Multi-Temperature Milk Foam Production Using Steam and Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing milk foam are complex and limited in producing a variety of milk foams with different temperatures and properties, such as cold, warm, and hot milk foams, which are essential for creating diverse coffee-milk mixed drinks.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a milk line, steam source, and heat exchanger to produce milk foams at different temperatures by injecting superheated steam into a milk-air emulsion, allowing for the production of cold, warm, and hot milk foams with precise temperature control between 30°C and 80°C, using a breast pump and adjustable throttles to adjust air and milk flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices and complex valve arrangements are used to produce milk foams at different temperatures, then the variety of milk foam types increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single device is designed to perform multiple functions by producing cold, warm, and hot milk foams using one integrated system. The device includes a control unit that coordinates a steam valve, heat exchanger, and milk pump to achieve different foam temperatures through controlled steam injection and heating, eliminating the need for separate devices for each foam type.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses dynamically adjustable components including a controllable steam valve that can vary steam flow rates, a heat exchanger with variable heating capacity, and a programmable control unit that adjusts operational parameters in real-time. This dynamic control allows the same physical components to produce different foam temperatures and properties by changing operational conditions rather than requiring separate fixed-function devices.
2Speed
If steam injection is used to heat milk foam, then heating speed increases, but temperature control precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives temperature feedback from a sensor positioned in the milk foam stream and dynamically adjusts the steam valve opening and heat exchanger operation to maintain the target temperature. This closed-loop control system prevents overheating by continuously monitoring actual temperature and modulating steam flow accordingly, ensuring precise temperature control despite the rapid heating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system intentionally applies more heating capacity than minimum required (excessive action) through the steam injection and heat exchanger, then uses the control unit to precisely modulate and reduce the actual heating effect to the exact target temperature. This approach allows rapid heating followed by precise temperature adjustment, achieving both speed and precision.
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 the simple production of milk foams at three distinct temperatures, allowing for the creation of various milk foam properties like consistency and stability, enhancing the quality and appearance of coffee-milk mixed drinks, particularly in fully automatic coffee machines.
Implementation Method 1
a steam source (22) for injecting superheated steam into a milk-air emulsion of first temperature T1 to a hot temperature T3 > T1 for producing a hot milk foam - HMS - with the temperature T3
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger (20) for heating a milk-air emulsion of first temperature T1 to a warm temperature T2 to produce a warm milk foam - WMS - with the temperature T2
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a coffee-milk mixed beverage using a hot beverage machine with a device for producing milk froth, the device having at least: a) a milk line (3) through which milk flows, b) at least one device for producing a milk Air emulsion as cold milk foam - KMS - with a first temperature T1, c) a steam source (22) for injecting superheated steam into a milk-air emulsion at first temperature T1 to a hot temperature T3 > T1 to produce a hot milk foam - HMS - at the temperature T3, so that the hot milk foam - HMS - can be heated to the temperature T3 between 55° C. and 80° C. by means of steam injection, and d) a heat exchanger (20) for heating a milk-air emulsion to the first temperature T1 to a warm temperature T2 to produce a warm milk froth - WMS - with the temperature T2, where: T1 < T2 < T3; whereby the milk froth can be heated with the heat exchanger (20) to the temperature T2 to a temperature with a denaturing effect, in particular to between 40° C. and 54° C., characterized in that at least one warm milk froth - WMS - and one hot milk froth - HMS - with different temperatures T2 and T3 and added.