GB2368897A

GB2368897A - Beverage dispense system

Info

Publication number: GB2368897A
Application number: GB0027477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terrence Robert Davis
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2000-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2002-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-09
Also published as: GB0027477D0; GB2368897B

Abstract

A beverage dispense system has a dispense valve 30 in a beverage recirculation loop 33 that passes through a thermoelectric cooler 22. Beverage is supplied to the loop 33 in a line 18 passing through an ice bank cooler 10 and a heat exchanger 23 that cool the beverage to a standby temperature. The beverage is circulated in the loop 33 at the standby temperature and the thermoelectric cooler 22 is operable to further cool the beverage to a dispense temperature when a dispense is actuated.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSE SYSTEM

This invention relates to a beverage dispense system in which a chilled beverage is presented to the consumer. It is particularly applicable to beverages such as beer or lager.

Conventional beer/lager cooling systems typically have a bulk beverage supply located at a separate location (called a cellar room) from the bar counter and the beverage is chilled in the cellar by being passed through an ice bank cooler to a temperature just below its ultimate dispense temperature. The chilled beverage is then pumped from the cellar room to the bar within an insulated python.

If one wishes to dispense the beverage at very cold temperatures e. g. below 0 C, such a system has problems. In particular, one has to chill the beverage in the cellar room to an even lower temperature. Whilst one can utilise glycol mixtures in the ice bank cooler instead of water to obtain lower beverage temperatures, the lower the required beverage temperature the greater the risk that it will freeze solid in the cooler or the python during periods when the beverage is not being dispensed. It will then be impossible to operate the dispense system when the next drink is required to be dispensed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system which is capable of successfully dispensing a chilled beverage from a bulk supply to a temperature close to the freezing point of the beverage.

Accordingly the invention provides a chilled beverage dispense system including a beverage supply line leading to a beverage recirculation loop, a water recirculation loop, a dispense valve located in the beverage recirculation loop, a first chiller through which the beverage

supply line and the water recirculation loop pass, and a second chiller through which both loops pass, the beverage recirculation loop extending between the second chiller and the dispense valve, the second chiller comprising a thermoelectric device located between the first chiller and the dispense valve whereby the beverage to be dispensed can be further cooled in the second chiller and the water removes heat from the second chiller.

The thermo-electric device is typically one or more layers of Peltier plate assemblies. As is well known, when connected to a voltage supply, a cold side and a hot side are generated at the assembly.

The first chiller may be a single ice bank cooler of conventional design and in one embodiment it may contain a portion of each of the water recirculation loop and the beverage supply line immersed in water/ice within the cooler. The system is such that the first chiller cools both the beverage and the water to just above OC, say 0. 5 C or 1 C, whilst the second chiller may cool the beverage several degrees cooler (depending upon the freezing temperature of the beverage). With beer/lager, this may be cooler by a further 40 or 5OC, i. e. down to-3. 5 C or-4. 5'C.

In a preferred embodiment, however, the water for the water recirculation loop may be pumped from and returned to a tank of cold water comprising the first chiller, i. e. the water in the chiller tank is used as the recirculation cooling medium.

Conveniently, the first chiller may be located in a cellar positioned some distance from the dispense point in a bar and the second chiller may be mounted in a housing adjacent the bar, e. g. under the bar counter.

An additional water line may be provided from which controlled quantities of chilled water may be dispensed via a jet or spray nozzle onto a beverage receptacle, e. g. a glass, into which the beverage is to be and/or is being and/or has been dispensed. Thus the receptacle may be cooled by the chilled water before, during and/or after the dispense of the beverage.

The second chiller is preferably actuated only when dispense from the dispense valve is required e. g. power is supplied to the Peltier (thermo-electric) device upon the pressing of a dispense button. After a predetermined dispense time or predetermined flow of beverage from the dispense valve, the power supply to the device may be cut off.

Alternatively, at the end of the dispense cycle the current supplied to the thermo-electric device may be switched off and then reversed for a short time, e. g. a couple of seconds, before being switched off again. This slightly increases the beverage temperature in the device and avoids the risk of beverage freezing in this region. This slightly warmed beverage is not dispensed, since the control system will have closed the dispense valve before the warmed beverage reaches it.

During operation of the thermo-electric device to further chill the beverage before it is dispensed, the water passing through the thermoelectric device is warmed by the Peltier junction effect.

In order to ensure that beverage which has been sufficiently chilled is dispensed, the dispense control system may provide for valve actuation (opening) only after the beverage exiting the second chiller has reached a predetermined temperature, e. g.-4. 5 C. This requires a temperature sensor, which may be located in the beverage recirculation loop between the second chiller and the dispense valve or in the dispense

valve housing or even a little downstream of the dispense valve in the beverage recirculation loop. Alternatively, a time delay may be incorporated into the control system so as to open the valve a predetermined time after initiation.

The beverage supply line and a portion of the water recirculation loop between the first chiller and the second chiller may conveniently be contained within a python, which may extend from the cellar containing the first chiller to the bar where the dispense valve is located. Where a chilled water supply line is used, that may also be contained in the same single python.

The beverage in the supply line may, if desired, pass through a heat exchanger, e. g. a plate heat exchanger, before entering the second chiller and the water recirculation loop may pass through the opposite side of the heat exchanger via a branch of the loop upstream of the second chiller, the branch rejoining the water recirculation loop downstream of the second chiller.

Similarly, where an additional chilled water line is used as described above, that line may pass through a heat exchanger, which may also conveniently be a plate heat exchanger, and another branch of the water recirculation loop may pass through the opposite side of that heat exchanger, again upstream of the second chiller. This further branch again will rejoin the water recirculation loop downstream of the second chiller.

The two heat exchangers just described may be located close to the second chiller and may, if desired, be incorporated in the same housing, e. g. the under counter housing referred to above.

In another embodiment the water recirculation loop may be split into two upstream portions, i. e. upstream of the second chiller. The first portion may take the form of the outer tube of a tube-in-tube arrangement, the inner tube carrying the beverage to the second chiller. The second portion may take the form of the outer tube of a tube-in-tube arrangement, the inner tube carrying the chilled water to be used to spray the receptacle. Both tube-in-tube arrangements may be contained with a single python. The beverage line in the inner tube may conveniently separate from the water line in the outer tube just upstream of the second chiller. The chilled water line may separate from its outer tube water line at a similar position, which will be near to the dispense valve. The water lines from the two outer tubes can combine to enter the second chiller and return to the first chiller as a single line portion of the water recirculation loop.

The invention has numerous advantages.

A single ice bank cooler can be located in a cellar with a relatively small"under the counter"housing containing the second chiller to take up little valuable bar space.

There is no heat input in the bar area.

Very good temperature control is maintainable and the apparatus is easy to maintain and manufacture.

No power leads are needed between the dispense valve and the cellar cooler and power consumption is low.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a similar illustration of a second embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 a first chiller 10, which is an ice bank cooler, is located in a cellar 11. The ice bank cooler has a conventional tank 12 construction having evaporator coils, indicated generally at 13, adjacent its walls whereby an ice bank 14 is formed over the coils to cool the water, which is shown in the tank up to a level 15.

A submerged impeller 16 driven by a motor 17 ensures circulation of water within the tank to maintain an even temperature distribution.

A beverage line 18 passes through coils 19 in tank 10 whereby the beverage can be cooled to, say, IOC. Beverage flow is indicated by single-headed arrows.

A potable water line 20 to supply chilled water to a spray head, to be described later, passes through coils 21 in tank 10 whereby the potable water is chilled to, say, 1 C. Potable water flow is indicated by double blocked arrows.

A second chiller 22, which is a Peltier-type thermoelectric device, is located away from cellar 11 adjacent a bar counter (not shown).

Beverage from line 18 passes from the first chiller 10 into the second chiller 22 where it passes across the cold side which will be generated when the Peltier device is switched on. The beverage enters chiller 22 after passing through a metering turbine 23A and a heat exchanger 23, beverage line 18 joining a beverage recirculation loop 33, to be described in more detail below, just upstream of the chiller 22.

Water from within first chiller tank 12 is pumped to the second chiller 22 via a recirculation loop 24 which is indicated by large blocked single arrows. Loop 24 passes through second chiller 22 across the hot

side that will be generated when the Peltier device is switched on. The cold water will, therefore, carry away heat generated by the device.

A branch line 25 in water recirculation loop 24 just upstream of second chiller 22 passes through, in parallel, a first heat exchanger 23 and a second heat exchanger 26. (The water flow from loop 24 through second chiller 22 and through heat exchangers 23 and 26 is indicated by smaller single blocked arrows. ). The flow through the water branch line and the flow through the second chiller rejoin into a single return loop 24 downstream of the chiller and heat exchangers.

Potable water line 20 passes via a water regulator 27 into and through heat exchanger 26 where its temperature is maintained at about 1 C. From heat exchanger 26 the water line 20 passes via a water flow control 28 to a spray head 29 beneath a dispense valve 30 for the beverage. As shown, the chilled water from line 20 is being sprayed onto a glass 31 which stands on a turntable 32 beneath dispense valve 30.

Beverage flow line 18, potable chilled water flow line 20 and water recirculation loop 24 are all contained within a single python indicated generally by arrows A-A.

The beverage leaves second chiller 22 in recirculation loop 33 and passes from there to the dispense valve 30. When no dispense is actuated, beverage in loop 33 passes back to the chiller without exiting the valve. Between valve 30 and the chiller 22 it passes through recirculation pump 34, an optional recirculating turbine 35, and a one way valve 36. A bleed line 37 is located between turbine 35 and valve 36.

A thermistor 38 is positioned in the beverage recirculation loop immediately downstream of the second chiller 22.

In operation, the beverage, say beer, and the potable water enter their respective coils in the first chiller where they are cooled to about 1 C. They then exit the cooler and travel along the python into their respective heat exchangers where they are maintained at about 1 C by the cold water circulating in branch 25 of loop 24. Beer recirculates around its loop 33.

When a dispense is actuated the second chiller 22 is switched on, i. e. voltage is applied to it, to further cool the beer in its recirculation loop. When the thermistor 38 indicates that the beer has been cooled sufficiently, dispense valve 30 is opened and beer dispensed into glass 31. At the same time or starting a little earlier, if desired, chilled water from line 20 is sprayed via spray head 29 onto the outside of rotating glass 31.

When the dispense is completed, valve 30 is closed and the voltage to the Peltier chiller 22 is reversed for a short period to return the circulation flow to the standby temperature. The beer recirculation loop may, for example, be maintained at-2 C to reduce cooling time required prior to each dispense.

The second chiller, the two heat exchangers and their associated valves, pumps, regulators etc. can be housed in a relatively small housing indicated at 39 by dotted lines, which can readily be positioned underneath a bar counter.

In Figure 2 is shown an alternative arrangement in which like parts are numbered with the addition of 100 to those of Figure 1.

A first chiller 110 is an ice bank cooler located in a cellar Ill. The ice bank cooler has essentially the same construction as that of Figure 1 and so is not described again in detail here.

A beverage line 118 passes through coils 119 in tank 110 whereby the beverage can be cooled to, say, 1 C. Beverage flow is indicated by single headed arrows.

A potable water line 120 to supply chilled water to a spray head passes via a regulator 140 into coils 121 of chiller 110 whereby the water is also cooled to, say, 1 C. Potable water flow is indicated in this instance by single blocked arrows.

A second chiller 122, which is a Peltier thermoelectric device, is

located away from cellar 111 adjacent a bar (not shown).

Cold water from the tank 112 of chiller 110 is pumped around a recirculation loop 124 which is indicated by double blocked arrows.

Loop 124 passes across the Peltier device in contact with the hot face (s) that are generated when it has voltage applied to it. On leaving tank 112 the cold water recirculation loop 124 splits into two portions 124A and 124B. Each portion is part of a tube-in-tube arrangement with the cold water flowing through the exterior tube. Beverage from coils 119 flows in the inner tube corresponding to loop portion 124B and potable water from coils 121 flows in the inner tube corresponding to loop portion 124A.

Beverage supply line 118 and potable water supply line 120 both leave the tube-in-tube arrangement a little upstream of second chiller 122 and portions 124A and 124B of the water recirculation loop then rejoin to enter chiller 122 as a single line.

The beverage supply line 118, potable water line 120 and the water recirculation loop, including both portions 124A and 124B of the outgoing loop, are contained within a single python, again indicated generally by arrows A-A.

Potable water line 120 as before passes via a flow control 128 to a spray head 129 where it can be sprayed onto glass 131 on turntable 132 beneath dispense valve 130.

Beverage supply line 118 after exiting its tube-in-tube portion passes via a metering turbine 123A to join a beverage recirculation loop 133. This loop passes through the chiller 122 in contact with its face (s) that are chilled when the Peltier device voltage is switched on. From chiller 122 loop 133 passes to dispense valve 130 and then returns to the chiller 122 via an optional recirculating turbine 135 and a one-way valve 136. Valve 136 is just upstream in the loop from the entry of beverage supply line 118. Pump 134 maintains the beverage circulation. A bleed line 137 is located between turbine 135 and valve 136.

A thermistor 138 is positioned in the beverage recirculation loop immediately downstream of second chiller 122.

Operation of the apparatus is similar to that of Figure 1. The beverage and potable water are cooled to, say, 1 C in the first chiller 110 and are maintained at that temperature in python A-A as they travel to the dispense point in the bar. When a dispense is actuated the potable water is sprayed onto glass 131 as before.

When the thermistor 138 indicates that the beverage has reached the desired dispense temperature dispense valve 130 is opened to allow the required volume of dispense.

Again the second chiller and its associated equipment can readily be accommodated in a small under-the-bar housing indicated at 139.

The invention enables convenient"flash"cooling of the beverage from an initial chilled temperature to a desired lower temperature to be achieved on demand.

Claims

1. A chilled beverage dispense system including a beverage supply line leading to a beverage recirculation loop, a water recirculation loop, a dispense valve located in the beverage recirculation loop, a first chiller through which the beverage supply line and the water recirculation loop pass, and a second chiller through which both loops pass, the beverage recirculation loop extending between the second chiller and the dispense valve, the second chiller comprising a thermoelectric device located between the first chiller and the dispense valve whereby the beverage to be dispensed can be further cooled in the second chiller and the water removes heat from the second chiller.

2. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 1, in which the first chiller is an ice bank cooler containing a portion of each of the water recirculation loop and the beverage supply line.

3. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the water for the water recirculation loop is pumped from and returned to a tank of cold water comprising the first chiller.

4. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 1,2 or 3, in which the first chiller is located in a cellar and the second chiller is mounted in a housing under a bar counter remote from the cellar.

5. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim, which contains a additional chilled water supply line connected to a jet or spray nozzle adjacent the dispense valve whereby chilled water may be dispensed onto the exterior of a receptacle for the beverage when positioned under the dispense valve.

6. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 5, in which the receptacle may be cooled by the chilled water before, during or after dispense of the beverage.

7. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim, in which the second chiller is arranged to be actuated by a supply of power only when a dispense from the dispense valve is required.

8. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 7, in which the power supply is arranged to be switched off after a predetermined flow of beverage through the dispense valve.

9. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the supply of power is arranged to be switched on again for a short time after being switched off after a dispense is completed.

10. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim, including a temperature sensor in the beverage circulation loop and a control system which allows opening of the dispense valve only after the beverage has been chilled to a predetermined temperature by the second chiller.

11. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 10, in which the temperature sensor is located between the second chiller and the dispense valve.

12. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim, in which the beverage supply line and the water recirculation loop are contained within a single python.

13. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any preceding claim, in which the beverage in the beverage supply line passes through a heat exchanger before entering the second chiller and the water in the water recirculation loop passes through the opposite side of the heat

exchanger in a branch off its loop upstream of the second chiller, the branch rejoining the water recirculation loop downstream of the second chiller.

14. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claims 5 and 13, in which the additional chilled water line passes through a second heat exchanger and the water in the water recirculation loop also passes through the opposite side of the second heat exchanger via another branch off its loop upstream of the second chiller, the other branch also rejoining the water recirculation loop downstream of the second chiller.

15. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the heat exchanger or exchangers is/are incorporated in the same housing as the second chiller.

16. A chilled beverage dispense system according to any one of Claims 5 to 12, in which the water recirculation loop is split into two portions upstream of the second chiller, the first portion comprising a tube-in-tube arrangement, the water passing through the outer tube and the beverage in the beverage supply line passing through the inner tube.

17. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 16, in which the second portion comprises a tube-in-tube portion, the water passing through the outer tube and the chilled water for the jet or spray nozzle passing through the inner tube.

18. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 17, in which the water lines from the two outer tubes combine to enter the second chiller and return to the first chiller as a single line portion of the water recirculation loop.

19. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A chilled beverage dispense system according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.