Heat exchanger, particularly for use in a beverage dispenser

• Main Authors: MILLER CHARLES BENJAMIN, LANDERS JERRY L
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 13.11.2013
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES; BLASTING; BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; COFFEE MILLS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COMBINED OPERATIONS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OFGENERAL APPLICATION; DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; FURNITURE; HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS,IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; ICE-BOXES; KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LIQUID HANDLING; MACHINE TOOLS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; OPENING, CLOSING; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS; WEAPONS

A method of cooling multiple beverage components involves: providing a heat exchanger (30) comprising a plurality of sheets (32-40) of heat transfer material and at least first and second flow channels (37) defined by surfaces made at least in part by the sheets of heat transfer material; directing a first and second fluid respectively through the first and second flow channels, each of the first and second fluids being selected from the group consisting of non-carbonated water, carbonated water, beverage concentrates and non-concentrated beverages; placing ice in contact with at least one of the sheets of heat transfer material; and melting the ice and thereby cooling the first and second fluids as they reside in and pass through their respective channels. An improved beverage dispensing system (10) includes a plurality of beverage dispensing valves (18) and a heat exchanger (30) that is configured to cool beverage components dispensed through the valves by the melting of ice in contact with the heat exchang