Method and device for cooling beverages

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage dispenser ( 1000 ) for dispensing beverages, that comprises: a refrigeration circuit ( 41 ); a tank ( 10 ) for containing said coolant at a liquid state coming from a first duct ( 20 ) in the lower portion thereof and evaporating said coolant into a gaseous state, and for containing said coolant in a gaseous state in the upper portion thereof; a second duct ( 30 ) for collecting the coolant at the gaseous state from said tank ( 10 ); at least one duct ( 40 ) for circulating said beverage to be dispensed inside said tank ( 10 ) and according to a thermal exchange relation with the coolant at the liquid and/or gaseous state.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit comprising:
 a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant in gaseous form while increasing its temperature, said compressor being a single-phase compressor; 
 a condenser operable to condense the refrigerant and lower its temperature; 
 means designed to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant passing via a first line, the first line being designed to circulate said refrigerant in liquid form; 
   a tank designed to contain said refrigerant in liquid form coming from this first line in its lower part and to allow said refrigerant to evaporate into gaseous form, and designed to contain said refrigerant in gaseous form in its upper part;   a second line designed to withdraw the refrigerant in gaseous form from said tank; and   at least one duct designed to circulate said beverage to be dispensed within said tank and in a heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant in liquid and/or gaseous form.   
   
   
       14 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a circuit connected to said refrigeration circuit by a first and a second connection, the first connection lying between the outlet of the compressor and the condenser and the second connection lying between the inlet of the compressor and the tank, respectively;   two non-return valves placed between the first connection and the condenser and between the tank and the second connection, respectively, which are designed to automatically shut off the reflux of said refrigerant from the condenser to said circuit or from said circuit to the tank;   a balancing valve, normally open when the compressor is not operating, placed inside the circuit in order to balance the pressure inside said circuit and closed when starting said compressor; and   a magnetic valve, normally closed when the compressor is not operating, placed between the condenser and the tank, in order to stop the flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the tank, and open when starting said compressor.   
   
   
       15 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising a thermostat designed to measure the temperature inside said tank and to start or stop said compressor. 
   
   
       16 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said tank comprises, inside, a cylinder welded to the bottom of said tank and open at the top, designed to collect the refrigerant in gaseous fort in the upper part of said tank and discharge said refrigerant by the second line toward said compressor. 
   
   
       17 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one duct is wound around said cylinder. 
   
   
       18 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said duct is a coil. 
   
   
       19 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in claim  8 , wherein this coil is made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       20 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that said at least one duct is inserted into a tube in order to form a double-walled duct so as to avoid any risk of food contamination in the event of the coil leaking. 
   
   
       21 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein, said tube is made of copper. 
   
   
       22 . The beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a pressure safety switch designed to start or stop said compressor. 
   
   
       23 . A use of the beverage dispenser as claimed in  claim 13  for dispensing beverages in “flying pump” mode.