Multicompartment Beverage Capsule for Reactive Flavor Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules face challenges in extending the shelf life of beverage formulations due to chemical reactions between reactive compounds, which lead to deterioration of flavor over time, especially under low pH conditions.
Innovation Solution
A multicompartment capsule design with separate, fluidly isolated compartments for aroma and taste/mouthfeel compounds, where aroma compounds are segregated in an ethanol-based compartment and taste/mouthfeel compounds are in a water-based compartment, minimizing chemical reactions and using encapsulation or adsorption techniques to protect volatile compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beverage formulations containing reactive compounds are stored in a single compartment capsule, then the capsule structure is simple, but chemical reactions occur between compounds leading to flavor deterioration and reduced shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is divided into multiple fluidly isolated compartments, each containing different beverage formulations with reactive compounds. The partition walls prevent direct contact between reactive compounds while allowing separate storage, thus extending shelf life without requiring complex external packaging or preservatives.
2Reliability
If aroma compounds are stored in a water-based compartment, then the capsule structure is simple, but volatile aroma compounds deteriorate due to chemical reactions and evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The aroma compartment is specifically designed with ethanol as the base liquid, creating a localized environment with different chemical properties than water-based compartments. This local quality change (ethanol vs. water) provides better protection for volatile aroma compounds by reducing their tendency to evaporate and react with water.
3Productivity
If multiple beverage formulations are mixed together in the capsule, then the beverage formation process is simple, but chemical reactions between reactive compounds occur leading to flavor deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
Different beverage formulations are pre-prepared and separately stored in isolated compartments before the beverage formation process. This preliminary separation prevents unwanted chemical reactions from occurring during storage, while still allowing efficient mixing to occur only when needed during the actual beverage formation process.
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 segregation of reactive compounds in separate compartments significantly extends the shelf life of the beverage formulations while maintaining the predetermined aroma and taste, allowing for a stable flavor profile when combined during beverage formation.
Implementation Method 1
The partition separates the first beverage formulation from the second beverage formulation to extend the shelf life of the multicompartment capsule
Implementation Method 2
the interior of the first compartment is fluidly isolated
Data Source
AI summary
A multicompartment capsule for use with a beverage forming apparatus includes a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall includes a rim extending outwardly from an upper end thereof. The rim surrounds an opening of the multicompartment capsule wherein an upper surface of the outwardly extending rim is sealed to a lower surface of a lid. At least one partition extends through an interior of the multicompartment capsule so as to form a first sealed compartment that is fluidly isolated from a second sealed compartment. The first sealed compartment includes a first beverage formulation and the second sealed compartment includes a second beverage formulation. The first beverage formulation is reactive with the second beverage formulation and the partition separates the first beverage formulation from the second beverage formulation to extend the shelf life of the multicompartment capsule.