Phase-Change Beverage Temperature Regulator to Prevent Bottle Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cooling devices immerse bottles in water or ice, leading to wetting issues and limited temperature control, especially for maintaining temperatures other than 0°C, and fail to maintain desired temperatures for both cold and hot beverages.
Innovation Solution
A device using phase-change substances in containers that can be inserted in a bucket, allowing temperature regulation between 0°C and 55°C, with phase-change materials like eutectic solutions and paraffin for maintaining desired beverage temperatures without immersion in liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If bottles are immersed in water or ice for cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but bottles become wet and cause dripping when extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (phase-change material) that transfers thermal energy to the beverage without requiring direct liquid contact. The phase-change material is contained within a basket or container that interfaces with the bottle, allowing heat transfer through conduction while preventing liquid from reaching the bottle surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful liquid medium is extracted from the cooling system. Instead of immersing the bottle in water or ice, the patent uses a phase-change material enclosed in a container that surrounds the bottle, separating the cooling function from the liquid that causes wetting.
2Temperature
If ice is used for cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but temperature is limited to around 0°C and cannot maintain higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cooling medium by using phase-change materials with different melting points. By selecting materials with appropriate phase-change temperatures (e.g., -20°C for frozen beverages, 0°C for wines, +20°C for hot beverages), the system can maintain various temperature ranges beyond the limitations of ice.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-change material basket serves multiple functions: it can be filled with different phase-change materials to achieve various temperature ranges, and the same device structure can be used for both cooling and heating applications by simply changing the material in the basket.
3Adaptability or versatility
If phase-change materials are used in containers, then temperature regulation flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a simple bucket and a removable basket containing the phase-change material. This segmentation allows the complex phase-change component to be easily separated, filled, and replaced without complicating the overall device structure. The basket can be removed from the bucket to refill or replace the phase-change material.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic adaptability through removable and refillable phase-change material containers. Users can dynamically adjust the temperature regulation capability by replacing the phase-change material in the basket according to different beverage requirements, making the device adaptable without permanent structural modifications.
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
Maintains beverage temperatures accurately and keeps bottles dry, offering wide temperature regulation and suitability for both cold and hot beverages by using phase-change materials that can be easily adjusted for freezer or heater use.
Implementation Method 1
containers (4), which are preferably shaped in order to embrace said bottle (2), when it is inserted in the device (1). These containers (4) are filled with a phase-change substance
Implementation Method 2
once withdrawn from the freezer, they will be at a temperature near -20°C, but they will quickly rise to the temperature of 0°C, namely at the phase change temperature, at which they will remain much longer
Implementation Method 3
If the object is keeping a wine fresh at the temperature of some degree above zero degrees centigrade, the containers can advantageously be filled with water and frozen in a freezer
Implementation Method 4
If the object is keeping a beverage hot, for example sakè, then a phase-change substance can advantageously be used, which has a transition at the temperature of about 58÷60°C
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A device (1) is described for regulating the temperature of beverages in a bottle (2), of the type comprising a bucket (3) in which the bottle (2) can be inserted, means being provided designed to regulate the temperature which comprise cold or hot accumulators (4), wherein the cold or hot accumulators (4) comprise phase-change substances,which are pure substances, having a well-defined melting temperature, for example water, and the phase-change substance is an eutectic alloy, for temperatures below zero degrees centigrade, the phase-change substances being: solution at -5°C: 1.5% carboxymethyl cellulose, 0.1% sodium bicarbonate, 0.1% sodium chloride, 98.3% water; solution at -11°C: 20% potassium chloride, 80% water; solution at -16°C: 19.4% ammonium chloride, 200.25% sodium chloride, 80.35% water; solution at -30°C: 30% calcium chloride, 70% water.