Systems and methods for vacuum cooling a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cooling beverages require continuous refrigeration, leading to excessive energy consumption as they cool unused beverages, necessitating a more efficient on-demand cooling solution.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vacuum cooling assembly that uses a vacuum pump to create a vacuum in a container compartment, causing beverage evaporation and cooling, thereby reducing the need for continuous refrigeration and minimizing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If continuous refrigeration is used to cool beverages, then beverages are maintained at a desired temperature, but energy consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools beverages using vacuum evaporation before they are needed, storing them in an insulated container compartment. This preliminary cooling action eliminates the need for continuous refrigeration, as beverages are already cooled when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a vacuum environment (inert atmosphere without air) in the container compartment to enable evaporative cooling. The vacuum prevents heat transfer from the surrounding environment and allows liquid beverage to evaporate and cool itself without oxidation or contamination.
2Ease of operation
If refrigeration cools all beverages in storage, then beverages are ready to serve, but unused beverages consume unnecessary energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of beverages on-demand before they are dispensed, rather than continuously cooling all stored beverages. The vacuum cooling assembly cools beverages only when the container is placed in the compartment, eliminating wasted energy on unused beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage cooling system uses the beverage's own evaporation to cool itself, without requiring external refrigeration machinery. The vacuum environment enables the beverage to self-cool through phase change, eliminating the need for energy-consuming refrigeration systems.
3Use of energy by moving object
If vacuum cooling is applied to beverages in containers, then on-demand cooling is achieved, but beverage evaporation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the vapor phase of the beverage during vacuum cooling, allowing the liquid to evaporate and cool while the vapor is removed by the vacuum pump. This prevents the evaporated beverage from condensing back into the container and causes minimal loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the beverage from liquid to vapor during vacuum cooling. The beverage evaporates under vacuum conditions, absorbing heat and cooling the remaining liquid. The vapor is then condensed or removed, completing the cooling cycle with minimal substance loss.
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 allows for on-demand cooling of beverages, reducing energy consumption by cooling only what is needed, maintaining beverages at a desired temperature while eliminating the need for continuous refrigeration.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum cooling assembly may include a vacuum pump in communication with the at least one vapor trap. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.
Implementation Method 3
a wetted material may be disposed about the at least one bottle, and at least one vapor trap may be in communication with the bottle compartment. Moreover, a vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the bottle compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and, in turn, cooling the beverage within the at least one bottle.
Data Source
AI summary
Vacuum cooling assemblies for cooling a beverage are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a container compartment, a container disposed within the container compartment, and at least one beverage supply line in communication with the container compartment. The at least one beverage supply line may be configured to supply the beverage to the container within the container compartment. The vacuum cooling assembly also may include at least one vapor trap in communication with the container compartment. Moreover, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a vacuum pump in communication with the at least one vapor trap. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.