Rotating Beverage Cooling with Pulsed High-Speed Chilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vending and refrigeration systems for beverages are inefficient, leading to excessive energy wastage and temperature inconsistencies, as they maintain drinks at low temperatures for long periods, causing unnecessary energy consumption and warming of the surrounding area, and struggle to quickly chill beverages during high-demand events.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus that rotates beverages at high speeds within a cavity, using a cooling liquid to achieve rapid and uniform cooling, minimizing energy consumption and preventing excessive fizzing, while incorporating a dual-zone vending machine design for efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional refrigeration systems maintain drinks at low temperatures for long periods, then drinks are ready for purchase, but considerable energy is used unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools drinks rapidly to the target temperature before storage, then maintains them using minimal energy. The preliminary rapid cooling action prepares the drinks in advance, allowing subsequent low-energy maintenance mode operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration system operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. It uses intense cooling periods followed by maintenance periods, reducing overall energy consumption while keeping drinks at the required temperature for extended durations.
2Reliability
If refrigeration systems run background cycles to maintain efficiency, then system performance is maintained, but additional energy is used not directly contributing to chilling contents
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the thermal mass of the drink containers themselves to maintain temperature during intervals between active cooling cycles. The drinks essentially serve their own cooling needs by retaining coldness, reducing the need for continuous background refrigeration cycles.
3Temperature
If refrigeration systems generate heat, then cooling function is provided, but wasted heat energy causes unwanted warming of the localised area
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generated by the refrigeration system is extracted and removed from the localised area through dedicated heat rejection pathways. The thermal energy that would otherwise warm the surrounding environment is diverted away, allowing the cooling function to operate without creating unwanted localised heating.
4Speed
If high rotation speed is used for rapid cooling, then cooling speed is improved, but excessive fizzing may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation is applied in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The container is rotated at high speed for a predetermined time to achieve rapid cooling, then the rotation is stopped to allow the liquid to settle and prevent excessive fizzing. This periodic rotation-maintenance cycle maintains cooling efficiency while controlling harmful fizzing effects.
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 apparatus efficiently cools beverages to a uniform temperature using forced and natural convection, reducing energy consumption by 80% compared to conventional machines and maintaining drinks at optimal temperature with minimal energy expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus comprises rotation means to rotate a product received in the cavity and cooling liquid supply means to provide a cooling liquid to the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus efficiently cools beverages to a uniform temperature using forced and natural convection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to cooling, in particular for cooling beverages in containers such as cans or bottles. We describe a cooling apparatus having a cavity for receipt of a product to be cooled; rotation means to rotate a product received in the cavity and cooling liquid supply means to provide a cooling liquid to the cavity. The rotation means is adapted to rotate the product at a rotational speed of 90 revolutions per minute or more and is also adapted to provide a pulsed or non-continuous rotation for a predetermined period.