Beverage Dispensing System Sweetener Predilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage dispensing systems face challenges in reliably pumping highly viscous sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) due to their high concentration, which can compromise shelf life and require refrigeration or sanitization systems when diluted for pumpability.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispensing system that includes a metered or positive displacement pump for pumping sweeteners, a cooling circuit for chilling, and a clean-in-place system, allowing for the storage and predilution of sweeteners at higher concentrations (above 65° brix) to maintain shelf stability and facilitate easier mixing and pumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the sweetener is concentrated at about 77° brix to maintain shelf stability, then the shelf life is improved, but the viscosity increases making it difficult to pump
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs predilution of the concentrated sweetener (77° brix) before pumping, converting it to a pumpable concentration (e.g., 65° brix or lower). This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the sweetener in advance to be both shelf-stable when stored concentrated and pumpable when diluted, eliminating the need to choose between shelf life and pumpability.
2Ease of operation
If the sweetener is diluted to a pumpable state, then the pumpability is improved, but the shelf life is compromised and refrigeration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the storage and dispensing functions by maintaining concentrated sweetener (77° brix) in storage containers for shelf stability, then diluting it to pumpable concentrations only when needed for dispensing. This segmentation allows the sweetener to enjoy shelf stability during storage while achieving pumpability during operation, without requiring continuous refrigeration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sweetener is diluted to improve mixing, then the mixing quality is improved, but refrigeration and sanitization systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs predilution of the concentrated sweetener before pumping and dispensing, creating an optimally mixed concentration (e.g., 65° brix or lower) in advance. This preliminary mixing action ensures good mixing quality during dispensing while allowing the concentrated sweetener to remain shelf-stable during storage, eliminating the need for refrigeration and complex sanitization 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
Enables the use of concentrated sweeteners in a shelf-stable form, reducing the need for refrigeration and sanitization, while ensuring easier mixing and pumping, and allowing for a larger sweetener source with reduced clean-in-place system usage.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit for chilling the sweetener
Implementation Method 2
A beverage dispensing system that includes a metered or positive displacement pump for pumping sweeteners
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage dispensing system using a sweetener. The beverage dispensing system may include a dispensing nozzle, a sweetener source with the sweetener at more than about 65° brix, a first diluent source with a first diluent, a mixing chamber in communication with the sweetener source and the first diluent source so as to dilute the sweetener to less than about 65° brix, and a second diluent source with a second diluent so as to dilute further the sweetener upstream of the dispensing nozzle.