating unit independently manages temperature, achieving high milk froth quality control without excessive structural complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the heating process affects the milk froth preparation, then the system operation is simplified, but the milk froth quality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The frothing process is extracted from the heating process into a separate functional unit. Air is injected through static mixers in the frothing unit independently of the steam heating occurring in the heating unit. This extraction allows milk froth quality to be optimized without compromise from heating effects, while the integrated system maintains ease of operation through automated coordinated control of both units.
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
This approach enables high heat output with precise controllability, maintaining milk froth quality and preventing overheating, ensuring consistent product quality and minimizing thermal inertia, thus improving the overall performance of the milk froth preparation system.
Implementation Method 1
a heater unit (5) for heating the milk or the milk froth with steam
Implementation Method 2
heating the milk or the milk froth with steam
Implementation Method 3
the conveyance and heating of the product are coupled by using steam as the heating and propellant medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for preparing milk and milk foam in drinks machines, such as coffee machines and similar pieces of equipment, which are provided with a heater unit (5) for heating the milk and/or the milk foam with steam. The system contains, according to the invention, a feed (1) for the milk and/or the milk foam and a separate feed (2) for the steam, which is fed directly, as a heat-transfer medium, into the milk and/or the milk foam in the heater unit (5), which operates as an injector. The system allows a high heating capacity along with simultaneously good regulating capability and minimized thermal inertia. Since the foaming operation and the heating operation are separated from one another, the quality of the milk foam remains unimpaired by the heating operation.