Solid Heat Carrier Cooling for Bottle Necks to Prevent Thermal Shock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cooling bottle necks in the wine industry, such as using brine or glycol, are unpleasant to handle and not food-compatible, while liquid nitrogen can cause glass bottles to burst, and other solutions like air flow or gels require extensive cleaning or are energy-inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A solid heat transfer medium like copper shot is used, cooled with cryogenic fluids like liquid nitrogen or CO2, which allows for controlled temperature regulation and avoids direct contact with the refrigerated fluid, enabling efficient and safe cooling without post-cleaning or waste discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If liquid nitrogen is used to cool the bottle neck, then the cooling speed is accelerated, but the glass bottles burst due to thermal shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (granulated solid refrigerant) between the cryogenic fluid and the bottle neck. This intermediary absorbs the thermal shock that would otherwise directly affect the glass, preventing bursting while still enabling rapid cooling through the mediating heat transfer process
2Temperature
If glycol or brine is used to cool the bottle neck, then the cooling process is effective, but the handling is unpleasant and the products are not food-compatible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the refrigerant from liquid (glycol/brine) to solid granulated form. This parameter change enables the use of food-compatible materials like frozen water or ice granules, eliminating the unpleasant handling and food safety issues associated with chemical refrigerants while maintaining effective cooling capability
3Temperature
If gels at very low temperature are used to cool the bottle neck, then the cooling effect is achieved, but rigorous cleaning of the bottle necks is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable granulated solid refrigerant (such as frozen water granules) that can be easily removed from the bottle neck after cooling. These short-living refrigerant particles are discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning operations required by reusable gel systems
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
This method effectively cools bottle necks for the disgorging operation without the drawbacks of prior methods, ensuring compatibility with food and environmental standards and eliminating the need for extensive cleaning or waste handling.
Implementation Method 1
this freezing is carried out by bringing the neck of the bottle into contact with refrigeration means, inside which the refrigerated fluid circulates. The invention therefore uses the phenomenon of thermal conduction
Implementation Method 2
a solid heat transfer medium consisting of metal shavings (for example copper shot of about 2 mm), which are cooled with a cryogenic fluid, for example liquid nitrogen, or liquid CO2
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cooling the neck of bottles in which the neck of the bottles, positioned in an inverted position, is immersed in a mass (5) of a solid heat transfer medium, for example copper shot, which is cooled using a cryogenic fluid (1), for example liquid nitrogen, or liquid CO2, or a mixture of such fluids.