Post-Mix Beverage Dispensing With Two-Stage Liquid Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Post-mixed beverages often appear hazy and/or are not homogeneously mixed, leading to undesirable turbidity and uneven flavor distribution, which affects the drinking experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and assembly for mixing a beverage concentrate with a base liquid in a beverage dispenser, where the concentrate is first diluted with the base liquid, and then ethanol and/or hop compounds are added to form a primary liquid, which is subsequently mixed with a secondary liquid to create a homogeneous post-mixed beverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If beverage concentrate is mixed with base liquid in conventional manner, then transportation efficiency is improved, but turbidity increases and homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing process is divided into two distinct stages: first mixing the concentrate with base liquid to form a primary liquid, then separately adding ethanol and hop compounds. This segmentation prevents premature interaction of all components, allowing each substance to integrate properly at the right time, thereby achieving both transportation efficiency and mixing homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrate is pre-diluted with base liquid before adding the remaining ingredients. This preliminary action creates a primary liquid that serves as a better medium for subsequent ingredient integration, improving overall mixing homogeneity while maintaining the transportation benefits of concentration.
2Volume of stationary object
If beverage concentrate is mixed with base liquid, then volume reduction is achieved, but turbidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate is pre-diluted with base liquid to form a primary liquid before adding ethanol and hop compounds. This preliminary dilution action allows the concentrate to integrate more smoothly with the base liquid, reducing turbidity while maintaining volume reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary liquid acts as an intermediary medium between the concentrate and the final ingredients (ethanol and hop compounds). This intermediate stage allows for better integration of all components, reducing harmful turbidity effects while maintaining volume efficiency.
3Loss of time
If concentrate is mixed with base liquid and ethanol/hop compounds simultaneously, then mixing time is reduced, but homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing process is segmented into sequential stages: first mixing concentrate with base liquid, then adding ethanol and hop compounds. This segmentation ensures proper integration at each stage while maintaining efficient overall mixing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrate is pre-mixed with base liquid to form a primary liquid before adding the remaining ingredients. This preliminary action creates an optimal base for subsequent ingredient integration, achieving homogeneity without excessive mixing time.
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 method results in a more homogeneous post-mixed beverage with reduced turbidity and improved flavor distribution, mimicking conventional beverages, while allowing for lower ethanol content in the concentrate.
Implementation Method 1
a first liquid, comprising water, is mixed together with a beverage concentrate to form a primary liquid. Subsequently, at least part of the primary liquid is mixed together with a volume of secondary liquid to form a post-mixed beverage
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method of preparing and dispensing a post-mixed beverage using a beverage dispensing assembly (100), the method comprising steps of: - mixing together a base liquid (104) with a beverage concentrate (106) to form a primary liquid ( 111) in a beverage dispenser ( 102) of the beverage dispensing assembly (100); - mixing together the primary liquid (111) with a volume of secondary liquid (108) comprising ethanol and/or one or more hop compounds to form the post-mixed beverage in the beverage dispenser (102); and - dispensing the post-mixed beverage from a dispensing outlet (120) of the beverage dispenser (102); such that in preparing the post-mixed beverage, the volume of secondary liquid (108) is mixed with the beverage concentrate (106) after the beverage concentrate (106) has been at least partially mixed with the base liquid (104) into the primary liquid (111).